C30 D5 - views and alternatives
Discussion
I'm thinking of a C30 D5 as a next car. We've currently got a Clio 197, although my wife was happier driving our previous Grande Punto JTD 130.
My motoring history is peppered with Pistonheads-type cars; although more recently (and sensibly) I've been sharing cars with my wife, which means they've been a bit less racy. We live in the city centre and cycle to work, racking-up 10k miles p/a mainly through holidays and leisure.
The basic criteria are:
- Compact size, high quality, stylish
- More laid-back than a typical hot hatch
- Practical enough for occasional farm duties and bike carrying
- "Green", which probably means a diesel (boo hoo)
- Happy to spend a fair amount: up to £500pcm
The obvious options look to be a BMW 120/123d, A3 TDi 170, Golf TDi 170 and Volvo C30 D5. The VAG cars look likely to be replaced in 2009 and the Alfa 147 seems ancient, which puts me off somewhat. The 1-Series looks mighty expensive for what it is and is probably a bit "new money" for my liking.
The C30 D5 manual in R-Sport SE trim looks pretty good and I'd be interested to hear of any experience with these cars - or any alternatives. There's no hurry to replace our 197, but I'm definitely after something more "grown-up" next time.
My motoring history is peppered with Pistonheads-type cars; although more recently (and sensibly) I've been sharing cars with my wife, which means they've been a bit less racy. We live in the city centre and cycle to work, racking-up 10k miles p/a mainly through holidays and leisure.
The basic criteria are:
- Compact size, high quality, stylish
- More laid-back than a typical hot hatch
- Practical enough for occasional farm duties and bike carrying
- "Green", which probably means a diesel (boo hoo)
- Happy to spend a fair amount: up to £500pcm
The obvious options look to be a BMW 120/123d, A3 TDi 170, Golf TDi 170 and Volvo C30 D5. The VAG cars look likely to be replaced in 2009 and the Alfa 147 seems ancient, which puts me off somewhat. The 1-Series looks mighty expensive for what it is and is probably a bit "new money" for my liking.
The C30 D5 manual in R-Sport SE trim looks pretty good and I'd be interested to hear of any experience with these cars - or any alternatives. There's no hurry to replace our 197, but I'm definitely after something more "grown-up" next time.
Why not get the T5? With the way diesel prices are and your not doing silly miles per year would be my choice.
Providing its the manual you are looking to go with the D5 is a cracking drive and is surprisingly quick aswell. Dont get the SE version, get the standard R-design and add the extras on, works out a couple of hundred quid less.
Providing its the manual you are looking to go with the D5 is a cracking drive and is surprisingly quick aswell. Dont get the SE version, get the standard R-design and add the extras on, works out a couple of hundred quid less.
I drive an S60 D5 with the Geartronic 'box and it's a cracking combination but perhaps not very PH. Know a couple of folk with C30's and they love 'em, (both D5's). T5 may make good sense on limited annual mileage but I'm a diesel fan and like my torque low down. D5 does take about 10k miles to really loosen up. Drive both the D5 and T5 and see what you think. Try the Geartronic as well..................you can pop it into "manual" mode if the mood takes you.
This was my view when I first had a go.
Well what a disappointment!
Wouldn't call it quick, not even in the repmobile getting a bit of a wiggle on stakes.
Driving feel, no different from my V50.
Interior, could have ben in my V50.
Seats, it is a sports car ffs! standard Volvo leathers, comfy yes but.....
Rear space and boot space as expected, but what is that half arsed flappy plastic cloth excuse for a load cover all about!!!!
Giving it some beans around a section on one of the class 1 test routes, not going all that quickly, could physically see the fuel gauge going down!!!!!!!
Looks a bit funky admittedly.
On balance, nope, not impressed.
Well what a disappointment!
Wouldn't call it quick, not even in the repmobile getting a bit of a wiggle on stakes.
Driving feel, no different from my V50.
Interior, could have ben in my V50.
Seats, it is a sports car ffs! standard Volvo leathers, comfy yes but.....
Rear space and boot space as expected, but what is that half arsed flappy plastic cloth excuse for a load cover all about!!!!
Giving it some beans around a section on one of the class 1 test routes, not going all that quickly, could physically see the fuel gauge going down!!!!!!!
Looks a bit funky admittedly.
On balance, nope, not impressed.
Dont want to point out the obvious but the C30 is a V50 with a different body on hence why it may have handled and the interior in the front part was the same.
I wouldnt call the C30 a sports car, Boxster, Elise etc are that.
Unless you have an R-design V50 and didnt drive an R-design C30 then you are missing out, better handling and do drive differently to the V50's, interior is much better.
I wouldnt call the C30 a sports car, Boxster, Elise etc are that.
Unless you have an R-design V50 and didnt drive an R-design C30 then you are missing out, better handling and do drive differently to the V50's, interior is much better.
I've got a C30 T5 and I like it!
Decent performance and good looking, it's surprising how many people comment positively on it. Mine is highly specced - the audio upgrade is excellent, the satnav is average. Comfortable,classy and distinctive IMHO and with the choice of body kit colour you can create your own look. Also you don't see many around and for me thats a bonus. I chose it over a golf gti and haven't regretted it.Luggage space is poor (if that matters)
Decent performance and good looking, it's surprising how many people comment positively on it. Mine is highly specced - the audio upgrade is excellent, the satnav is average. Comfortable,classy and distinctive IMHO and with the choice of body kit colour you can create your own look. Also you don't see many around and for me thats a bonus. I chose it over a golf gti and haven't regretted it.Luggage space is poor (if that matters)
After_Shock said:
Dont want to point out the obvious but the C30 is a V50 with a different body on hence why it may have handled and the interior in the front part was the same.
I wouldnt call the C30 a sports car, Boxster, Elise etc are that.
Unless you have an R-design V50 and didnt drive an R-design C30 then you are missing out, better handling and do drive differently to the V50's, interior is much better.
The R design wasn't launched when I drove the C30, and yes that was exactly my point, they are the same car underneath, sort of, well near enough anyway..I wouldnt call the C30 a sports car, Boxster, Elise etc are that.
Unless you have an R-design V50 and didnt drive an R-design C30 then you are missing out, better handling and do drive differently to the V50's, interior is much better.
OK if it floats your boat, maybe I don't fit the demographic for the C30 but to me it seems pointless. As you say it's turned out that it's not a sports car so what is it? A lukewarm hatch, but there are better versions of that in my view. Looking at similarly specced versions of each eg R design C30 vs R design V50, then the C30 would never get the nod from me. But as I say I just don't get it.
The V50 is quite small, the C30 even smaller yet doesn't add much performance or handling benefits over a similarly specced V50. The declared figures are within fractions of a second of each other. Now if they introduced a super lairy version I can see the point, but as it is just don't get what that car is about other than a large hatch.
Then looking at the original OP requirements, "practical enough for occasional farm duties and bike carrying?" ??!!??
Edited by F i F on Monday 2nd June 06:59
The finishing touches are being put to the 'RS' engine for the ST: seems that the output will rise to arround the 280bhp mark with a larger KKK turbo and some internal changes to the B5254T3/T7 engine, maybe using some components from the recently discontinued 'R' engines.
I would very much suspect that Volvo will put this engine in their own 'Focus' platform cars, certainly the C30 which is in my view not a serious rival for the ST or for that matter many other 'hot hatch' competitors. Mind you an early C30 T5 can be got for near £15,000 now, against older ST's nearing the £10K mark.
So far, living in London, I see more new S80's on the roads than C30's.
Regards, Don.
www.kalmar-union.com
I would very much suspect that Volvo will put this engine in their own 'Focus' platform cars, certainly the C30 which is in my view not a serious rival for the ST or for that matter many other 'hot hatch' competitors. Mind you an early C30 T5 can be got for near £15,000 now, against older ST's nearing the £10K mark.
So far, living in London, I see more new S80's on the roads than C30's.
Regards, Don.
www.kalmar-union.com
The c30 was never designed from the off to be a hot hatch, if it was they would have launched a single fast one as opposed to developing a full range of engines being available.
Personally I cant see them making a faster one for this country, virtually no demand, fuel prices etc will put an end to it before the idea gets going.
With regards to it not being a rival to a Focus ST I couldnt disagree more. Yes its more expensive but not by much, is more comfortable, better built, safer and ultimately hides the front end mass better than the ST so to me handles better. If a Focus ST can be compared to a Astrs VXR/Golf Gti performance wise why cant a C30 T5 R-Design?
Personally I cant see them making a faster one for this country, virtually no demand, fuel prices etc will put an end to it before the idea gets going.
With regards to it not being a rival to a Focus ST I couldnt disagree more. Yes its more expensive but not by much, is more comfortable, better built, safer and ultimately hides the front end mass better than the ST so to me handles better. If a Focus ST can be compared to a Astrs VXR/Golf Gti performance wise why cant a C30 T5 R-Design?
Heico will fit you a LSD (6 speed manual only); give you 260 hp; 380 torques; 0-62 in 6 sec; and 155 mph top speed. And they also got a fab suspension setup (I've driven that one on a V50 and it is way better to the stand one. perfetly setup!!)
And in my eyes its only a matter of time until Volvo makes Heico its "house tuner". Like AMG.
In germany you get the Heico products in every Volvo dealership. Also in Switzerland you can order your new C30 directly from the volvo dealership with the Heico Tuning (they'll bring it to Heico Switzerland on a lorry for you and do all the paperworks for you).
And in my eyes its only a matter of time until Volvo makes Heico its "house tuner". Like AMG.
In germany you get the Heico products in every Volvo dealership. Also in Switzerland you can order your new C30 directly from the volvo dealership with the Heico Tuning (they'll bring it to Heico Switzerland on a lorry for you and do all the paperworks for you).
Well right here in the UK I can supply software upgrades for the smaller T5's written by Sweden's most able software engineer giving up to 265bhp on their own, but moving up to near the 300bhp mark with the addition of a larger intercooler, a special exhaust system and modified turbo. The software can either be flashed directly into the unopened ECU or supplied with a 'softloader' system that can be further enhanced with full diagnostics and real time data logging.
Also full selection of suspension upgrades and a lifetime warranted LSD for either the M66 6 speed box or the 5 speed M56.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
www.kalmar-union.com
Also full selection of suspension upgrades and a lifetime warranted LSD for either the M66 6 speed box or the 5 speed M56.
Regards, Don.Norchi.
www.kalmar-union.com
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