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The Pub For General Automotive Related Talk |
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#1 | ||
FF.com.au SAAB Driver
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Somewhere on the Australian Coast
Posts: 209
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Anybody own one? Know someone that owns one? etc.
Interested in hearing any Aussie experiences of these newish little tanks. Dropped alot in price at the start of this year and am pretty set to get a V50 as a new-family car. Corporate rate brings the price and delivery down even more and I get 3 years/100,000Ks free scheduled servicing (of which I am wary as does not include consumables). Can anybody talk me out of it?? S40 HERE V50 HERE
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Then = 2003 XR8 Ute with Performance Brakes Now = 2006 SAAB 9-3 SportCombi with Heated Seats |
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#2 | ||
Peter Car
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: geelong
Posts: 23,145
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Wheels have had the V50 as a long term tester and have been fairly impressed by it. Its built on the same platform as the Focus and Mazda 3.
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#3 | ||
T3/Sprint8
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,334
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haha Madder don't feel embarrassed I have a soft spot for them also. Soon to update me think and the V50Wagon lowered a bit with 19's will look "out there" in the Bloody Volvo Driver ranks lol.........
I will consider when the time comes, very affordable and not bad in the quality ranks and depreciation compared to the Ford.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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#4 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
![]() Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,146
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I have heard alot of good things about them from various sources, not alot of bad things, definatly worth considering.
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#5 | ||
V8 Rock'n'Roll....
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: You got me Rootin' like a Hog, Barkin' like a Dog, Climbing trees and Jumping logs....
Posts: 1,048
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V50 T5 sounds alright.
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1 owner 03 BA XR8 Manual Sedan 208.8 rwkw stock, update soon 20x8.5 fr 20x10 rr Rumble thanks to: Sureflo Exhaust - Stainless Cat's & 3.5in single catback system "Tell 'em the guy with the Blue Mohawk sent Ya" |
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#6 | ||
Ford Power, in a Merc?
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Leura, Blue Mountains
Posts: 664
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Not sure about those but dad has one of the newish (04/05?) S80.. absolutely awesome machine.. scared lots of ricers off the lights ;) noone expects performance from a Volvo.
His wife (stepmum) has an '05 XC90.. pure pimp to drive it, so comfortable.. heaps of room, handles nicely for such a big car. |
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#7 | ||
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney
Posts: 771
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I had a lot of fun with the previous model V40 T4. Fabulous touring car & scared the hell out of alot of guys who had no idea it was packing 150kw; albeit all through the front wheels, i.e. never drive without traction control!
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2017 Mustang Lightening Blue, Cobb Intercooler, CAI, AccessPort, Turbo Blanket & V2 Exhaust, Mishimoto Down-Pipe & Overflow Tank, GFB DV+, Custom CRD Tune. Ford Performance Short Throw Shifter & Strut Brace. DBA T3 Brakes & Pads. Braided Brake Lines. H&R Coilovers. Anderson CF Track Pack Spoiler & Tailgate Panel. Blue CF/Leather Steering Wheel. |
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#8 | ||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Victoria
Posts: 268
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Very good cars - the S40/V50 have a nice chassis and the best powertrain of any car on the Ford C1 platform. Manual gearboxes are slick, 5sp autos have good logic and shift nicely. Well refined, well built, etc. 12 speaker Premium Sound Dolby PLII surround is arguably the best stereo in its class. T5's come with AWD now, move pretty well (320Nm from 1500-4800 ain't bad for torque). Even the base model moves pretty well, especially compared to the Euro competition. Plus the 5 cylinder engines have a unique warble and song when pushed.
I've driven a good few - the new model is chalk and cheese compared to the old one. Downers - storage space in the cabin isn't great, S40 headroom is a bit tight in the rear with the coupe roofline. V50 alleviates that problem. Volvo would sell a lot more cars in Australia if people would actually drive them instead of just being prejudiced towards them - ignorance really hurts them. It's funny how people think they're slow, within their respective classes, they're pretty much the best powered Euros. A base S40 comes with a 125kW 5 potter, the base A4 only has a 96kW 4 potter. |
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#9 | ||
LPG > You
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia
Posts: 4,277
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My godfather owns a 2000 or 2001 Volvo V40 1.9 T4 wagon (now replaced by V50). And it is an excellent car. The build quality is impeccable, it handles pretty well, the ride is sporty, but not too firm to be untolerable, and its very comfortable. It has just the right mix of fuel economy and grunt for an FWD car of that size and class. I love it.
I'd personally say go for the V50. You won't regret it.
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LPG Lovers Association President & Member #1. ![]() ![]() |
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#10 | ||
FF.com.au SAAB Driver
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Somewhere on the Australian Coast
Posts: 209
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Thanks all. Good to hear some other impressions of the new generations tanks.
Special thanks to Steffo, this thread would not be complete without your input and your seal of approval is especially valued. Unfortunately can't stretch to the V50 T5, even second hand. Have settled on the V50 2.4 S, NA engine and 5-speed auto. Been given a price of $44k on the road, no options. Base car is well specced anyway, instead of leather though it has a trim in a couple of different techno fabrics which I like and feels grippy. As much as I'd like 17"s at least, the standard 16"s give a much more acceptable ride. Looking to go the no-cost red paint, all other colours tend to reinforce the old Volvo conservatism (and cost $1350 extra). Ride is smooth, body tight and brakes are bitey which takes a bit of adjusting to. Visibility is a bit poor due to the extra pillar strengthening etc. Very simple inside to the point of being too simple but all controls feel nice. In case anybody is wondering, this will replace the BA XR8 Ute. Keeping the plates as Mrs Madder won't have them on the Volvo as it's the family car and enough of a target being a Volvo. I'll bide my time and get an old ute as the hauler.
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Then = 2003 XR8 Ute with Performance Brakes Now = 2006 SAAB 9-3 SportCombi with Heated Seats |
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#11 | ||
T3/Sprint8
![]() Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Australia
Posts: 16,334
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Good luck Madder I'm sure you and the family will be happy.
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Tickfords T3/TS50 '02 Sprint8 manual Sept 24 '16 Daily Macan GTS "Don't believe everything you read on the internet. Abraham Lincoln" |
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#12 | ||
SUMP PLUG
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Adelaide
Posts: 875
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No matter what model you get, go to http://www.evolvecars.com/
I have seen some of their work before and they are one of the leaders in aftermarket stuff for late model volvo's. Nice pics as well |
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#13 | ||
FTF Club Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Driving my Tickford T3 Wagon in Sydney
Posts: 3,132
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A lady friend of mine got a brand new S70. Got all the options with it. Its is a great car, but surprisingingly heavy on the juice. The car is luxurary but in other aspects its not. The ride is nice, cant really corner (but that can be fixed). Little or no room in the back seat. Stereo is Bose and sounds good. The woodgrain is a plastic stick on, over the grey or cream coloured plastic. Sunroof has minimal noise. Overall a nice car, not to many faults that I have heard from her about from fuel consumtion.
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Albert Einstein: Es ist schwieriger, eine vorgefaßte Meinung zu zertrümmern als ein Atom. (It is more difficult to alter a preconception than split an atom) Falcon Tickford FPV (FTF) Car Club of NSW Fords in the Park 2010 I use and recommend Stingray Car Security. http://www.stingraycar.com.au/ |
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#14 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Victoria
Posts: 268
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Quote:
Stereo is actually made by Mitsubishi Electric, speakers made by Harman in Sweden. Higher end Volvos have Danish Dynaudio speakers, Alpine amps, etc. They're one of the few manufacturers in the world that have in house audio in car entertainment engineers, most other manufacturers outsource audio/don't put that much effort in. |
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#15 | ||
FTF Club Moderator
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Driving my Tickford T3 Wagon in Sydney
Posts: 3,132
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S70 Lagom
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Albert Einstein: Es ist schwieriger, eine vorgefaßte Meinung zu zertrümmern als ein Atom. (It is more difficult to alter a preconception than split an atom) Falcon Tickford FPV (FTF) Car Club of NSW Fords in the Park 2010 I use and recommend Stingray Car Security. http://www.stingraycar.com.au/ |
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#16 | |||
Regular Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Victoria
Posts: 268
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Quote:
The S70 was replaced by the S60 back in 2000. |
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