We are starting to think about replacing one of our cars and I was leaning towards a Volvo V50 Estate, but today I saw the new Focus Estate and really liked the look of it. Out last Focus put me off Fords as we had problems with it from new, but prior to this we were real Ford fans. Now I am torn and would be interested to hear from people who have either vehicle.

We don't have a V50 but an old V70 (R reg), and of course as a Swede I am pretty familiar with Volvos as they are so common. ( I say "familiar" as a non driver though!) They tend to be cars that go on forever, if you look you will see some REALLY old ones still on the road. My dad at home in Sweden said "A Volvo is never scrapped, ever." I.e. they never get as bad as to not be able to repaired cost effectively. Our Ford had to be scrapped though!

We looked at a Volvo V50 when we changed in the summer and they do a 'green' version (think it was a e-drive...or something like that) which did 75mph on combined cycle.  We couldn't find one at a decent price though at the time.

I too preferred the reliability of the Volvo but we were a bit concerned re maintence costs, servicing etc.

I have a V70 too, 2001 so a second generation model. It's the best car I've ever had and I would have another Volvo in a heartbeat, mine has 125k on the clock. It is quite pricey when it goes wrong, but (touch wood) it rarely does; and the newer and smaller V50 would be more economical to run.

I didn't have an estate but my focus gave up the ghost last year. It was Y reg and had been a really good car - however it was diesel and the pump went.  They don't make new pumps for that model and I would have had to have a reconditioned one - which by the time it was fitted would cost more than the car was worth.  So I now have a new Renault Clio 'estate' - OK for my one dog. 
My husband has a newer Focus - which was so different to mine.  It is a bigger car and I believe the latest model seems bigger again.  I don't think our newer Focus is as well made as my old one.  I would have still have gone for a Fiesta if the boot wasn't so rubbish to put a dog in.  I think it is the luck of the draw when you buy a new car - or anything these days.  Nothing seems to be made to last for long.

Thanks for your replies. Seems Volvo's have quite a few fans. It is a new one we are thinking of getting and it is the fuel economy of the eDrive model that first drew me to it.

We have arranged a test drive of both the Volvo and the Focus tomorrow. What surprises me is the Focus wins hands down on the review sites, hence me looking for people with personal experience.

We've got a Mondeo estate, not quite the same I know, but we are happy with it. Tbh I preferred the Galaxy we used to have, more spacious, but less fuel efficient I guess, sigh.

We have had two Volvo estate cars. The first was brilliant and we did 300,000 miles in it over 10 years. My OH replaced it with a newer model (in about 1995) but was never really happy with it. It was written off in an accident in 2004 - someone ran into the back of it and as it was 9 years old the insurers wouldn't pay to repair it despite it beng in good condition :( We didn't replace it with another Volvo - Ford had bought Volvo (now it is Chinese owned) and OH reckons that the cars just aren't good now :(

At the end of the day it is what you feel comfortable with - I did a few test drives - not the focus although I had a good look at it - too big for my needs.  It is how it handles, driving position etc - I read the Which report as well as What Car reviews.  I went around all the car showrooms - and got puzzled looks from car salesmen as I went straight to the boot to check it out first!

I was thinking of the smaller Volvo as its a wee bit cheaper than the V70, however after seeing the boot I can say that the newer version at the very least have very little height to them and someone with a Chow said its not deep enough for them.

We have a focus, it is my son who mainly drives it.
However we all use it and it is a truly good 'workhorse'. Easy to drive economical to run and extremely reliable.
This is on our roads which means  motorway driving only very occasionally, as we would usually go with the galaxy for traveling to the mainland.

Karen

I've had Volvos for years. Bought a 7 series with 100,000 miles on it and drove it for another 150,000. Then had a V reg V70, did 100,000 in that but it did have a few niggles. Now have a V70 All Wheel Drive (NOT an XC70) and have just done 126,000 in that and it still drives really well. Not sure Fords would last that long :)

We looked at the V50 when we changed our Saab, we had had a v40 previously & loved it but I hated the V50, not because of the drive but because it felt really tight and clostrophobic in the front. The handbrake was in a stupid place - right over near the passenger which meant you ended up touching your passenger, ok if its someone you know but not ok when it was the volvo dealer guy!!! On a positive note it handled fantastic  esp as i had to do an emergency swerve/stop as lorry pulled across the dual carriage way on the test drive.
Brought a BMW 3 series estate in the end which I love.

Those two are basicly the same car since Ford owns Volvo now. Both built on a same sache and unles you go for the D5 OR D6 engines which are still made in Sweden, both have Ford engines.
Exactly the same as Audi and Skoda.
With the Volvo you'd be paying for the name just like with Audi you'd pay for the donuts.

> Those two are basicly the same car since Ford owns Volvo now

Volvo are now owned by a Chinese company not Ford - they were sold in 2010

And you cannot compare a ford with a Volvo!!!! thats like comparing a BMW with a Reliant Robin!!!
We have a Volvo S80 SE lux. 9 years old this year, done 98k miles and as good as the day it was made. Yes a ford engine, made in Sweden (my dads S60 is made in finland!!!!) But NOT a ford in any other way!!!! My old focus estate 2001 only did 46k when I got rid and things were going wrong with it then. Our Ford transit van is 10 years old this year and Rusting.
The MPG on ours is 34mpg on a good run so not very fuel economic, but would have a Volvo over a ford any day :) :)
(Oh or a SAAB, you should get some blooming good deals around now they have gone!!!)
Lea :) :)

We've had 2 Volvo's but the second hand value plummeted with the last one as it was bought just before the Ford takeover. We didn't want a Ford (at a Volvo price) so then changed to a Saab which we loved. Later ended up with an overpriced Audi - which we realised was overpriced when we discovered our current car - Skoda Octavia estate !. Basically VW/Audi but with a Skoda price. Anybody with an Audi try Skoda for servicing etc - same training/parts but a fraction of Audi prices !. Anyway, personally the best estate we've ever had is this Octavia. I don't feel current Volvo's have the same lovely 'tank' image that the old ones had but at he end of the day you fix your budget and take a chance !.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/carreviews/firstdrives/53473/volvo_v50.html

Sorry I forgot they were sold again, but the chassis or platform as they call it, is still the same in those two cars.
My dad has had nothing but Volvos in last 40 years and he wouldn't buy them after they were sold to Ford because so many parts were Ford parts which really are not even in a same league as Volvo.
I learn to drive in a Volvo 142 when I was 8 and I can relate to one Volvo or another through my whole life.

Lea, my brother has the S60 T6 [ask your dad for the difference ;)] and I know very well they are made in Finland, being Finnish..the reason why my brother has one, because it's a proper Volvo!
And as far as comparing cars go, did you know that the Scoda Octavia RS IS actually built on same chassis as Audi TT? So not so much of a comparison to BWM and Robin :)

Oh yes, have driven both the octavia and the audi, oh and the VW, all very similar. And would go for the Skoda anyday due to the price LOL
My partner services both the S80 and S60 both 53 plate and what he gets for the S80 he near enough gets for the S60. Both engines near enough the same apart from S80 is Auto and S60 is Manual. Both 2 litres (we helped dad buy the S60!) Both same engines even though one is built in Sweden and one in Finland LOL
Lea :) :)

Thanks for the input

To be honest I was so disappointed in the V50, the only thing in it's favour is that it is more economical on fuel. The interior seems outdated,  very basic and cramped. I felt like I was sitting in a car we had 20 years ago, lots of plastic and very little to break it up. Also the boot is quite small and has deep wells at the side which we would have to stuff if we weren't putting a crate in it. Ride wise is was OK, but noisier than the Focus.

The Focus has a lovely interior and I really like the positioning of the gearstick which for me is important as I have bad shoulders. All the controls were very much to hand. The seats felt really comfortable. On the downside it seems big and doesn't appear to be anywhere near as economical as claimed. The Salesman told us the driver of the test car is getting 45ish mpg, but admits that he is a hard driver who lives quite away from the showroom so doesn't hang around on his way home.

For looks, comfort, interior and ride I much prefer the Focus. I think the only thing the Volvo has for it is fuel economy and the name. Looking at the different review sites, The Telegraph, Top Gear, etc, the Focus seems to win hands down on all counts.

Hmm, really not sure I was set it was going to be the Volvo but it was so disappointing, so we are off looking again tomorrow.

We have 2 Octavias and they are great. They are 4x4 and handle bad weather and mud almost as well as my Isuzu trooper did (apart from the ground clearance) I would recommend them to anyone :)

If you want a car to last then get a Volvo. You will never find a second hand Ford with 200K on the clock. But a Volvo will be at its prime at 200K.
Yes ford took Volvo over but they didnt make volvo ford they more put volvo parts in ford!!!
If you have a handy man to do the work themselves then you can get cheap parts and fit them yourself (front Mintex (good) break pads  for £25 delivered!!!)
Main dealer parts arnt expensive either. Camm belt, sepentine belt and tensioner pully was £220 inc Vat change at a volvo specialist inc labour. On a Ford mondeo was about £400.
I must say I dont like the look of the V50's, but do like the V70's for dogs.
Paramedics and police have V50's and get alot in them for boot space.
One thing is NEVER listen to a salesman!!!!
If you like a car, walk away and research on line. There will always be another one come along and it is a buyers market Now :) :)
Have fun looking
Lea :) :)

We changed from a VW Passat estate to a Octavia greenline estate (not 4x4 but put winter tyres on - works fab)   We had no end of problems with the VW from virtually the day its 3 yr warranty ran out.  Very disappointed as I was a firm believer in their reliability :-(   

Touch wood, the Skoda has been running fine although we aren't getting anywhere near the advertised 64ish mpg - more like 55mpg...we are both steady drivers and used to get above the advertised mpg for our VW.  Its a nice car, very good handling and a decent sized boot.

Can't persuade hubbie to consider a Skoda, he can't get past the name. Silly I know but he is the main user of this car, so I suppose I have to give him some say in the choice. We tend to always buy new and only keep them for 2 or 3 years which to me is an expensive way to do it. The exception being our 4x4's which I drive and then he is happy to run them to the death. Perhaps if I drag my feet enough he will even go of the idea of changing.

The new Focus really is lovely and gets fantastic reviews off all the sites, but it just seemed big. For it's size I suppose 45ish mpg isn't bad, but in the brochure it states combined as being 67.3 so quite a difference, I had been expecting maybe 50 -55mpg.

>For it's size I suppose 45ish mpg isn't bad, but in the brochure it states combined as being 67.3 so quite a difference, I had been expecting maybe 50 -55mpg

Wow, that is a difference!  Doesn't make me feel so bad about the Octavia now :-)

Know what you mean about the Skoda name....note I call it my Octavia rather than 'the Skoda' ;-)  Seriously, it took about 2 months of going round car dealerships, test drives etc before I managed to get OH persuaded that the Skoda was the most practical choice and good value for money.

Have fun with the test drives.

I couldn't believe it when my husband suggested a Skoda but the idea that it's a 'joke' car has long gone. Our Octavia really does live up to the fab reviews Skoda now receives. I've had three new Mini's but the current one will be sold in favour of a Fabia. Tell your hubby to visit a Skoda dealer - he'll be pleasantly surprised I'm sure !.

'Which' have the Skoda Superb as top estate, second the Fabia.

My son and DIL have a Skoda - brilliant car :) We've been thinking about getting the Yeti - anyone any experience ??

Oh well lots more car hunting today but still can't get him to consider a Skoda. What has jumped into the equation is a Peugeot 207 Estate, not a true estate, but the back seats fold totally flat so in effect you have a huge boot with two seats, or you can leave one back seat up so 3 seats and loads of dog room. There are only usually 1 or 2 of us in the car, the extra space is dog space. It seems to have all the benefits of an estate, without the size. My son has a 207 and I love driving it, so this could be a serious contender. Can't have a test drive until next weekend though. I am going to have a look at the Skoda's myself this week and if I like them he WILL have a look before I agree to anything.

How about a Saab 95???  Fits 2 dogs in there easy, would have fitted 3 in. Problems with the turbo but sorted if your hubby can do regular(6 monthly) oil changes.
And will be very competative now seeing as Saab have gone!!!! Oh and you will always be able to get parts for them as we buy them on line and my partner fits them :) :)
Lea :)

Thanks for the idea Lea, it was a Saab 95 that my friend with the Volvo had. It's a brand new car we are after, I think he would die if I suggest he did an oil change himself!!

LMAO, Its not as hard as it looks, but then again £40 every 6 months isnt bad, and saying that, mine was 6 years old before it started with turbo problems, and if you change your cars every 3 years then that means you wont have to worry about it :) :) :)
So a Saab 95 estate would be good to look at :) :)
Hope you find the car you are happy with :) :)
Lea :) :)

> So a Saab 95 estate would be good to look a

Saab have gone out of business so spares may become difficult to come by and little resale value :) Some of the last cars that were made were based on 12 year old technology as they couldn't afford to design a new car :)

Most parts arnt made by Saab, and like Rover you will always get parts.
Parts for Saab is one place you can get them from amongst many others. So never listen to a garage that says because they are no longer made the parts are more expensive.
Rover went out of business but you STILL get parts for them NEW even though they went out of business in 2004!!!!
Little resale value as people think that you cannot get parts, so cheaper to buy now win win situation :) :)
Lea :)

> Little resale value as people think that you cannot get parts, so cheaper to buy now win win situation

Trouble is that a lot of people wouldn't agree with you :) :) :) :)