Volvo V50 - everything has potential!

[cortinaman]

I've just got rid of my daily driver Volvo V50 D2 R-design, which did me well for nearly 10 years before expiring in an expensive way - so while looking for modified V50s I thought I would share the results with the class.

from here





Does it have potential?

[Littlepixel]

Absolutely. On my shopping list if/when my Foz dies.

[tonycocacola]

These were on my radar as a replacement for my last daily. Then I found out I was going to be a grandad, so I ended up with a C4 Grand Picasso.

😲☹️😁

[neilsdavies]

My Dad has got one of these on a 58 plate, says its mainly Ford Focus underneath. He's looked at replacing it a few times but hasn't found anything he likes enough!

[cortinaman]

Nov 24, 2019 22:06:54 GMT neilsdavies said:

My Dad has got one of these on a 58 plate, says its mainly Ford Focus underneath. He's looked at replacing it a few times but hasn't found anything he likes enough!

They are Ford Focus underneath - so plenty of modifying potential. I only got rid of mine when it became uneconomical to repair.

[kenb]

Yes I have a 56 plate V50 diesel sport. This actually replaced a newer 59 plate Mazda 6, because it had developed more faults than a politician. Have to say its just as fast if not faster than the Maz was, but i did choose it because of its Ford underpinnings. (read cheap to fix basically). I was actually surprised how well it towed too, when I took my Corsair to the NEC on a trailer behind it. Never been a fan of front wheel drive cars for towing, but it towed really well.

Love the stance of the Ovlov in the top pic, not sure I can handle the insurance bill for another modified car though right now.

[ianw]

We have a 2007 V50 2.0D R-Design as the family car, brilliant all rounder, would recommend to anyone.

Needs better headlights would be only complaint, standard halogens is like driving with candles.

[kenb]

Nov 25, 2019 13:29:21 GMT ianw said:

We have a 2007 V50 2.0D R-Design as the family car, brilliant all rounder, would recommend to anyone.

Needs better headlights would be only complaint, standard halogens is like driving with candles.

What a co incidence, just this morning I fitted some 150% brighter bulbs from Halfrauds as I've always thought the same thing. Coming back from the NEC recently I drove the Corsair home, the wife followed in the V50, you could visibly see the standard halogens weren't a patch on other cars in the rear view mirror. They were more of a yellowy light. The wife just recently bought a Fiat 500 Abarth, but the dipped headlights on that were truly dreadful, so I fitted the same uprated bulbs to that yesterday evening and the difference was instantly apparent just in our yard. So I'm hoping I'll get the same results on my V50. Will know when i come home from work later tonight.

[ianw]

Nov 25, 2019 14:16:19 GMT kenb said:

Nov 25, 2019 13:29:21 GMT ianw said:

We have a 2007 V50 2.0D R-Design as the family car, brilliant all rounder, would recommend to anyone.

Needs better headlights would be only complaint, standard halogens is like driving with candles.

What a co incidence, just this morning I fitted some 150% brighter bulbs from Halfrauds as I've always thought the same thing. Coming back from the NEC recently I drove the Corsair home, the wife followed in the V50, you could visibly see the standard halogens weren't a patch on other cars in the rear view mirror. They were more of a yellowy light. The wife just recently bought a Fiat 500 Abarth, but the dipped headlights on that were truly dreadful, so I fitted the same uprated bulbs to that yesterday evening and the difference was instantly apparent just in our yard. So I'm hoping I'll get the same results on my V50. Will know when i come home from work later tonight.

Interested in hearing of they made a difference to yours. I was going to buy some Osram bulbs a few weeks ago but felt like I was may have been wasting my money...

[kenb]

Nov 25, 2019 21:36:55 GMT ianw said:

Nov 25, 2019 14:16:19 GMT kenb said:

What a co incidence, just this morning I fitted some 150% brighter bulbs from Halfrauds as I've always thought the same thing. Coming back from the NEC recently I drove the Corsair home, the wife followed in the V50, you could visibly see the standard halogens weren't a patch on other cars in the rear view mirror. They were more of a yellowy light. The wife just recently bought a Fiat 500 Abarth, but the dipped headlights on that were truly dreadful, so I fitted the same uprated bulbs to that yesterday evening and the difference was instantly apparent just in our yard. So I'm hoping I'll get the same results on my V50. Will know when i come home from work later tonight.

Interested in hearing of they made a difference to yours. I was going to buy some Osram bulbs a few weeks ago but felt like I was may have been wasting my money...

Yes they did make a difference much brighter, though I wouldn't put the improvement as good as it was on the wifes Barth. I guess it comes down to the different headlamp designs, the Ovlov having those stupid globe type headlamps. I had exactly the same issue with the Mazda 6 I mentioned in an earlier post, that had the same globe type headlamps and I could only improve that at the time by buying the PIAA bulbs which cost a bloody fortune.

[ianw]

Treated the V50 to a set of Osram Night breakers and some matching side lights. Must say, they have really modernised the light output, a nice white light compared to the previous yellow glow. I've only observed the output on the drive way but they certainly seem nice and bright!

[NudgerSS]

I was tempted by one of these before I ended buying my Celica. Always loved the boxy design of Volvos. However, the wife hasn’t....

[waynedear]

Noticing the almost ‘shed’ price some petrol 2.4’s have become.

[BellyBuilder]

I turned down a v50 from a family member that was mint and pretty much for free. I just couldn't see the point in having it and my mk6 Golf hatch. The boot is small for an estate, the stereo system is carp and there's loads of unnecessary buttons, it goes like a slug, the key is in a really stupid position so you hit it every time you indicate etc. etc.

I just couldn't see the point in taking it on!

[Jem45]

Non-slug engines are available - there are D5 and T5 versions of the V50. That's 183 and 225 horses standard, respectively and you'll get the D5 into the 220s easily enough. There are some excellent stereo options in modern Volvos too.