How noisy are the diesels? Is the 1.6 really underpowered?

Hi all,

I'm thinking of buying a V40, but never had a volvo before. I'm looking at 2 currently - one's a march 2000 1.9D with the briefly used multipoint injection engine (D4192T2 from your handy guide), the other's a late 2000 1.6.

I'd really like something quiet on the motorway. I've read that this diesel can be loud (just at tickover? always?) and that the 1.6 is underpowered (but I used to have a 1.4 Nissan Almera so this is relative..) .

Any thoughts? Thanks.

[sam-ski]

newer diesel engines arnt really that noisy to be honest, just this morning i got picked up in a new mondeo diesel and was amazed at how quiet the thing was!

Thanks. Yes - I've heard a new Honda civic diesel driving past and it sounded as quiet as a petrol to me. Why do new cars always seem the most desirable? I mean these 2000 Volvos were new in 2000 - have things really got better since then or am I just a sucker for advertising...?!

Err anyway, I'm wondering about this Volvo diesel engine in particular though - it's not the newest. (Or the 1.6). Basically are they quiet on the motorway at 70?

I've found a lot of useful posts here, but unfortunately I can't seem to search for e.g. "1.9D" - I guess the search engine doesn't think it's a word.

[Paul Clifton]

You are correct on both counts. The 1.6 petrol is under powered and the diesel is noisey. The T2 diesel engine is pre-common rail (more modern engines) therefore much noisier than the later ones (T3's). You need to go to about 2002 in the s/v40 for the later common rail diesel.

Paul.

Thanks also - I'll avoid the diesels apart from 102 or 115.

This might be my perfectionist streak but what does "underpowered" feel like (beyond, err, "underpowered")? I've spoken with a guy from a local independent Volvo specialist and his comment was "don't get the 1.6 'cause when you turn on the aircon it practically stalls"!

I'm guessing I just need to drive one and see for myself, but I'd welcome comments from folks who already have.

[4 forty]

i had a 1.6 petrol variant, and yes, when you switch the air conditioning on,the tickover does drop, and stalling at junctions etc did occur.
i have just purchased the 115 bhp diesel,the torque,response,and acceleration are superb, comparable to 1.6 petrol.
have a test drive in both variants, you will go for the diesel,

paul

[Viking V40]

I've driven my 1.6 V40 in mainland Europe quite a bit, on Autobahns in Germany in particular. It is not noisy at 70mph and I wouldn't say it is underpowered - why would Volvo sell a car like that? It certainly keeps up quite happily with the general flow of traffic.

The engine rpms do drop when the air-con comes on - I would expect that, it does not drop a lot (certainly nowhere near stalling an engine) and it very quickly regains its speed.

I have never experienced the car stalling at junctions (even with the air-con on), that's poor driver technique or something far wrong with the engine.

Larger engines will have more power - fact. The 1.6 V40 is not underpowered. If you need power and super-quick acceleration, go for a larger engined car.

The 1.6 is more economical than the larger engined cars.

My first V40 was a '98 1.9TD. This was a nice car to drive and accelerated well. The engine was noiser than its more modern counterparts.

[Viking V40]

On the diesel V40 I had, it was not noisy at 70mph, the engine revs are lower and the car was quite quiet when cruising. It was noiser at lower speeds in town.

Thanks Viking, I appreciate your comments.

[kelvintom]

hi m8
i had a volvo 1998 1.9td cannt say it was noisy had good economy and was very nice to drive and good performance,given the choice i would have the td.