new ford focus,or s40 mark 3?

Yes, this is in a way a good point. Volvo should have, and still can do, done everything to become "the" estate in each segment.

1995 Volvo 945 LPT Auto

[Alec Dawe]

We've had a Focus C-Max in the family for just under a year now, and when coming up to changing 'my' car, the Focus was the reason for going to the S40.
I love the C-Max, performance and fuel consumption, but the seats are no where as good as the S40's, and having had two major back operations in the last 3 years, the seats are a major factor to consided.
My thoughts on the S40.. fast enough, economical, (49mpg, about 3 mpg better than the C-Max) Excellent driving position for me at least, and my driving position is now rather odd, but everyone else says they can get comfortable, the heated seats are a wonderful luxury on a frosty morning. Luggage space, well we got my son back to university in it, his luggage, myself, my wife, and himself, need I say more!
Enough bells and whistles,boys toys, for anyone. Love the leather seats, and the lighter interior colour (Oyster Beige).
Might invest in an engine management 'add-on' chip, but it can still annoy BWM 3s away from roundabouts in as built tune!
Bits and pieces might be cheaper than the Saab I was running previously. Brake pads etc are the same Ferodo part number as the ones for the C-Max, so most suspension/brake/chassis bits will be easily available from the likes of Halfords etc. Engine bits from Ford. Tyres about £60 instead of £150 for the Saab (Saab had odd size too, no-one EVER had them in stock!, Handy if you got a puncture).
Gripes... headlamp dipped beam is AWFUL! Dim, and too short, abrupt cut off.
Finally.. Car probably saved my life over new year. Driving to Sheringham at 5.30am I thought that it was handling funny, seemed very light and jittery, (only doing 35mpg on a supposedly gritted main road A140 in Norwich) then realised it was trying to tell me that the gritters had stopped at midnight, but the frost hadn't. Road was like a skating rink, all the way to Cromer. Later reports of something like 16 accidents on a 20 mile stretch of road! Early warning + ABS Brakes + Traction Control probably saved me from being the 17th!
I like it so far!
Alec