S40: Newbie S40 daily Hack

[Jockeywheel]

Hi, my name is Chris and i'm in Telford and i have joined the Forum to have a nose regarding getting to know the cars.

I'm after a daily driver as i am a Vauxhall enthusiast i have had a history of Volvo in the family , however with being a Vauxhall driver i have always fancied one for comfort and reliability.

My Dad has always had Volvo's up to 2003 and since then has drove Vauxhall so my soft spot has come from my younger years and growing up as a child as a father as a Volvo nut, he's owned 340's two 740's a 440 Xi and a 940 also an 850.

So onto me and what i am after.

This is my pride and joy (only a Vectra i here you say) but it's sentimental and has been restored to showroom condition over the last 9 months as i child was practically born in it.



Not going to go into detail as this is a Volvo Forum.

Anyway as my Vectra is Garaged for a long time i have wanted to own a Volvo as a daily family barge and i am setting a not so brilliant budget of £1000 for a decent S40

My questions are.

I have seen a couple of Auto's in the 1.8 version, what are these like as an auto box? are they smooth and what is the MPG like being a mid weight car with a smallish engine with an auto box?

I do drive manual , i'm just keeping my options open.

Also what are the 1.6's like, what would you recommend ?

This is the bill it must fit.

Comfort,cheap,reliability.

Any recommendations would be also taken in.

[Jockeywheel]

Well 35 people are either miserable or don't like vauxhalls

[Batfink]

Hello...

Wish I could help with the S40 query. Sadly new to the forum and Volvo's.

Might be worth you looking in the specific S40 (select models dates you like) and read the buying guides etc.

http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=17 = S40 up 04 forum

Grand job on the Vectra btw!

[Volvo-in-my-blood]

Nice job on the Vectra! I would avoid the 1.6 as they are sorely underpowered. I had a 1.8 S40 and it didn't set the world light in performance terms but it went well enough. I had the manual so I can't comment on the autobox.

[Jockeywheel]

Thanks for the tip on the 1.6 and it's been noted.

I'm not after performance neither low power in a big car as mpg ration to low power and heavy car cause issues.

I'm not to bothered on spec, my main priority and it's not to be in nice condition , i would rather that than toys as i don't want to be spending money on it other than servicing which i would carry out myself.

In terms of buying guides i have read the forums part but im just stuck for choice in modeling but as i say this don't really bother me too much.

There are plenty on Autotrader and ebay what do people prefere out of the ph1 and ph2 models?

[gatos]

Try posting in the S40/V40 section: http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=17

1.6 is way too underpowered and more thirsty than the 1.8, or even the 2.0.