Having exchanged this car from a GTI and driving away in an estate the general opinion was, what have I done.
This opinion did not last, the comfort factor, the build quality and the cars good looks changed my mind, that an estate wasnt just for the family.
Volvo what to attract a younger customer for their cars in addition to the faithful Volvo owners that keep going back.
I have driven this car now for over 10,000 miles and have found only a few minor problems, which on reporting to the local dealership have been sorted almost immediately. The customer service aspect has been extremely good.
Lets go back to the car. The V40 has a more sportier touring approach to design than its big brother the V70. The 1.8 is a good starting point but I feel I will sooner or later upgrade to the 2.0 for that extra overtaking speed.
The interior is robust and is still in one place (after close inspection from a 50kg hound!)
My one gripe is the insurance, at around £150 more than my Cupra sport 2.0 gti I found it a bit of a shock.
Overall my opinion is that Volvo have built a car to last that appeaks to all age groups
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
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 first review, also rare to see a girl with a taste for sports cars. Welcome and keep up the excellent opinions
sarahpervin 04.03.2001 19:14
hello and welcome good opinion!
moose 04.03.2001 17:18
Very good for a first opinion. I like volvos - I used to own a 480 - probably one of my favourite cars (I think the pop-up lights did it for me!). I have driven one of these when my car was in the garage - I couldn't switch the alarm off (which caused quite a stir in my work car park!). They actually have quite a bit of poke for a biggish car, don't they. Hope to see more of your opinions soon :-)
Advantages: The whole feel of safety, I drive my 18 month old daughter around and will never choose another make of car! Disadvantages: Heavier on the fuel than I am used to, not drastically but costs more to run than my old 1 litre.
mkberridge 21.03.2005 ·
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Review of Volvo V40 1.8
Mar 4th, 2001
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