Audi, BMW or Volvo

[marka239]

Hi all
Bit of advice required please. Firstly, who makes. Volvo engine these days? I don't know much about them. Is their engine comparative of the 2 litre diesels with 170bhp?

Secondly, I have £8k to spend on an estate.
Volvo, bmw320 2.0d or Audi a4 2.0 tdi 170?
I'm looking for something that is quick and still gives 48mpg or above.
Thanks for your thoughts.

[MJK 24]

Their current 2.0 Diesel is a 5 cylinder of their own design.

A few years ago their 2.0 diesel was a Peugeot/Ford design.

[Fubar1977]

I am biased but I do like the Volvo`s.
Their 5 Cyl is a nice lump. not quite as smooth as a good 6cyl but gives a really nice sound under load.
Nicer interior than a 3 series (imo) and a bit more interesting and different to the usual A4/320D thet EVERYONE else will be driving.
Dynamically the 3 series will be a better drive than the Audi/Volvo and the Audi would be my second choice even though I`m not really a big fan just because I dislike the interior of the 3 series so much (too cold/clinical if that makes sense, I like to feel cosseted in a posh saloon).

[jimbobsimmonds]

I'm biased but get the Volvo...

The dynamics of the BMW will be better but the drive of the new Volvo's have improved greatly. The interiors are really rather nice (always preferred the seats to BMWs) and the quality of the audio systems is really rather fantastic.

And don't get the Audi because people will irrationally hate you...

Be different, get the Volvo...

[Fubar1977]

jimbobsimmonds said:

I'm biased but get the Volvo...

The dynamics of the BMW will be better but the drive of the new Volvo's have improved greatly. The interiors are really rather nice (always preferred the seats to BMWs) and the quality of the audio systems is really rather fantastic.

And don't get the Audi because people will irrationally hate you...

Be different, get the Volvo...

By the same group of people that used to irrationally hate 3 series drivers too...

[458bhp]

jimbobsimmonds said:

Be different, get the Volvo...

No don't do it, you don't want to be different. The more people wanting to be different, the less different all of us current Volvo drivers will be

[Fubar1977]

458bhp said:

No don't do it, you don't want to be different. The more people wanting to be different, the less different all of us current Volvo drivers will be

Good point.
Buy the Audi.
More good value Volvo`s left for the rest of us

[marka239]

Thanks for your comments
I must admit i like the Volvo. The downside is that the engine is only about a 140bhp which lacks the acceleration of the BMW and Audi 170 engines.
What's the performance like?

[busta]

Which Volvo are we talking about here?

[marka239]

The V50. 2.0 diesel.

[talksthetalk]

Beware anything with DRIVe on the back. I was offered a V70 with the 1.6 115ps engine as a company car. Not long afte, I took redundancy.
EFG

[chrisw666]

marka239 said:

The V50. 2.0 diesel.

At your budget that will be the 2.0 PSA lump, with 136bhp and a fair slug of all or nothing torque for about 1500rpm.

It also needs an expensive service at 72,000 miles that most people trade the car just before or skimp and have an oil service done before selling the car on.

Check the mileages on the ones for sale and there will be a disproportionate amount at 60-80,000 miles.

[busta]

The 2.0 diesel in the V50 will be the 136hp 4cyl Ford engine. It's not a bad engine, but is obviously not as powerful as a 170hp engine...

If performance is important to you, you should look instead at the D5 engine. It's Volvo's own 2.4 5cyl with 180hp and gets great economy.

[Wills2]

I think the V70 with the D5 lump is a pretty good all rounder.

[lightthefuse]

Even though I appreciate Volvos and the missus insists on them, I say get the BMW. Dynamically it will knock a V50 into a cocked hat.

[busta]

The V50, sharing underpinnings with the Focus, is a fine handling car. The BMW may win on being RWD, but the V50 is no pudding.

[jimbobsimmonds]

458bhp said:

jimbobsimmonds said:

Be different, get the Volvo...

No don't do it, you don't want to be different. The more people wanting to be different, the less different all of us current Volvo drivers will be

Excellent point!

Still can't work out who you are 458...i know i know you but who

[458bhp]

jimbobsimmonds said:

Excellent point!

Still can't work out who you are 458...i know i know you but who

Am i that forgettable? Thanks James! To be fair to you, you were mullered last year in Bristol

Get a beemer.

[Fantuzzi]

marka239 said:

I'm looking for something that is quick and still gives 48mpg or above.
.

Im curious why 48 exactly?

[billzeebub]

Beemer