Volvo C30

trackrat

trackrat

trackrat

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Halesowen
I have at the moment a 2.0Ltr SE C30, but it only averages about 26MPG, so as I like the car I am looking at changing it for a 1.6eDrive diesel with start stop technology.

What I would like to know is are these engines with stop start any good, has anyone owned one and if so what are there thoughts on them.

I am sticking with the C30 as I suffer with my back and find the seats in the Volvo great on long journeys.
 
The 1.6 DRIVe stop/start system is actually quite good. It's not as quick off the mark as some of the competitors but it works without issue and it doesn't hold you up.

It's worth driving one with it to make sure you get on with it but, if worst comes to worst, you can switch it off - it makes a fractional difference to the economy. It doesn't operate all the time either, only in certain conditions, so it never becomes a major hassle.

I know what you mean about the C30 seats - I could have driven that thing around indefinitely without issue.

One thing that's worth bearing in mind, however, is the economy. The best I ever got was 50mpg (indicated) and that was, for the most part, simply cruising on the motorway. I think I covered about 1500 miles in it too so it wasn't just an isolated reading. Your mileage may vary depending on your journey type and driving style but it's not like I was thrashing the living daylights out of it. Could be an instance where the bigger diesel's just as economical but obviously more potent.....you'd have to do a little research.

The engine's good, though. It's obviously no powerhouse but it's pretty flexible for its displacement and only feels like it's straining if you're really pushing on. Quite refined on the move, too.
 
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You'll find the same seats in the S40, although all Volvo seats are excellent.
Saab seats are very good too.
 
[TW]Fox;19174219 said:
26mpg isnt bad if you dont do huge miles, I'd just keep what you've got. Changing cars is rarley cheaper.
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Would save a few bob though over 12 months at 12000 miles i reckon about £1200 a year saving on juice
 
widdyst said:
Would save a few bob though over 12 months at 12000 miles i reckon about £1200 a year saving on juice
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Yes but think about the cost to change, depreciation and then any issues that need fixing.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
However, I do see his point. Volvo petrols are very thirsty.
 
[TW]Fox;19193301 said:
Based on what, some sort of magic diesel 55mpg figure he quite blatantly wont acheive if he only gets 26mpg from a 2.0 petrol C30?
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It's possible, the eDrive have even got fancy alloys and low-resistance tyres to aid in the quest of epic fuel consumption :cool:

Seriously though, my mum gets 25MPG out of her petrol V50. Volvo petrols and frugality do not mix.
 
mjt said:
It's possible, the eDrive have even got fancy alloys and low-resistance tyres to aid in the quest of epic fuel consumption :cool:
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The fact he only gets 26mpg from a 2.0 petrol suggests he spends his life in town.

Where he wont get 55mpg from an ecodrearydiesel.
 
[TW]Fox;19193323 said:
The fact he only gets 26mpg from a 2.0 petrol suggests he spends his life in town.

Where he wont get 55mpg from an ecodrearydiesel.
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Not necessarily, VOLVO PETROLS ARE HIDEOUSLY UNECONOMICAL.

Anyway, with a diesel he'll get considerably more MPG around town than with a petrol. Volvo reckons 74MPG combined! (Taken with a pinch of salt, for sure)

FWIW, I agree it's not particularly great to change, but taken at face value, he will save money on fuel with the diesel :p
 
Is your caps lock button broken? It's not a Volvo petrol engine anyway, it's sourced from elsewhere in the Ford stable, I think it's originally a Mazda engine. It's found in numerous other applications as well.

The 2 litre petrol engine in the C30 has a combined consumption figure of 37mpg. Whilst I am quite happy to accept such figures are often not reflective of the real world, I somehow doubt 26mpg is the best it does in mixed use. It's going to be a mostly town figure, or the car is faulty.
 
Yes the 26MPG is mostly town driving, but as I have just brought a holiday home in Somerset, my mileage will increase substantially so that is why I am after a more economical version of the C30.
 
trackrat said:
Yes the 26MPG is mostly town driving, but as I have just brought a holiday home in Somerset, my mileage will increase substantially so that is why I am after a more economical version of the C30.
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You'll find your 2.0 C30 quite economical on longer runs, I'd be surprised if it didnt do 45mpg or so on long runs.
 
[TW]Fox;19193301 said:
Based on what, some sort of magic diesel 55mpg figure he quite blatantly wont acheive if he only gets 26mpg from a 2.0 petrol C30?
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Based on personal experience really.

example

The wife had an 08 plate 1.6 petrol focus, did mainly town driving and achieved 29mpg
She now has a 06 plate 1.6 tdci cmax and her driving style/routes havent changed, yet she now achieves 44mpg

petrol avg price around here £1.36 = £6.20ish / gallon
diesel avg price around here £1.40 = £6.40ish / gallon

12000 miles @ 29mpg = approx 413 gallons @ £6.20 / gallon = £2560.60
12000 miles @ 44mpg = approx 272 gallons @ £6.40 / gallon = £1745.45

Saving of £815.15.

Maybe £1200 was slightly optimistic BUT his petrol is averaging 26 and I reckon the volvo c30e would do better than the wifes cmax mpg wise so a grand saving is probably likely
 
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trackrat said:
Yes the 26MPG is mostly town driving, but as I have just brought a holiday home in Somerset, my mileage will increase substantially so that is why I am after a more economical version of the C30.
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Hm you didnt say this to start with. As Fox has just quite rightly said you will definitely see better mpg on a good run but I think 45mpg is a little optimistic unless you are one of those really patient people that can sit at 60 on the motorway
 
[TW]Fox;19198411 said:
So your wife now saves £800 a year.

How much extra did it cost her to move to the diesel Cmax?
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£800 plus a little from the tax saves us £875 a year . I believe thats a saving worth having.

It was a bit of a down trade if you like, we got the cmax from a ford main dealer along with a cheque for £1800 in exchange for the focus. That along with the £875 a year and we where well happy
 
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widdyst said:
It was a bit of a down trade if you like, we got the cmax from a ford main dealer along with a cheque for £1800 in exchange for the focus. That along with the £875 a year and we where well happy
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Ouch, I bet thats at least two or three years of fuel savings the dealer screwed out of you in the deal - he'll have flogged you the Cmax at retail and given you trade for the Focus :eek:
 
Nope the focus was on options , initially signed into with Ford privelege discount. Had it for 18 months at 185 a month . Didn't have any cash tied up in it other than the monthlys. The car had more equity in it than I could have hoped for :-)
 
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