First Car!

"Amoore100" (amoore100)
07/31/2015 at 20:49 • Filed to: volvo, v50, first car

In case anyone wasn’t aware of it, I have a new car! Well, technically its not mine as its registered under my parents, but by all intents and purposes, I have full responsibility of it within the family. The !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . My dad saw the car as a great deal considering its only ten years young and is relatively well maintained. We actually did not pick up the car until a month after we first went to see it as the family who owned it was moving back to France and needed it until then. So, on that day, we took a roadtrip and rode public transit up to Berkeley, then drove back to Saratoga, stopping at the USS Hornet Museum and Pacific Pinball Museum on the way. Anyways, now on to the car. It is a 2005 Volvo V50 2.4. It’s relatively well equipped in terms of luxuries but mechanically is a bit lacking without the turbo. No matter, its relative slowness keeps me out of trouble and not having a turbo means less things to go wrong. In addition, the modular five sounds great at higher revs and as always, it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Overall, I’m very happy with the car and very glad I remained loyal to Volvo as my first car.

Picture time!

Also, any tips on how to solve flaking paint issues? There’s a bit on the bumper (which was replaced a few years ago according to the seller) where it’s down to bare plastic and I was wondering if we could do something about it or not...

Thanks for looking! Comment below.

DISCUSSION (48)

CompactLuxuryFan > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 20:59

Awesome first car! Perfect for the Bay Area, too.

Can't help with the paint, sorry!

Amoore100 > CompactLuxuryFan
07/31/2015 at 21:01

Thanks! Yeah, it fits into our suburban landscape nicely... No problem on the paint issue, I didn’t expect everyone to know...I certainly don’t...

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:02

Very nice!

JGrabowMSt > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:05

First car as a wagon? Cool in my book. My first car was a sedan, but the first car I bought for myself is a wagon!

Keep Oppo wagon! Too bad youre across the country, Im doing a wagon meet in a couple weeks!

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:09

Very nice!!!

Looks like you have leather as well!

Now that paint..that’s a new one to me. I’ve never seen a Volvo really do that

Maybe El Uly?

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
07/31/2015 at 21:16

Thank you! Not as nice as yours of course, but I’m happy with what I’ve got since I vowed to stay loyal to Volvo station wagons :)

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:17

The interior looks very clean.

John Norris (AngryDrifter) > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:18

“Also, any tips on how to solve flaking paint issues? There’s a bit on the bumper (which was replaced a few years ago according to the seller) where it’s down to bare plastic and I was wondering if we could do something about it or not...”

Just start putting together the long term plan for the repaint.

Kinja'd!!!

Amoore100 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
07/31/2015 at 21:21

Now we’re P1 Volvo twins!

Actually, I don’t think its leather, instead some odd combination of fabric and leatherette...still comfy though because Volvo seats...

Good suggestion...may not be OEM paint as the rear bumper and left quarter panel have been replaced (IIRC) after run-ins with Berkeley traffic...

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/31/2015 at 21:22

Thanks! It isn’t bad, especially for a car that was previously owned by a family with two young children...few light stains on the seats, but that’s to be expected from fabric...

facw > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:23

Welcome to Volvo ownership. Helpful places:

http://www.matthewsvolvosite.com/forums/

http://www.swedespeed.com/

http://volvoforums.com/forum/

Parts: http://www.ipdusa.com/ (though check Amazon and Rock Auto as well, generally cheaper in my experience)

Amoore100 > John Norris (AngryDrifter)
07/31/2015 at 21:24

That exact image used to be my Chrome background! Now it’s Saabs though...

Kinja'd!!!

True Chrome start page for any gearhead... Oppo, Lald, Jalop, CT, Craigslist, FB, Hooniverse, and ETS2 mods...

Amoore100 > facw
07/31/2015 at 21:26

Thanks! Yep, already been all over Swedespeed looking at buying guides, problem areas, and the owner’s manual since I’m too lazy to actually go to the car and get the manual if I want to read it...

Amoore100 > JGrabowMSt
07/31/2015 at 21:30

Hah, pretty busy in the upcoming weeks anyway...

I’ve loved wagons for a long time now, even though the first car I remember from my childhood was our old 740 GLE sedan, my dad also bought a turbo stick shift 740 turbo soon after...then he replaced both with our ‘05 Ody and his ‘01 V70 T5, and now I have this! So yeah, we have an affinity for vehicles with D-pillars...

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:36

My car has some stains on the carpet.

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:38

At least you have cruise control!

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/31/2015 at 21:41

What car?

Amoore100 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
07/31/2015 at 21:43

Does yours not? I would be surprised if Volvo made something without cruise control in 2008 or later...I thought yours just had no steering wheel button for it...

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:49

No cruise control or trip computer! Both options my PO opted against.

im gonna try and add both later though

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 21:49

Also funny since my 00 V70R had both

Amoore100 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
07/31/2015 at 21:52

Interesting...I haven’t used cruise control extensively yet, but to set it you press the “+” button, which is rather confusing...

Amoore100 > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
07/31/2015 at 21:53

Yes, your haunted wagon... XD

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:02

1999 4Runner. But everything else is mint.

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/31/2015 at 22:06

Nice.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:11

It’s really a 2Runner because 2wd with the auto

boxrocket > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:12

Volvo wagon FTW! You’ve joined the club I sadly exited a few months ago.

Not much to do about flaking paint, unless you found a way to inject adhesive under the paint, then paint over that. Best bet is to remove it (relatively easy), thoroughly reprep it (sand, sand, and sand some more, best to invest in a good sander or have a body shop do it), coat it in primer, and repaint it. Or spray it with clear, matching, or contrasting spray-on bedliner, which is good to do for the area under the hatch anyway as that gets a lot of abuse.

1111111111111111111111 > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:12

Nice first car. Pull the bumper off, clean the paint off and vinyl wrap it with something not obscene.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:13

Congratulations on the buy! And hello fellow Bay Area Jalop! At first I thought you were briefly insane for putting a 11-99 license plate frame on your Volvo, but I saw it wasn't that frame...but any polestar upgrade in the future?

Amoore100 > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
07/31/2015 at 22:15

Lol that’s a great way of calling it...

Amoore100 > boxrocket
07/31/2015 at 22:19

Thanks for the advice. That’s about what I was thinking as well...

I do love Volvo wagons. Practicality, Euro style!

Amoore100 > 1111111111111111111111
07/31/2015 at 22:20

That sounds a bit committed...perhaps a bit of sanding and paint touch-up would also suffice, but thanks for the suggestion!

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:20

Another OPPO suggested that name.

1111111111111111111111 > Amoore100
07/31/2015 at 22:58

It’s pretty easy to work with, 100$ would give you a couple tries.

sm70- why not Duesenberg? > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 00:07

It’s newer, and almost certainly has lower miles, plus Volvos has the best seats in the industry. So it’s nicer in some ways.

Sam > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 00:41

Nice!

To fix the paint would probably require a a re-paint since it’s down to primer.

Amoore100 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
08/01/2015 at 00:43

11-99? Must be a reference I don’t get...not planning on Polestar upgrade, leaving it stock for now...where in the Bay are you? We’re obviously south bay...and is that profile Citroen yours? It would be interesting to see in person...

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 01:01

The place that did the painting of the rear bumper did a crappy job. It needs to be stripped and repainted...

Congrats on getting a car! These were on my short list of potential cars when I bought my last one. Sweet little compact wagons, just a little too expensive to not DD.

6Cylinder > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 02:28

Had a friend with the V50. Factory stereo system slaps in that thing.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 03:57

I'm in the east bay (Walnut Creek), and no, the Citroen is not mine (found it in the neighborhood). And 11-99 is a CHP nonprofit that McLaren and Ferrari owners donated 5000-20000 dollars to attain a license plate frame and a personalized badge of sorts, which supposedly is supposed to have cops let you off for speeding infractions...

jkm7680 > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 05:23

Looks good! You honestly can’t do much about that flaking paint issues besides completely repainting the bumper entirely.

Amoore100 > sm70- why not Duesenberg?
08/01/2015 at 09:50

True. And I do love me some wagon. Actually the V50 has around 150K miles, so I doubt also that it has lower miles. But it is certainly nicer in some ways. Doesn’t mean I can’t still be a little jealous :)

Amoore100 > jkm7680
08/01/2015 at 09:53

Ah, I see. I figured it might be a bit easier than that, but no matter! It’s not like I’ll be looking there often if I’m driving it all the time...

jkm7680 > Amoore100
08/01/2015 at 09:55

Try looking around and seeing what kind of estimates you can get for getting that repaired. I’d say it’ll probably be within the $550-$1,000 range.

Amoore100 > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist)
08/01/2015 at 09:55

Interesting...

Yeah, we don’t often go to the East Bay because 880 = constant traffic. Still, some interesting sights there to behold as well!

Amoore100 > 6Cylinder
08/01/2015 at 09:55

I believe mine has 9 speakers, at least at last count...

Amoore100 > jkm7680
08/01/2015 at 09:56

Ok, thanks for the suggestion!

Vimto > Amoore100
08/02/2015 at 22:13

Very nice! My 2005 S80 approves of this. :)

Amoore100 > Vimto
08/02/2015 at 22:15

My 2005 V50 approves of your 2005 S80. We’re all Volvo brothers now...