USED Volvo V50 Estate (04 - )

My car

Bought this car second hand back in July and have covered 10k miles since. I am very impressed with the car - it looks smart, goes like stink and does very good miles to the gallon (glad I went for the manual over the auto box as better miles to gallon.

I used to own an Alfa 159 Sportwagon before and all I can say is that the Volvo drives like the Alfa should have done. It has great acceleration and the rumble from the exhaust is great

Inside it is very comfortable and oozes quality. The SE model I have has great kit - auto wipers, DAB radio, leather seats etc.

Would strongly recommend this car to all my friends.

My car

I have had my 09 company car (march2009) 2 1/4 years now (at July1011 82 k miles). It has the DSG type autobox and with cruise control is very relaxing to drive. However mpg is very poor and has never increased from new. I do very long mway trips and even in manual mode in 6th, only get 43 pmp which means about 420 miles a trip before tank light is on and 45 litres to fill back up. That is at 70 mph or less!! 150 mile trip at 60mph constant only achieved 47 mpg. Load room is small and needed to remove wheel to get mountain bike in with seats down! Probably going for a passat next due to lower co2 and more room. Great fun to drive though and relaxing. TX fluid had to be renewed at 78k miles as autobox started to change gear all the time even in manual mode. Also fuel tank pickup fell off in tank stranding car. Footnote this diesel will not autobleed if it runs out of fuel and requires garage assistance!

My car

Having owned a current model BMW 3 Series Touring, and also tried the Audi A4 I can only say for the money the Volvo is a far better all round package. I have had a few V50's and they are fun to drive, and doing upwards of 25k miles a year you certainly know the difference between getting out of the Volvo after a long trip and the uncomfortable seats in the BMW. The D4 engine is quite throaty, but not in a bad way, and very quick. Having had a D2 engine previously, for anyone that is more interested in the economy, this was a cracking engine with surprisingly good pull for a 1.6 diesel. I can't speak highly enough of the V50,there are quite a few pre registered examples about which get over the comments about it being expensive, as a pre reg car I certainly couldn't find anything of comparable quality, performance and spec to my D4 R Design for c£20k. In the R design spec it also looks really striking in the Ice White. Volvo dealers are also good, and actually seem to appreciate your business. Before you order your BMW and spend a fortune adding the bits others give as standard try the V50, you won't be dissapointed!

My car

Had my volvo about 3 months now. Bought it when it was a year old, so nearly half list price already (specced up this "focus estate" is almost £31,500!! Car was poorly prepared by Arnold Clark, Aberdeen, bit I have since cleaned it up myself and it does look pretty smart in its Black Met paint. It drives very well indeed, slightly sporty but with a comfort that focuses don't have, and with a lot more class. This car has leather, sat nav, a very good HIGH performance stereo, bluetooth, keyless go, sunroof, laminated glass (which, apart from safety, makes it quite a hushed cabin) and several other options that make it a classy interior. As i haven't had to service it yet I will give 4 stars for driving and running costs. this is due to the engine. It only averages about 54mpg ( i didn't expect 74mpg as the books say, but i was hoping for high 50's), a really light foot will give yo more, but you will have to have an extremely light foot. 70mph the car does 55mpg, which i would say is average to poor for a 1.6 diesel. Obviously road tax is great at £20, which does help. The engine also has a flat spot at 1000-1200 revs so has no torque at all, which doesn't help when u pull out of junctions, and it does run out of puff at 3500+. Mid range ok and its can cruise all day at legal speeds. Cabin quality very good, with easy to use Sat Nav, stereo, cruise and heating controls.