Volvo

[pompei]

I bought this old Mondeo last week and since then my back has been agony. Cannot adjust the seat to get anywhere near comfort. I'm thinking of a Volvo S40 to replace it, heard good reports about the seats. I've seen a 1.6 diseasel, a high miler but with sevice history. Anyone know anything about these, pros or cons? Ta folks.

[Shep Shepherd]

I don't know an awful lot about the smaller Volvos (the big ones are more my department), but from what I gather, the 40 Series cars are very good and suffer from few inherent problems, especially if they are looked after. It goes without saying that all Volvos have fantastically comfortable seats

[outlaw118]

Got a V40 T4, 1999, and it's the first car I've ever had that will get me down to Devon without my back giving me gyp.

Recommended.

[eddyramrod]

I wouldn't (couldn't) have held on to my 740 for over three years if the seat wasn't supremely comfortable... Ireland, Wales, Scotland, North-east... and a round-trip commute of 50-60 miles. It did the lot with contemptuous ease.

[Cavcraft]

If you want real comfort you'll struggle to beat a BX or Xantia. I found I could drive the former for four or five hour hours non-stop and get out feeling like I'd only been to the local shops.

[Richard]

Not a Series 2 Xantia though, the S2 seats combine the worst aspects of Ford seats and Vauxhall seats.

[The Moog]

Cant say I like the Xantia seats. They finish below shoulder blades and so on long journeys can be a pain. But then I have always loved the Jag Xj and Saab seats.

[dollywobbler]

I've always considered the BX seats very comfortable, but a few hours is enough. Spent 17hrs driving the 2CV with no pain! Well, not in my back. My ears weren't best pleased...

 

Isn't the S40 just a Mitsubishi Carisma but with some actual styling? Or are we on about the newer one?

[myglaren]

Two of my daughters have/had had SAAB 9_3s with sumptuous leather that I would love transferred into my C5 but the leather seats in a Xantia Activa and V6 Exclusive are probably the best I have enjoyed, coupled with the peerless ride quality - again better that the C5 by a long shot, it would be difficult to better either of them.

It is years since I have been in a Volvo though - I had a 265 GLE with leather and it was far from desirable in terms of seating comfort.

[The Moog]

The Xantia is aided by the suspension (especially when you renew the spheres). Other chairs that are lush are any of the big Volvo's (850 is a pleasure to be in and plus it is heated). Fitted Saab 93 seats to Bernard and that made a world of difference.

 

I had an back to topic I had an s40 (a few years ago now) as company car for a bit and I thought it was ok. Felt a bit underpowered and dark but comfy enough. At the time I was driving a tuned 900T16

[HillmanImp]

With an S40 the Mitsi engined one will cost a fortune if you ever need the cambelt doing but the Volvo engined ones are a doddle.

 

Get some of these.

 

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

With an S40 the Mitsi engined one will cost a fortune if you ever need the cambelt doing but the Volvo engined ones are a doddle.

 

I think the S40 pompei is looking at is the last generation Ford Focus-based effort.

[maxpower]

i love my volvo seat... they even heat my arse at the touch of a button

[Pete-M]

Saab or Jag seats are the best 1000 miles in 20 hours and no pain whatsoever

[kinkersaab]

Saab of Volvo for seating comfort, End of!

[Shep Shepherd]

Saab of Volvo for seating comfort, End of!

 

If anything, Saab seats are even better than Volvo seats, as my friend's 52-plate 9-5 estate can attest to

[pompei]

BUMP etc

 

Hurrah! The Mondeo has gone, replaced by a Saab 9-3 dizzle. A few years old and not really shite but good for the daily grind. But no heated seats! I thought they all had!

 

Couple of things - if it's idling in traffic or reversing, there is a smell of diesel fumes in the car. I've not had a huge amount of heavy oil experience, is this normal? Also, front suspension creaks a little on severe speed humps - it's ok on more user-friendly humps. Please tell me that it's not a cause for worry (or expense more like)

[Richard]

is this normal?

 

No it isn't. It should be pretty easy to see where it's leaking though.

 

I don't know about newer SAABs but the older ones never had switches for the heated seats, they just came on (or not) when required.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

BUMP etc

 

Hurrah! The Mondeo has gone, replaced by a Saab 9-3 dizzle. A few years old and not really shite but good for the daily grind. But no heated seats! I thought they all had!

 

I think they all had heated seats in the '80s and '90s. 9000s have switches, not the old style automatic efforts.

[RoadworkUK]

My old Saab 9000 (K909EYO, should never have sold her, DVLA says she's still on the road somewhere) had the most ridiculously comfy seats ever.

 

Just as well, journeys could be quite long with a 2.0 non-turbo and a ZF-slushbox, I just sat there in thermostatically heated comfort and enjoyed my 26mpg.