V50 General : - 99' C70 T5 to 04' V50 T5

lee5595 · Aug 18th, 2011, 18:43

Hey all,

Not new to forum but never ventured into this bit as i have a 1999 C70 T5, however after getting a dog (GSD) i need an estate. Just after any comments from owners old and new of V50 T5 Geartronic, any probs or things to look out for.

They seem to be coming down in price and as i dont do many miles the fuel side of things isn't really a problem.

Am i right in thinking these are essentially a Ford Foocus? If so are they as well built/reliable as the cars built in Volvo days?

Thanks in advance

Dave Z · Aug 20th, 2011, 02:39

Well, i own a manual V50 T5 so i can't comment on the gearbox, but everything else is spot on. The price is the big winner. I bought mine when it was only 2 1/2 years old from a main Volvo dealer. It was fully loaded and in mint condition and cost about the same as a new poverty spec Fiesta after i'd px'd my crap old Alfa 156.

The basic platform it's built on is the same as the Focus, but it's much more solid and better put together. I'd never have guessed there was any blue oval bits under it. It feels nice and premium inside, especially with an SE or higher spec. All the buttons are damped and plenty of soft touch plastics.

And of course, the best bit. The T5. One of the best things about the V50 is that no-one would expect it to charge away from the lights the way that it can. I do love putting people in their place with my boring estate. I get very excited when some ponce in a modified Saxo or Golf GTi or BMW 318i (with M badge!) decides to hang off my back bumper. Drop a cog, hit the gas and watch them disappear. Even if you have a flat-pack wardrobe in the back.

biggs312800 · Aug 20th, 2011, 23:49

Hi there I have the s40 t5 se geartronic and love it. it's nice and smooth when you want a nice relaxing drive. And has the power of the kick down when you wanna overtake. Also another upside is the semi auto box flick it to the left and oh boy lots of fun on the back country lanes. This is my first auto box and love it. And like Dave said u can leave people behind and gob smacked. I've had to take the t5 off the back of mine I kept getting to many young kids in 1.2s trying to race me (ha no chance)

t5_monkey · Aug 21st, 2011, 09:15

Mines an 04 never had any serious issues, just bits and bobs (electrical mainly) but they are fairly solidly built if not up to the standards of 80's volvos.

Compared to an older T5 in standard spec you'll find that the V50 T5 is very refined, smooth, quiet, not very boosty and a bit dull - It doesn't feel like a turbo car standard (just like it has a huge engine - up to 5k anyway)

That said the handling DNA is focus so it'll go around corners better. The car really comes to life with a few mods.

Basically it's one of the best chassis in the business turned into a boring, big car feeling GT.

Things to watch.... Cracked cylinder liners, Vibration from the DMF and they do have electrical niggles although none of them serious (Fuel pressure sensor being one) and the MAF on these tends to last about 5 years.

Brakes are quite spongy till you put on braided brake lines, they come in 300mm and 320mm depending on the model (and if you have 17" or 18" wheels) so look out for that, the 320 brakes are much better.

Also the gearbox mount on the manual wears and becomes sloppy that's an easy fix though.

lee5595 · Aug 22nd, 2011, 23:25

Thanks guys, gonna go see one this week.....and a V70 as a back up choice

Aug 18th, 2011, 18:43	#1
lee5595 Junior Member Last Online: Mar 4th, 2023 18:46 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Darlington View Photos By: lee5595	99' C70 T5 to 04' V50 T5 Hey all, Not new to forum but never ventured into this bit as i have a 1999 C70 T5, however after getting a dog (GSD) i need an estate. Just after any comments from owners old and new of V50 T5 Geartronic, any probs or things to look out for. They seem to be coming down in price and as i dont do many miles the fuel side of things isn't really a problem. Am i right in thinking these are essentially a Ford Foocus? If so are they as well built/reliable as the cars built in Volvo days? Thanks in advance Last edited by lee5595; Aug 18th, 2011 at 19:29.

Aug 20th, 2011, 02:39	#2
Dave Z Junior Member Last Online: Apr 10th, 2024 12:56 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Market Harborough	Well, i own a manual V50 T5 so i can't comment on the gearbox, but everything else is spot on. The price is the big winner. I bought mine when it was only 2 1/2 years old from a main Volvo dealer. It was fully loaded and in mint condition and cost about the same as a new poverty spec Fiesta after i'd px'd my crap old Alfa 156. The basic platform it's built on is the same as the Focus, but it's much more solid and better put together. I'd never have guessed there was any blue oval bits under it. It feels nice and premium inside, especially with an SE or higher spec. All the buttons are damped and plenty of soft touch plastics. And of course, the best bit. The T5. One of the best things about the V50 is that no-one would expect it to charge away from the lights the way that it can. I do love putting people in their place with my boring estate. I get very excited when some ponce in a modified Saxo or Golf GTi or BMW 318i (with M badge!) decides to hang off my back bumper. Drop a cog, hit the gas and watch them disappear. Even if you have a flat-pack wardrobe in the back. __________________ Current: C70 2.3 T5 GT (Non-Swedes: Kia Sportage PHEV, Kia Optima SW PHEV) Past: V50 1.8 SE, V50 2.5 T5 SE Sport

Aug 20th, 2011, 23:49	#3
biggs312800 Senior Member Last Online: Sep 7th, 2016 10:03 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: nottingham	Hi there I have the s40 t5 se geartronic and love it. it's nice and smooth when you want a nice relaxing drive. And has the power of the kick down when you wanna overtake. Also another upside is the semi auto box flick it to the left and oh boy lots of fun on the back country lanes. This is my first auto box and love it. And like Dave said u can leave people behind and gob smacked. I've had to take the t5 off the back of mine I kept getting to many young kids in 1.2s trying to race me (ha no chance) Last edited by biggs312800; Aug 20th, 2011 at 23:53.

Aug 21st, 2011, 09:15	#4
t5_monkey Monkeying Around Last Online: Mar 13th, 2016 20:05 Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: York	Mines an 04 never had any serious issues, just bits and bobs (electrical mainly) but they are fairly solidly built if not up to the standards of 80's volvos. Compared to an older T5 in standard spec you'll find that the V50 T5 is very refined, smooth, quiet, not very boosty and a bit dull - It doesn't feel like a turbo car standard (just like it has a huge engine - up to 5k anyway) That said the handling DNA is focus so it'll go around corners better. The car really comes to life with a few mods. Basically it's one of the best chassis in the business turned into a boring, big car feeling GT. Things to watch.... Cracked cylinder liners, Vibration from the DMF and they do have electrical niggles although none of them serious (Fuel pressure sensor being one) and the MAF on these tends to last about 5 years. Brakes are quite spongy till you put on braided brake lines, they come in 300mm and 320mm depending on the model (and if you have 17" or 18" wheels) so look out for that, the 320 brakes are much better. Also the gearbox mount on the manual wears and becomes sloppy that's an easy fix though. __________________ Release the Monkey inside of you >>> Trunk Monkey Last edited by t5_monkey; Aug 21st, 2011 at 09:19.

Aug 22nd, 2011, 23:25	#5
lee5595 Junior Member Last Online: Mar 4th, 2023 18:46 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Darlington View Photos By: lee5595	Thanks guys, gonna go see one this week.....and a V70 as a back up choice

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