Thanks Steve - my knowledge is growing slowly thanks to people like you sharing your knowledge. Having replaced DPF and DMF seems like it could be sensible to keep the car longer - I do like it. What problems could come with turbo ? : expense wise what could be worse case scenario? ( I'm neurotic ! )

Many Thanks for a very helpful reply. This is invaluable for me. Really wish there was a like button.

Much appreciated

Thanks for the additional information. The big lesson for me is to do more research on a car. I was taken by a lovely, comfortable and smooth ride ( and it looked good ) - didn't know what lurked !

The C30/S40/V50 is a bit less "Volvo" than say the S60/new V40, but they still drive like a Volvo. Although based on the Focus, a car with one of the best ride/handling balances in its class, anyone who has driven an S40 and a Focus back to back will know that the Volvo manages to have a 'premuim' feel to it. This is not just down to the lovely interiors either, the Volvo is more refined too. I understand that Volvo upgrade a whole lot of the Ford based components, not least suspension bushes, which is why there is less road noise and a more planted feel to the Volvos.

You've been unlucky with yours, but the PSA engines (also in Focus, Mondeo, S-Max etc) are no worse than other modern diesel engines, and in some cases, much smoother.

So don't feel hard done by Scot22, you are driving a real Volvo!

I had a Volvo with a Renault engine..a 340 if I remember right. I was told by a mechanic that

the specifications for the engine were laid down by Volvo and were higher than the original

engine. I had no problems with it. I've no details but someone on here will know more than me.

Originally a Daf design, the 300 was offered with both a 1.4 and 1.7 Renault petrol engine (the 340), and in some markets (not the UK) a 1.6 Renault diesel. The 360 came with a 2.0 litre Volvo petrol engine.

The 300's replacement, the 400 series was co-developed with Mitsubishi, shared platforms with the Mitsubishi Carisma, and the two cars were built at a co-owned factory in the Ntherlands.

and the 340's unassisted steering was the most ferociously heavy I've ever come across.

A lot of them were sold to retired people: I wonder how they coped with the steering.

My FiL had a 360 GLT in the 90's. It was a complete dog, the engine felt and sounded hopelessly wheezy and the transmission was like a tractor's. The steering was, as Avant says, ridiculously heavy for a family hatch, and was not that precise either. Horrible car.