Would you help me pick the best of three?

[zahradam]

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum but I hope that I will contribute more often right after I finally buy the Volvo that I am planning to buy.

The only issue is that there are 3 possible candidates and even after a thorough research, I am still not really sure which one to buy. All 3 cars are used ones and I am looking for an advice that would tip the scales towards the most reasonable one.

The current contenders are:

Volvo V50 Momentum 1.6 D DRIVe Start/Stop
Assembly year 2010, 192.000 km on the clock (119.000 mi)
Price Tag: 5000 EUR (6000 USD/4435 GBP)

Pros:

- Newest car of the selected bunch
- Best fuel economy
- More spacious than the S40 (although not really a factor since I am also okay with the S40 boot)
- Timing belt, water pump and car battery changed at 180.000 km (114.950 mi)
- DPF Filter changed at 190.000 km (118.060 mi)

Cons:

- PSA 1.6 Diesel engine might not be the most reliable one as I’ve read
- DPF on a small engine gets clogged faster when mostly driven in the city
- I am not sure about the 80 kW/109 PS eingine power output considering the car weights 1.445–1.520 kg (3.186–3.351 lb).


Volvo S40 Summum 2.0 D (Pre-Facelift)
Assembly year 2005, 168.200 km on the clock (104.514 mi)
Price Tag: 5000 EUR (6000 USD/4435 GBP)

Pros:

- Most powerful engine
- Very high trim with extras
- Did only 20.000 km (12.427 mi) in the last 3 years due to the owner spending most of the time abroad
- Version of the 2.0 diesel engine without DPF
- Yearly maintenance with frequent oil and filter changes

Cons:

- Equal price as the 2010 one
- 12 years old

Volvo S40 Summum 1.8 (Pre-Facelift)
Assembly year 2005, 212.000 km on the clock (131.730 mi)
Price Tag: 4400 EUR (5280 USD/3900 GBP)

Pros:

- Petrol engine suited better for city driving than the diesel engines
- Also very high trim with extras
- Cheapest
- Worn out front wheel bearing is going to be replaced in a Volvo service center very soon without it affecting the price

Cons:

- Highest mileage
- Highest fuel consumption
- 12 years old

Please do bear in mind that I am mostly driving 5.000 - 10.000 km a year (3.106 – 6.212 mi) and roughly 90% of the driving is done in the city.

As far as the practicality of the bigger boot in the V50 goes - I am not really in a need for a big trunk and therefore I regard the S40 and V50 as equal in terms of practicality. I was driving a 3-door small car until recently and therefore both the S40 and V50 are a reasonable upgrade.

I will be driving each of them in the upcoming week in order to get a better feel for them, however I am interested in what looks better on paper as of now. The Petrol one is suited better for the city than the diesels but then there are mileage, price and age factors to be considered.

Should I really go for the most obvious 2010 diesel option due to the actual age of the car? I am a bit scared of the DPF since city driving provides a higher chance of blocking the Filter.

Each and every advice is highly appreciated
 

[StatusRed]

I'd say get the petrol every time

[Proghound]

I'd go with the 2.0D. It doesn't have the DPF so it can't suffer from the DPF clogging up with your city driving. It has the lowest mileage and the high trim level, and a very good service record.

If they haven't already been done, I'd haggle the price because the timing & aux belts & tensioners are due for replacement on grounds of age. If they've been done, all well and good. Either way, I'd hope to double the current mileage, although to do that a clutch and DMF will probably be needed at some point.

Best of luck with whatever choice you make.

[domhart10]

+1 on the

Volvo S40 Summum 1.8 (Pre-Facelift)
Assembly year 2005, 212.000 km on the clock (131.730 mi)
Price Tag: 4400 EUR (5280 USD/3900 GBP)

[Sasha94]

I'd have the petrol for your mileage, don't bother with a post Euro 3 diesel, it's a false economy nowadays.

[StatusRed]

There's also no cambelt on the 1.8 petrol.

[Dippydog]

It could also depend on how long you're likely to keep the car.Bear in mind a lot of cities are beginning to ban diesels from entering them.Whether your city is among them or will be in the near future I don't know.Personally I'd go with the petrol,but then I'm not a fan of diesel engine cars so could be biased on that.

[Welton]

I wouldn't buy any of them at those mileages, within a year they'll be worth a lot less. The early models are really showing their age now and its not uncommon to have a *lot* of suspension issues which ruin the experience.

Depending on your budget/use I'd be looking for something as new as possible; like a Kia/Hyundai for around the same money.

OR go the other way and buy a proper Volvo like a 1998 V70.

[Welton]

Originally Posted by StatusRed

There's also no cambelt on the 1.8 petrol.

Are you sure about that?

[StatusRed]

Originally Posted by Welton

Are you sure about that?

Pretty sure it's been discussed in other threads, 1.6 petrol has a cam belt but the 1.8 and 2.0 do not.