V50 2.0D - R-Design or SE?
Discussion
Hi there,
I'm choosing my first ever company car, and I'm fairly settled on a Volvo V50 with the 2L diesel.
Would the good folks of PH go for an R-Design or an SE? There's very little difference in cost on the company car scheme, although it won't stretch to an SE R-Design or SE-Lux.
I'm a bit torn - I'd generally go for comfort over the R-Design looks, but I do fancy those leather seats...
Opinions welcome!
Rich
I'm choosing my first ever company car, and I'm fairly settled on a Volvo V50 with the 2L diesel.
Would the good folks of PH go for an R-Design or an SE? There's very little difference in cost on the company car scheme, although it won't stretch to an SE R-Design or SE-Lux.
I'm a bit torn - I'd generally go for comfort over the R-Design looks, but I do fancy those leather seats...
Opinions welcome!
Rich
When I thought of downsizing to a V50, the R- Design won me over with the looks. The equipment levels were not massively dissimilar between R or SE.
I currently have a V70 Phase III SE Sports with virtually every option under the sun - but probably only use 25% of them. In the V70, the R-Design is nice but just too much bling HOWEVER in the V50 range, the R-Design seems to have it just right.
Drive one and see if you like the ride (18" wheels can make it uncomfortable). Ensure it has the main equipment that you need & use. The interior is just tick
. Also ensure the engine is free i.e has a few miles on it. Double check the power output and that Volvo are not about to give a few extra ponies away in the next build year.
Colour is really important - if you go for Black, be prepared to wash it at least weekly.
R-Design over SE in V50 but SE LUX over R-Design in V70 IMHO.
I currently have a V70 Phase III SE Sports with virtually every option under the sun - but probably only use 25% of them. In the V70, the R-Design is nice but just too much bling HOWEVER in the V50 range, the R-Design seems to have it just right.
Drive one and see if you like the ride (18" wheels can make it uncomfortable). Ensure it has the main equipment that you need & use. The interior is just tick
. Also ensure the engine is free i.e has a few miles on it. Double check the power output and that Volvo are not about to give a few extra ponies away in the next build year.Colour is really important - if you go for Black, be prepared to wash it at least weekly.
R-Design over SE in V50 but SE LUX over R-Design in V70 IMHO.
When I replaced my V50 it was a difficult decision whether to go for R design or not.
A number of things decided me against.
1) Ride comfort, the 18" wheels made the ride just too harsh
2) I wanted heated seats, and headlight washers. These are std on SE-Lux extras on R design.
3) Didn't get on with the R design seats as much as the leather in the SE.
4) Some of the R design styling tweaks left me cold frankly eg the sterring wheel.
5) The SE lux with my spec, winter and comms pack was cheaper than a similarly specced R design and had some stuff that I thought would be OK where the R design was missing those, admittedly unimportant items.
It is a difficult call though. I'd agree about the weekly or more frequent wash needed for black.
A number of things decided me against.
1) Ride comfort, the 18" wheels made the ride just too harsh
2) I wanted heated seats, and headlight washers. These are std on SE-Lux extras on R design.
3) Didn't get on with the R design seats as much as the leather in the SE.
4) Some of the R design styling tweaks left me cold frankly eg the sterring wheel.
5) The SE lux with my spec, winter and comms pack was cheaper than a similarly specced R design and had some stuff that I thought would be OK where the R design was missing those, admittedly unimportant items.
It is a difficult call though. I'd agree about the weekly or more frequent wash needed for black.
The non-SE R-Design is on 17's not 18's though... (or at least it was when i got mine!) I think the R-Design looks good on the V50, and the only thing you are really missing out on compared to the SE is auto wipers. I'd go R-Design, but then I might be biased!
Edited by plfrench on Sunday 24th May 16:38
I think the R design looks better (inside and out) but also agree with FIF in that you need to look very carefully at the spec in detail, and decide what you need and dont need, and want and dont want.
I didnt find the R seats to be as comfortable as the SE one's, but maybe thats just me?!
And check when the next model year is coming out, as the spec will change then...and not always for the better!
I didnt find the R seats to be as comfortable as the SE one's, but maybe thats just me?!
And check when the next model year is coming out, as the spec will change then...and not always for the better!
Yes, mea culpa, I goofed as I looked at it from my SE-Lux vs R-SE perspective with respect to the 17" / 18" alloys.
Looking at the MY10 options properly SE vs R, it's a bit more than the automatic wipers, which actually do work really well, there is also an auto-dimming mirror on the SE which I'd recommend, though one could happily lose the humidity sensor and compass without a moment's thought. Also the info centre on the SE, but no big loss imo.
In the other direction the body styling add-ons for the R-design add something, and whilst the rear spoiler add-on is obvious, the front spoiler and side skirts don't look all that obviously different. Yes they are different in detail when you look very closely but in passing?
It all comes down to personal preference in the end.
Mentioned it on another thread but it's not always clear and consistent just what you do and don't get. Eg the R design gets the sports suspension incl a front strut brace, yet my SE-Lux has the strut brace which it definitely isn't supposed to have. It's exactly the same strut brace as was on the SE-R Sport demonstrator, so who knows frankly.
Looking at the MY10 options properly SE vs R, it's a bit more than the automatic wipers, which actually do work really well, there is also an auto-dimming mirror on the SE which I'd recommend, though one could happily lose the humidity sensor and compass without a moment's thought. Also the info centre on the SE, but no big loss imo.
In the other direction the body styling add-ons for the R-design add something, and whilst the rear spoiler add-on is obvious, the front spoiler and side skirts don't look all that obviously different. Yes they are different in detail when you look very closely but in passing?
It all comes down to personal preference in the end.
Mentioned it on another thread but it's not always clear and consistent just what you do and don't get. Eg the R design gets the sports suspension incl a front strut brace, yet my SE-Lux has the strut brace which it definitely isn't supposed to have. It's exactly the same strut brace as was on the SE-R Sport demonstrator, so who knows frankly.
Just Thought id point something out as i work as a salesman at a Volvo Main dealer!!
SE does not have leather as standard if its after an 07 model year!
only SE LUX.
Just wanted to avoid confusion!! and on standard wheels the R-design has the same ride as the SE, we sell lots more R-design`s than SE`s by the way! so for me it would be R-design everytime!!
SE does not have leather as standard if its after an 07 model year!
only SE LUX.
Just wanted to avoid confusion!! and on standard wheels the R-design has the same ride as the SE, we sell lots more R-design`s than SE`s by the way! so for me it would be R-design everytime!!
Do you find a lot of customers do as I did and spec the full leather upgrade for the R-Design? My reasoning was that although it looks pretty good new, 50k down the line, the nearly white leather would be getting a bit grubby.
Only shame is that you lose the R-Design logos when going full leather.
Only shame is that you lose the R-Design logos when going full leather.
hardly any if i was honest , but i have an R-Design on an 09 plate and the seats can get a bit gribby so if i was paying then yes i would upgrade, if only to keep them looking as new as i do prefer the standard seats to look at!! also must let people know that we are having best sales for a long time and R-design models are selling extremely well!!
petrolhead888 said:
hardly any if i was honest , but i have an R-Design on an 09 plate and the seats can get a bit gribby so if i was paying then yes i would upgrade, if only to keep them looking as new as i do prefer the standard seats to look at!! also must let people know that we are having best sales for a long time and R-design models are selling extremely well!!
So, what do you put the good sales down to? Last time I was in the dealers in Sheff, they weren't having a great time, but then that was a few months ago....Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff