Instead Of A 406...

[teamster1975]

They aren't all that common either, so I was quite surprised to find a low mileage example at a reasonable price (& in a fantastic colour) so close to home. Insurance isn't too bad, fuel consumption would be a fair drop, but my main reservations with V40s are that they don't seem all that spacious & Swedes are expensive to fix when anything breaks.

I'm holding my breath when it comes to repair bills! Hopefully I can do most of the work myself, and touch wood it's a lot younger than my old 406 and not falling to pieces!
It is a bit cramped in the back with the kids booster seats and the baby seat, but other than that I'm very impressed with it. Not cavernous in size but then it's my first estate and anything is bigger than the 406 saloon was with kids and their clobber!

[sirwiggum]

They aren't all that common either, so I was quite surprised to find a low mileage example at a reasonable price (& in a fantastic colour) so close to home. Insurance isn't too bad, fuel consumption would be a fair drop, but my main reservations with V40s are that they don't seem all that spacious & Swedes are expensive to fix when anything breaks.

I'm holding my breath when it comes to repair bills! Hopefully I can do most of the work myself, and touch wood it's a lot younger than my old 406 and not falling to pieces!
It is a bit cramped in the back with the kids booster seats and the baby seat, but other than that I'm very impressed with it. Not cavernous in size but then it's my first estate and anything is bigger than the 406 saloon was with kids and their clobber!

Always liked the mk1 S/V40s, they look good. Was tempted by a facelift version with the darkened headlights.

Do they share a lot of parts with the Mitsubishi Carisma?

The name came from a load of lawsuits. The original "S4 / F4" plan was scuppered by Audi, the "S40 / F40" plan was stopped by Ferrari, so they arrived at S40/V40, which has remained the Volvo naming convention for saloons and estates ever since.

[waue1978]

Do they share a lot of parts with the Mitsubishi Carisma?

Apparently so.

From http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/volvo/s40v40-1996/:

Below standard handling, ride and steering. Build quality problems with earlier cars. 1996 - 2000 best avoided, especially 1.8GDIs. 2000 - 2004 okay.

[sirwiggum]

Are the GDis like HDis?

Also note the 'Also Consider'

Also Consider

Alfa Romeo 156 1998
Stunning looks, fabulous engines, V6s are lots of fun.
Peugeot 406 1999
Powerful, frugal diesels. The estates are practical and some have seven seats. All models ride and handle extremely well.
SAAB 9-3 1998
A slightly better drive than previous Cavalier based 900. Stacks of safety kit and a good reliability record.
Volvo V70/S70 1996
Solidly built saloon and estate with tidy handling. T5s are real flyers, TDIs strong and economical. Owners rate them.

[waue1978]

Are the GDis like HDis?

Nope, they are petrol engines - Gasoline Direct Injection. One of the first makers to try direct injection, but notoriously problematic. They can be great, but you have to make sure that you use good quality fuel (or a cleaning additive) & give them a good blast now & then.

My 2.4 Space Wagon still used to scrape 25mpg which isn't bad for a big engine in a heavy car. But with most of my running being short trips it wouldn't last long, so I got rid.

[teamster1975]

notoriously problematic. They can be great, but you have to make sure that you use good quality fuel (or a cleaning additive) & give them a good blast now & then.

Indeed, I've read a lot of horror stories about coking up of the inlet manifold & intake valves; as you say it's recommended to use an additive or fuel with detergent.

An interesting reply I found when googling, I'd recommend reading the whole forum thread! source http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/in ... 537AA9SNSx

If you actually go to any refinery (like Fawley, which is owned by Shell) and watch the tankers loading up, you will see they DO all load from the same bunker. It doesn't matter who the fuel is for, it actually does all comes form the same place. A Shell tanker will follow a Tescos tanker, which will follow a Morrisons tanker, etc. I know, because I've watched them...

However, the actual differences come AFTER each tanker has been loaded. Every fuel company has their own blend of additives, which is added to the tanker after loading the fuel.

It's those additives that make the difference - NOT the fuel itself.

EDIT - The additives are added at the refinery, after the tankers have loaded with fuel. Each company (Shell, Tesco or whoever) has their own blend of detergents, boosters, etc. It's solely that combination that changes the characteristics of the fuel you buy, depending on where you buy it.
Source(s):
The real world.

[highlander]

It's sound enough; petrol is petrol, after all. I still swear blind that regular Shell FuelSave always gave my old 1.8 saloon the best mileage and performance per tank. It's what I put in the Coupe, too.

[ToddM]

Waue, mate if you're still looking at a DTi engined Zafira just a word of advice - my uncle owns an Opel (Vauxhall in Europe) garage/dealership and I've asked him about the Zafira A quite a lot as he drives one himself. First of all as far as the body and chassis are concerned you get no rust whatsoever, suspension is quite solid as well and overall they're built like tanks. The main weak spot on these is infact a vital engine component - the fuel pump. As they have no lift pump in the tank they have to rely on the pressure from the normal pump which after some use can start to slow down, pump less and therefore a loss of power, an increase in economy and an increase in stalling/not being able to start the car may occur. This is mainly on pre-2003 models when the pump was changed. That of course is Mainland Europe as far as the 2.0 DTI is concerned, now while I can't be sure about the UK I'm fairly certain that it'd be the same. If you're getting a Zafira try to go for a 2003+ one, perhaps even one of the earliest common rails to be put in Zafira As or keep it at the back of your head that when buying a used example you may need 3-400 quid for a new pump off the bay of e. As I've driven a Zafira most of the time through this summer I can safely say the 406 is better in every single way despite perhaps interior space and suspension reliability/rust proofing.

My uncle has had 8 Zafiras over the years, from 1.6 stock Methane units through the 2.2 DTL up to the 2.0 Turbo. He has never encountered suspension or chassis problems even though most of them now have astronomical mileages and were driven in Bulgaria - the country with quite possibly the worst roads in Europe. You should definitely look at those fuel pumps to avoid extra costs though!

[lozz]

They do have a lift pump, but its not in the tank,
the lift pump is bolted to the bulk head .

thats 2003 onwards dont know if the newer ones where phased out tho,
Zafs are pretty relible imho, dont like how close the Rear seats are to the tailgate thats the only thing that put me off them,
id have another F-ord g-alaxy or vw -s-harran before contemplating owning-anything vaux-based mpv wise,

[plod]

I ain't buying anything for a bit, but a mate of mine keeps on at me to buy a Subaru Legacy Outback H6 and get it on gas

He's just bought a Subaru Legacy 2.5 already on gas for £695
Nice looking car IMO and well spec'd up

[FarmerPug]

if you can get the car already with the gas/lpg kit in it for less than £1000 you have a bargain.

[sirwiggum]

if you can get the car already with the gas/lpg kit in it for less than £1000 you have a bargain.

+1 so long as its a proper install. It can be taken out and sold on at the end of the cars life too.

Subaru Legacies used to be the car you got because you admired the 4WD and the boxer engines, but didn't want to look like a spide.
Shame they don't sell the saloon anymore.

Farmerpug will know this, I remember the old Subarus (Leones?) you used to just be able to get them from tractor showrooms! One of my das mates loved them well before the Impreza era.

Even the impreza now just looks like a Kia Ceed.

[FarmerPug]

Subarus at the tractor dealers, i dont remember it but my dad did remember the david brown dealer sold some subarus, and he seen suzukis first at their yard.
When i was young the tractor dealer had switched to renaults but i remember there was a line of 205 vans for sale they were popular with farmers because they ran on red. Now there is no cars or jeeps sold at the tractor dealers.

90's subarus seemed perfectly made for the rough environment, the newer ones feel more like aspirational lexuses.

[waue1978]

Farmerpug will know this, I remember the old Subarus (Leones?) you used to just be able to get them from tractor showrooms! One of my das mates loved them well before the Impreza era.

Even the impreza now just looks like a Kia Ceed.

I remember that. We had one where the MOT Supercentre is now & they sold Isuzus & Subarus (& Kubota lawnmowers). About as sporty a car you could get out of the place was an Isuzu Piazza Turbo. Most of the Subarus they sold were those funky looking pick-ups. Don't think the brand really took off until Colin McRae started doing the business in the old Rothmans Legacy.