C30 advice

[LardFather]

Hello,

I'm looking for a C30 1.6 diesel ideally lux but open to advice on that, I currently have a couple of V70 (p1s) and a couple of other cars, the reason I'm looking for a C30 is for my daily commute of 84 miles (round trip) on almost entirely a motorway. I plan to keep one of my v70s but sell the other one to make space for the C30, the fuel cost in the V70 is the driving factor here.

I think I want the 1.6 for the low road tax, efficiency and running costs and I think I want the lux for the toys (heated leather and the like) but I'm just able to find and read enough information on trim and mpg/engine performance.

As I understand the Lux has the HID headlights and the 109bhp engine returns max 74 mpg but the 115bhp engine returns a max of 80 mpg? Also I can't work out why some cars have a 6th gear and some don't? In addition it seems that a remap makes all 1.6 engines the same, its confusing me at the moment and I'd appreciate some advice please guys

I'm looking at examples like these

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rds=lux&page=1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classif...rds=lux&page=1

[david480]

I was always told that the 2.0 and 2.4 diesels were the ones to have as the 1.6 can be a bit unreliable, though perhaps the later ones arent so bad.

[LardFather]

Originally Posted by david480

I was always told that the 2.0 and 2.4 diesels were the ones to have as the 1.6 can be a bit unreliable, though perhaps the later ones arent so bad.

Thanks for the headsup, I'll have a look again and bear this in mind

[LeonardoIT]

As I know 1.6 and 2.0 are basically the same engine and they can have problems to the DPF and to the dual mass flywheel.
The 6 speeds gearbox should be standard on the 2.0 and on the 1.6 from a certain model year (I think 2011, but I'm not sure).
My company has a V50 D2 6 speeds and even if it's not the fastest car on earth it's a nice ride and if you're at the speed limit and even a little over you don't really feel in need of extra power.
Obviously, if you're looking for a car for petrolheads a diesel 1.6 isn't the right choice.

[Sasha94]

I missed this because it's in the wanted section, ask a mod to move it to the general section for proper exposure.

The 1.6 DV6 and 2.0 DW10 are totally different and barely share a component. Looking at the 1.6, there are 2 types, the earlier 16v DV6 with the 5 speed gearbox (1.6D in Volvo speak) is a 109 bhp unit and uses a wet dpf system with a bladder tank full of EOLYS fluid behind the right rear wheelarch liner. This should be topped up every 37.5k miles and the dpf replaced as a whole every 75k. I've had 2 cars with this engine and both made it well over 100k before the original dpf started to fail. One was on 221k miles and had a very healthy dpf which was only it's second (original made it to 149k, pretty well double the predicted lifespan). They are much cheaper than they used to be these days as well. They are actually quite sprightly, and many in the Ford/Citroen-Peugeot communities tune them for quite a lot of power. Over 200 bhp isn't all that hard to get out of them. The later 8v unit with the 6 speed gearbox (D2 in Volvo speak) is a different kettle of fish; designed to be more efficient it is not really a tuneable motor, but acceptable out of the box in a C30. The benefit to these is that they use a dry dpf that doesn't have a stated service life and no fluid top up along with a closer ratio gearbox to keep it on the power more of the time (std D2, the DRIVe has taller 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th where fitted).

In the UK, the standard 1.6D is £130 per year rfl, the 1.6D DRIVe is £30. The D2 is £30 and the D2 based DRIVe is £0. Heated seats and xenon lights are options throughout the range except the very last 2011MY SE Lux cars seem not to have xenon lights listed as an option, they just seem to have them although my 2012 V50 SE Lux Edition didn't have them. For heated seats, you need a winter pack, for leather, an SE Lux.

MPG wise, expect an average of 55, no more than that. You won't see anything like 80 MPG, though 70 is possible with 56 mph cruising, A/C off with hypermiling techniques in good weather.

Pre 2011MY the 2.0D is a DW10, also a Ford/PSA engine which can trace its roots back to the XUD9 engine which is an 80's design. At that age, it'd be wet dpf equipped, same as the 16v 1.6 but it would have 138ps and they do go well. Post 2011MY, the 2.0 is a D3, a 5 cylinder Volvo engine (just a stroked D5) and has 150ps (The D4 is the same engine with 180ps). I've never had much luck with Volvo engines and would challenge that they are more reliable than Ford/PSA engines in reality. There are many times more Ford/PSA engines out there, so % failure would be broadly similar I would say.

Just remember on your search, R-Design cars are based on the most basic S trim, and have a surprisingly low spec so watch out for that.

[niggly]

I've got a very late 2011 C30 D2 1.6 DRIVe, 2012MY, SE Lux. Stacked with options. I've had it performance remapped and it is actually quite spritely. I put new Bilstein OE shocks on it, not 'sport' anything and it handles really well. It is after all a Focus chassis which has the reputation of being a real goodun.
The other day I zeroed the consumption and did an 85 mile run, 25 miles urban/rural and 60 miles Mway. Was not trying to drive economically. Here is what I got.
I agree you won't get 80mpg, but you'll get up close to 70ish. Pottering about mine never goes below 60mpg.
Thing with the remap is the substantial torque peek is at 1,900 rpm, which is 60mph in 6th. On an Mway you can boot it, in 6th, no down change, and it cracks up to 80-90 effortlessly. If you are doing 84 miles a day Mway it WILL return great mpg. And as posted VED is £0.
If you fill the tank and look at the 'range' it is often up at 780 miles.