I'm looking to replace my A3 with something bigger so I don't have to squeeze the bikes in any more, I love the Audi but it's just too small, so far I've looked at A4's, 3series and passats, saw a V50 in the car park earlier and realised I'd completely overlooked them, just wondered what peoples opinions were off them,
If your only comment is something about Audi drivers being w*****s then your opinion is not required here!
We've got one, nice car. BUild quality's pretty good, nice quiet smooth ride (for a car with low profile tyres). Better for driving than the (pretty basic) octavia it replaced, but the octavia did have a bigger boot
they are, so well done for moving
ca i open the thread up a bit by asking for comments on the v70 and the smaller xc (the estate car thing not the big jeep type thing)?
Had one for a year as a co. car, I replaced it with an Octavia which was a much better car. More space, better economy, more refined
Forgot about Octavias as well! Might have have to go see a few of them!
Hiya,
I bought a V50 D5 R Design Sport, second hand in Feb.
I actually moved from an A3 as well!
I've always liked Volvo and I wanted something a bit out of the ordinary...
I can't fault the build quality and the D5 Diesel engine is a beauty (5 cylinder, 189bhp)and makes a lovely noise, though the 2.0 and 1.6 engines are more efficient.
I love the 'hanging' centre console and the layout of the car. Sport models come with different suspension, and a stiffening bar across the top of the engine bay. R-design models add nice design touches inside, 2 tone leather seats a spoiler and a body kit.
Thanks to the built in roof rails, I can use Volvo roof bars and 2x thule cycle carriers to get both our bikes on the car with no paint damage (Unlike the damage you get with carriers that rest from the top of the rear door)and that leaves loads of space inside without the danger of getting oil all over the inside of the roof!
That said I'm heading to Glentress soon and I recon I can easily shift 3 blokes, 3 bikes and all our camping gear.
if I used the old rear mounted carrier I think I could push it to 5! it'd be cosy but possible 🙂
My recommendation.... Get yourself a (2nd hand) test drive at your local dealer.
Volvo have a nifty car searcher on their website that lets you look at all the cars on the books UK wide...
Have fun...
Spooky. I replaced my A3 with a V50 R Design 18 months ago. I'd also looked at A4's, etc and hadn't considered V50.
Any hoo. Overall I'm impresses by the V50, well put together, nice design touches, decent engine.
The only issue I have found is the boot size, which lets face it ain't great.
have had a v50 2.0D SE for 6 years, bought 12 months old now has 130,000 miles, will keep until it dies. cam belt at 144k or 10 years, has been very reliable, 46 mpg whether you do 70 or 90.
solid as a rock, good at towing
Comfy, pop up booster seats great for kids and unplanned trips.
very good stereo
still looks good compared to most
leather seats very comfy.
Wish i could afford another on, but no longer get money instead of company car.
Another v50 owner here, great all round family car, we've got the sluggish 1.6 diesel edrive but it is road tax free! Use a Thule toward rack and a removable towbar to shift blokes and bikes and this combo works well. All models seem to come with a good amount of kit. I am guessing they will be discontinued at some point soon as they are based on the old focus chassis.
I had a V50 2.0 diesel for 180k km (company car) & I really liked it.
Liked it enough to actually buy a C30 for my OH so I guess that says I was sufficiently happy 🙂
Up until 8 weeks ago I was working on component development with Volvo, and they certainly make a good car. Right up there with Audi/VW in terms of quality. I guess the new V40 is not in your radar for a purchase. (this is a lovely car)
Yep we've got one. Bought at 3yrs old, now 7yrs old and been as good as gold. We had one issue with some electronics gizmo, but even though it was way out of warranty Volvo covered most of the cost of replacement.
Great car, not mega economics, mine was 2l diesel one. The boot is not really that big, nothing like as big as vectra/mondeo boot.
If you want big hen v70 or elass estate or better value a superb estate.
I had a V50 2.0D for three years and found it to be a fine, solid, reliable if a little uninspiring car. The biggest issue with them is that they are nothing like as big as you'd imagine a Volvo estate to be. Room in the back is pretty restricted and the boot isn't that big either.
It's basically a Ford Focus, actually no bigger than the A3 sport back. I bought it for the same reason people all over the world buy Volvos - I became a dad.
Ironically, the imminent arrival of number two meant I had to change it for something bigger. With my driver's seat where I want it, I couldn't get a baby seat in behind me and my son's legs were cramped against the back of the seat if he were behind me rather than the baby seat.
I ended up going for the V70 and actually ended up back with a petrol. They are a good second hand buy as no one wants a big petrol engine these days, but I do fairly low mileage so financially it was more or less cost neutral.
My V50 was six years old and had 80k miles on the clock and was going to need a new DPF filter which I was told would cost about £700.
Spot on geetee, we had to sell ours because of the lack of width, we couldnt get 3 cars seat across the back.
It was a lovely car, nice seats and good interior but we needed something bigger. Kia Sedona now, so couldnt really go much bigger!!