Rear park assist necessary?

lancslad1985 · Jul 28th, 2015, 14:07

Hi Everyone.

I'm looking at getting a lovely new R design V40 in the next few months. I have test driven the model and noticed rear visibility is only average, but they were reticent to let me reverse park the car as it wasn't mine. For all the current V40 owners, is the rear park assist a necessity or is the car actually quite easy to park?

Thanks.

anton differing · Jul 28th, 2015, 15:31

As (I am ashamed to say) quite possibly the worst parker in the history of humankind, I need all the help I can get - park assist, rear camera, dipping door mirrors, the works! Even then, I have the garage wall padded with foam! Perhaps someone less useless than I would be OK...

conedia · Jul 28th, 2015, 21:07

Absolutely essential. I am actually quite good at parking, but in confined spaces I felt I would hit something sooner or later without the assist. While you're at it, get the auto tilting external mirrors as well - my V40 (bought as a few months old used model) doesn't have it. The Citroen C5 I traded in did, and I miss that tilting feature tremendously.

volvorocks · Jul 28th, 2015, 21:25

The V40 is tricky to park. Not only does poor rear visibilty worsen the problem, but the car is difficult to place. Sensors well worth it.

Regards

RoyMacDonald · Jul 30th, 2015, 22:20

My wife's been driving it a year without sensors but she always gets out of the car and checks behind her first. You won't see stuff immediately behind you and below the level of the rear window which is quite high. I think I'm going to get some sensors fitted just for peace of mind and as my other two Volvo's have reversing sensors it avoids any issue with forgetting I'm in the one without any.

lancslad1985 · Jul 31st, 2015, 07:23

Thanks everyone. I get the feeling that even if it isn't necessary, it's advisable due to the very small rear window. Now I just need to decide between the XC SE, R design or standard SE. Just wish the R design came with the cruise control, lumbar support and all the other gubbins the other two come with as standard!

TonyHCA · Aug 5th, 2015, 06:34

Hi There, can I ask what you think of the ride in the R Design, I too have test driven one, and thought it was the best V40, but it felt a very hard ride. Re reversing sensors, at first you think a gimmick but soon realise how useful they are.

lancslad1985 · Aug 5th, 2015, 07:01

Personally I found the R design very very comfortable and I was aiming at potholes and rough surfaces on the test drive. The car acknowledged the imperfections in the road but coming from my current car (A polo GT with 17" low profile tyres) the difference is massive in comfort. The polo breaks your back and is hard work on long journeys, I found the R design to be comfy and much easier to live with. It's even more comfortable than my previous Golf which was on fat 16" tyres!

When VW eventually decide what they're doing with my faulty polo I'll be picking up a V40 R design for sure. Love the new D2 engine too. Just a shame they removed the R design logo from the seats.

Jul 28th, 2015, 14:07	#1
lancslad1985 New Member Last Online: Oct 30th, 2015 11:56 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Preston	Rear park assist necessary? Hi Everyone. I'm looking at getting a lovely new R design V40 in the next few months. I have test driven the model and noticed rear visibility is only average, but they were reticent to let me reverse park the car as it wasn't mine. For all the current V40 owners, is the rear park assist a necessity or is the car actually quite easy to park? Thanks.

Jul 28th, 2015, 15:31	#2
anton differing Junior Member Last Online: Aug 29th, 2020 11:47 Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Liestal, Switzerland	As (I am ashamed to say) quite possibly the worst parker in the history of humankind, I need all the help I can get - park assist, rear camera, dipping door mirrors, the works! Even then, I have the garage wall padded with foam! Perhaps someone less useless than I would be OK... Last edited by anton differing; Jul 28th, 2015 at 16:55.

Jul 30th, 2015, 22:20	#5
RoyMacDonald VOC Member Last Online: Feb 1st, 2023 11:27 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Rye, East Sussex View Photos By: RoyMacDonald	My wife's been driving it a year without sensors but she always gets out of the car and checks behind her first. You won't see stuff immediately behind you and below the level of the rear window which is quite high. I think I'm going to get some sensors fitted just for peace of mind and as my other two Volvo's have reversing sensors it avoids any issue with forgetting I'm in the one without any. __________________ 1984 245 SE 1986 345 SE Auto 1991 940 TD Auto 2003 XC90 D5 SE AWD Geartronic2002 V70 D5 SE Auto 2014 V40 D2 SE Tiptronic Cross Country 2017 V40 D2 Cross Country Geartronic Pro 2015 XC60 D5 Polestar SE Lux Nav AWD Geartronic

Aug 5th, 2015, 06:34	#7
TonyHCA New Member Last Online: Nov 4th, 2015 10:31 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Malton	TonyHCA Hi There, can I ask what you think of the ride in the R Design, I too have test driven one, and thought it was the best V40, but it felt a very hard ride. Re reversing sensors, at first you think a gimmick but soon realise how useful they are.

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Jul 28th, 2015, 21:07	#3
conedia Junior Member Last Online: Oct 16th, 2016 12:09 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Grimsby	Absolutely essential. I am actually quite good at parking, but in confined spaces I felt I would hit something sooner or later without the assist. While you're at it, get the auto tilting external mirrors as well - my V40 (bought as a few months old used model) doesn't have it. The Citroen C5 I traded in did, and I miss that tilting feature tremendously.

Jul 28th, 2015, 21:25	#4
volvorocks Rodney Last Online: Aug 4th, 2016 05:02 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: On The Street	The V40 is tricky to park. Not only does poor rear visibilty worsen the problem, but the car is difficult to place. Sensors well worth it. Regards

Jul 31st, 2015, 07:23	#6
lancslad1985 New Member Last Online: Oct 30th, 2015 11:56 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Preston	Thanks everyone. I get the feeling that even if it isn't necessary, it's advisable due to the very small rear window. Now I just need to decide between the XC SE, R design or standard SE. Just wish the R design came with the cruise control, lumbar support and all the other gubbins the other two come with as standard!

Aug 5th, 2015, 07:01	#8
lancslad1985 New Member Last Online: Oct 30th, 2015 11:56 Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Preston	Personally I found the R design very very comfortable and I was aiming at potholes and rough surfaces on the test drive. The car acknowledged the imperfections in the road but coming from my current car (A polo GT with 17" low profile tyres) the difference is massive in comfort. The polo breaks your back and is hard work on long journeys, I found the R design to be comfy and much easier to live with. It's even more comfortable than my previous Golf which was on fat 16" tyres! When VW eventually decide what they're doing with my faulty polo I'll be picking up a V40 R design for sure. Love the new D2 engine too. Just a shame they removed the R design logo from the seats.

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