Some may remember I asked about A4 convertibles a while back. Well we finally collected our 4-seater convertible this weekend, having gone for a Volvo C70.

New shape (pre-facelift) T5 SE Lux. Main Dealer with 30k miles and 12 stamps in the service book. Aubergine with cream leather.

I'm astonished by the condition - there isn't a chip or dink on the bodywork anywhere, and the 18" wheels look like they just came out of the factory. It needs a machine polish but I'm going to do that this weekend - the paint is the sort of colour that will look glorious once ghost / swirl free, and under a few layers of poorboys.

Highlights include the 5cyl 2.5 Turbo engine, Dolby 5.1 Surround and a spec that seems to include 99% of the options list.

The roof is seriously trick (the cabling has been rerouted to avoid the issues some of them had with fouling - causing it not to open) - and with it up, you'd never know it was a convertible from inside, unlike rag tops (or Astra / Focus / Eos contemporaries)

It's no BMW in the driving department - it feels heavy (because it is - it's 1700kgs!) and there isn't a huge amount of feeling through the steering. However - that's not why we bought it. It's for Vicky to go to work in (it had to be usable over the winter, so she didn't want RWD - I'm looking at YOU BMW and Mercedes) and for weekend trips. Thankfully the 12 mile round-trip commute that Vicky has means that the crap fuel economoy it's bound to deliver isn't going to be an issue. It also means I won't be using it for work at all, as it'd cost me £200 per week. Besides, I've got my brand new Grey Diesel Astra for work duties - why would I want to look elsewhere?

The 230bhp engine provides enough poke to make it feel like a big car with a decent bit of power. Personally, I think it could benefit from another 50 or so, just for some satisfying shove- but it really doesn't need them.

All in, really pleased with it. Vicky spent most of yesterday evening familiarising herself with the owners manual over a glass of wine. Very her

She spent this morning googling the names of transformers so it can be suitably monikered

Will post a pic up at the weeeknd after the polishing, if anyone wants to see a picture of a purple volvo

 

Years ago, Dad had a 850 T5 as a company car and that thing used to be amazing once it got on the turbo, proper quick car. Pretty good handling apparently as well for a heavy estate. But I was 12 so I am relying on Dad for that one, haha!

They are great cars, got a X50 after that, the sligher smaller Volvo Estate and again, does everything you wanted a car to do, effortlessly and mega practical.

I like volvos...they do exactly what they say on the tin and do it well.

 

must admit I have a soft spot for them. I had a silver V40 a few years ago - slammed, on black 17's and with a big sub in the boot

They always seem to be well put together, well equipped and gloriously comfortable. I also don't think they've put out a car that doesn't look great since the early 2000's.

Polestar do an approved tuning package for the T5....

 

Had a V70R AWD for a couple of years - went like stink, horrendous fuel consumption mind but good fun for a family wagon

 

If you are after some extra poke get it re-mapped

It will be the same engine as the Focus ST (warbling 5 pot) and is very easily done. There are DIY handsets available for the ST, Dreamscience being a very popular one. Simply plug into the diagnostics port to change the map. A new handset costs about £600 or pay about £300 for a used one with several lives left. Sell the handset on when you sell the car so it's a cheap upgrade. You may even see a MPG increase.

 

interestingly when I mentioned to Vicks that it's the same engine as the fast foci, the response came "ooh, does that mean we can make it faster?!"

she's a keeper