Volvo S40??

foray

I am currently looking to trade my 06 VW Jetta and am considering a Volvo S40. Probably a 05 or 06 model as my own car has big mileage. I hear mixed reviews about the S40 and also Volvo in general. Would anyone have advice? Maybe you are currently driving one? I have had 6 VW's in a row and feel like a change. Maybe I should work on the theory of "If its not broke...." Thanks

Leonard Hofstadter

Why would you change what you have for the same age car?

How big is "big" mileage?

I'm driving something with 190 k km and the engine sounds 100% perfect, and I would expect that it will do double that and maybe even hit 400 k km with proper maintanance.

L-M

foray wrote: »

I am currently looking to trade my 06 VW Jetta and am considering a Volvo S40. Probably a 05 or 06 model as my own car has big mileage. I hear mixed reviews about the S40 and also Volvo in general. Would anyone have advice? Maybe you are currently driving one? I have had 6 VW's in a row and feel like a change. Maybe I should work on the theory of "If its not broke...." Thanks

If you're going for a 2.0 d there's good power power in them, nice car to drive and look at but for what they are they're lacking in space big time. I reckon they're smaller than the Jetta inside!

keithclancy

I've a V50, which is the estate version, I cant even imagine what size the S40 is, the door pockets in the front around just about big enough for a packet of cigarettes.

Much smaller than the Passat, more along the lines the size of a Golf.

The 2.0D is nippy enough, 6 speed gearbox too. Niggly things go wrong with them though, allthough no worse than the current VW's (VAG)

My Previous case was a Skoda (VAG)

If I was doing big mileage i'd for for something Japanese (Mazda/Toyota) or maybe German if it was old enough (Mercedes E/S Class)

EDIT, one thing I will say about the Volvo is the seats are uber comfortable. VW Seats are like sitting on a pile of bricks in comparison.

foray

The mileage on my Jetta is 220k and its petrol so just feel while I will get something worthwhile trading it in now I should. I drive a 1.5 diesel Volvo S40 and it was quite dead so the 2.0 sounds good. It is one of my worries that they are quite small inside alright which is a shame. I must admit I like the V50 too but not many around.
Current VW's not half as good as the older ones. Gearbox went in mine early on this year and I genuinely don't drive hard....Its lead to knock on problems since. Frustrating. Maybe Japanese is the way to go. Considering Avensis too. Thanks for the advice

foray

I know I mentioned "If its not broke..." on first thread...but this is first VW ever had trouble with so was seeing did anyone else have issues with current VW's

EPM

Is yours the 1.6 petrol? They are notorious for failing boxes. Have a Leon and it did the same. Can't imagine you will get a lot for your Jetta being petrol and high mileage to be honest. Maybe drive it until it dies? Could be a cheaper option.

captainspeed

captainspeed wrote: »

Why would you change what you have for the same age car?

.

Why not ? I have a 2002 at the moment and wouldn't be at all surprised to be in a 90 something reg next year.

coach22

i have a 1.6d s40 06 reg. Its a good car I like it and have had very little trouble with it to date.
The pros would definitely be very good fuel consumption. Does more mpg than the wives 1.4 petrol toyota auris. I also dont find it sluggish to be honest definitely fast enough for me. Very comfortable has full leather aircon cruise control etc etc.
Negative side to the car is definetly the size. Quite small on the inside especially for passengers in the back. Also the depreciation since i bought it new but i guess this is a good thing if your buying second hand.

keithclancy

RoverJames wrote: »

Why not ? I have a 2002 at the moment and wouldn't be at all surprised to be in a 90 something reg next year.

+1 Thinking of getting rid of my 05 and getting a 98 to 00 reg something.

Cant lose much money on something that isnt worth much

bazz26

I have a 2006 S40 1.6 diesel, just spent the bones of €900 on a new DPF for it. They tend to go between 80k and 100k miles or alot sooner on cars used for short trips. To be fair though it's not a Volvo thing as the diesel engines (bar the rare D5) are Peugeot/Citroen/Ford engines, the DPF is unreliable technology across all modern diesel engines it is fitted too. Other issues I've had were mostly small niggly or worn parts. Note though that main dealer parts and servicing on this car are expensive, though a poster here called Hellraiser offers a generouse discount on geniune Volvo parts.

Electronics can be iffy on them and the ABS/Traction control unit is known to fail but then again the same unit is used by other manufacturers so again not a Volvo only problem. Space wise, the S40 is based on the Ford Focus even though the car was pitched as a rival to an A4/3 Series, so rear leg room and boot are both tight. As already mentioned front storage areas in the doors are a joke and can barely hold the owner's manual. On the plus side though the seats are very comfortable on long journeys, just make sure you get the SE model with the leather seats, a bonus would be one fitted with the Winter pack which adds heated seats and bi-xenon headlights.

Have a look at the Honda Accord 2.2 litre diesel too, pre 2008 models are almost €900 to tax but if you can afford a 2008 model they are only €302. They generally tend to give very little trouble and have pretty decent spec.

Leonard Hofstadter

foray wrote: »

The mileage on my Jetta is 220k and its petrol so just feel while I will get something worthwhile trading it in now I should. I drive a 1.5 diesel Volvo S40 and it was quite dead so the 2.0 sounds good. It is one of my worries that they are quite small inside alright which is a shame. I must admit I like the V50 too but not many around.
Current VW's not half as good as the older ones. Gearbox went in mine early on this year and I genuinely don't drive hard....Its lead to knock on problems since. Frustrating. Maybe Japanese is the way to go. Considering Avensis too. Thanks for the advice

Fair enough, that is a lot, I thought I was doing well on 190k on a 5 year old car! The VW 1.6 engine is capable of 400k if looked after properly, though as you've discovered, the gearbox is not. Sorry OP I assumed you were one of the "100k is big mileage" brigade!

Don't assume that an Avensis is any better either, ours needed a new gearbox as well! The diesels can give trouble with swirl flaps and DMFs(well every diesel has DMF issues eventually) and the VVTi petrols are renowned for burning oil at high mileage(though ours doesn't so much as burn even the slightest of slight drops yet).

foray wrote: »

I know I mentioned "If its not broke..." on first thread...but this is first VW ever had trouble with so was seeing did anyone else have issues with current VW's

No, modern VWs are all like that. The Passat's electronic handbrake can get stuck 'on' and won't release:eek:! Best out there these days are Ford and Mazda(provided it's a petrol, the diesels can be a complete disaster in some). Hondas are properly reliable too but are too expensive. Lexus are indestructable, they are much better than the Toyotas they are based on including quality.

RoverJames wrote: »

Why not ? I have a 2002 at the moment and wouldn't be at all surprised to be in a 90 something reg next year.

The Jetta and S40 are two mundane and ordinary cars, presumably the OP wants something newer with the mileage on his and after having to get a new box for his?

I've nothing against old cars per se but it's not like the OP is going from a 05 Ford Fiesta to a 99 A8 or M3 or something special, he is going from a Jetta to possibly an S40 which are very similar cars competing in the same segment of the market.

bazz26 wrote: »

Have a look at the Honda Accord 2.2 litre diesel too, pre 2008 models are almost €900 to tax but if you can afford a 2008 model they are only €302. They generally tend to give very little trouble and have pretty decent spec.

I don't see what the fuss with the Accord is to be honest, it is a very nice car but a high spec Mondeo is equally nice once you're not a badge snob. A Mondeo will be much cheaper as well as having more Irish friendly engines.

coylemj

One thing to look out for with secondhand Volvos.... I bought a 2003 S60 a few years ago from a Volvo dealer and was shocked to discover a few weeks later that the radio has no mute terminal for post-factory carphone kits. As far as I know every other marque facilitates the fitting of a car kit which can mute the radio when it detects an incoming call, it's just a single wire from the car kit base unit to the back of the radio but in the case of my 03 S60 there was no such connector. I can certainly from my own experiences vouch for Mercedes, Fiat, Audi and VW, all of whom fit radios with the required mute terminal.

Someone in Volvo obviously decided that if you didn't buy a factory phone kit then you could get stuffed, I don't know if this policy has changed because when the Volvo sales guy phoned me a couple of years later to see how I was getting on and if I was thinking of changing, I laid it on the line, said I would never buy another Volvo as it was a particularly mean stunt.

J77

I drive an 06 S40 2.0D SE. Spec is quite good and they are a decent car to drive, not to mention due to higher depreciation they can be quite the bargain used. Definitely don't think S40's stand up to their german rivals though. I wouldn't get anything less than the 2.0D. As other posters have said you're likely to encounter a few annoying little problems that can be quite head wrecking and possibly will have the change the DMF. There's other cars i'd look at if you could go above an S40 in price.

What roughly is your budget, if you don't mind me asking?

foray

Thanks for all the advice. My Jetta is the 1.6 Petrol. At present only getting about €4-5k down the country for it and in Dublin between €5-6k. At most I hope to put €3K with it so my budget is about €8-9k as more than likely will buy in Dublin. Much better value there. Will have to have a more proper look at the space in the S40 to be honest by the sounds of it. Depreciation is incredible on them. Second hand ones are well priced. A friend of mine at work strongly recommends a Honda. He is the Civic saloon. Thats unfortunate about gearbox in Avensis too captainspeed. Think I should just stick with my racing bicycle at this rate, if only my commute was less!! Definitely want to get something with lower mileage though..

Leonard Hofstadter

A Civic saloon is very undesirable, pre-08s are unloved because they were a 1.8, while after 08 there is no diesel so no-one buys them any more, apart from the hybrid but that is a weedy little 1.3(Honda says its a 1.4, but last time I checked 1339 cc makes it a 1.3) with a CVT box and CVTs are nasty as they sounding like the driver is slipping the clutch any time you want to accelerate.

They are a good(but overrated) car, but, like the Jetta, do not endear themselves well with the public.

OP, why not consider a nice 1.6 Focus Ghia? Trust me it is a better car than a Jetta or a Civic as well as being desirable. Plus they don't go through gearboxes either;)! A Mazda3, if anything, is even more reliable but I find the steering to be incredibly numb on these, although they are a sweet car in every other regard.

foray

Great Thanks. I felt the same about the Honda Civic Saloon. I will definitely check out the 1.6 Focus Ghia option thou. They are a nice car and Fords seem to have overtaken most make cars for reliability.

J77

Have you looked at Audi A4s? Great soled cars and lovely to drive, not to mention they will hold their value quite well.
Had a look and I think these would be pretty suitable.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/201028198814925/advert?channel=CARS

Here's a similar one
http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/1.6-102B/201039199695896/advert?channel=CARS

If 109k miles on the clock doesnt bother you I'd seriously consider this, you would get great mileage with the diesel and they're peppy enough for 115bhp.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Audi/A4/1.9-TDI-/201003196655429/advert?channel=CARS

bazz26

God, those A4s are poorly spec'd for a premium brand.

OP, maybe something like this might be worth checking out:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201040199813423

keithclancy

bazz26 wrote: »

God, those A4s are poorly spec'd for a premium brand.

OP, maybe something like this might be worth checking out:
http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201040199813423

Could never work out why they are a premium brand in Ireland an A4 in Germany is the same as a Golf.

partybart

Was thinking of getting a S40 too - probably Diesel. Would be trading a 03 BMW 318ci. What trade in value would i fetch?

chiefwiggum

coylemj wrote: »

One thing to look out for with secondhand Volvos.... I bought a 2003 S60 a few years ago from a Volvo dealer and was shocked to discover a few weeks later that the radio has no mute terminal for post-factory carphone kits. As far as I know every other marque facilitates the fitting of a car kit which can mute the radio when it detects an incoming call, it's just a single wire from the car kit base unit to the back of the radio but in the case of my 03 S60 there was no such connector. I can certainly from my own experiences vouch for Mercedes, Fiat, Audi and VW, all of whom fit radios with the required mute terminal.

Someone in Volvo obviously decided that if you didn't buy a factory phone kit then you could get stuffed, I don't know if this policy has changed because when the Volvo sales guy phoned me a couple of years later to see how I was getting on and if I was thinking of changing, I laid it on the line, said I would never buy another Volvo as it was a particularly mean stunt.

are you sure????? my s60 was 2003 and had no issues with the car kit

R.O.R

chiefwiggum wrote: »

are you sure????? my s60 was 2003 and had no issues with the car kit

Radio's can be muted, but it takes a special lead.

Costs about €125 for the radio mute lead in the 2004+ S40/V50, and depends on the sound system installed as to which lead is used.

Same leads are used in Aston Martins though, so it's not a bad bedfellow.

Can't remember whether the old S60 was as bad, or whether there was an easy mute lead.

Now costs less than €400 to specify Bluetooth on the S40, which is reasonable in comparison to the VW/Audi offerings.

bazz26

R.O.R wrote: »

Radio's can be muted, but it takes a special lead.

Costs about €125 for the radio mute lead in the 2004+ S40/V50, and depends on the sound system installed as to which lead is used.

Same leads are used in Aston Martins though, so it's not a bad bedfellow.

Can't remember whether the old S60 was as bad, or whether there was an easy mute lead.

Now costs less than €400 to specify Bluetooth on the S40, which is reasonable in comparison to the VW/Audi offerings.

Aston Martin borrowed the sound/sat nav system from Volvo when under Ford ownership.

foray

I had looked at the Audi A4's at one stage too. Those ones are well priced. The Mazda 6 for a '07 is a good deal and at least going up a year too. Would love diesel but they are expensive.

bazz26

foray wrote: »

I had looked at the Audi A4's at one stage too. Those ones are well priced. The Mazda 6 for a '07 is a good deal and at least going up a year too. Would love diesel but they are expensive.

Don't touch the 2.0 litre diesel in the Mazda 6. They are a disaster and should be avoided.

Green Hornet

Just on the Civic saloon, had a 2006 1.8 and can recommend them. Over 40mpg and pokey too. Almost as big as an Accord and very well specced. As another poster said, not a huge number of them around and that's a good thing in my opinion. Each to their own though

coylemj

chiefwiggum wrote: »

are you sure????? my s60 was 2003 and had no issues with the car kit

My company dealt with Carphone Warehouse and on several occasions a fellow arrived at the office to install a car kit for me, he was subcontracted to CW. The only car of mine that defeated him was the 2003 S60, on four other cars he had no problem attaching the mute lead from the Nokia CK-7W car kit to the factory-fitted radios on Mercedes C180, Fiat Bravo, Audi A4 and VW Golf.

VolvoMan

bazz26 wrote: »

Aston Martin borrowed the sound/sat nav system from Volvo when under Ford ownership.

As well as air vents, keys and other switchgear.

Modern Astons are absolutely riddled with Volvo parts.

coylemj wrote: »

My company dealt with Carphone Warehouse and on several occasions a fellow arrived at the office to install a car kit for me, he was subcontracted to CW. The only car of mine that defeated him was the 2003 S60, on four other cars he had no problem attaching the mute lead from the Nokia CK-7W car kit to the factory-fitted radios on Mercedes C180, Fiat Bravo, Audi A4 and VW Golf.

These had the option of a factory integrated telephone when new. This probably explains the car's reluctance to accept an aftermarket kit.

That said, mine has an old kit that was fitted years ago and I don't remember there being any trouble with it.