I’m in a position that I need to buy a cheap and reliable car with space for my tools that will be comfortable for a big bloke with long legs doing daily driving around 100 miles, (Yes, I know I should get my big backside out of the car and use my long legs more!).
I’m not familiar with Volvo other than thinking they have loads of room and look comfortable, and I have been looking at V50 diesel estate cars around 2010 year of manufacture.
If I do go for a V50 I know I will need help at some time and I think a good start is getting expert advice before taking any leaps into the unknown.
So I have joined the forum and come to the experts asking for your best advice please.
Am I right in thinking the V50 would be the model to go for?
I believe the XC is a 4x4, so probably not what I need?
What is the difference between the V50 and V70?
Is the 5 cylinder 2 Litre Diesel with six speed manual a good choice?
Is “Geartronic” the automatic version?
Any pitfalls I should be aware of with the V50, (other than the usual used car HPI checks)?
Hopefully you guys could narrow my focus for me.
Thanks in advance
Regards to all
GH

 

I'm not sure if "reliable" and "cheap" are the first terms that come to my mind when contemplating the purchase of a Volvo, particularly if one is considering a used one. Understand that the retail price of a used Volvo may be compellingly low, but the cost to maintain it differs little than the cost to maintain a new Volvo. Parts are fairly expensive and, unless you know of a reliable and cost-competitive indi mechanic, dealership service and repair costs are similar to other "luxury" brand prices. With this said, I own a factory ordered 2020 V90 Inscription T6 AWD estate wagon and have not experienced any real issues with it in my 49K miles/58 months of ownership. With this said, based on my experience, once entering the 8th year and beyond, repairs on most cars are the norm and, for a Volvo, will tend to be more costly than a non-premium brand. IMO, you may save on the purchase cost of a used Volvo, but may wind up paying dearly for its upkeep, unless you have very good DIY skills.

 

V50 and V70 are two different size platforms. They share many components so you'll see similar engine options. As to any used car, maintenance history is key. If the car was well cared for, it should last for 150 to 200K + miles. If not, it could be a problem from the get go. Many of the common problem areas are specific to engines and build years (Volvo never sold the diesels in the States so not a lot of experience there). yes the Geartronic is one of the Volvo automatics similar to Tiptronic that Audi/Porche offers that also has the option to be manually shifted. Dumb marketing idea if you ask me. I own a DSG with a manual shift option and I never use it - the computer is smarter than me :-) and I drove a stick for many years. Both models have the option of FWD or AWD. The XCs are a feature package that adds the AWD plus a lifted suspension and some body trim. Useful if you drive really bad or unpaved country roads. Keep in mind the Volvos use a Haldex system, which means you are a front wheel drive car until the Haldex senses slip and sends power to the rear wheels. (Audi's Torsen actually splits the torque F/R depending on conditions). Haldex is useful for bad weather but is not a high performance option.

 

Yes i see this

 

I will add that the V70 does have better space in the rear. We used to own an 850 wagon (er Estate :-) ) and it would hold as much luggage as our Toyota Highlander. So I think that would be the key differentiator. If you need to seat 5 or carry lots of stuff, the V70s the choice. If you mostly seat 1-4 and don't need the extra boot space, The V50 is what I'd go with.