01-03-2015, 11:16 PM
(01-03-2015, 05:26 PM)Dum-Dum Wrote:(01-03-2015, 04:16 PM)Ruan Wrote: Volvo for the fact that they are Focus based underneath, loads of parts available... Quite easy to essentially turn it into a Focus ST AWD estate with Volvo badge with a few part changes such as ARB, suspension settings etc... The engine is pure Focus ST and will take 99% of performance upgrades that are available for them...Wrong way around mate, the Focus uses a de-tuned Volvo T5 lump but yeah there is loads of suspension parts about as well as a gazillion T5 tuning parts from the huge Scandinavian Volvo tuning scene and the ford scene. So yes it's like a practical Focus ST that you can own without looking like a yobbo
Lol I know, I'm just making the point that the RNC engine is the engine used in all Volvo P1/Ford C1 platform cars... There's quite a few differences to the original RN "Volvo T5".
You can't just plop in an RN engine into a car with the RNC mounts, from memory there's holes to be drilled... I.E. You can't put the late 2.4 T5 S60/V70 motor in that's ripe for tuning straight into a C30/V50/Focus ST shell... It sits differently in the engine bay, mounts differently... But all the Focus ST performance parts fit the V50/ST RNC engine fine since it's a Focus underneath.
The V50 AWD yes has more to go wrong, although there's SO much information as it was SO much more popular in the US and TBF I see very few problems with them... Parts aren't that expensive and I'd doubt will be any worse than Saab, from what I've seen the V50 appears to be pretty damned reliable, I've done 40k in mine and my parents have done the other 70k of the 120k it's done in it's 9-10 year life and other than one or two electrical gremlins about 5 years ago - the well documented Teves MK60 fault that affects Volvo/Ford/BMW/Saab/VW/Seat/Audi/Skoda/Mazda (i.e. a lot of cars) which was replaced under warranty, like most have - is sorted, it's really not put a foot wrong. Only items it seems to treat as consumable are wheel bearings, although these are not a press in item, the unit bolts with 4 bolts and drops out... Saab parts aren't hard to get hold of as they're mostly GM parts and any specific Saab parts will be held in stock for ages yet, I expect the price is elevated mind.
Unless you intend on a 350hp V50 T5 AWD which I wouldn't recommend due to the liners probably shitting - I'd be going with the V50.. The Saab probably will produce more power with less money spent... Also the 9-5 as said by others is a V70 competitor, not a V50 competitor... But as I said, Focus in a frock vs Vectra in a frock... I know which I'd choose! I'm biased as you all know, but then, I'm someone who easily gets bored and I've had mine for 18 months, done 40k in it and it's been ace and I still enjoy driving it.
