D5 185, 202 or 215?

[850Chris]

Guys,

This has just come to market fairly local to me, and ticks most of the boxes I'm after (I'm unusual in that I want manual).

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classifi...code=p&adPos=9

HOWEVER, it's an SE rather than SE Lux. What toys would I be missing and is the stereo in the SE reasonable?

Thanks

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by 850Chris

HOWEVER, it's an SE rather than SE Lux.

I believe the only difference is that the SE Lux has this for a gear knob.

[I-S]

Looking at that, basically all you miss out on are electric driver's seat and Xenons.

High Performance Audio is decent enough - and i say that as a recovering audiophile (and amplifier designer!). A car is never a great environment and it does the job.

[spitz]

Originally Posted by 850Chris

HOWEVER, it's an SE rather than SE Lux. What toys would I be missing and is the stereo in the SE reasonable?

Thanks

I have the HPA in my 2012 V70 and am consistently impressed with the sound it produces, especially with a USB connected iPod which permanently lives under the arm rest.

On the minus side I don't see any parking sensors which might be a big miss (could just be the pics). I would be very nervous if I did not have at least a rear set in mine!

Hope this helps.

[RM955I]

I have an SE Premium...which is pretty well a Lux LOL.

It's missing the Xenoms and has different 17 wheels but other than that seems pretty much the same... it has NAV (it's rubbish despite updating it - the routing is bizarre, I mean really bizarre, so I've gone back to my TomTom) rear entertainment system, leather etc. I can't say that with DAB, Bluetooth, leather, heated electric seats etc I feel particularly like a pauper in my SE Premium, particularly as it's a twin turbo D5. I think some of the kit was optional as the owner specced it up a bit...and the dealer contributed as some retard registered it on 31 December meaning it is down as an 09 not a 2010 as it really is...can't say I blame the previous owner for going 'ape'.

[Finbo]

Looking at the photos, it does have parking sensors.

[850Chris]

Just a quick update on this to say that we've ended up buying a Skoda Octavia Scout as the family wagon. A very capable car. I'll get my coat!

V50 remains my daily driver though, so happy all round!

[Tim Griffith]

Originally Posted by dme123

The twin turbo engines (202bhp and 215bhp) are miles better than the old one. More refined, smoother power delivery, and the few weaknesses with the D5 (swirl flap arm) seems to be finally fixed. There is the odd case of HGF on the 202bhp and economy is improved quite a bit with the 215bhp engine too.

Either twin turbo D5 will remap to 250bhp+ and give even a proper HPT T5 a hard time, let alone the LPT 2.5 version.

Hi- I've just bought a 2015 v70 (D5 215bhp). Thinking of having a remap done, but have seen some comments elsewhere about issues arising from this. Sounds like you might have some first hand experience, any thoughts would be gratefully received!

[Tatsfield]

I have a 215 bhp D5. I had the Polestar optimisation applied. My reasoning was:

a) It's a Volvo option and so the insurers were not worried about it, especially as it's called an "optimisation" and not a "powertune"
b) Once installed it lives in the ECU software permanently, unlike non Volvo rewrites which are erased if the software is routinely updated by Volvo as part of routine servicing.
c) The optimisation covers other areas of software such as the auto box control. I heard that 4C suspension also is altered but I doubted that.

Overall the effects of the optimisation are to produce a more tractable and powerful car. I wouldn't go back to the original spec now that I am used to the Polestar levels of performance. It's not race track but it is great for street driving. There are a lot of BMWs out there who have been surprised by my old "furniture van"!

Polestar is not cheap and it's worth shopping around for discounts and certainly worth asking for them. I paid about £500 for the £800 package and combined with it being a business tax deduction and VAT recoverable in my business its real cost was around £200 which was really worthwhile.