2008 Audi A4 or 2009 Volvo S40

bonkers

Stuck between these two at present as i upgrade from a 03 Golf - mainly due to need for isofix but good excuse to get an newer model.

Heard of issues for the petrol volvos but don't do much driving.

Budget around 8-9k

Any other options and advice would be great

Atlantic Dawn

You should consider A6 or S60/S80, better value and same engines.

bazz26

The S40 is quite small on the inside, boot access is narrow too. A4 is from the segment about the S40 too and also a newer design, the S40 has been around since 2004. The S40 is really a rival to the A3. S40 will most likely be higher spec than most A4s though.

bonkers

Thanks for advice, why would a6 be cheaper.. just presumed it was a higher end version.
Any regular issues to ask about on audis?

colm_mcm

If those 2 I'd take the a4, even though the s40 has a better looking interior.
The a4 is way bigger and is a newer design, I also have reservations about the s40 Diesel engines.

bonkers

like the look of this - https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-1-9-tdi-115bhp-se/10490887

is there much that goes wrong at that mileage?

millington

I wouldn't pay that for a B7 A4 personally. Milage is a bit high for it's age aswell.

Having owned both an A4 of that era, and a facelift S40 aswell, I think the S40 is a nicer looking car inside & out and feels less dated. Just make sure you get one thats had the DPF removed or replaced!


Now if you're thinking of a B8 A4 which came out later in '08, that would change things a bit.

mickdw

The s40 is basically a Ford focus. It is a far inferior car to an A4.

millington

mickdw wrote: »

The s40 is basically a Ford focus. It is a far inferior car to an A4.

Why is that now? Considering the A4 is the same as any other VAG car it's not exactly a bespokely developed platform.

bazz26

bonkers wrote: »

like the look of this - https://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/audi-a4-1-9-tdi-115bhp-se/10490887

is there much that goes wrong at that mileage?

Why not just buy a Seat Exeo for not much more money? It's the same car as that A4 except for some Seat bits but it has the more modern CR engines.

bazz26

bazz26 wrote: »

Why not just buy a Seat Exeo for not much more money? It's the same car as that A4 except for some Seat bits but it has the more modern CR engines.

And not vrt registered

mickdw

millington wrote: »

Why is that now? Considering the A4 is the same as any other VAG car it's not exactly a bespokely developed platform.

They are from utterly different segments that's before you get to standards of materials etc.
To be fair, while the volvo is all focus underneath, it's pretty well finished internally.

millington

mickdw wrote: »

They are from utterly different segments that's before you get to standards of materials etc.
To be fair, while the volvo is all focus underneath, it's pretty well finished internally.

Actually the S40 was marketed as a cheaper alternative to the A4/3 series compact execs :eek: I definitely think a facelift version is better finished off than a B7 A4 SE (especially considering the one posted doesn't even have electric rear windows :mad:)

mickdw

You can market anything however you like but a car that is all ford focus underneath is never going to be an A4 competitor.
Volvo are always slightly out of step with the segments anyway.

millington

mickdw wrote: »

You can market anything however you like but a car that is all ford focus underneath is never going to be an A4 competitor.
Volvo are always slightly out of step with the segments anyway.

But an A4 which is a Passat underneath is much further up the chain?

Now to be fair, like for like I agree A4s are usually nicer overall but they're also a lot more expensive. I just don't see why the underpinnings are an issue.:eek:

mickdw

So if an S40 is an A4 equivalent, an S60 must be an A6 equivalent meaning an S80 must be a match for an A8 even though its all mondeo!
As far as Im concerned you are at least one step out with your classifications.

millington

mickdw wrote: »

So if an S40 is an A4 equivalent, an S60 must be an A6 equivalent meaning an S80 must be a match for an A8 even though its all mondeo!
As far as Im concerned you are at least one step out with your classifications.

That is literally the exact segments they would have been aimed at, albeit not as good or as expensive as the competition in most ways

Audi A4s & A6s have been based on Passats, does that mean a 3/5 series is instantly a class above? A3s are based on Golfs, does that mean a 1 series/ A class is a class above?

My point is, you can't simply classify a car by it's underpinnings. Many cars share components or chassis, it doesn't have an impact on the final product.