I'm married with two children age 4 and 1. I used to work in accounts before children and now I enjo...
I'm married with two children age 4 and 1. I used to work in accounts before children and now I enjoy looking around the internet and found the Ciao site by chance and thought I'd give it a go!!
Member since:27.05.2002
Reviews:9
Members who trust:1
When I had the chance of buying an ex-company car I thought great, a well serviced car which has done mainly motorwaydriving. When I was told it was a Volvo S40, I said "what on earth do they look like?!!". I really had no idea about Volvo's and never had the slightest interest in them. The only thought I had had about them was the people that drive the big square estates seem to think they own the road!!
Anyway when I saw what my new car looked like I was more than happy (it's silver which is my fave colour for cars as well). When I got into the car it just felt so comfortable. It's very easy to drive, although I did have a problem with first gear for a while (my husband did too, fortunately!!), it just didn't seem to want to go in very easily. I've got that sorted out now and the rest of the car is perfect. It's got climate control, electric mirrors, electric windows (with buttons on the door and by the handbrake), the drivers window has an auto down to it so you just press it once and it goes all the way down. It has got three 3-pointseat belts in the back, which is very handy when you have got children. Unfortuntely when the car was bought it was obviously a company car and so it hasn't got the integrated booster seat which it could have had, but the booster seat I have got fits in the car lovely, so I've no problems there. When I got the car it had an arm rest for the driver, which I found very annoying. It got in the way when you had to put the handbrake on and if you pushed it back too hard then it just fell down again. Fortunately I was able to remove it easily. The boot is very spacious although after being used to hatchbacks, the saloon gap isn't as easy to get large items into such as prams. Still it's amazing what you can get in there!! Also another good idea (not had this in any of my other cars) is that the mats are attached to the floor by a couple of little buttons. They are very easy to get out still but it just means that the mats don't move around when you don't want them to!!
The main thing that did concern me when getting this car was the fuel consumption. My last car was a 1.4 and gave me about 43 to the gallon. This one does about 35 on a good run, which isn't bad for a 2.0ltr as my journeys are never particularly long ones. It really is worth the higher fuel costs though just to have this lovely car.
I do have to say that sadly enough I actually feel the mutts nuts when I'm walking up to my car!! I really do love it and after never even thinking about owning a Volvo I would seriously contemplate another one! And the safety aspect of driving a Volvo with two small children plays a very large part in wanting to own another one.
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Estate - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 140 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: R-DESIGN, R-DESIGN Premium, SE, SE Lux, SE Lux Premium, SE Premium, S, Sport
Good op - gives me (blissfully unaware when it comes to the great 4 wheeled things lol) the kind of things I'd need to know :) Laura xxx
Connoisseur_Haggler 14.06.2002 00:58
Claire some good points here about car safety features and interior comforts. Just a few questions: 1) how much did it cost? the £5000 you paid for this ex company car..what year? Reg is it? 2) what is the handling like, drive? performance, gear changes? I assume this is the 2.0litre engine version you discuss, are there any others you considered?) any idea of cost of ownership? maintenance-service intervals or any services you've had done? Insurance Group? Thanks some good points regarding interior space and fuel consumption. -CH
Elainebaba 14.06.2002 00:54
Volvo epecially the one mentioned in your op appears to be popular, but I did not think the seats were comfortable.
Avril
Jun 14th, 2002
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