Volvo s40 feedback!

goingsolo

So the mrs is goin off to change her petrol focus next month and is looking at the S40. She's looking at 1.6 but I'm thinking she might be better to get a bigger engine. Anyone have one that can advise on whether it's a good option?
Wants to get an 09 or 10 an throw in her petrol focus 06 zetec in as part exchange. 115k on the clock so presume she'll get small coin for this!

Does approx 18-24k miles p. a mainly dual carrigways, some city driving.

Wants an economical car naturally to keep the bills down. Diesel not a must, but handy to offset the VAT, and doin 20k + probably better but am open to correction.

Any ideas/alternative options? Also lookin at the new avensis as an alternative. Hoping to keeping budget under 10k With the trade in...

All ideas appreciated!


GS

MetzgerMeister

You are right to assume that a bigger engine would be better. This is where a lot of people go wrong. The bigger engine will be much more capable of moving the car around compared to a 1.6. The 1.6 may seem good on paper but in the long run, a 2 litre is a much better option in a car that size.

In theory, a 2 litre engine should last longer as there's less stress put on parts and internals than on the 1.6. It doesn't always work that way though as peoples' driving styles differ.

With that said, it might not be the easiest of tasks to find a 2 litre petrol in the years you mentioned as diesel-frenzy took hold of Ireland by that time and it's only getting worse!

Heroditas

Drove an S40 for a few days two years ago while my own car was being repaired - 1.8l petrol version.
Found it an awfully noisy yoke and quite sluggish. Also relatively thirsty with a small tank.

Jimbob 83

1.6 diesel ones look ok tbh if you aren't too bothered about power

exador

later 1.6 diesel - D2 engine with 6 speed box is a major improvement on the one before. Have a drive in one first and I think you will be pleasantly surprised.

goingsolo

Anyone own one? Would be intersted in MPG on average and wondering if they're expensive on parts/servicing also.

New avensis seem to be fairly economical aswell, and have a good rep.

She definately prefers the s40... Apparently it's pretty... (lord Jesus!)

bazz26

I had a 06 1.6d for two years. Expect to get around 48-50mpg from it mixed, not in anyway remotely quick but will travel alone at motorway speeds no problem. I would recommend the 2.0d if you are doing alot of driving, it has plenty of power and gives less trouble than the 1.6d and has similar mpg. Both the 1.6d and 2.0d are Peugeot/Citroen engines and also found in Fords as the S40 is basically a Focus underneath. Actually just be aware that the S40 is not a big car, rear leg room is tight and the boot opening is narrow. Newer D2 engine with the 6 speed gearbox did not appear until 2011 in the S40.

Car itself was very comfortable and well built, make sure you go for the SE model minimum as it will have very comfortable leather seats, the winter pack is a nice extra to have and includes heated front seats and bi-xenon headlights. Watch the electrics though as they can be troublesome, the ABS/TC module is also a common failure on them and can be expensive to replace

goingsolo

bazz26 wrote: »

I had a 06 1.6d for two years. Expect to get around 48-50mpg from it mixed, not in anyway remotely quick but will travel alone at motorway speeds no problem. I would recommend the 2.0d if you are doing alot of driving, it has plenty of power and gives less trouble than the 1.6d and has similar mpg. Both the 1.6d and 2.0d are Peugeot/Citroen engines and also found in Fords as the S40 is basically a Focus underneath. Actually just be aware that the S40 is not a big car, rear leg room is tight and the boot opening is narrow. Newer D2 engine with the 6 speed gearbox did not appear until 2011 in the S40.

Car itself was very comfortable and well built, make sure you go for the SE model minimum as it will have very comfortable leather seats, the winter pack is a nice extra to have and includes heated front seats and bi-xenon headlights. Watch the electrics though as they can be troublesome, the ABS/TC module is also a common failure on them and can be expensive to replace

Sound thanks! Took her current one for a spin this eve an only getting 35 MPG so looking to improve that greatly with the price of fuel going through the roof!

Lovely looking car TBF, and no kids to be worrying about space! Normally 2 ppl in the car, odd time 3-4 but very rearly.
Thanks for info

exador

If the budget can stretch to the later D2 1.6 then have a drive as it way ahead of the previous 1.6 for power if thats an issue. they are tight for space OK in the back but as you already said this is not a conern.

Definitely see a big gain going from 1.6 petrol.. more so even with the later D2 6 speed box depending on type of driving. Although the D2 was introduced in 2011 MODEL YEAR ..you will get one on a 2010 plate which may be within budget?

Leonard Hofstadter

A 1.6 petrol S40 would p1ss into the wind - even the 1.8s are slow enough. I'd go for the 2.0 diesel although the 1.6 should probably be alright - it's more powerful than the 1.6 petrol for sure.

bazz26

The only petrol S40 you will find from 2009/2010 will be the unwanted 1.8 FFV. This is the flexi fuel model which runs on unleaded or biethanol. However biethanol is no longer sold in the Republic as the Government took away the VRT rebate on the FFV model about 2 years back killing off demand. The 1.8 FFV is heavy on fuel but this was offset at the time by cheap biethanol at the pump. They cannot give these cars away these days.

Leonard Hofstadter

Another drawback of the 1.8F is that it needs to be serviced every 10,000 km as opposed to every 20,000 km like all the other S40 models.

ratracer

I had the 1.8 petrol for about 5 years from new. Fuel consumption is about 35mpg. Main dealer service is astronomical, soon as the warranty ran out it was looked after by local mechanic. A major fault with them is that an abs sensor is prone to failure at about 80k , and its a costly repair. (€800.
I'd buy another one tho...