Volvo V40

rossk26

rossk26

rossk26

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Anyone have experience of owning specifically the V40 sport 1.8 model from around 2002-2004?

Looking at getting a cheap estate, and the V40 seems to appeal to me most at this price bracket.

Reliability is my main focus, over the 5 years I've owned the ST, it's only ever needed an ABS module and new bushes, both fairly cheap repairs.

In B4 get a Mondeo, I just really do not like the look of them, nor the interior either.
 
my dad test drove one all those years back and didn't like it - went for a 5 series in the end.

I rekon its work looking at A4 estates from the time also
 
The biggest problem with the Volvo S40/V40 of this time, is that it's not a Volvo. It's a mitsubishi carisma in drag.

If you want a volvo, get a V70 from the same era.
 
fastwunz said:
my dad test drove one all those years back and didn't like it - went for a 5 series in the end.

I rekon its work looking at A4 estates from the time also
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I'd love an Audi avant, it would be my preferred option. But whenever I've been looking they are either very high mileage or looking very abused.

paradigm said:
The biggest problem with the Volvo S40/V40 of this time, is that it's not a Volvo. It's a mitsubishi carisma in drag.

If you want a volvo, get a V70 from the same era.
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How are they on fuel? Only seem to come in 2.4 or 2.5 T engines? I'm not after 50+mpg, but I wouldn't want anything worse than the ~30mpg I get in the ST.
 
I had the 1.6 V60 about 5 years ago and it was completely drab and uninspiring.

It was a comfortable place to be but certainly not a patch on any of the V70s I've driven.

+1 for the V70
 
rossk26 said:
I'd love an Audi avant, it would be my preferred option. But whenever I've been looking they are either very high mileage or looking very abused.



How are they on fuel? Only seem to come in 2.4 or 2.5 T engines? I'm not after 50+mpg, but I wouldn't want anything worse than the ~30mpg I get in the ST.
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I've got the 2.5T in my Mondy and it's not bad. I'm averaging 32.5mpg but it's totally down to how you drive :p
 
The old S40 wasn't even as good as a Mondeo let alone an Audi A4. A low point in Volvo history. The 2004 onwards model was much better (Though it's a Focus based car so it isn't really an A4 alternative).
 
I ran a y plate v40 2.0 petrol for about 2 years, lovely car, really comfortable and smooth. When I crashed it I got a v70 2.4 turbo.

They don't set the world on fire, but if you want something comfortable, smooth with reasonable power, they are great mile munchers.

Leagues ahead of a Mondeo, the paintwork quality for one thing amongst many , they just don't rust, fords just seem to start disintegrating after about 7 years.

In terms of fuel though, the v70 2.4 turbo is a hefty lump, I could never get my average mpg over 25, but 90% of my driving was non motorway, I could hit 30-35mpg average on the motorway.
 
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They're not particularly great cars, and they're not particularly economical either.
Fuel consumption has never been Volvo's forte.

What's your budget?
 
[TW]Fox;28484105 said:
The old S40 wasn't even as good as a Mondeo let alone an Audi A4. A low point in Volvo history. The 2004 onwards model was much better (Though it's a Focus based car so it isn't really an A4 alternative).
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Except in value for money, you could not even remotely get an A4 with the same features as an x40.

Audi's A4, you'd be paying 2x the price of a Volvo to get the sameish spec and condition.

All ''cheap'' well specced A4's have been ragged off by youngsters, for the same price as a T4 with leather you get a base spec 1.6 A4.

Mondeo I agree. Mondeo feels a class higher and the price is the same as the x40 series.


But anyhow I had the pre-facelift one 2.0.
Positives: Cheap and easy to fix, handles ragging well, specs/toys for the price, value, previous owners ( families and elderly), doesn't look to bad for its age.
Negatives: Neither really comfy ( bit stiff suspension imho, especially the rear) neither sporty ( would understeer like a barge, and generally badish handling), bit boring, brakes.

Fuel consumption was really average.

Repair wise, the chassis isn't to great, they eat rear springs ( or well, at this age anyhow it's a thing that often happens), and I'm not entirely sure about the facelift Engine&drivetrain choices, I remmeber some were Carisma ones ( bad GDI engines reliability wise), some were Renault ones, and some ( most petrols, except some 1.8 iirc) were Volvo ones.
 
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mjt said:
They're not particularly great cars, and they're not particularly economical either.
Fuel consumption has never been Volvo's forte.

What's your budget?
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£3k max, but lately I've been looking much lower as nothing around £3k really appeals to me, so I'd much rather try and find a £1k bargain. I know a few on here seem to get some cracking hidden gems.

But I want something interesting that will keep me happy. A focus/mondeo for sub £3k just won't. The looks of the V40 appealed to me, but wanted some more owner feedback on life with them.
 
iaind said:
3k small estate bargain with sensible fuel economy and decent looks? I'm going to say Saab 9-3 again :)
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I do like the Saab's

paradigm said:
If you'd be happy with an A4, would you consider a passat? Yes, dull, but it'll be newer for the money than any A4.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2007-VOLK...AUTO-SILVER-/331632064867?hash=item4d36cfb963
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Yep, I like that a lot too. Shame it's diesel and automatic though...

Actually what's wrong with that model? Seems really low price compared to what I've seen in the sub £3k price bracket.
 
I'm confused, you state that you want relatively decent MPG, but shy away from a diesel?

Either you do care about MPG or you don't? In which case I refer back to "If you want a Volvo of that era, get a V70".

As for the "Automatic" bit, it's a DSG, not a torque converter based auto.
 
paradigm said:
I'm confused, you state that you want relatively decent MPG, but shy away from a diesel?

Either you do care about MPG or you don't? In which case I refer back to "If you want a Volvo of that era, get a V70".

As for the "Automatic" bit, it's a DSG, not a torque converter based auto.
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Nothing confusing about it...

rossk26 said:
I'm not after 50+mpg, but I wouldn't want anything worse than the ~30mpg I get in the ST.
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I guess I was just assuming that if you aren't that fussed about MPG then your mileage is likely low enough that the financial outlay between 20MPG and 30MPG is negligible over the course of a year.

Not that the 2.0TDi is a bad engine, but if you don't do the mileage to justify the diesel then that's fair enough.
 
[TW]Fox;28484105 said:
The old S40 wasn't even as good as a Mondeo let alone an Audi A4. A low point in Volvo history. The 2004 onwards model was much better (Though it's a Focus based car so it isn't really an A4 alternative).
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Depends what you define as a low point in Volvo history. Volvo won Bathhurst and the BTCC with this generation of car. The face lift Volvo V40 T4 was actually a pretty decent car.

The 1.8 in the S/V40 is not a very good engine. One of the very early DI engines and suffers from coking in the head.



Is size a problem for you? Saab 9-5's are a complete bargain with a very robust engine. (Everyone wants a diesel now so petrol cars are dirt cheap)

Paid £1900 for mine with 112k on the clock with good history. It owes me ~2.5k but I have fixed all the little niggles gave it a full service and a 275BHP remap. I am averaging 28 MPG (Manual gearbox) but I am quite heavy footed. On a run to the south I normally average 37/38 MPG with the cruise @70mph. Always buy on condition not mileage with these as they will quite easily do 200k. Aero is the pick of the bunch as they have the most toys as standard, try and buy 04 and later as they have the redesigned breather system and the MPG difference between the full blown 2.3 FPT and the 2.0LPT is negligible.

inan1i.jpg


Just got back from a trip to Poland/Lithuania. Smooth as silk and didn't miss a beat, 150mph on the continent with more in the tank ;)
 
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