I've not driven a C30 but it's on my list. I have driven the longer and similar S40 of the same era, the manual box is lovely. And the V70 with the same engine, tuned to around 300bhp. What a motor! The little T5 is something I'd love to drive.
The power will feel very familiar to you, but that C30 is a great little handler and its style really stands out in a crowd. The manual transmission is a must.
We bought new (2) C30s one '12 R Design which we picked up in Gothenburg on the Overseas Delivery program and a '13 PLE, both are manuals. The '12 was custom ordered without a sunroof. We have driven these cars all over the place especially the PLE which we drove from Seattle to Fairbanks and to MT, OR, CA, ID, AZ, and NM. Very well balanced, comfortable, powerful, and planted. Just as it was designed to be.
Now that is committing! They are absolutely fantastic machines. The blend of respectable build quality, interesting design, and performance really stand out.
I have owned my c30 T5 R-design for over a year now. Although it belonged to a mate of mine previously.. See the car on my channel. It has a quantum tune and was dyno'd @ 265hp / 440nm or 325lb-ft. Its a comfortable car with some decent fast road performance. Its not without its weaknesses that's for sure. Needs better brakes, LSD and a better feeling gear linkage setup. The steering is a little vague but its like anything you get use to it and muscle memory takes over when you become familiar with the car.. The seats a very comfortbale (typical volvo) but another reason not to call it a hot hatch is the lack of support from the seats when corner hard or into tight turns you will find yourself trying to hold yourself in. Its not the sharpest most precise hatch but then its a volvo, they always like to give their owners comfort and refinement. All that being said I still love the car. Engine mostly and then the styling is quite unique.
I love love love my R-Design C30 w/the cosmic white/java color combo plus roof rails, I’ve had it for about 3 years & this thing is a tank! Maybe that’s just Volvo in general but I’m branded now. I get so many compliments about my car, most people have the same reaction “I’ve never seen a Volvo that looks like this 😮” the design team at the time hit a home run w/ the C30, very unfortunate it was discontinued but this car definitely only appealed to a very niche group of ppl.
It was quite a polarizing design at first. I never really got into the non R-Design models with the gray cladding…color matching those panels went a long way. The interesting design and not cookie cutter engine make it quite a unique vehicle.
Excellent review, i own the 2.0l petrol (facelift) version, a very well built car,great handling and reliable.Only criticisms the car stereo can't be upgraded due to Volvos use of fibre optic wiring,the headlight are terrible even with upgraded Philips RacingVision GT200 H7 bulbs and the steering wheel is far to large,feels like driving a van/truck/tank! 😒
Also on the upper side, for the 2.0d engine (mine) is extremely quiet inside, with the high performance sound system you don't need a subwoofer or an upgrade and oh God, that back is so sexy and the pre-facelift front is so manly. Also with stage 1 on my 2.0d the tourque is almost similar to the RS 2016 my brother has. Amazing car. On the bad side, beside what you mentioned, I would also add the electronics of the car are not that reliable (common ECU, ECM and also the key not being recognized by the car). Other than that, it's a great little car.
Just got an 09 c30 Automatic today! It gas always been in the back of my mind as a possibility but never planned on getting one. That is until my car died and one was in town for 6700. Too good to pass up!
Haha, nearly doubling a car's horsepower has always been super easy. Plus, everyone knows more horsepower equals greater reliability. All joking aside...that Polestar built C30...what a beast!
@auto obsessive garage I know what your saying. The thing is you can take alot of the ford rs engine hardware and upgrade without to much drama. We will see 👀
@@reesbarnes4746 the limiting factor are the connecting rods and cylinder walls in these engines, being an open-deck design and already bored out way too far from their original displacement design. 300whp is very doable, but beyond that I'd want to upgrade the engine internals
@@CaptainTonus Rods are actually good for about 360whp with fine tuning. There are some where I live running with these levels of power and stock internals for a good amount of time. Also seen some in other countries as well. But yes, the engine block holds it back, definitely needs a block mod or block guard.
Good luck on that 400 hp mark....invest in a limited slip first and then a Hilton tune and downpipe.....it'll start everyday and actually live to see just south of 300 hp and massive torque....don't ruin a good thing by insulting the engendered perfection it already has
Any car can have potential issues, but these are overall very solid and reliable vehicles. They also offer an fantastic blend of style, performance, and functionality.
It actually doesn’t seem underpowered at all. I believe the engines are slightly different as well as the turbochargers. There is a weight advantage though. You won’t be let down.
Usually I turn it off during testing dependent on the car I’m testing and the quality of the tires. I left it on for this one and should have really tried it off.
@@autoobsessivegarageI'm trying to find one of these in a manual, for a reasonable price, and it's not going well. Automatics out the wazoo, but all the manuals are much more costly due to their rarity.
I test-drove a 2012 or 2013 C30 R-design 6spd once and was really not impressed by it at all. I've been a Volvo owner since 2011 and had high hopes for it, but it just felt totally numb and muted to me. The clutch had zero feel, the shifter was very rubbery, and the suspension felt very isolated. I'm sure that was done on purpose to make the car feel more tank-like, which it definitely does. And a lot of that can probably be fixed with aftermarket bits too. I currently own a '98 C70 HPT Coupe 5spd, and I actually think the clutch and shifter feel better and more engaging than the much newer C30. The gearing of the 6spd trans is much better, though.
I agree with many of your points for sure including the isolated suspension feel and vagueness surrounding the clutch and shifter...but overall, the chassis is respectable and the car does "tighten up" when pushed. I'm 100% sure the aftermarket can address all of this as I've seen some pretty gnarly builds.
Do you know what tires were on it? Alot of these in the states were on all seasons from factory, and all season tires will do this to most cars(handling related points you mentioned). Even going from generic summer tires to performace summer tires made a huge difference on my 2012 D4 which I just bought.
@@VinnesRC I don't know what kind of tires were on it. It wouldn't have factored in to my experience, because I wasn't driving it on a back road or hitting corners with it
@@CaptainTonus Fair enough, but I will say that my r-design 1.6d that I had before felt more connected to the road and had better steering feel than this D4 which was lowered 30-35mm on eibach suspension, all down to the tires that were on the two.
As an 09 r design in galactic white and purple 6spd owner I'm glad to Finally see these cars gaining traction online
It's a car I'm truly proud to own
It certainly is a mighty fine machine.
I have the same spec but in Orinoco Blue, I will never sell this car until I die.
I've not driven a C30 but it's on my list. I have driven the longer and similar S40 of the same era, the manual box is lovely. And the V70 with the same engine, tuned to around 300bhp. What a motor! The little T5 is something I'd love to drive.
The power will feel very familiar to you, but that C30 is a great little handler and its style really stands out in a crowd. The manual transmission is a must.
We bought new (2) C30s one '12 R Design which we picked up in Gothenburg on the Overseas Delivery program and a '13 PLE, both are manuals. The '12 was custom ordered without a sunroof. We have driven these cars all over the place especially the PLE which we drove from Seattle to Fairbanks and to MT, OR, CA, ID, AZ, and NM. Very well balanced, comfortable, powerful, and planted. Just as it was designed to be.
Now that is committing!
They are absolutely fantastic machines. The blend of respectable build quality, interesting design, and performance really stand out.
I have owned my c30 T5 R-design for over a year now. Although it belonged to a mate of mine previously.. See the car on my channel. It has a quantum tune and was dyno'd @ 265hp / 440nm or 325lb-ft. Its a comfortable car with some decent fast road performance. Its not without its weaknesses that's for sure. Needs better brakes, LSD and a better feeling gear linkage setup. The steering is a little vague but its like anything you get use to it and muscle memory takes over when you become familiar with the car.. The seats a very comfortbale (typical volvo) but another reason not to call it a hot hatch is the lack of support from the seats when corner hard or into tight turns you will find yourself trying to hold yourself in. Its not the sharpest most precise hatch but then its a volvo, they always like to give their owners comfort and refinement. All that being said I still love the car. Engine mostly and then the styling is quite unique.
Very sound points. With those mods, that thing sounds like it rips.
Just bought a 2008 6 speed black it’s amazing I’ve always said they’re an updated luxurious CRX
Better than that CRZ for sure.
I love love love my R-Design C30 w/the cosmic white/java color combo plus roof rails, I’ve had it for about 3 years & this thing is a tank! Maybe that’s just Volvo in general but I’m branded now. I get so many compliments about my car, most people have the same reaction “I’ve never seen a Volvo that looks like this 😮” the design team at the time hit a home run w/ the C30, very unfortunate it was discontinued but this car definitely only appealed to a very niche group of ppl.
It was quite a polarizing design at first. I never really got into the non R-Design models with the gray cladding…color matching those panels went a long way. The interesting design and not cookie cutter engine make it quite a unique vehicle.
Excellent review, i own the 2.0l petrol (facelift) version, a very well built car,great handling and reliable.Only criticisms the car stereo can't be upgraded due to Volvos use of fibre optic wiring,the headlight are terrible even with upgraded Philips RacingVision GT200 H7 bulbs and the steering wheel is far to large,feels like driving a van/truck/tank! 😒
Very good points for sure.
Agreed that it’s a very well built machine and a very enjoyable one at that.
Also on the upper side, for the 2.0d engine (mine) is extremely quiet inside, with the high performance sound system you don't need a subwoofer or an upgrade and oh God, that back is so sexy and the pre-facelift front is so manly. Also with stage 1 on my 2.0d the tourque is almost similar to the RS 2016 my brother has. Amazing car. On the bad side, beside what you mentioned, I would also add the electronics of the car are not that reliable (common ECU, ECM and also the key not being recognized by the car). Other than that, it's a great little car.
Just got an 09 c30 Automatic today! It gas always been in the back of my mind as a possibility but never planned on getting one. That is until my car died and one was in town for 6700. Too good to pass up!
That sounds like an excellent price! Enjoy that fine machine.
@@autoobsessivegarage only 111k mi as well. I definitely will. Thanks!
I want to buy one.. whats the best mileage considering the year
Nice to see Chadwick is a project Binky fan
Absolutely love that series!
@@autoobsessivegarage Make the noise!
Cool car. Im looking at getting one for a project car and taking it too 400bhp levels. It can be done reliably from what I can see 😂
Haha, nearly doubling a car's horsepower has always been super easy. Plus, everyone knows more horsepower equals greater reliability.
All joking aside...that Polestar built C30...what a beast!
@auto obsessive garage I know what your saying. The thing is you can take alot of the ford rs engine hardware and upgrade without to much drama. We will see 👀
@@reesbarnes4746 the limiting factor are the connecting rods and cylinder walls in these engines, being an open-deck design and already bored out way too far from their original displacement design. 300whp is very doable, but beyond that I'd want to upgrade the engine internals
@@CaptainTonus Rods are actually good for about 360whp with fine tuning. There are some where I live running with these levels of power and stock internals for a good amount of time. Also seen some in other countries as well. But yes, the engine block holds it back, definitely needs a block mod or block guard.
Good luck on that 400 hp mark....invest in a limited slip first and then a Hilton tune and downpipe.....it'll start everyday and actually live to see just south of 300 hp and massive torque....don't ruin a good thing by insulting the engendered perfection it already has
Are these good cars? Trying to get one without having any issues?
Any car can have potential issues, but these are overall very solid and reliable vehicles. They also offer an fantastic blend of style, performance, and functionality.
@autoobsessivegarage oh I know that I meant in general lol and it depends how you take care of it too
Love my C30 👍
D4 177hp
6sp auto
1-100 8.2
Very solid numbers…and damn do they look great still.
@@autoobsessivegarage yeah, and 5cyl engines sound nice 🙂 Rather low appetite 8 litres/100km in city
Why only 227 bhp , I’ve got the v70r same size engine 300 bhp , but I am looking for c30 t5 now
It actually doesn’t seem underpowered at all. I believe the engines are slightly different as well as the turbochargers. There is a weight advantage though. You won’t be let down.
Did you have the traction control on or off during your testing?
Usually I turn it off during testing dependent on the car I’m testing and the quality of the tires.
I left it on for this one and should have really tried it off.
@@autoobsessivegarageI'm trying to find one of these in a manual, for a reasonable price, and it's not going well. Automatics out the wazoo, but all the manuals are much more costly due to their rarity.
Sick car !
Agreed!
I test-drove a 2012 or 2013 C30 R-design 6spd once and was really not impressed by it at all. I've been a Volvo owner since 2011 and had high hopes for it, but it just felt totally numb and muted to me. The clutch had zero feel, the shifter was very rubbery, and the suspension felt very isolated. I'm sure that was done on purpose to make the car feel more tank-like, which it definitely does. And a lot of that can probably be fixed with aftermarket bits too.
I currently own a '98 C70 HPT Coupe 5spd, and I actually think the clutch and shifter feel better and more engaging than the much newer C30. The gearing of the 6spd trans is much better, though.
I agree with many of your points for sure including the isolated suspension feel and vagueness surrounding the clutch and shifter...but overall, the chassis is respectable and the car does "tighten up" when pushed. I'm 100% sure the aftermarket can address all of this as I've seen some pretty gnarly builds.
Do you know what tires were on it? Alot of these in the states were on all seasons from factory, and all season tires will do this to most cars(handling related points you mentioned). Even going from generic summer tires to performace summer tires made a huge difference on my 2012 D4 which I just bought.
@@VinnesRC I don't know what kind of tires were on it. It wouldn't have factored in to my experience, because I wasn't driving it on a back road or hitting corners with it
@@CaptainTonus Fair enough, but I will say that my r-design 1.6d that I had before felt more connected to the road and had better steering feel than this D4 which was lowered 30-35mm on eibach suspension, all down to the tires that were on the two.
should i buy one of these with 180k for 4200$?
Is it an R-Design with a manual...if so I'd say heck yeah. How's the overall condition and maintenance history?
@@autoobsessivegarage 6 speed manual leather seats , how to tell if it’s r design
owner said it is not R design is it still worth it ? isnt it the same drivetrain?
0 to 60 is well under 7 secs...
Not with this pro drag racer haha.