V50 General : Buying a new car: traction Control Noise? plus octane rating

[MavUK]

Just been for a test drive in a V50 T5 AWD (2005) Manual. Have decided to buy the car, after a couple of issues have been fixed, but since reading about a clonk on the net have been a bit concerened about the AWD transmission...

I tried a 'silly' start (high rpm and dropping the clutch), and got a clonk / bang before the car took off. The noise was very similar to the noise my current V40 2.0T with traction control kicks in.

Question is, should I get the garage to check the AWD before going to pick it up? I've been using the garage for years and do have a lot of trust in them selling decent cars, so I am not afraid that they are trying to sell me a lemon.

Also, am I right in thinking I *have* to use V-Power fuel in stead of the normal 95 ron in the T5 as opposed to the 2.0T?

TIA,
Stu

[iainmd]

My car also makes a sort of repetitive banging noise with the traction control on when performing a 'racing start'. Try switching off DTSC and doing the same. If there is nothing wrong with the transmission I would expect the wheels to spin and no banging noise.

Also, you can run the car on 95RON minimum petrol. I used to use 98 all the time until petrol got near the £1 a litre mark. According to two local garages the fuel system will not be damaged you just get less power (they reckon maybe 10-15hp less at a guess).

Hope that all helps.

[MavUK]

Originally Posted by Tonto326

My car also makes a sort of repetitive banging noise with the traction control on when performing a 'racing start'. Try switching off DTSC and doing the same. If there is nothing wrong with the transmission I would expect the wheels to spin and no banging noise.

Also, you can run the car on 95RON minimum petrol. I used to use 98 all the time until petrol got near the £1 a litre mark. According to two local garages the fuel system will not be damaged you just get less power (they reckon maybe 10-15hp less at a guess).

Hope that all helps.

That helps a lot, thanks. I'll try with TC off when I go to pick it up (unfortunately the garage is about 90 miles away so I can't ge there before hand...

Stu

[Clan]

The "low power" V50 T5 engine isnt particularly fussy over high grade fuel like the "proper" old ones :-)

[MavUK]

Originally Posted by Clan

The "low power" V50 T5 engine isnt particularly fussy over high grade fuel like the "proper" old ones :-)

So I get had a go at for driving a V40 and not a *real* Volvo, a 2.0T and not a *real* V40 (ie T4), and now I'm buying the V50 (even the AWD) I still get told it's not the real one...

Arghhh!!!!!!

[MavUK]

Just spoke to the garage, they are going to examine the AWD system to check everything is OK before I pick the car up in a few weeks.

Stu