V40s?

[Speedy88]

Don't know how much is the same but I've driven an S40 diesel (my dad's one, a 1.9D). Pulls very strong and is pretty sporty, great mpgs but it's a very "modern" car. IE: The steering feels disconnected and you barely hear/feel any acceleration. I was doing 100 when in the 340 I'd have said I was doing 60/70.

[jtbo]

Don't know how much is the same but I've driven an S40 diesel (my dad's one, a 1.9D). Pulls very strong and is pretty sporty, great mpgs but it's a very "modern" car. IE: The steering feels disconnected and you barely hear/feel any acceleration. I was doing 100 when in the 340 I'd have said I was doing 60/70.

I don't know specs precisely, but I think that my XUD9TE powered frenchie is quicker, even engine power is probably about the same, however it is very true that power is not felt in it, I remember when I had opportunity to drive hard with bit tuned T4, it was quick, but it did not feel very quick, however it really did not care which gear there was in, it did just go, doing 100 was as effortless than doing 30, scary with car that steers only by magic.

Those later models, maybe 2003 and such are perhaps lot better in many way, at least such did feel more spacious (is this even a word?), still not enough space for me, imo.

French things are crap, but can't deny there being some good things when compared, at least in ZX there is some steering feel and as VND knows they do go around corners quite well.

V40 era of cars generally seem to be quite horrible, I have driven many and few are such that I would pay from them, sadly V40 is not one of them, I think even Ford is better and that is quite lot to be said, not so sure about Vauxhall, might be close to same with V40, japanese cars are for japanese people, they put steering seat too close to door and steering wheel is not center of seat etc, quite horrible things, cars made in germany have suspension that is really hard for my back in our silly roads, some older machines are better, I think that 440 can be better than V40, latest ones perhaps worse.

Of course it is what one prefers, if planning to do services by yourself it does kinda limit possibilities as some are designed so that they are not ment to be serviced.

340 with some renault TD unit might be quite good?

Well, I think that it is better to do some test driving of V40, to get to know how it is to drive at least, opinions can be misleading and no matter how much we share background to opinions it is still quite different how VND is going to experience the thing. Anyway I do agree with Speedy above, one thing should be of course mentioned, thing is very noisy compared to my french crap

[SteveP]

Just to add here from what I PM'd you back....

I had an S40 T4 - rapid and handled very well (much more nimble than the S70), but vague steering (much worse than the S70), great economy given the performance, also surprisingly cheap to insure. Would pull 1.5 cars length on an E30 2dr 325i upto 50mph (three times and It was wet with struggling traction!). A pillars very intrusive when sitting at traffic lights. Lots of equipment on the CD models, and very safe for their age if that's your bag. Contrary to Chalkley, I don't think the interiors in the higher spec models are any worse than other Volvo's of it's era. I'd still have another but it'd have to be a Phase 1.5/2.

Other than the T4's though I'd just avoid, theres no real other redeeming features that aren't offered in other marques, such as Skoda/VW/Audi/Ford.

[V6 Man]

Contrary to Chalkley, I don't think the interiors in the higher spec models are any worse than other Volvo's of it's era. I'd still have another but it'd have to be a Phase 1.5/2.

Actually, Steve, I do agree with you; it's the lower spec interiors on the phase 1 cars that I think are poor. Phase 2's and high spec phase 1's are nice places to be, it's just the bottom of the range early cars seem cheap and nasty.

[V6 Man]

Just spotted this on VOC, a phase 1 2.0 SE with 12 months MOT and LPG for £800.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=132997

[volvosneverdie]

Just spotted this on VOC, a phase 1 2.0 SE with 12 months MOT and LPG for £800.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=132997

Good spot dude.
Ive messaged him.

Would be in frickin London like.....................