S40 (New) General : Newbie S40 T5 help

1st post....so hello.

I am currently toying with the idea of purchasing a used S40 T5 (2004ish). I currently drive a impreza (dont all shoot me) which i have had for about a year but now we are expecting a new addition to the family so i am keen to get something a bit cheaper to run.

I wasn't expecting to be looking at Volvo's as i thought they were a bit "old" but i cant help liking them. I have owned a bmw 330 so i dont want to go there again, A4's seem to be quit high milers and look a bit dated now (pre facelift) so i started looking at alternatives, Honda Accords, Mazda 6, Ford Mondeo etc but none really did it for me apart from the S40 and Saab 9-3.

Anyway back on track....Any owners of the S40 T5 care to comment on their experiences or anyone else care to offer advice.

Daily commute is currently 74 mile round trip (soon to be 10mile) although this is shared with the Punto which balances some of the scoobies mpg problems. lol. We also do regular trips (every4-6 weeks) to see the family which is a 400-500 mile round trip.

From the reports i have read the 2.5T used in the focus ST isn't achieving anywhere near the stated mpg which i imagine is down to the drivers but what should i expect out of the s40 on a long motorway cruise.

At the end of the day i need something which is more refined (which isn't going to be hard to find), something with better kit and something which has good safety features and if i can get some poke with it too then i will be happy.

I also haven't ruled out the 2.0D but it looked a bit underpowered to me.

I await your friendly response

[Northview]

I felt much the same about Volvos - I didn't think I'd have opted for a Volvo as until recently they've had a rather staid image. The S40 surprised me with it's sharp, clean lines and it's pretty good to drive too.

I can't comment on the T5. Mine's a 2.0D, and while it may not have the punch of a T5 (or for that matter a D5!), it's certainly not underpowered by any means!

Perhaps i was a bit quick to judge the 2.0d.

I will obviously need to have a test drive in both to make my own judgements.

What are Volvo like on extended test drives?

[Bobster]

Welcome from another first-poster!

Sounds like I went through pretty much the same selection process; A4's seem to be everywhere, the Saab 9-3 is a bit long in the tooth, Mazda RX8 a bit impractical, it eventually came down to the new Golf GTi or the S40 T5. Whilst the Golf was good fun, I decided it was a rip-off in comparison to the T5. £25k for an equivalent spec to my S40 and not being funny, but it's still a Golf...

Had the T5 for 18 months now, and still enjoying it. Go for an overtake from around 40mph and it's like a rocket; makes me smile every time. Still practical though, and feels solid just like a Volvo should (according to legend). Great cruiser, you'll eat the long journey up like a dream, put the cruise control on.

So, what don't I like? Spent an hour at Ikea at the weekend trying to get a desk into the boot, my back still aches and the packaging's still in their car park - The boot opening is too tight. The V50 would sort this, but whilst I drive a Volvo, I can't quite see me in an estate yet...! Also, back seats aren't spacious if you've long legs in the front. Fine for your 'addition' though. If you're after ISOfix, this wasn't standard fit so make sure you're not disappointed. Front passenger airbag switch was an option too.

MPG-wise, I get around 28 on average, rising to close to 32 on a long journey. Not fantastic, but pretty much as I expected. I could take my foot off the throttle to improve things, but that's not why you buy a T5, is it....

Overall, great car - Don't worry about going for it. I always laugh at Golf GTi's now - The Volvo's got so much more.

Cheers!

Bob

Thanks for your help and welcome! Although perhaps I'm 'too' new to be welcoming new members being a newbie myself.

My wife had a Golf tdi as a company car for a while and it was great, but you are correct about the GTi being overpriced. It appears like a very competant car but spec wise isn't great.
I had to laugh the other day, i was looking on the Audi website at the new S3 (maybe in a few years lol) and you have to opt (=pay) for cruise control on it. It was only a few hundred quid but you would expect to have that on a £27k+ car!

32mpg sounds like heaven to me at the moment, its just nice to have it confirmed by an owner because you can't always trust the manufacturers claims can you.

I was aware about the ISOfix and airbag switch. The latter probably wont be a problem but i wonder if you can retrospectively fit the ISOfix attachments - probably a question for the volvo dealer.

Just out of interest what spec is yours? S/SE/Sport etc? The SE Sport looks pretty darn good to me but seem a rare as rocking horse p**

[Bobster]

I'd feel bad if I let you cling to my 32mpg claim; I've only had that on trips where I empty a tank (motorways and duals all the way). Day to day (esp. your 10 mile trips), you'll be at the 28 mark.

I'm afraid I'm going to p*** you off, as its the SE Sport I have, plus Xenons and the premium stereo. I was a bit worried it would look over the top with all the skirts and stuff, but I was pleased when I got it.

Actually thinking of the spec on mine reminds me of a minor niggle - You pay £250 extra for a better stereo, and whilst it sounds fantastic, you can't attach any kind of MP3 player to it. That's not unique to the premium sound thing, I think it's a 'feature' of all the earlier S40 stereos (it's been fixed for MY07 I think).

Happy hunting.

ha ha I wasn't clinging to it. Its about what i would have expected. I'm getting 24mpg on a good cruise in mine so imagine what its like when pushed hard. An estimate of 28-32 is ok.

Typical. Well i commend you on your car then. I won't now ask what colour it is for fear of too much envy. lol.

An mp3 link would be good but it does only seem to be in the last year that manufacturers have been adding the option - often a cost option. I'm sure some of the other ones on the market will improve in time.

Thanks again for your help.

I have a 2.0 D V50. I love it. I'm sure it doesn't explode like a T5, but it certainly has plenty of power. Blasted up a steep hill the other day. And gets over 40 MPG, 6.5 liters/100 km.

[Marmoset]

The torque on the 2.0D is teh same as the T5, so once on the move the diesel doesn;t feel too slow TBH. With afew rapid gearchanges I've managed to leave a few faster cars at the lights (it also helps that it's a Volvo and not everone expects it) - immature, yes - fun oh yes!!

Pretty good drive down an a road as well, not teh most talkative car I've had but it does seem to get better the harder you drive so it's a car that you either relax in or go hard in - it doesn't seem to do ambivilent IME

Has anyone drive both the SE and Sport. Do they differ a lot in the way they drive?