Need a new wing mirror!

[Doggy]

Volvo C30 (2006 - 2009)

Really good looking coupe, on theme of 1800ES and 480. Best with 2.5 turbo engine and 17-inch wheels. Outstanding handling. 2.0D Powershift auto works well.

Not so good with D5 diesel and Geartronic autobox. Expensive problems with diesels more than three years old.

[Bailes1992]

I don't particularly buy that about the D5. The only issues are Emmisions related and there are lots of D5s around with 200k+!

That said a T5 with a gas conversion is an option but it means being without a car for a week.

My biggest issue is weather to get an R-Design Sport or an SE Lux with all the toys.

[steve_earwig]

Volvo C30 (2006 - 2009)

Really good looking coupe, on theme of 1800ES and 480. Best with 2.5 turbo engine and 17-inch wheels. Outstanding handling. 2.0D Powershift auto works well.

Not so good with D5 diesel and Geartronic autobox. Expensive problems with diesels more than three years old.

I wouldn't worry overly what Onanist John says, he pretty much condemns the 406 from start to finish but it's all worst case scenario, none of it accounts for the majority of cars that never actually go wrong. Far better would be to find a decent owner's club forum and ask there. Trouble is they're few and far between, as Welly's found with volvu forums, I've found with TOC and Sam's found with VPCUK (Volvo performance? Hur hur hur)

Still, are these Ford parts bin jobs we're talking about here?

[Welly]

I mustard mitt the only problems I've heard on the Volvo forum about the D5 is this sloshy-oil thing and the not so diesel-like fuel economy. Oh and some have had sluggish forward progress something about a software doo-dad.

You can get an older D5 that doesn't piss itself but they're only found in the bigger cars, these are very reliable in general.

I'd avoid the R-Design with the white seat inserts, they look horrid when dirty and impossible to keep clean.

Bailes you change your mind about cars every other day so I'm expecting you to buy an Alfa Romeo at the moment

In fact I've got someone running a book on this one; 13:48 GMT Voxhorl Astra at 10:1 favourite

[Bailes1992]

I always thought the V50/S40/C30 were just made from ford parts but I've heard a few times now that people have bought focus parts to find they are totally different to the Volvo items. I think very few parts are actually shared, just uses the same floorpan.

I'm the sort of person that if I see something I want I know it straight away. I was thinking about previous cars but never actually went for any of them because they really didn't tickle my pickle. The C30 D5 does however!
I quite like the R-Design seats. My Dad had them in his V50, biggest issue was due transfer from jeans.

[steve_earwig]

So it'll be ok if you don't wear trousers

[Welly]

So it'll be ok if you don't wear trousers

Nah, the best fix is to have the seats trimmed in Blue Denim and the driver has to wear white leather trousers.

Bailes my S40 is festooned in Ford parts; all of the suspension, the expansion tank , the intercooler, all of the wiring looms, there's FoMoCo labels everywhere under the bonnet. Every time I've ordered a sussy part in comes in a bag with 'Focus' listed on it.

The S40 and V50 shares the same underpinnings as a Focus but they do not behave the same, the Volvo's were slowed down and don't feel as pointy or as lively. Maybe the C30 drives more like a Focus does?

[Bailes1992]

In all fairness the Volvo probably had the parts before ford started fitting them to the focus. It's probably just made by ford.
Welly, didn't you buy some focus rear suspension bits to find they didn't fit?

In leaning more towards an SE Lux rather than an R-Design Sport. Ideally I'd want an R-Design SE but they are quite rare.
The R-Design has 10mm lower suspension and a 10% quicker steering rack. But to be fair I'd quite happily spend the money up rating the cars handling a little bit of I felt it needed it.

I didn't realise that all new Volvo 2.0 diesel (D3 & D4) are 5pots!

[Welly]

When Ford took over they started the cost-cutting stuff, paper-thin condensers and mediocre suspension stuff.....all of which lasted about 50K miles. Ford are very good at cost cutting and building things down to a price but some would say this is at the detriment to long-term quality; something Volvo were renowned for. I guess some would argue that it is unprofitable to make a car that lasts really well.....

When Ford finally let go and Geely took over (2010??) then perhaps the Ford parts-bin stuff ended, I don't know. What I do know is that EVERYTHING that has failed on my Volvo can be attributed to Ford.

[OllieNZ]

On the diesel/ oil dilution issue the 1.6hdis do the same. My remap has since solved the issue. If you keep the dpf clear it's not an issue, basically a blocked dpf forces the diesel back past the rings topping up your oil for you [emoji35]

[STALLED]

Always found the S40s to be a bit small - especially in the back.

Thought about getting one to replace the Fiesta, but manual ones are rare as hens teeth here. Most seem to have a slushbox or the failtronic.

[Bailes1992]

My Dads V50 was cramped in the rear. And considering it's an estate you couldn't do much load lugging with it either!

Picked the mirror up yesterday. It was +Vat so £192.

[Welly]

On the diesel/ oil dilution issue the 1.6hdis do the same. My remap has since solved the issue. If you keep the dpf clear it's not an issue, basically a blocked dpf forces the diesel back past the rings topping up your oil for you [emoji35]

That makes sense to me, the diesel is injected on the exhaust stroke...the piston can 'see' the blocked filter...so the diesel gets forced past the rings like a leaking syringe.

[Bailes1992]

Really liking the thought of a training shoe with a 2.4 litre diesel lump in it! I'm hoping with some mods it will be a quick car! Best thing about driving the C30 though is once you get off twisty roads it really settles down and feels like a much bigger car!
One criticism I have for the C30/S40/V50 is the steering wheel is HUGE!

[Welly]

One criticism I have for the C30/S40/V50 is the steering wheel is HUGE!

It is, it's too big. Apparently the R-Design wheel feels much nicer to use but are expensive £££

Check out Shark Performance, they do nice remaps and Milltek eggsauce systems.