Bought the ultimate SLEEPER car: Volvo V50 T5. Yes, a station wagon!

Gentle reader,

First off, a "SLEEPER" is an unassuming looking car that has speed and performance hidden inside. When seen in traffic or at a stop light, no one would suspect it's potential to "blow the doors off" of their own vehicle. 

When I was 16, my dad, may he rest in peace, pretty much forced me to go take the Colorado driver's examination. I told him I hadn't studied. So we went and I failed. This would have been 1972 or so. I was saving my money from my first job at a Mobil gas station. $1.65 an hour was minimum wage then. Plus, I didn't like station wagons! After many years of VW buses, they finally bought an American car: 1973 AMC Matador wagon. Pretty blue, but that's all I could say for it.

There WAS one station wagon in Denver that I would have gladly owned and would STILL love to have. Called a "300" by Chevrolet. It was a TWO_DOOR station wagon. Same basic body as their El Camino which was a pickup car based on the midsize Chevelle. The 300 was only made in 1964 and 1965. Historically, aside from the 1955-1957 Nomad which was a sporty fastback two-door wagon, they also sold a less expensive two-door wagon. I don't remember what they were called.

Well, over time and having kids, I came to own a few wagons: 1974 Chevy Vega (two-doors, four cylinder with four-speed manual trans.), 1975 Ford Torino, 1973 Chevy Laguna, and 1988 Chevy Caprice. The last one, had a 305 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8 with a Quadrajet four-barrel carburetor. I got those massive secondary barrels open one time before the computer realized it and slammed them shut. 

I forgot the most recent one and my first turbo (the V50 is my forth): 2002 Subaru WRX wagon in WRC blue. And before that one, "G-G" as the kids named it: 1985 Dodge Aries wagon. Red with red velour interior. Loved that car!

G-G would have been perfect if it had a manual transmission AND I could have gotten it to pass emissions testing!

The Subie was fun, and my wife was right, now that I look at the pictures. It wasn't much of a wagon. But still......

Since then, there have been many wagons that I've admired, Vovlo 1800ES which was a sleek two-door that the British refer to as a "Shooting Brake". Weird name, I know. Lately, they made a Jaguar X-type wagon that is gorgeous. Cadillac not only made their first wagon, a CTS, but one can or could get a "V" version with a supercharged V8 and six-speed manual trans! The Oldsmobile Vista Cruisers and  Buick's version called Sport Wagon are nice looking and desired by many. I have, in fact a book called, Station Wagons. 

But enough about historical or present day wagons or as the British call them, Estate Cars. I've admired other Volvos, especially the V70 line, the top of which was the V70 R which is all-wheel drive with a T5 turbocharged five cylinder engine with 300 horsepower and 300 pound-feet of torque. Electronically limited to 155 mph. We test drove the lesser, but still fun, V70 T5 with a five speed stick, but the seller wouldn't come down on the price. We were looking at a used V40 Volvo at a used car dealer, but sadly, even though they are all 1.6 liter turbo four cylinders, they only have automatic transmissions. That day and that dealer is where we found and bought the Capri XR2 four years ago, next month.

Now, to the present, my wife said she'd feel better if I was driving something, "from this Century." So I began a search. I drove: 2000 Honda Insight hybrid, cool car! Mazda 6 sedan, Mazda RX8, liked that one! Mini Cooper S, loved that one! Ford Focus SVT, and a couple other ones. I found a one-owner 2005 Volvo V50 T5 with six-speed manual transmission at Auto Buying Service:

Used Car, Truck, and SUV Dealership, Fairfax, Arlington | Northern VA   

I really liked everything about the car and bought it. It was well taken care off and had records to prove it. In like-new condition as you will see.

I never would have chosen a grey vehicle! But talk about NOT sticking out in traffic! They call it "Slate Grey". Below, you can see the V50's size relevant to the Capri XR2's. 

Nice clean, sleek front end. Can't tell if the headlights are HID or halogen. Like the Audi TT we had, the high beams are MUCH brighter than the low beams.

The only subtle clues to it's potential for speed is the "T5" emblem and dual tailpipes.

Versatile five doors. Note below, the "floating stack" which houses the radio and HVAC controls.

I love the three-tone interior, it's light and airy and made from sturdy fabrics rather than needy leather. Plenty of backseat leg room.

How DO they make those marks so precisely when vacuuming?

Above, the six-speed "stick" and floating center stack. Behind is ideal for a book on CD box, although a trash bin was an option for that location. Below, the proper number of pedals.

Below, the potent 218 horsepower, 236 pound-feet of torque turbocharged five-cylinder 2.5 liter engine. Properly setup with the intake in the front and exhaust in the back. Intake air enters a scoop to the right of that yellow sticker at the bottom of the photo, through the air filter and to the rear and though the turbocharger. From there, the hot pressurized air travels to the front below the bumper and through the intercooler. From there, up into the intake (right behind that same yellow sticker). See the little vent in the lower right (8 openings) air from the radiator fan is sent through a passage inside the hood to the little rectangular opening that is the battery cover. This sends cooling air to the battery. I've never seen anything like it.

Below, sensible 16" wheels with the first set of Michelin tires I've ever had. I hope they last, because at $135.00 a piece at Tire Rack.com, they will probably be my last!

Now, lest you are not convinced that the V50 is a performance car, take a look at the two articles below about the upcoming V60 wagon/S60 sedan. The V60 replaces the V50 AND V70 wagons. It falls between the two in size. 

So, you may be thinking, "OK, that Polestar V60 looks awesome, but my minivan has more horsepower than your grey Volvo." Possibly true. But the "anonymous grey" Volvo has the top engine available and the six-speed borrowed from the S60-R. It is a performance car in every sense important to me and disappears in traffic. I LOVE it!

That's it for now. Thanks again for taking the time to read my humble blog!

Scott