V50 2.0D - Any feedback on towing and general fuel consumption?

Hi
I'm thinking of getting a V50 2.0D - a couple of questions:
1. Has anyone experience of towing with this car - generally Volvo's have a good reputation but I've heard that the V40 was not the best tow-car
2. I've seen some comments on poor fuel consumtion - is anyone getting close to the promised 48mpg combined ?
Thanks

[Marmoset]

I've not done any towing with mine but I can answer the fuel consumption question. I'm getting about 44mpg in the summer with air-con on most of teh time and a mix of fast motorway and town driving (about 80/20) The cold snap last week really took it's toll though and I'm doing 40mpg at the moment.

The trip computer is about 3-4mpg too optimistic in my experience.

No problems with the car though apart from a leaky washer jet.

Rich

[MarkE]

No towing experience either. Done very few motorway miles so far but I'm getting around 35mpg round town (based on the maths as I have no trip computer.)
Last car struggled even to hit 30mpg on a tank of motorway miles and averaged 23mpg - after that, most things are an improvement.

[Alec Dawe]

Can't comment on fuel consumption for V50, but I too delivery of an S40 2.0D SE on Dec 23rd 05 (ex demonstrator with 6400 miles on the clock).
Since then I have done just under 1000 miles, and the average fuel consumption works out at a fraction over 49mpg. (these are real figures, not the trip computer display). I can get over 50 mpg on a decent run on main roads, dropping to about 43/44 with town work, just about 48mpg on fast motorway.
Be warned, a heavy right foot on the motorway will hammer the consumption, stick to 70 to 75 mph and its fine. Also, I estimate that the cruise control is worth 2 to 3 mpg if you can get away from the traffic long enough to use it.
This is slightly better than the consumption of my wife's Focus C-Max, about 3 mpg better in all conditions (better shape perhaps?), which is basically the same engine and floor pan etc.
Should make a decent tow car, but I would think you can rule out 6th gear towning, as peak torque is at 2000rpm which equates to almost 80MPH!

Alec

[MarkE]

Filled up tonight with 41.7 litres after 317 miles (approx 200 of them were on a motorway), so an average of 35mpg.

Agree with Alec that the speed you drive motorways at has a big difference to consumption (I guess it makes the difference as to whether the turbo is working hard in 6th or not).

Must...drive...car...more...sensibly

[Marmoset]

LOL! I've found that I drive a lot slower when I've got the instantaneous mpg looking at me

[MarkE]

On an economy mission on this tank of fuel to see just how efficient it can be if I resist my usual lead-footed technique.

They reckon that a remap can improve fuel economy (it certainly did on my Leon) so that's got to be a good argument for Rica (as if I needed any convincing...)

Ive towed in my S40, and it was ok, however it wasn't a massive weight, and if I had a V40 it could have gone in the back. I don't think a caravan would be much fun for a long drive.

I towed a BMW 330, a short distance to the dealers, and it was struggling a little on hill starts!

I think the main reason Volvo's had a good towing reputation because they were mainly rear wheel drive cars, which explains why some people are now put off towing with them, being fwd.