Volvo V40 T4. Good idea? Or this? update 20/8/08

[pogweasel]

I think the Volvo V40 is a good choice, theyre a car i'll defo be lusting after when theyre all gone. Nice styling, good image and should be decent to drive although the chassis is nowt spesh on em. I did quite a few miles in a TD one - it was renner engined and slow enough to block your arteries.

Hey, you're not wrong Alf_Bo11ox, I like the look of them. Very nicely proportioned for a new-ish car in a time when ugly / ungainly seems to rule.

 

Look at this one:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 0228654793

Smashing!

OBV one of these late ones is much more coin that a tight-wad / credit averse chump like me would spend, but in ten years time I'll probably chase one. By which time of course they will all be utterly kenked.

[r.welfare]

not sure about that, 30K cambelt change or it's fucked. both are pretty awkward to work on when transverse. Headgaskets blow. I'd take the ford V6 at a pinch.... As long as you change to a metal waterpump the ford is pretty durable - though I have heard of spun bearings if the oil level is not kept at max.

Sorry, HG's blowing on the Vauxhall V6 is very rare - it's the heater bypass valve that usually goes, or in rare cases the oil cooler. But I agree that the thought of working on one in a Vectra does not fill me with deep joy. Much easier in the Omega, once you have removed all the induction trunking you can actually get in there with it. Point taken on cambelts, but it ain't a difficult job for a medium-skilled spanner jockey and will cost you less than a ton with the tensioners and the a waterpump as well, gennerwine Vaux parts.You're absolutely right about the Ford V6 waterpumps too, but you need to be a midget with the strength of Geoff Capes to work on this engine from my underbonnet musings of a Mk1 Mond. Plus they tend to be mainly owned by cretins these days, which doesn't help the mechanical maladies. Perhaps estates are not so bad in that respect though.Anyway - that late V40 looks very nice indeed.

[garethj]

Volvos are smashing of course but why not a Rover 827 Hatch?

There were always reliability issues with Rover 800s, having said that any still left must have been lovingly assembled so could be ok.The true Autoshiter would recommend a Montego estate of course, but your divorce papers would be through the door faster than a Maestro Turbo with the wastegate adjusted up

[r.welfare]

Montego Turbo estate - now you're talking. Have to build one, mind, but still...I agree that the 800 Fastback boot is vast, but too slopey to get in a chest of drawers or a Welsh dresser or summat practical.BTW, that fella must be dreaming with the price of that black V40 wagon, unless he's adding a premium for the "through the round window" picture. You could get a V50 for that, much better motah.

[pogweasel]

Both the 'top cats' here at work have V50's. Not sure what that means though.

[r.welfare]

I think it means that they don't know that you could get a Focus wagon to do much the same thing, for far less ££££s.

[pogweasel]

LOLz. I did mention that. It was met with 'the look'.

[r.welfare]

Best not to mention it at all, if you want a good payrise. Me, see, I never mention to my boss that I see it as pointless that he has a £30k 525i and his commute is only 5 miles each way...

[pogweasel]

These are both 'personal use' things though. All of us have the surveyor's standard issue astra vans, with the exception of "the lad", he's got a push bike.

[r.welfare]

What about a Subaru Legacy 4Cam estate, 91-93 model? Mmm.

[Hertz]

How about one of these:

 

 

There was one in my local shite goldmine (Buy and Sell - a Local Rag), it wasn't the rocket "Aero" but a 2.0 LPT and better on juice. Think it was a 2001, full leather, SAT Nav, AC, dragged through the accessory garden when new, starship miles hence £1400, which I thought was cheap for one of those.

[outlaw118]

Hmm Scoobyroo Legacy....yum yum; bit juicy aren't they?Thanks for your input chaps; I'll go through the suggestions:vectra V6 - father-in-law had a 2.0litre and said it was the dullest car he's ever had, mate had a v6 5 door, and it all went a bit wanky on him (suspect cam)Mondeo V6 - bro had one, no complaints, "on the list".Primera 2.0 - no thanks, not old enough or Indian enough for that!!!! Marea - has to be a 2.0 5 pot, insurance quote reasonable, "on the list"Volvo V40 T4 - the original question, still keen, parts prices a bit naughty, but wife's mate works at GSF!!!BM 3 series tourer - not big enoughBM 5 series tourer, Scorpio, Omega, V70/850/760 all too big- madam reminded me that she's only 5' tall (and shit at parking/reversing/looking where she's bloody going)Montego Turbo Estate - hmm, I think garethj is correct re; the d.i.v.o.r.c.e!!

[pogweasel]

I was going to suggest a Focus ST170, but a swift search reveals them to be miles beyond budget, even for a right hinker. Shame there's nowt between that and the 2.0i Zetec (which while cheap enough, is a bit 'wet').

[outlaw118]

Fuccus estate was a possibility until I decided that I wasn't going to have my pants taken down, only to be soundly buggered by "Mr Credit and the APR Krew" (homie).Snaab looks nice.... hmmmm....

[pogweasel]

Well if you can live with a lesser version, petrol ones are soundly below the £1500 mark now (Except at our local Ford 'specialist', who want THREE LARGE for a 1.6 petrol on a V, and a ludicrous FOUR GRAND for a dizzler, same age & spec as ours. From the Raymanboy school of business management. )

[Milford Cubicle]

I don't think a Legacy would be any thirstier than the rest of the list. A Turbo would be fab for understated performance.

[pogweasel]

Are they eck as like!Seem to be a few on gaseous dino juice though, so still doable. http://search.ebay.co.uk/search/search. ... legacy+lpg

[outlaw118]

Following a number of suggestions on this thread, and the fact that Wuvvum has just bought one, I found this, and reckon it's a go-er. SWMBO has yet to approve, but......http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=014The cambelt has been done about 2 years and 22,000 miles ago by a previous owner apparently. I sent the bloke a question, but he's not put it on the listing.

[wuvvum]

That looks like a nice one from the pictures - the description isn't a lot of help . I'd say that's well worth a punt at 400 quid - not sure it's worth the £650 BIN with only three months' test left though. Word o'warning though - if you do buy it, I guarantee you will end up revving the nads off it every time you take it out.

[Rocket88]

My '94 Beemer 525tdsi Touring any good to you? [will run on chip fat.....]Ref Marea ad, the words "sold as seen" always rings alarm bells, as does the word "stunning", and "drives excellent".

[bones96]

go for the scooby mines a good un paid £850 for it cause the owners emigrating to oz so got itb cheap service history and all and everything works yipee

[406V6]

Not sure about those rude comments on the Vectra V6. I had a new SRi V6 in 1997 and it was superb to drive, with the only downside being a lack of steering feel. The engine was powerful, smooth, quiet and economical. It was reliable in the 3 years I had it, but not sure about it in the long run.If you want a fast powerful cheap older car try a 406 V6. The engine is a real honey, easily the best V6 I've driven. Very quiet, smooth, very powerful. Mechanically they are reliable provided the belt is changed, although electrically there are problems with the coil packs and occasional sensors. Very economical for a big engine with autobox. Mine rarely gets worse than 30 mpg and does 35 mpg on a run. The tyres last for a long time (30 to 40k miles easily) as well even on the front. The ride & handling on a well maintained 406 is excellent.

[Rocket88]

1] Octavia tdi [loads of ex taxis around, will last forever]2] Passat 1.8t [quick and cheap]3] Carlton gsi [if you can find one with some rear wheel arches]4] Scimitar [really cheap, and as long as your handy with a fire extinguisher, pretty reliable]

[Justin Case]

What else but an Alfa 156 Sportwagon, an early high mileage 2.0 Ts might just come within your budget, and has nearly as much poke as the V6s suggested. Just avoid the Sillyspeed and make sure belts and rear suspension have been done recently. The V6 is an entirely different kettle of fish, but is probably still a bit above budget

[outlaw118]

Just lobbed a bid on this beauty!!!http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... :IT&ih=019

[Pete-M]

Yeah, a bit 'minicab' but they are almost unbreakable and great to drive.5-pot Marea would be ace though.

The T4 is rather well known for grenading gearboxes.