Mazda 3 or Volvo s40

behan29 · 01-04-2012 12:11AM #1

I have a budget up to €20000 at a real stretch for a new car. I test drove a 2010 s40 recently and liked it, but it felt a little underpowered. Basically I need a mid size saloon that will take a buggy and luggage but not under powered. I will be doing a lot of driving to the uk as the boss is from the uk. I need to know what people would advise,back seats seat leg room, size and reliability are a must. I do like the Mazda 3 saloon sport. I don't need a passa or superb as I do approx 15000 km to and from work. Not a fan of soda Octavian, personally I think they look fugly!!

MuppetCheck · 01-04-2012 12:17AM

Mondeo 2 litre? Very comfortable for long distance driving and reliable too. You should get a clean 2010 titanium x model for that budget. A class up from either of your choices, both of which are based on the same car, ie a Ford Focus.

behan29 · 01-04-2012 12:20AM

Currently drive. 1.4 petrol focus and think its the work of Satan, I don't need something as big as a mondo, I do like them but I think it's just a little too large, thanks

Please Kill Me · 01-04-2012 12:20AM

Wouldn't bother with a Mazda 3 TBH, but the Mazda 6 is a fantastic car, as is the Mondeo MuppetCheck spoke of.

behan29 · 01-04-2012 12:30AM

I know the Mazda 3 is focus based, the mazda 6 I did look at, but I think it's huge, I don't really need a 2.0 litre sized engine, my mileage isn't huge and if I was going to get something as big as a Mazda 6 I could really stretch to an A4. I like mid sized saloons that ll do the basics but compact. Thx

johnthemull · 01-04-2012 12:36AM

McClaren F1?
or a mondeo

behan29 · 01-04-2012 12:40AM

Looked for F1 on donedeal and adverts, none that I could find. Small boot and I don't think there is an dealers in Carlow

MuppetCheck · 01-04-2012 12:41AM

If you don't need a large car but want comfort the Volvo is a step ahead of the Mazda (or indeed the focus it is based on). In your price range I'd expect leather, xenon headlights and an upgraded sound system.

mazdamps · 01-04-2012 01:00AM

If it's power your after buy the 3 MPS.

You can get clean 07 one's with low milage for well under 10k, they are not that bad on fuel on journey's, huge amount of torque lets it roll along in 6th gear.

You only do 10k miles a year, so save your cash and spend it on something fun and nice.It's only the tax that is expensive, servicing, insurance etc are like any other car, very reliable motor.

When your bored of it's 260bhp through the front wheels, take it up north for a stage 2 remap to get you past 300bhp and 500nm of thumping torque

Enjoy 5 secs to 60 and a car that will bounce off it's 155mph limiter.

While being easy to maintain and not that expensive to run.

bazz26 · 01-04-2012 02:06PM

This forum is bizzare at times, the OP asks about a diesel Volvo S40 and Mazda 3 and gets recommended a MPS.

OP, 15k km a year is very low mileage to be considering a diesel car as modern diesel cars don't like short trips and can become problematic.

Would you consider a Honda Civic saloon? Size wise they are smaller than the like of a Mondeo or Passat but slightly bigger than a Focus. They have a decent size boot, 1.8 litre petrol engine is very fuel efficent, has 140bhp so has decent poke and less complex than a diesel. They are going cheap these days as everyone wants a diesel. They are also available as a hybird which has the less pokey 1.3 litre petrol engine and auto only.

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http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=201213207519233

frankz · 01-04-2012 02:31PM

behan29 wrote: »

I have a budget up to €20000 at a real stretch for a new car. I test drove a 2010 s40 recently and liked it, but it felt a little underpowered. Basically I need a mid size saloon that will take a buggy and luggage but not under powered. I will be doing a lot of driving to the uk as the boss is from the uk. I need to know what people would advise,back seats seat leg room, size and reliability are a must. I do like the Mazda 3 saloon sport. I don't need a passa or superb as I do approx 15000 km to and from work. Not a fan of soda Octavian, personally I think they look fugly!!

What part of the UK is he in? Near the port?
If you are going from Carlow to the Uk "a lot" then 15,000km (arond 9,320 miles) a year seems vey little??

ShaneMc2012 · 01-04-2012 06:05PM

Out of those two I would have the Volvo S40, but I have heard its not very roomy in the back seat area. But if you're looking at a newish saloon what about an Opel Insignia? If your looking for a bit of power you'd have to get the Sport version though.
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http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/SPORT-2./5613322522757860/advert?channel=CARS

R.O.R · 01-04-2012 06:48PM

The Op needs a 2.0d or D3 S40. The 1.6 isn't bad since it got the 6 speed box, but the 2.0 is a pretty nippy motor.

Mazda 3 sport is nice, but I'm presuming its the 1.6 so its a bit lacking like the Volvo.

If you can wait a few weeks the pricing on the S40 night take a bit of a hit when orders can be placed for the V40.

R.O.R · 01-04-2012 06:51PM

ShaneMc2012 wrote: »

Out of those two I would have the Volvo S40, but I have heard its not very roomy in the back seat area. But if you're looking at a newish saloon what about an Opel Insignia? If your looking for a bit of power you'd have to get the Sport version though.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Opel/Insignia/SPORT-2./5613322522757860/advert?channel=CARS

Don't know why all those crappy spec ex rental models were registered as Sports, there is on such model in the line up. That one linked is an S model (base) with the plus pack.

behan29 · 01-04-2012 07:42PM

thx for the replies, i would have higher mileage but i tend to use my wife's car a lot, i currently drive a petrol focus and it is not cheap on petrol, its very underpowered and i am due a change anyway. Im hoping to change job so my travel will go up significantly. thx for advice.

php-fox · 02-04-2012 01:45AM

As somebody who switched from Mazda 3 to Volvo s40 (2008) just recently, I would take volvo any day. It's a totally different level of comfort. A bit underpowered, yes, if you refer to 1.6 diesel. But in fact, they both have roughly the same horsepower

02-04-2012 08:48AM

mazdamps wrote: »

If it's power your after buy the 3 MPS.

LOL

I don't think the OP once mentioned high performance power anywhere in his/her post!

frankz · 02-04-2012 05:11PM

behan29 wrote: »

I have a budget up to €20000 at a real stretch for a new car. I test drove a 2010 s40 recently and liked it, but it felt a little underpowered. Basically I need a mid size saloon that will take a buggy and luggage but not under powered. I will be doing a lot of driving to the uk as the boss is from the uk. I need to know what people would advise,back seats seat leg room, size and reliability are a must. I do like the Mazda 3 saloon sport. I don't need a passa or superb as I do approx 15000 km to and from work. Not a fan of soda Octavian, personally I think they look fugly!!

behan29 wrote: »

thx for the replies, i would have higher mileage but i tend to use my wife's car a lot, i currently drive a petrol focus and it is not cheap on petrol, its very underpowered and i am due a change anyway. Im hoping to change job so my travel will go up significantly. thx for advice.

Probably get more meaningful responses if you clarify a few things:
you want someit that is not underpowered so you may just have to go for a bigger car that you are ruling out (few notable exceptions on engines but dont meet your other requirements)

Is 15,000 km your previous annual mileage or expected future as only the latter is relevant to getting meaningful suggestions.

What dont you like about the focus? Power? Style? Driving?

Do you intend using your wife car alot and are you just looking for a runabout or do you expect to do high mileage on the new car?

Do you like the car your wife drives? (options to drive that and spend the money on new car for her, get similar etc)

Just trying to be helpfull as to me its very unclear as to what you will be using the new car for, mileage, requirements etc

cabrwab · 02-04-2012 05:56PM

As the 3 and the s40 are based on the same platform the room in the back is about the same not great, if your tall you will be squishing knees, but there is still room in the back for a person to sit.

The 3 is a nice drive if a little underpowered.
The s40 would have an extra level of comfort and better spec for sure and slightly better name.

If you could get the D3 s40 i would jump all over it!

Its such a pity they don't have a decent diesel engine in the 3, as the 2.2 out of the 6 would be great.

Best of luck with which ever you purchase you wont be disappointed.

behan29 · 02-04-2012 08:43PM

Thx frank. Clarity is something I m not the best with!!! I like the focus and the drive is grand, but I is so underpowered in comparison to my wifes car. I expect my mileage to greatly increase in the next year or so. My wife as a 207 pug, 1.6 diesel, sport. Her car is grand, nippy for what we need but it is such a bouncy ride, you feel see sick on country roads. Performance isn't a huge factor, once I can overtake and have a bit of comfort I'm happy. I'm looking at the Mazda sport. I test drove the s40 and it was nice.

R.O.R · 03-04-2012 07:31AM

Unless you have a buggy that folds up very small, you'll struggle with the boot in an S40. Not sure the boot opening in the Mazda is much larger either, but I suspect it is.

Have you considered the V50 (Estate sister to the S40)? Much more useable space for those with a family (although it's still a bit of a pain getting our buggy in to the wife's V50).

Maybe a bit older than you were considering, but a lovely looking car with decent spec and the 2.0d (140bhp) returns very decent performance and pretty good economy.

http://www.carzone.ie/search/Volvo/V50/2.0D-R-D/5513327707993070/advert?channel=CARS

cabrwab · 03-04-2012 08:42AM

I think the r-design v50's look great, the boot opening on the 3saloon ain't great at all.
I know somebody who lately changed from a seat Leon to a 159diesel and are finding the boot a little bigger and easier to get the buggy in and out of!
I know I was shocked when they were telling me that, wouldn't be much bigger then the s40/3

Mazda 3 or Volvo s40

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