Diesel or Petrol?

[volvic40]

Hi I am new and don't own a Volvo yet I confess.

I am looking at buying a V40 or V40 XC. I am hoping to get a lightly used one about 2013/2014. My questions is - petrol or diesel?

My current car a Mazda 6 Diesel has been great for 6 years or so, until recently when its DPF has needed regenerating a few times, and the dpf has now been replaced. This is a 2007 model - I don't know if the technology has moved on since then.

My mileage is about 10000 per year, with a motorway run every few months, the rest is commuting and local trips, which I would guess are not getting the exhaust hot enough to regen.

Thing is this - nearly all used V40 and V40XC are diesel, a petrol version seems to be a really rare beast. I would like a T3 for motorway slogging but most available petrol versions seem to be rocket ships at £45000!

How fussy is the modern diesel engine, with regard to dpf blocking, should I wait for a petrol to come along or is a diesel a good bet?

Advice/experience from esteemed Volvo owners would be very welcome, thanks

[volvorocks]

I would lean more towards petrol, a T3, would be perfect, no dpf issues.What is your budget?

[Marc01]

I did a quick search and couldn't find any good deals on a used Petrol like you said they are pretty rare, I did find a brand new T4 R-Design lux Nav at £22.5k or a T3 SE at £18.4k.
Most of the lightly used dealer cars come in at the price of new after discount, I know which I'd prefer.... To be first registered owner with full term of my warranty to use.

[tickedon]

As Marc01 says, the nearly new V40's hold their value well, and often a brand new V40 is the same / just a little bit more with the discounts you can get through carwow, drivethedeal etc.

Well worth investigating, particularly as the V40 now has a new lineup of engines for MY2016, which should be a bit more efficient and some lower co2.

[volvic40]

Thanks guys, I was thinking of mid teens of thousands there are some low mileage 14 plates around £16500 BUT they are all Diesel. Presumably because they are fleet or company cars, and thus the low consumption for high mileage combo is king? I am not sure I can run to £19 - £20k for a new one (unless my bargaining powers improve considerably!)

I am sensing that petrol is the way to go, if not I guess I am going to have to keep a routine going of 15 minute blasts up and down the motorway inflow gear once a week to keep the dpf clear?

[volvic40]

i should add that to me "low mileage" is under 15k !

Also inflow should read in low

[tickedon]

Originally Posted by volvic40

Thanks guys, I was thinking of mid teens of thousands there are some low mileage 14 plates around £16500 BUT they are all Diesel. Presumably because they are fleet or company cars, and thus the low consumption for high mileage combo is king? I am not sure I can run to £19 - £20k for a new one (unless my bargaining powers improve considerably!)

Just as an example, a V40 T3 [152] SE is £19744 via drivethedeal, saving £3725.

First 5 services (over 5 years) work out at about £1500. Buying new, you can get 5 services for £500 - another £1000 saved. If you are financing, the rates are much better new, than on used (whether nearly new or not). Some more saving.

Possible example:
Used: £16500
5 services: £1500 (ish, will vary depending on age and whether it's had first service or not)
Finance: £1000 extra interest (compared on financing new via dealer)
Total: £19,000

Vs
New: £19744
Service: £500
Total: £20,244

Obviously will depend on whether you are paying cash, can get a cheap bank loan rather than dealer finance, any options wanted etc. However, if you compare the cost over 5 years, you might find there's not much in it - all with the bonus of that 'new car' smell and full warranty.

[volvic40]

Thanks Tickedon, I really appreciate your taking that trouble to help. Certainly food for thought, you could get the £500 deal even if you bought it from a drive the deal type place then?

Must say a £1000 is quite an incentive. I have always shied away from a new car due to the hideous loss of money through early stages of depreciation but looks like yo may have a point there.

I was attracted by the various Packs on the 14 plate diesels which I guess were specced for business or contract use, and can obviously add a lot of sparkle to the vehicle.

But I don't know if I can stomach the "ooh I haven't been up the M1 for a week or so, better waste half an hour of my life and a bunch of diesel to boot". I just need to get a better paid job I think! I maybe need to understand exactly how the dpf clearing out works to see if I do enough inter-urban miles to make it happen if I were to make a conscious effort to drop it down a gear for 10 minutes.

Thanks very much again