Any Volvo V50 Owners or Experience Here?

**Buster Highmen** · 09-06-2006, 11:53 AM

What's your experience?

**Flexon Phil** · 09-06-2006, 12:43 PM

The P1/C1 platform is very nice. To get AWD, you need to go with the T5 motor. Still has the Volvo quirks. IMHO better off with a Subie or even a Mazda6 wagon.

**Buster Highmen** · 09-06-2006, 12:45 PM

What quirks?

Plus, please note that I'm asking for experience with the car.

**Flexon Phil** · 09-06-2006, 12:59 PM

I was with Volvo as a salesperson from 97-05, I had 2 years with the 2004.5-06 S40/V50. There were various quirks, mostly electrical and piddly fit issues where customers were coming back and forth to the dealership.

Never owned one, but logged quite a few miles.

**Buster Highmen** · 09-06-2006, 01:43 PM

I didn't think Mazda offered awd/4wd on the 6.

**ccwaskier** · 09-06-2006, 01:50 PM

I just got rid of a volvo v70 xc. The car worked well through 80k and then became unusable. Every week or two a new noise or warning light on and another grand of repairs. A year of that and we said enough is enough and got a new car. As with any european car they get expensive after 70-100k, but this volvo was terrible. I would not buy another volvo after this experience and this is coming from a family who has had volvo's for decades. Our volvo 240 is still running strong. I would stay away from the newer volvos.

**Hutch** · 09-06-2006, 01:55 PM

I test drove one and didn't like it because it was white.

**Mofro261** · 09-06-2006, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by ccwaskier

I just got rid of a volvo v70 xc. The car worked well through 80k and then became unusable. Every week or two a new noise or warning light on and another grand of repairs. A year of that and we said enough is enough and got a new car. As with any european car they get expensive after 70-100k, but this volvo was terrible. I would not buy another volvo after this experience and this is coming from a family who has had volvo's for decades. Our volvo 240 is still running strong. I would stay away from the newer volvos.

Ouch... My V70XC now has 66K, (turned 5yrs yesterday) has been great with no problems/electrical etc. Doesn't handle as well in the snow as a subie, though the comparision isn't completely valid since the subie was a stick shift v. the V70 automatic.

No experience with the V50.

**Buster Highmen** · 09-06-2006, 03:14 PM

My trusty Audi A4 Avant manual (which also gets a lot of hearnaysaying) is at 137k. I've got a lot of driving queued up for the winter and thought that maybe the V50 might be a decent option to blowing another $40k on an Audi.

All I want is an AWD station wagon w/manual that:
0) gets better than 22 mpg
1) Can really carry the family and their gear.
2) Less than $36k.

The candidates are:
0) Various subie flavors
1) Volvo V50 T5
2) VW Passat 4motion
3) Used.

what else is there?

Not considerable:
Any SUV
BMW 325Ix SW - too small

**ccwaskier** · 09-06-2006, 03:24 PM

Originally Posted by Mofro261

Ouch... My V70XC now has 66K, (turned 5yrs yesterday) has been great with no problems/electrical etc. Doesn't handle as well in the snow as a subie, though the comparision isn't completely valid since the subie was a stick shift v. the V70 automatic.

No experience with the V50.

Mine was a 98, first production year, so hopefully yours will continue running well and they fixed the problems.

**ccwaskier** · 09-06-2006, 03:29 PM

I just replaced my v70 xc with a passat 3.6 4motion. I drove the subie 2.5 xt, passat and audi a4. I liked the feel of the audi and the passat and the size of the passat over the a4. The 3.6 is fast and has been driving well. I just got it a few weeks ago, so we'll see how the awd does this winter. It seems like you get a lot of car for the money with the passat

**El Chupacabra** · 09-06-2006, 03:29 PM

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

I didn't think Mazda offered awd/4wd on the 6.

I think it's only on the "Mazdaspeed" version of the 6, sedan configuration only. Kinda like the Subaru Legacy spec B version of their sedan.

**Buster Highmen** · 09-06-2006, 03:37 PM

Is the Passat 3.6 available w/ manual? I thought it was, but I'm finding that it's automatic only.

ola.

**PNWbrit** · 09-06-2006, 04:09 PM

Buster - should you decide to go the Subaru route I'd highly recommend contacting Joe Spitz sales@cartersubarudotcom. Least hassle and bullshit of any new car purchase I've ever had.

**ccwaskier** · 09-06-2006, 05:08 PM

3.6 4motion is only auto, but i hear they are coming out with a 2.0t 4motion, which might be manual

**truberski** · 09-06-2006, 05:15 PM

I swore off Volvo's after terrible experience with 2000 XC70. I am not a lease person but that is the only way I would ever have one again. Unlike your parents Volvo they do not accumulate miles gracefully and are expensive to maintain.

**Dr. Crash** · 09-06-2006, 06:15 PM

Originally Posted by Buster Highmen

Is the Passat 3.6 available w/ manual? I thought it was, but I'm finding that it's automatic only.

ola.

The 4motions are only automatic. Friggin' 'mericans.

**ccwaskier** · 09-06-2006, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by Dr. Crash

The 4motions are only automatic. Friggin' 'mericans.

Europe gets all the cool cars. Nice sportwagons, awd and diesel. An a4 3.0TDI would be a great ski car. Too bad they don't bring them to the US.

**BakerBoy** · 09-06-2006, 06:47 PM

When we were thinking about shopping for a new wagon, it pretty much came down to the Volvo V50 T5 wagon and the Subaru Legacy GT. With almost all of the options in the Volvo that come standard in the Subaru, it's very nearly the same price (within a grand or two). I wasn't super impressed with the engine in the V50, but the ergonomics were nice. Build quality of the Volvo's was a little nicer, but it really came down to Euro/Volvo styling vs. Japanese styling, and we ended up buying neither. If I went a bought a wagon tomorrow, it'd be the Legacy GT for sure, simply because the engine is far healthier, and I like the torque split of the AWD better. Both of them take premium gas, of course. Which is down to $3.19 at Arco in B'ham.

ccwa: I would LOVE to have that car. And a diesel 4-door long bed Toyota Tacoma. Fuckers.

**Aldo** · 09-06-2006, 10:14 PM

used Audi certified pre-owned A4 1.8t Avant w/6speed. 04ish. Shop it around buy the lowest mileage, totally updated (& more economical) version of your car for a little over half of what you originally paid.

But remember, Audis suck!

**LeeLau** · 09-06-2006, 10:25 PM

I'm going to replace a V70XC- currently looking at either a Four Runner because the clearance on the V50 isn't that great and I'm not sure I want another V70.

I did want a V50 due to the better mileage and might get the V50 and just borrow a beater truck if I need to get someplace sketchy where I need more clearance.
I can vouch for the V50's electroinics being a bit spotty in quality having heard from friends who own one.

**riderspro** · 09-06-2006, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by ccwaskier

passat 3.6 4motion

Nice looking car. Does it have the same brake rotors as a BMW? You know, the ones that deteriorate along with the pads and have to be replaced every 20,000 miles or so?

**Buster Highmen** · 09-07-2006, 10:34 AM

Originally Posted by Aldo

used Audi certified pre-owned A4 1.8t Avant w/6speed. 04ish. Shop it around buy the lowest mileage, totally updated (& more economical) version of your car for a little over half of what you originally paid.

But remember, Audis suck!

Oh yes, they do suck. But if I go the used route, it will likely be a manual allroad. If I'm gonna have turbos, the thing might as well charge.

**shmerham** · 09-07-2006, 01:21 PM

Can't speak on reliability, but my friend often rents S40's from zipcar. He also drove my a4 1.8T when I had it. He loves the S40 (which is the sedan version of the v50). It's the fwd version btw. He says the ergonomics are incredible, the ride is great (more luxurious than the audi but not quite as sporty).