Volvo V50 D2

Author
Discussion

Davelooky

Original Poster:

10 posts

127 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2017
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I have a Volvo V50 D 2005. I have had it for 4 years, from day one the ride is not a nice experience. Due to most of our roads being full of pot holes large and small the drive experience is bad. The car does not ride the holes and there is a lot of noise from the back and front as if the car has not got tyres fitted. It feels as if it is running on just the rims. I have fitted new front wish bones and fitted new shock absorbers at the rear. I have had all the rear rubbers checked out and they are fine. Is it possible that the springs have been changed to give a stiffer ride, however I would not have thought so on a Volvo. Any ideas on this matter would be much appreciated.

niva441

2,023 posts

238 months

Wednesday 2nd August 2017
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Is it an R-Design, I had an SE (on 16" wheels) and even on the original continentals the road noise wasn't too bad, no problem with the ride on those of the far superior Michelins that replaced them. Running on the standard (non-ECO) tyre pressures does help.

Toolmaniac

3 posts

86 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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I bought a 2010 V50 last year. It is the second-worst ride I have ever experienced in a car I owned (Worst was an Opel Manta). It rides like an iron-shod farm cart - I feel every bump and seam in the road.
Previously I have had French cars, and have got used to a smooth ride and a comfortable interior.

My V50 came with 17" alloys and 205/50 tyres. I am working on replacing them with 16" wheels with 195/60 tyres.
I am also working on isolating the seats from the floor pan with either rubber buffers or a sprung frame.

If I can't greatly improve the ride, I will change the car.

This is the first (and possibly only) Volvo I have ever owned, so it's not possible to make comparisons with other models; I assume they are better or we would have heard about it.
I think this car, like other makes, is suffering from the makers' idea that we want "sporty" cars with big wheels and low-profile, high pressure tyres.
That may be true of adolescents and boy racers, but where do you go if you want a grown-up car?

If you come up with any good ideas for making this car give a smooth comfortable ride, please post on here.
I will do the same with the outcome of my experiments.
Regards

niva441

2,023 posts

238 months

Tuesday 19th September 2017
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I'm quite surprised you're finding the V50 like that, what spec have you got?

I had a D4 SE Lux on 16 " wheels (standard fit 205/55) and found the ride very comfortable. It wasn't limousine cosseting, but certainly not stiffly sprung.

Toolmaniac

3 posts

86 months

Wednesday 20th September 2017
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It's a V50 D2 (2010)

Justin S

3,657 posts

268 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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We thought our V50 (2006) 2ltr diesel was really comfy. Was an SE spec and never had any issues about rear comfort whatsoever. Very strange how its so different.

Djr1

144 posts

104 months

Thursday 21st September 2017
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As above, my wife has a 2006 SE 2.0 diesel. Very comfy place to be. Strange yours seems so bad!

Toolmaniac

3 posts

86 months

Monday 25th September 2017
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I've just had the suspension checked (25.9.17) , and no fault can be found.
So its a wheel and tyre change, I'm afraid.

Just a thought, mine has the D" engine. Others seem to have a different one. Perhaps it makes a difference.
Thanks for all the responses. I;ll report my progress.