S40: looking for a new car

[mrlacey1983]

hello

sorry this will be one of those posts that regular forum goers are probably fed up with but here goes anyway............
im looking to buy a Volvo! but at a ripe old age of 28 will i look silly in a Volvo? im looking at a s40 1.6 s its just under £4k with 54k on the clock. i currently own a Saab 93 aero 2.8t v6 whilst a love it but my financial situation has taken a turn for the worst and 24mpg and £460 a year tax is killing me so im going to view this Volvo tomorrow, i know the 1.6 aint gonna set the world a light in terms of driving pleasure but it is safe and the interior look quite nice, ok so a few questions
1. what mpg are people getting on the 1.6 petrol in the real world?
2. what are they like to drive?
3. what are the common problems to look out for? this car comes with 6 months warranty so hopefully get any problems sorted out in the period.
4. does the interior rattle? my Citroen c2 did and my Saab has a few rattles here and there
5.Volvo servicing costs?

thank you for any replies

[Alex121]

Originally Posted by mrlacey1983

hello

sorry this will be one of those posts that regular forum goers are probably fed up with but here goes anyway............
im looking to buy a Volvo! but at a ripe old age of 28 will i look silly in a Volvo? im looking at a s40 1.6 s its just under £4k with 54k on the clock. i currently own a Saab 93 aero 2.8t v6 whilst a love it but my financial situation has taken a turn for the worst and 24mpg and £460 a year tax is killing me so im going to view this Volvo tomorrow, i know the 1.6 aint gonna set the world a light in terms of driving pleasure but it is safe and the interior look quite nice, ok so a few questions
1. what mpg are people getting on the 1.6 petrol in the real world?
2. what are they like to drive?
3. what are the common problems to look out for? this car comes with 6 months warranty so hopefully get any problems sorted out in the period.
4. does the interior rattle? my Citroen c2 did and my Saab has a few rattles here and there
5.Volvo servicing costs?

thank you for any replies

What age is the car? I'm hoping that being just under £4k it's a newer model?

MPG - probably not very good in the real world, small petrol engine in a big car = disaster, not sure why car companies keep doing it. I would go for a 1.8 minimum for reasonable performance/economy, though the diesels would be better. 2.0D isn't Volvos so not quite as good and also suffers from DPF issues. D5 is the best to go for.

I would post this in the S40/V50 section as those guys will be able to help you out a lot with common faults/what to look out for...

Oh, and you're never too young to drive a Volvo....I'm 21 and love mine and there are quite a few other young Volvo owners on here too

[Volvo2002]

Should of went with the 9-5 Aero 2.3 engine lol ... sorry had to add that because the 2.8 V6 is bloody thirsty and has the exact same performance.

I wouldn't touch a 1.6 because in a bigger car as Alex points it, fuel consumption would be affected. Small engine doesn't = eco in larger cars, quite the opposite.

A 1.9D S40 of the original would be ideal. You can get a mint example for just 2.5k and you get 52.3mpg £75 6 months tax - £135 for 12 months. Reliable motors. 5th for the most reliable car in the UK.

[mrlacey1983]

The car is 05 plate so its the face lift model, the reviews of the car I've red have all stated 39.8 mpg, so i was expecting around 32mpg which would have been ok. I can't get a diesel because i only do small trips to work and the would probably kill if, epesally if its an old diesel.

I was thinking of getting a 95 hot but they are quite ugly and the facelift 93 is bloody beautiful

[Volvo2002]

9-3 is heavily based on the Vectra...ew.

Anyway avoid the 1.6 and anything else beyond that should be fine.

[mrlacey1983]

the 93 is not as identical to the vectra as you would think, anyways that volvo had been sold so think ill be playing it safe n get a focus

[Volvo2002]

Originally Posted by mrlacey1983

the 93 is not as identical to the vectra as you would think, anyways that volvo had been sold so think ill be playing it safe n get a focus

From an autocar roadtest

Vauxhall’s partnership with Saab is, more often than not, reported in the 9-3’s extensive use of Vectra underpinnings.

The 9-5 has some Vauxhall similarities(floorpan and discs) but the 9-3 is heavily based on the big Vauxhall. Very well known for it and the 2.8T engine is the same engine found in the VXR vectra.

Not saying it's not a good car either, just it shares a lot with with the Vauxhall.

What type of focus? If you are spending 4k you can get yourself some very eco cars with good performance. The 1.9D as I listed is a superb choice.

[Alex121]

Originally Posted by Volvo2002

What type of focus? If you are spending 4k you can get yourself some very eco cars with good performance. The 1.9D as I listed is a superb choice.

Nahhhhh, ignore that, get the ST 2.5 litre, 5 cylinder Volvo turbo in there

Dirt cheap to buy these days too

[Volvo2002]

Originally Posted by Alex121

Nahhhhh, ignore that, get the ST 2.5 litre, 5 cylinder Volvo turbo in there

Dirt cheap to buy these days too

30.3combined. Still better than the thirsty V6 though.

[Will M]

Originally Posted by Alex121

Nahhhhh, ignore that, get the ST 2.5 litre, 5 cylinder Volvo turbo in there

Dirt cheap to buy these days too

Probably because they drink like a thisty fish.

Whats the fuel consumption like in the T4