Volvo's..

[jasper5]

That is the top model R Design, the engine is the same as my 407 2.0 136 bhp 16 valve.

According to my son the DMF is a problem on those and the DPF clogs up on short journeys (nothing new there)

[lozz]

Cheers.

[Welly]

I drive a Petrol S40 2005, I do know the DMF can be a problem on the Diesels as well as poor fuel economy (the forum moan about this) some struggle to hit 40mpg.

The S40 is quite small especially in the back. They are a very solid car, you sit about a foot away from the outside 'skin' I think that's why they're small inside the interior is a nice place to be and feels exclusive/quality all the electricals and interior stuff is reliable.

If you pay £7K now it'll drop like a stone over the next couple of years. I'd rather pay £7K for an Audi or something with better residuals. I paid £7K for mine in 2009 (should have been £8,500.00 but got a bargain) but I'd struggle to see £4K now 3 years later. In real terms then mine has lost £1,500.00 per year.

The suspension is rubbish too (mostly Ford stuff) and doesn't seem built to last. Wishbones are a very common failure at around 50K miles and make the car feel horrible. I've also had to replace the top mounts and a couple of 'stays' on the back - and an engine mount (but that was more of an upgrade for me). Strange tyre wear seems common and the car is *very* sensitive to wheel alignment (I've had mine done at least 6 times) this is all due to the suspension again.

The A/C condenser is a very common fault too (thanks to Ford's meddling) mine's been fine but I make sure I hoover out any dead leaves and stuff regular.

Still want one?

[scotty73]

So what welly is saying is either prepare to lose money hand over fist for the next 3 years or buy an Audi and become a twat

i recon theres a hidden message in there about buying a car under 2 grand to avoid to much depreciation.

[lozz]

buy an Audi ..never,

[Bailes1992]

The Rdeisgn is a pretty low model actually. The Rdesign LUX is what you want. The normal Rdesign is very spartan on kit indeed!
My fathers V50 Rdesign on 104k on an 08 plate sold for £3200.
Saying that other than a load of stepped rear tyres (I believe Welly gets this fault on his S40 too) and a squekky clutch pedal it was okay! Lurrrvellyy creamy 5 pot too!

Personally I would get a slightly older but high mileage D5!

[lozz]

Ive asked someone in the Motor trade,
he rekons its only worth 5900 so iwill pass on that one,
plus its got light/white ish leather seats, not good with kids/dogs.

deffo getting a s40
iwill visit the Auctions and see if anys going thru,

[Bailes1992]

Personally I found my fathers to have LOADS of blind spots, I found it very crampt and like I said it was very spartan in terms of kit considering it was £26,000 new!

No folding mirrors, no heated seats, no auto dimming mirror, no trip computer, single slot CD player, manual seats, manual wipers and headlights, no headlight washers, halogen headlights and worst of all THE REAR LEGROOM!

Then there was the tramlining, slight camber on the road and you would be fighting for the steeringwheel! If you get caught in a rut on the motorway the car would like being in a shopping trolley going down hill.
He took it back to Volvo several times who changed the brand of tyres, did full wheel alignment and changed the front wishbones on several occasions and eventually they gave him another V50 to try and as it happened, it was exactley the same! Basically a 'trait' of the car.

Handled lovely though, same engine, chassis and brakes as the Focus ST.... BUT it was horrible to drive day to day, although did make a fantasic motorway bruiser. But that was more down to the engine rather than the car.

Consdering before that my father had his Mondeo ST220 which was a whole £6,000 cheaper! It would put most top specced beemers to shame considering the equiptment it had!

Have you looked at a MK3 Mondeo ST TDCi? Well within your budget and you could get a nice 60-80k model with recaro leathers! Also on a run 60mpg+!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

If I didn't have silly insurance prices thats what I would have bought over my MK4!
Although I do love the 'top spec' upmarket feel you get in the MK4.

[jasper5]

The Rdeisgn is a pretty low model actually. The Rdesign LUX is what you want. The normal Rdesign is very spartan on kit indeed!
My fathers V50 Rdesign on 104k on an 08 plate sold for £3200.
Saying that other than a load of stepped rear tyres (I believe Welly gets this fault on his S40 too) and a squekky clutch pedal it was okay! Lurrrvellyy creamy 5 pot too!

Personally I would get a slightly older but high mileage D5!

The R Design is still supposed to be a high spec model, but I take your point!

[Bailes1992]

Normal R design is just the basic SE with a bodykit. My father made the mistake thinking it was a top specced model unfortunatley.

[Welly]

Bailes, my car used to feel a bit hairy-fairy but I had an IPD Anti Roll bar (£230.00) fitted at the rear and a Volvo Strut Brace (£50.00) up front and it *transformed* the car over night completely planted on the road, weighty, and not upset by any road surface at all - it's a vital modification to do in my view.

To be honest there's a problem with the prices of the V50 and S40 and I think it must be to do with the size of the car. The Estate isn't very useful and the Saloon is quite small so it's a difficult car to suit everyone (you may as well buy a Hot Hatch or equally a Big Estate if that's what you need). I dread to think what money I'd get for mine so I'm going to keep it and get some use out of it.

Here it is:

[teamster1975]

Yours is the GDi Mitsubishi engine?

One important tip with these engines, apologies if you already knew, they had a throttle body fault on these engines and the inlet manifold furring up with black gunge, you should fit a very good quality injection cleaner every 3 months to keep the engine healthy ....something like Forte.

I've done loads of those belts, very common problem.

Just a note to remember that my son is a mechanic at a Volvo dealer, so if anyone needs any technical info just ask.

Yes it is the GDi, I'll take your advice on the Forte!
Thanks for that John

[lozz]

Update: as of Monday After bank transfer as been sorted.

iwill have a 10 plate s40 R desighn 2.0 diesel in black, had to haggle abiet on the price as 2 alloys are badly curbed, so they need replacing + 2tyres
they wouidnt budge at first but igot a Text message back saying icouid have it, knocked 1.100 of the price so it was worth the wait,
it was advertised at 80100

My mrs aint pleased, she wanted me to buy a bmw,

[Welly]

Yay!

You're going straight on my list

[jasper5]

I drove a very nice 12 reg C30 D2 1.6 diesel this morning, my son's place lent it to him to travel down to Daventry tomorrow for his last training session of his apprenticeship....he qualifies on thursday!

The C30 is being discontinued.