Hi all,

Fear not, I'm not getting a Volvo estate at age 20...but my dad is.

Joking aside, I do like them, and I'm pleased that he's finally looking to change the Polo (bit of background...he went from an E39 BMW 530d M to a 1.4TDi Polo, which as good as it is, really is too wee for him). He's currently interested in Volvo V50s, specifically the 2.0D SE, maybe the 2.4 D5 if we can find one that fits in his £13500 budget. It would have to be 07 or newer with 40000 miles or less. He might go for an R-Design too, I think he's just ruling out the S spec.

Does anybody know if there's anything other than normal pre-purchase checks to be aware of, any common issues or work that should have been done? Anything to look out for, good or bad?

Many thanks,

Andrew

They're pretty uninteresting to drive and loadspace at the back isn't all it's cracked up to be. I had one for a week on hire and was glad to give it back - it looked the part but sadly fell well short of what I was expecting. Now the Octy vRS estate, that's a different matter but i guess your relative doesn't drive around with his ar*e on fire like some do.....

there is a pipe he needs to look out for

it will be in the glove box

right next to his slippers

there is a pipe he needs to look out for

it will be in the glove box

right next to his slippers

He's in his fifties, he's allowed a Volvo

He's in his fifties, he's allowed a Volvo

Dipped headlights are poor verging on dangerous. Ventillation isn't great mists up without aircon on. Fuel consumption will be around 45mpg. 6 speed gearbox not that smooth and gear ratios oddly placed meaning changes required when overtaking.

On some diesel models the DPF requires a replacement at 75000m. This is fairly costly around £1200 I think. Also the "ad Blu" additive can only be topped up by the garage with specialist equipment. Not all diesels have the DPF mine doesn't the clue is in the chassis number. Service intervals are 12500m for 2ltrD and 18000 for the D5 there is no variable option. I have covered 30000m in mine in 15 months and its boring but relaible and comfy. I have had it serviced twice at the main dealer in Carlisle both times around £220 including pick up and drop off at my office 30m away and courtesy car left. They were not the supplying dealer that was Parks in Ayr. The buying experience was shocking.The servicing dealer Lloyds is good. I have not been back since collecting the car.

Having said that it is a very good long distance cruiser. Don't know where you live but if in rural Scotland the R design may not be best suited to the rougher roads due to silly, skinny low profile tyres and sports suspension. My opinion of the R design is that it is all fur coat and no knickers, a tarted up mess. But they do say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Personally I prefer the "Q" car look.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/index.php

Try the link for info

Edited 3 November, 201015 yr by loskie

Wife has one of these and agree it's pretty underwhelming. Personally I can't get on with the turbo lag (it's the 2.0D sport) as it seems SOOOOO much slower in accelerating compared to my Fabia vRS mk1. It's comfortable enough, and as has been said is a decent motorway cruiser, but I would never have bought one with the other possibilities at a similar (or cheaper) price. The boot size is decent enough, but depends on what you want to carry around. It's not THAT big for an estate (as you'll read in various reviews is a chief complaint) but I can also say ours has been problem free apart from the usual wear and tear items. And I haven't noticed any problems with night visibility with the dipped headlights as loskie posted, or any issues with ventilation as ours has never misted up and in fact is one of the better cars I've known that has no misting issues. And I'd avoid the sport model as I don't think it makes that much of a difference to the handling, and the ride is pretty harsh with the larger alloys and stiffer suspension (which seem kind of pointless in this car and makes for expensive replacement tyres). Ours also seems to go through headlight bulbs quite frequently, but then that might be due to the fact they are "always on" in typical Volvo style. So yeah, a decent enough car, but if you're after a decent sized estate then I think there are better examples.

Dipped headlights are poor verging on dangerous. Ventillation isn't great mists up without aircon on. Fuel consumption will be around 45mpg. 6 speed gearbox not that smooth and gear ratios oddly placed meaning changes required when overtaking.

On some diesel models the DPF requires a replacement at 75000m. This is fairly costly around £1200 I think. Also the "ad Blu" additive can only be topped up by the garage with specialist equipment. Not all diesels have the DPF mine doesn't the clue is in the chassis number. Service intervals are 12500m for 2ltrD and 18000 for the D5 there is no variable option. I have covered 30000m in mine in 15 months and its boring but relaible and comfy. I have had it serviced twice at the main dealer in Carlisle both times around £220 including pick up and drop off at my office 30m away and courtesy car left. They were not the supplying dealer that was Parks in Ayr. The buying experience was shocking. I have not been back since collecting the car.

Having said that it is a very good long distance cruiser. Don't know where you live but if in rural Scotland the R design may not be best suited to the rougher roads due to silly, skinny low profile tyres and sports suspension. My opinion of the R design is that it is all fur coat and no knickers, a tarted up mess. But they do say beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Personally I prefer the "Q" car look.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/index.php

Try the link for info

Thank you, lots to think about there. I'll direct him to this and see what he reckons. I've yet to go looking at any in earnest for him, that will probably be Sunday's job. To be fair, he's after an SE ahead of a Sport or R-design. With regard to rural Scotland, my home is in the Outer Hebrides and with the odd exception, the roads are all quite bad. In fact, that's the main reason he got rid of the BMW.

The business with the DPF (stupid damned things) and the Ad-Blu stuff does pose a concern, as aside from the cost of getting the work done in the first place, our nearest Volvo dealer from Stornoway is Inverness, which means costly ferry trips.

Just about all the Parks branches are notorious for being crap, plus my own experiences buying parts off them have been diabolical. So we won't be going there!

Wife has one of these and agree it's pretty underwhelming. Personally I can't get on with the turbo lag (it's the 2.0D sport) as it seems SOOOOO much slower in accelerating compared to my Fabia vRS mk1. It's comfortable enough, and as has been said is a decent motorway cruiser, but I would never have bought one with the other possibilities at a similar (or cheaper) price. The boot size is decent enough, but depends on what you want to carry around. It's not THAT big for an estate (as you'll read in various reviews is a chief complaint) but I can also say ours has been problem free apart from the usual wear and tear items. And I haven't noticed any problems with night visibility with the dipped headlights as loskie posted, or any issues with ventilation as ours has never misted up and in fact is one of the better cars I've known that has no misting issues. And I'd avoid the sport model as I don't think it makes that much of a difference to the handling, and the ride is pretty harsh with the larger alloys and stiffer suspension (which seem kind of pointless in this car and makes for expensive replacement tyres). Ours also seems to go through headlight bulbs quite frequently, but then that might be due to the fact they are "always on" in typical Volvo style. So yeah, a decent enough car, but if you're after a decent sized estate then I think there are better examples.

I'll see if he'll consider other options, or if he just wants a V50. I'm trying to steer him towards a D5, which would take care of the acceleration issue, but we'll see. Boot space shouldn't be too much of a problem, I know it's not as voluminous as other estates but he's been getting by, albeit in cramped noisy and uncomfortable fashion, in a 1.4TDi Polo!

I think I should probably take a look at the Volvo forums and investigate the known issues etc a bit further. He's not in a massive rush to change his car, so doing the homework now should pay off.

Edited 2 November, 201015 yr by Leodhasach

D5 can be a bit thirsty and depending on the generation, a bit agricultural. They have made some improvements to it though, just not sure what they've done with regards the V50 - would need to check.

What's wrong with an Octy estate anyway?

D5 can be a bit thirsty and depending on the generation, a bit agricultural. They have made some improvements to it though, just not sure what they've done with regards the V50 - would need to check.

What's wrong with an Octy estate anyway?

Thanks for that Steve. I suppose the best thing to do is actually try a couple, along with some of the competition...which begs the question, am I able to test-drive cars at the age of 20?

Nothing at all, I think he just like Volvos at the moment! An S60 D5 would be my choice, but heyho...

Thanks for that Steve. I suppose the best thing to do is actually try a couple, along with some of the competition...which begs the question, am I able to test-drive cars at the age of 20?

depends on how much the dealer wants the sale! At 27 ford refused me a test drive on a diesel fiesta unless I put down a £500 deposit, needless to say I've never stepped foot in a ford dealership since.

Volvo's are nice cars, the old man had one between rovers about 15 years ago. He liked the comfort, space and autobox. He did like the bad mpg, vague handlering and running costs.

My best mate had the s40 2.0D se with nearly every option on the sheet added! It ended up being the most unreliable car he had owned. It had several flat batteries, a few wiring issues and it was generally a pain. In the end most issues revolved around the entertainment system and the rti satnav and Volvo on call. He has since had an impreza Sti and now is in a 185 bhp s60 D5 which he loves!

depends on how much the dealer wants the sale! At 27 ford refused me a test drive on a diesel fiesta unless I put down a £500 deposit, needless to say I've never stepped foot in a ford dealership since.

Volvo's are nice cars, the old man had one between rovers about 15 years ago. He liked the comfort, space and autobox. He did like the bad mpg, vague handlering and running costs.

That's bloody shocking, be surprised if they had much custom!

Yeah, it's the comfort and 'Volvoness' I think it's after. Hopefully the diesel will solve the running costs issue...as for vague handling, have you seen the roads where I come from?! Comfort rules all

Just depends on the dealer, and your attitude really. In my experience anyway. Also seems to depend what car you turn up in. I've trialled this successfully with intertesting cars I've borrowed... the results were impressive :yes:

Anyway, yes - just go out and see what suits. Think of the V50 as a Focus in a frock if that helps! I quite liked the way it drove to be honest, and that's really down to how good the Focus is as a starting point.

He's in his fifties, he's allowed a Volvo

Me - I'm a BIT older ,and a Volvo wouldn't be my choice , but then ,I'm a bit of a "grand pa racer " ( I love showing boy racers up on islands /corners etc) :giggle:

Just depends on the dealer, and your attitude really. In my experience anyway. Also seems to depend what car you turn up in. I've trialled this successfully with intertesting cars I've borrowed... the results were impressive :yes:

Anyway, yes - just go out and see what suits. Think of the V50 as a Focus in a frock if that helps! I quite liked the way it drove to be honest, and that's really down to how good the Focus is as a starting point.

Hmm, I may have to hide my car...but I'll let you know how I get on! I plan to visit the Perth and Stirling dealers on Sunday.

That's an interesting way of looking at it. Having compared numerous reviews and reliability surveys, I'm trying to convince him that an S60 D5 is the way forwards, much more car for the same kind of money (and much nicer IMO). He's always had saloons anyway, bar the Polo.

Me - I'm a BIT older ,and a Volvo wouldn't be my choice , but then ,I'm a bit of a "grand pa racer " ( I love showing boy racers up on islands /corners etc) :giggle:

Fair enough, but a remapped D5 would do the job nicely

That's bloody shocking, be surprised if they had much custom!

Yeah, it's the comfort and 'Volvoness' I think it's after. Hopefully the diesel will solve the running costs issue...as for vague handling, have you seen the roads where I come from?! Comfort rules all

IF the roads out there as as bad as I imagine( and I originate on the mainland,opposite Armadale) - thought you'd need a tight road sort of car .

IF the roads out there as as bad as I imagine( and I originate on the mainland,opposite Armadale) - thought you'd need a tight road sort of car .

Potholes and craters are the real problem :'(

Although to be fair, there's now a brilliant main road through Harris.

Potholes and craters are the real problem :'(

Although to be fair, there's now a brilliant main road through Harris.

craters- THOUGHT the main problem was lack of the "crater" up there :smirk: ,or road safety problem -too much .Ochone,Ochone .

craters- THOUGHT the main problem was lack of the "crater" up there :smirk: ,or road safety problem -too much .Ochone,Ochone .

Eh?

I hope you're as drunk as I am right now

I had an S40 as a (temporary) company car a couple of years ago, same thing but a saloon rather than an estate.

Mine was a 1.8i SE, so heated leather etc.. TBH the 1.8 petrol was no slouch - quicker than i expected it to be. Does your dad really need a diesel?

As others have said though - its no great shakes - a golf or octavia wagon beats it hands down in my opinion; interior space, quality, boot etc.

Having tested this, he's gone for it. Ad says cloth interior, but is actually heated black leather:

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/uvl/popup.jsp?currentaction=searchresults&e2w=3825&sort=5&did=3825&partner=TMG&postcode=iv38ex&dropdowntype=uvl&configfile=http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/dealers/3825/3825_config.xml&miles=1500&csslocation=http://dealerservices.autotrader.co.uk/dealers/3825/3825&max_records=200&id=201041370696190&distance=0

He's very happy And I'm looking forward to detailing it...

I haven't read the rest of the thread so I may well be repeating what others have said here, but anyway...

I was trying to find an economical replacement for my Audi S4 and ended up looking at Volvo V50 Sports. I think they look quite cool. I had a drive in one and hated it! The pedals are tiny and are really close to each other. It was almost impossible to drive and there was nowhere to put either of your feet if they weren't on the pedals (on cruise control for example). There was just no room whatsoever. I hated it!!! Ended up buying an Octavia VRS TDI and that has two huge footrests either side of the pedals, one for the right foot, one for the left. Brilliant!

The loads space in the V50/Focus was rubbish too. Also I didn't like the plasticy and fake leather style interior, horrible. I wouldn't recommend one. It was really slow too.