Volvo C30 T5 | Spotted
The Focus ST's subdued Swedish sibling now looks a cool classic curio
The notion of fast Volvo estates being imported from Japan is fairly familiar by now. See the recently featured Polestar V60 T6 for proof of that. A fondness for the genre over here, combined with a limited supply and the availability of funky specs in Japan, has made the practice more commonplace in recent years. Strengthening values must have helped, too. Now it’s more than just V60s and V70s being brought over, because this is a Japanese Domestic Market C30 T5.
A rather nice one it looks, too, but we’ll get into that. The burning question is probably why a T5 is being brought over at all, because it seems like a niche choice even in Volvo circles. But it does make some sense. In a similar fashion to the big wagons, there’s really not much like a C30 out there - if you want one, nothing else is going to suffice. Moreover, the T5 gets the five-cylinder charm so desirable in the larger models, here sharing the 2.5-litre turbo in the old Focus ST tune, for 220hp and 236lb ft. This means it's fast as well as tuneful, scrabbling to 62mph in less than seven seconds and nudging 150mph flat out. Even without the traction advantage of cars like the V70 R, the C30 certainly qualifies as a fast Volvo.
As good examples of the 2.5-litre Focus ST become harder to find (and an interesting engine becomes more desirable by the day), so the C30’s case becomes stronger. The dearth of T5s in the UK will also have helped build the case to bring a Japanese car over. It was never a big seller in period, truth be told; those who wanted a 2.5-litre hot hatch were better served in the thrills department by the Focus ST with which it shared so much. Those who bought into the C30’s distinctive appearance would still get that with a smaller petrol or diesel engines. And if you needed a fast, spacious Volvo, the T5 estates were going to do the job much better than the three-door C30. Buyers had to really want the look and the five-cylinder performance to justify the T5. And stomach the price: in 2006 it cost £22,745, or just £1,000 less than a Golf R32.
So there were never that many: HowManyLeft reckons just 608 are remaining on our roads, across all the spec levels and pair of gearbox choices. Therefore getting a good used one is probably even trickier than expected, and makes such a seemingly nice import all the more desirable.
The spec here, which must have a more inspiring name somewhere than gold with grey, evokes the original (and quite smart) C30 Design Concept. It’s covered just 67,000 miles since 2007 and looks in fine fettle for it, with unmarked leather, a steering wheel free from wear and that dramatic floating centre dash without a scratch. It’s exactly as you’d like to see a C30 T5, apparently cherished over a decade and a half by people who knew what kind of rare groove hot hatch they were getting into. From the condition it would have to be assumed that maintenance has been kept up with over the years; hopefully there’s a nice wodge of paperwork with this import. You might not be able to understand any of it, but receipts in any language are always encouraging.
The catch? Well, it is an auto. Which will just be a five-speed, as a few still were back then. A six-speed T5 probably would have sold already. It could easily be argued that an automatic might suit the C30’s more mellow character (its Focus ST contemporary was manual only, tellingly), so it should be far from a dealbreaker. Especially at just £5,990; most of the Fords at this money will have six-figure mileages. And there’s not another 2.5-litre C30 on PH; indeed, you’ll only get a cheaper five-cylinder Volvo turbo by going older or higher mileage - or convertible. Just when it seemed like the affordable, interesting fast cars had disappeared, there’s a trusty T5 to the rescue.
SPECIFICATION | VOLVO C30 T5
Engine: 2,521cc, five-cyl turbo
Transmission: 5-speed auto, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 220@5,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 236@1,500rpm-4,800rpm
MPG: 30.1
CO2: 224g/km
Year registered: 2007
Recorded mileage: 67,303
Price new: £22,745 (UK, 2006)
Yours for: £5,990
A manual in one colour, with a few suspension upgrades would make a great car.
It was a great car; comfortable, well equipped at the time and it never put a foot wrong.
I'll echo the above though, it's a shame that so many of the 5 pots are lumbered with the (frankly rubbish) auto box, although they're definitely not a hot hatch, so them being equipped with it isn't surprising.
I imagine with a remap, some suspension mods and presumably an LSD fitted they'd be a bit more playful to drive.
Beaten to it.
Or...
I didn't read the advert properly.
But regardless, 30 seconds on Autotrader brings up these two for similar money... and both look infinitely more appealing.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305257...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304196...
Combined with the sh*t window deflectors (presume that's for smokers so they don't get wet when having a fag at the wheel?), auto gearbox and the lack of an LSD means I really don't see any appeal in this one.
They've always been on the 'maybe' list for me when searching in the past for something interesting, but only with a manual and a nice colour.
proper Q car, but very composed when hooning around the curves, so not an exciting, engaging drive, but the Q-ness, build quality and design were really appealing. 4 individual seats inside made it quite funky inside too.
They key fails quite regularly, but other than that it was a reliable thing, but I don't 'miss it'.
Or...
I didn't read the advert properly.
But regardless, 30 seconds on Autotrader brings up these two for similar money... and both look infinitely more appealing.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202305257...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202304196...
I imagine with a remap, some suspension mods and presumably an LSD fitted they'd be a bit more playful to drive.
The standard C30 suspension is shocking the way it rolls - especially if you have driven a Focus ST before. After driving it home I started researching suspension literally the next day.
I added a budget Koni STR.T suspension kit, slightly wider tyres, uprated Mintex pads and a 270bhp remap. It was quite a transformation, but still not as good a steer as a Focus ST of the same year. From what I have read the more expensive Koni FSDs are probably a better option and the right balance between ride quality and handling. The STR.T dampers were not harsh, but couldn't deal with a bumpy B road very well.
I'd certainly be cautious about trying to turn it into a hot hatch, because it really isn't one (in the same manner as a Golf VR6 or V6 4 motion).
The manual gearbox isn't great, and the clutch feel and operation is really weird - and I've driven three of them, pre and post facelift, so they are all like that. The steering isn't as good as the Focus ST. The brakes are smaller, despite having the same power.
Despite its' faults I did really like the car. It was dominated by the engine of course, which sounds great and pulls really well with a remap. You could drive 300 miles in it and still feel fresh as a daisy. Very comfy seats.
If you want to see a good C30 check out the Car Cleaning Guru's early youtube videos, a really nicely modified rebel blue facelift C30 for that Polestar vibe. I did search for one of those for a while and you just cannot find one. In fact it is hard to find any good C30 T5s full stop.
Occasionally I see a C30 on the road, but there is always bitter disappointment when you clock it has a single exhaust tailpipe and isn't a T5, because only about 1% of them picked the right engine.
Back to the Spotted example, it looks terrible, geartronic, avoid.
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