Cars, cars, aaaarrrrgggghhhhhhhsssssss

Strider590

Sgt_Pepper wrote: »

And you got the country wrong.

The country didn't matter, it's a Swedish car manufacturer (yes owned by Ford), the cars are designed with more consideration for the Swedish climate, than for any other. The majority of the design and testing is carried out at the Torslanda facility, the place is the size of a small town.

Most cars you see in Sweden are Volvo and they do perfectly well.

Lum

Strider590 wrote: »

Most cars you see in Sweden are Volvo and they do perfectly well.

And that is the bit that actually matters here.

In fact if the V50 is really just a Ford Focus then surely this proves the point even more. With the correct tyres even a normal FWD hatchback will do just fine in snowy conditions, you don't need a hulking great L200 for it.

andrew-the-cat

If you absolutely need four wheel drive, how about a Volvo XC70 or Audi Allroad?

As far as I know both of them use the Haldex traction system, where they run in front wheel drive until the front wheels slip, at which point it becomes four wheel drive. So you get almost the economy of a 2 wheel drive car, but with four wheel drive when you need it.

custardy

blue_monkey wrote: »

Hmm, I thought I posted a reply on here but it's not here. I knew everyone would laugh at me, LOL. Yeah, I know, but last year it was 3 weeks in total and I could not go out anywhere.

So, winter tyres, I just store them and change them when the snow comes? That's going to cost me £4/500 isn't it? And I can I use them when it is thawing? Never thought of that before. I think I'll get some for our day to day car then. When it snows we are on hills in and out so school closes - they never grit even though there is a school here and there are no gritting bins in the village so while you say 'it's only Hertfordshire' once the plough comes and impacts the snow and it freezes it is difficult to get out and about anywhere. To me it would make sense to have one practical car.

I love the look of the Volvo - even a saloon is quite spacious in the boot but I need a 2.0L Volvo because of the emissions and tax and claiming back through the business (8% over 160g or 18% under) and they are as a rare as hens teeth. V50 or S40 will do but wow, they are hard to get hold of - lots of 2.4's but not 1.9L or 2L. I do not particularly want to go into London car shopping either. Search continues I suppose.

you use winter tyres in winter,not just snow
easiest way is a 2nd set of steeel wheels with the tyres fitted
quick swap

Weird_Nev

Volvo v50's are an excellent choice, they're really good cars, decent to drive, well engineered and equipped. People say "they're just Focuses" like that's a bad thing - The Focus is a class leading platform, and IMO the V50 just adds nicer interiors and a more practical shape.

I'd be looking at a diesel V50 - for economy and resale, if I had your budget. There are loads about, so go and drive a few to see what you actually want.

Car shopping can be fun if you don't treat it as a chore, and instead look at it as a treat for you, but IMO for the money, you can't beat a V50 at the moment.

Two pointers:
1) Hold £1000 back for contingencies such as a Dual Mass Flywheel failure.
2) Hold back another £600-£800 to get a set of winter wheels and tyres - just a spare set of alloys and a set of cold weather tyres. That will answer all your "Can't get about in bad conditions" worries. 4x4 is massive overkill for 95% of UK's population, and just ends up cositing you extra the year round.