Anyone got any opinions or experience of the Volvo V50? It's a possible choice for replacing my Leon Cupra TDI

IMHO, the newer Volvos are nowhere near the same quality as the older ones. I was running a T5 850 (although badged as a S70 as some were) and had a look at a newish S40 to replace SWMBO's Vectra. The build quality felt cheap. The doors sounded tinny and it was all a bit pap.
A few weeks ago, I was looking around the local Volvo dealers and stuck my head in a couple of V50s and felt that they also seemed a bit flimsy.

I used to work for volvo so know a thing or 2 about them, they have been taken over by ford in the recent years so resemble focus' a bit. But they are still much better than a ford! They share similar parts for various things and have fomoco written on things such as washer bottle motor an some other things.

The floor pan is very rigid, and they handle really well, take one for a test drive and see for yourself. The diesels are very good, with a 6sp box and very torquey, the t5's sound lovely, and are very fast. Ive no idea what the leon is like although i like them, but the v50 is a nice car. They arent as chuncky and solid as the bigger volvos such as the v70,s60/80. But they arent flimsy. The older s40,v40's were a bit light and flimsy, so i can see what owelly means, but the new ones are better.

Cars probably fine, dealers poor. Like any company that does a lot of company cars they arn't too interested in the private owner. Lots of issues in the past with known design faults and Volvo are known to give the owners the finger rather than deal with the problem. I cant help but think I would be more tempted to look at the likes of Honda/Toyota if buying new, never thought I would think it but they are probably more durable and just as advanced.

should have said.....it will be lease car from work. Comments noted about the dealers.

The service from my local Seat dealer has been excellent though. When the car's booked in for a service, they even text you 24 hrs before to remind you

Alternative might be a 120d BMW

[Edited on 15/11/06 by nick205]