Debating passat/volvo s40/volvo v50 '11-'12

Kevincavan83

Looking at the above cars for commuting 160kms a day.

Any advice or recommendations what to choose avoid or be wary of?

All are 1.6diesel MPG and reliability are top of the requirements then comfort

colm_mcm

Is there an option to consider the 2.0 versions? They won't really be any less economical

grogi

Kevincavan83 wrote: »

Looking at the above cars for commuting 160kms a day.

Any advice or recommendations what to choose avoid or be wary of?

All are 1.6diesel MPG and reliability are top of the requirements then comfort

v40/v50 are compact cars, class below the Passat.

Kevincavan83

I can only really find the 1.6 in my price range.

Yeah i know its a compact vehicle, I'm mainly looking at the mpg rather than the size of the car. (Just myself the wife and 5yo) mainly commuting on my lonesome.
I used to have the 01-passat and like the comfort.
But the

Kevincavan83

Anyone any experience of either cars

ShadowHearth

Volvo 1.6 will have the same engine as focus 1.6. From what we know, 1.6 is weird lump of an engine. It really needs to be looked after and properly serviced, then it will go solid, but if there were inconsistency in services, then that engine is a a ticking money time bomb.
So in summary: if you buy it brand new and you are the one who is looking after it, it will be a solid engine. If you getting it second hand, then you buying a cat in a sack. Knowing Irish way of treating cars, most likely it will be a heart breaker.
Second hand 2.0 Volvo would be better deal.
The other issue you looking at: there are not many 11-12 cars in second hand market as it was a very slow for new cars. So very slim pickings in that category.

grogi

Kevincavan83 wrote: »

I can only really find the 1.6 in my price range.

My advice then - go older...

2.0 TDI in a Passat or 2.0 D3 in a V50 would be a better choice.

Kevincavan83

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Volvo 1.6 will have the same engine as focus 1.6. From what we know, 1.6 is weird lump of an engine. It really needs to be looked after and properly serviced, then it will go solid, but if there were inconsistency in services, then that engine is a a ticking money time bomb.
So in summary: if you buy it brand new and you are the one who is looking after it, it will be a solid engine. If you getting it second hand, then you buying a cat in a sack. Knowing Irish way of treating cars, most likely it will be a heart breaker.
Second hand 2.0 Volvo would be better deal.
The other issue you looking at: there are not many 11-12 cars in second hand market as it was a very slow for new cars. So very slim pickings in that category.

I was trying to research the engines being the same alright, anyone i know who's had a 1.6d of any make has had issues with turbo from poor maintenance.
I'm trying to balance year/mileage/price

ShadowHearth

Kevincavan83 wrote: »

I was trying to research the engines being the same alright, anyone i know who's had a 1.6d of any make has had issues with turbo from poor maintenance.
I'm trying to balance year/mileage/price

I personally wouldn't touch it second hand, even got himself signed service history.
Your best option to look for different brand or downgrade few years for 2.0 lump.
You could look in to ford mondeo titanium / titanium X. With 2.0 or 2.2 engine.

Kevincavan83

ShadowHearth wrote: »

I personally wouldn't touch it second hand, even got himself signed service history.
Your best option to look for different brand or downgrade few years for 2.0 lump.
You could look in to ford mondeo titanium / titanium X. With 2.0 or 2.2 engine.

Would it be the same for the passat?

Gonna be doin 160k a day so need decent mpg

colm_mcm

That vw 1.6 seems to give EGR trouble which is very expensive to sort.

Kevincavan83

colm_mcm wrote: »

That vw 1.6 seems to give EGR trouble which is very expensive to sort.

Ah crap!!!!
Looked up EGR issues with vw and the one I'm looking at is approaching the same mileage as when issues seem to start 70k

kirving

The Volvo will certainly have excellent seats, possibly electric. A must in my opinion for that kind of mileage. Makes it very easy to adjust the position a little bit if you're getting stiff.

Get an SE Lux if at all possible. Will include cruise control which again is a must at high mileage.

I've put almost 100k km on my petrol S40, been relatively trouble free.

Still, at higher milage as you'll be doing, a Passat would be a heavier car on the road, and in theory anyway will be more refined and a better cruiser.

ShadowHearth

Kevincavan83 wrote: »

Would it be the same for the passat?

Gonna be doin 160k a day so need decent mpg

Don't ask me anything about passat m8. I know previous gen was a money pit with problems start on electric handbreak ending with completely rubbish injectors. I just personally don't like vw and I can be called a bit anty vw here, so I better not say a thing about them m8.

Kevincavan83

Kevin Irving wrote: »

The Volvo will certainly have excellent seats, possibly electric. A must in my opinion for that kind of mileage. Makes it very easy to adjust the position a little bit if you're getting stiff.

Get an SE Lux if at all possible. Will include cruise control which again is a must at high mileage.

I've put almost 100k km on my petrol S40, been relatively trouble free.

Still, at higher milage as you'll be doing, a Passat would be a heavier car on the road, and in theory anyway will be more refined and a better cruiser.

Yeah the ergonomics of the volvo seats have intrigued me after a bit of research.
Suffer with back pain due to a car not seeing me at a red light on my motorcycle and smashing me 100mts down the road!

bazz26

I had a 2006 Volvo S40 some years back, Volvo parts are not cheap and you cannot always source them from a regular motor factors. In alot of cases you need to go through a main dealer who are expensive compared to other brands. Car itself being based on the Ford Focus is rather cramped but they are extremely comfortable, solid on the road and well built.

1.6 diesel is a PSA engine, a 2011-12 model should have the more reliable 8v version rather than the earlier troublesome 16v version. Personally I'd hold out for a 2.0 litre in either the S40/V50 or Passat especially is doing alot of driving, the 2.0 litre in both cars will be more powerful, driving will be a lot less stressful and fuel economy will be similar as the engine doesn't need to work as hard.

road_high

Had a 1.6 d S40 before too and would never buy that engine again. Broke my heart with stuff going like egrs and oil leaks. Big bills every time. Agree with last poster, go for the 2.0 litre, I really regretted not doing that. Was an excellent car let down by that ridiculous engine. Seats and interior are superb.

MayoForSam

I have a 2010 S40 2L D5 177 bhp, R Design model, imported from the UK 3 years ago, 120k miles on the clock and I'm commuting 50 miles each way to work. Must say it's a great car, reasonable to insure and service, 45-50 mpg, not a bit of trouble since I got it. Very comfortable, boot is a bit small however.

adam14

I have a 131 1.6 passat. Extremely economical, nice to drive. Slightly slow starting off but no problems with it. At 160 km a day I'd go for 2 litres.

TitianGerm

adam14 wrote: »

I have a 131 1.6 passat. Extremely economical, nice to drive. Slightly slow starting off but no problems with it. At 160 km a day I'd go for 2 litres.

How do you find it day to day?

I test drove a 2012 1.6 today with 109000 miles on it and found it very comfortable. It's a UK import from new and has a full VW service history from the local dealership.

I'm very tempted to buy it and a big step up compared to my 2007 1.6 Mazda 3.

Any issues that you think I should look out for?