Hi,
My Mum would like to buy a Volvo V40 as she wants a safe, comfortable and economical car for her job as a district nurse on the Wirral and also for commuting to and from her house in North Wales.
She would like the following specification with preferably the 1.9 diesel engine.
1) Air Conditioning
2) Cruise Control
3) Leather Upholstery
4) Heated Front Seats
5) CD Autochanger
what models would we look for that offer this sort of luxury? CD / XS / SE?
We currently run a Subaru Forester 2.0 AWD GLS with the All Weather pack (heated front seats, heated front screen e.t.c) which will have to go as it's a bit too thirsty but we still want to retain some of the luxuries that we've had for the past 3.5 years we've had the Forester.
I seem to remember the XS model having all these facilities that we looked at a few years ago when we were looking but not seriously lookign if you know what I mean.
The other thing that I would be intersted to know would be about the Service Intervals - what are they for both Petrol and Diesel. This would influence whether we would get a 1.8 or 2.0 Petrol or the 1.9 Diesel.
Is there anything else we should know - our budget will be about £4,000 so I realise it wouldn't be a totally new one that we would get.
Thanks for yor help - I appreciate it!
Regards
Keith
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I just bought an S80 2.4 auto with all the toys except satnav and video, and although I am a diesel freak with a Passat 130bhp I went petrol, and intend to convert to lpg.
All the diesel Volvo's (and it was a Volvo I wanted) cost an arm and a leg, but the petrols tend to have alower milage and cost way less and there are more around. Volvo's always seem to have fsh too! Older owners with more dosh I think.
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I have one, bought nearly a year ago. It is now 4 years old, and is very well specified with all the features you want and more. I also looked for the diesel, but couldn't find a good one - ended up with a 1.8 GDI - the Mitsubishi engine which claims 40mpg. The Volvo 1.8 is an entirely different engine.
HJ doesn't like them at all - after all it is a re-engineered Mitsubishi Carisma, built in the Netherlands. But it is a perfectly adequate and reliable car. We love the heated leather seats, which come from the bigger V70.
Depreciation is steep, and we got a good discount after haggling for one of the last Phase 1 cars.
After having an HGV wreck my Land-Rover, I'm considering a Forester. What mpg do you get?
Good hunting,
Tim
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tim best to go for ex mod police forester expect to pay 3.5k for 99 v see
withham specialist vehicles web site
mpg around town 24-26
oout of town 28-30
ukjazz
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Keith
I have the V40 1.8 XS. (March 2000 so last of the Phase 1 cars)
Its the Volvo 1.8 engine (not the 1.8 GDi) and gives 32mpg commuting (mostly open B roads plus A44 into Oxford) and up to 38mpg on longer trips on motorways. Not brilliant but not too bad either.
It has aircon and single in dash CD player. Doesnt have the leather, heated windows/seats or cruise control. Need higher spec for these or a more recent car.
Service intervals work out at about once a year (12k miles) but I get an additional oil change with the MOT at the 6 month point. Volvo dealers are expensive for the servicing.
I know HJ and ND dont like them, I much preferred the Subaru Outback we used to drive. But it is a reasonably comfortable and practical car. Handling is ok itf you dont explore the limits too much, back end can feel a little light on bends with a bad road camber but Phase 2 cars much better in this regard.
hth
Ian L.
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A friend of mine has a '98 V40 gdi which we drove across Europe in last summer (3000miles). I'll give you the good and bad points.
Good: economical, with 4 men and luggage on board we averaged 38mpg, this included a stretch of autobahn at a constant 100mph.
reliable, apart from occasional hunting from cold due to a worn throttle housing.
Bad: very bad ride quality, feels as if you are are driving with flat tyres over bumps.
Uncomfortable and cramped in the front (rear is roomier)
Heavy front tyre wear
Not the best car for loading to the gills, the already poor ride worsens and the steering becomes over light-there is no self levelling rear suspension.
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Throttle housing on GDI's is a known issue to BBA reman - HJ has a link to them on this site. It won't leave you stranded. GDI engines suffer from short journeys more than most. Ours gets an Italian tune-up every month or so....
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