Owner Review: Got 'poisoned' to buy this rare wagon - My 2005 Volvo V50 2.5 T5

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Basic information

2005 Volvo V50 2.5 T5

Reason why I bought this car

Firstly I would like to thank WapCar for reaching out to me to share about my car. 

Growing up racing Tamiyas, reading car magazines, browsing through Autotrader, playing car video games and dreaming of owning a Satria Gti, I had always been fascinated by cars.

10 years on after graduation and owning a few cars, Satria Gti didn't happen but instead I got myself a CLA. Not the Mercedes CLA but the Cute Little Axia. It was a used 2015 Axia G spec manual.

Although 3 years with the Axia saved me a lot of money, I wanted a more complete car. A car that has to fit my lifestyle as a cyclist and a reliable daily drive. I want to upgrade but I had never actively pursued any car because no car within my budget attracted me enough.

One day, my friend CL, who is also a car enthusiast started telling me about the Volvo V50. I was "kena poisoned" by this fella and we started a journey together to find the best V50 in the Malaysian market.

So probably the reason why I bought this car was because I was "kena poisoned" by my friend. So choose your friends wisely. Haha.

Car selection process

• I had a budget of: RM 30k
• Models that I have considered include: Nil

The reason why I choose this car

Being an old car it doesn't qualify for loan. Thankfully I bought the Axia used for cheap and it tanked depreciation well. Managed to sell it to fund the V50. Keeping in mind it's an old car I allocated rm5k for repairs. So the total budget was 30k, 25k for the car and 5k for repairs.

Choosing this car was a memorable process and I'm glad that CL was there with me the whole journey. We viewed and test drove a total of about 10 units from all over the peninsular. We are both based in JB and would drive hundreds of kms to view the V50s. Of all the cars we tested the best was found in the town of Batu Pahat, Johor. That was the car we both agreed was the best buy and that was what I chose.

User experience

• I have already done 20,000 km
• My average fuel consumption is 10 km/L

10,000 kms is good enough to know the car and the quirks of it. Having driven my V50 for almost 20,000 kms, going through 2 service cycles I am more in tune with the steering input, throttle response, handling and brake feel. I'm appreciating it more daily.

Although I normally drive below the national speed limit and seldom use all 217 horses, I do enjoy a good pull once in a while. I like that I can choose gears manually. Gearbox and engine are smooth plus I'm glad it is a conventional 5 speed auto rather than a DSG or a CVT for longevity's sake. Suspension is slightly on the firm side but still comfortable. The car came with all 4 corners wrapped with 215/50r17 Pilot Sport 4 thus the grip level is good. The premium tires and premium Llumar security tint tells me that the previous owner was willing to spend on taking good care of the car. Brakes are big and powerful, it comes equipped with the same brakes as the Ford Focus ST Mk2. Steering adjustment is great for a tall driver, it is hydraulic assisted thus it has a nice feel and weight to it. The small turbo spools early with no noticeable turbo lag aiding with low end torque but the engine is not that strong on the top end. Stability control can be turned off for more spirited driving.

Being a rm222k car when it was launched, it was well built inside with all the touch points wrapped with leather. Visibility is good but the side mirrors are small. Aircon is powerful enough even on the hottest Malaysian day. Sound system is good but the head unit is not swappable with aftermarket ones. 

I'm in love with the wagon body. I like how it looks and how practical it is. My friend EG gifted me a Thule bike rack which adds to the utilitarian looks of the car.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Decent power with 217bhp
• Decent passive and active safety
• Smooth and quiet ride
• Super comfy seats
• Able to find a good seating position for my 188cm height 
• Hydraulic assisted steering
• Sound of the 5 cylinder engine
• Rare

Cons

• 5 spark plugs
• 5.8 liters of engine oil
• Location of oil filter is below the air intake
• Built in radio with no aftermarket options
• No Bluetooth thus needing an adapter
• No rear aircon vents
• Only 2 cup holders in front and 2 cup holders behind hidden in the middle armrest.

Ratings

Total Score: 3
Performance: 3
Quality & Features: 3
Space: 3
Ride Comfort: 3
Fuel Economy: 2
Price & Cost: 3

Summary

As for my daily drive, I am very happy with my rm22k, 16 year old wagon. With 200,000 kms under its belt, she still runs smoothly and efficiently. Practical, comfortable, decent performance and safe. This V50 is a jack of all trades through a master of none.

Some interesting events

CL joined the club and got himself a V50 too with the same year and colour. He named his car Karpolev and my car Rusev. If you are wondering why Russian names for Swedish cars, ask CL.

I would like to nominate CL to review his other cars as well on Wapcar. His collection is really special with the manual E36 318is coupe amongst others.

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