Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

V50 is a ford focus with a Volvo styling . That's not a bad thing, the focus of that shape drove nice, esp b road twisties, just needed to have nicer build quality which Volvo brought some of to the table. It's the old V40 that's a total dullard (mitsubishi no charisma I think was the basis for it, reliable but super dull).

With the d5 and a manual that's a nice combination. Not a fan of either of the ford diesels 1.6 and 2.0 read anything I've ever moaned about them before or ask the internet.

V70 is much more Volvo but still obviously influenced by ford. Good motorway barge that will go for along time without needing expensive things (clutch, wheel bearings, drive train etc), they are designed to do around 200k on those components, whereas most family cars around 120-140k