My new company car (Volvo V40)

[zarjaz1991]

Following on from my BMW thread.

I've been moved from one division of the company to another, and that's meant the BMW has gone back and I've now got a 65 plate Volvo V40. Had done about 1500 miles as a pool car when I got it. It's mine now.

Of course it's not much of a 'PH car' but I don't care, I'm only 24 and I am proud of the fact that the company I have work for have trusted me with driving their vehicles for many years now. They know I look after them, and that I don't drive them like a n0b.

Edited by zarjaz1991 on Tuesday 2nd February 17:37

[Ferosferio]

Got a D2 (R Design, like yours) in 'Rebel Blue' for family hack & commuting duties; it's a nice place to sit - seats are lovely - good ergonomics, it's fairly well equipped and it's decent on fuel. Negatives? The ride is a tad firm and the low roofline means it's not the easiest to get my son in and out of his seat. It's also a bit dull but suppose that's not really the point

[zarjaz1991]

Ferosferio said:

Got a D2 (R Design, like yours) in 'Rebel Blue' for family hack & commuting duties; it's a nice place to sit - seats are lovely - good ergonomics, it's fairly well equipped and it's decent on fuel. Negatives? The ride is a tad firm and the low roofline means it's not the easiest to get my son in and out of his seat. It's also a bit dull but suppose that's not really the point

Yeah I suppose 'dull' in a PH context is fair enough...they're nothing dramatic. But it's a competent and comfortable car with enough power for my numerous long motorway hauls, and I think having one as a company car at 24 isn't bad.

Of course, there will soon be people popping up to tell me how when they were 24, they and all their mates of the same age all had brand new Jags as company cars.

It's the first time I'v driven a Volvo. To be honest I'd never have considered one but it's a lot nicer than I thought.

The one bit I'm not keen on is the handbrake...too far to the left and it sticks up at what feels like 90 degrees (obviously it's not as much as that). To me, it looks like it's come up too fr and needs adjusting but that's how they are designed. Looks and feels weird. I'll get used to it.

[5harp3y]

i've done 65,000 miles in my D2 V40 in the last 3 years. Been great and still looks great against the german competition.

Only complaints i've had are rear door handles snapping x3, clutch pedal creaking (volvo recall) and going through front tyres on my 4th set now (18 inch wheels)

but its a company car so it all gets paid for.

just wish i'd gone for the D4 as the D2 is soooooo slooooooooow

[Ferosferio]

5harp3y said:

Only complaints i've had are rear door handles snapping x3, clutch pedal creaking (volvo recall)

Funnily enough, I've always suspected this could happen, they're pretty flimsy.

My clutch pedal started to creak in the last couple of months. I had no idea it's a recall - did Volvo write to you?

[Alfa Pete]

I like these.The D4 with 99kg co2 makes a good company car but with 187 bhp it beats the Golf GTD on both power and emissions.

[salguod]

zarjaz1991 said:

You don't see that many in black! It also looks like yours has ALL the toys. No blank buttons in the centre console at all! Hope you enjoy it, it's different but certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the German offerings.

Another V40 D2 R-Design owner here btw not as well equipped as yours but I do have mudflaps!

I was also 24 when I bought mine. It was a little treat to myself.

[AB]

Interesting looking cars from the outside but doesn't the interior just depress you!? Especially doing the sort of driving you've mentioned in previous threads.

[Rensko]

Had one as a rental car in France a couple of weeks back. D4 manual in silver!

Thing for a derv powered Volvo was pretty quick and had a fantastic torque surge as it came on boost. Great interior and comfortable seats - especially when we covered 2000km in a matter of 6 days of touring. Also, wasn't bad to punt around corners...

Only downside is the boot. I have never seen something so small in my life!

[xjay1337]

Aren't you the guy who kept going on about how you were 23 or 24 and were the youngest person ever to get a company car in your company and how the directors thought you were a driving god?

Interesting vehicle.

[zarjaz1991]

xjay1337 said:

Aren't you the guy who kept going on about how you were 23 or 24 and were the youngest person ever to get a company car in your company and how the directors thought you were a driving god?

Interesting vehicle.

That's not what I said. I said I was below the age at which they would normally give out a company car....but I was not the first it happened to. I also said the owner trusted my driving because he had been driven by me on numerous occasions and he knew that I handled the car competently, treated company vehicles with respect, and didn't drive like a nob. That's not the same as speeding a driving God, and I would never claim to be even close to being one.

As for the car...I think it's very nice and I'm extreme grateful and appreciative. What's wrong with it?

[zarjaz1991]

Rensko said:

Had one as a rental car in France a couple of weeks back. D4 manual in silver!

Thing for a derv powered Volvo was pretty quick and had a fantastic torque surge as it came on boost. Great interior and comfortable seats - especially when we covered 2000km in a matter of 6 days of touring. Also, wasn't bad to punt around corners...

Only downside is the boot. I have never seen something so small in my life!

I have...the BMW 1 series I had before this had a smaller boot. Or at least it seemed smaller. Agree though that the boot is too small.

Seats are the best I've had, agree there too.

[zarjaz1991]

AB said:

Interesting looking cars from the outside but doesn't the interior just depress you!? Especially doing the sort of driving you've mentioned in previous threads.

It's a bit 'plasticky' yes I suppose. Even my Mondeo is better in that respect. But, on the plus side, having just done a 500 mile round trip in in it, I can say that the seats are very comfortable, and the driving position is really comfortable...no sore back or sore arms / hands despite many hours of non-stop driving.

[AB]

zarjaz1991 said:

no sore back or sore arms / hands despite many hours of non-stop driving.

I'd hope that has something to do with you being 24!

[zarjaz1991]

AB said:

I'd hope that has something to do with you being 24!

Possibly. But, a badly suited seating / driving position can leave me with a sore back / arms / hands after a really long drive.

I think my trouble is, I tend to do five or even six hours of driving without a break, which if coupled with an uncomfortable driving position can leave me sore afterwards. Depends how I am feeling, if I get tired I stop but otherwise I press on. I'm sure as I get older that will cease to work, but I should probably stop it now and force myself to stop every couple of hours.

[zarjaz1991]

salguod said:

You don't see that many in black! It also looks like yours has ALL the toys. No blank buttons in the centre console at all! Hope you enjoy it, it's different but certainly a breath of fresh air compared to the German offerings.

Another V40 D2 R-Design owner here btw not as well equipped as yours but I do have mudflaps!

I was also 24 when I bought mine. It was a little treat to myself.

Thanks. I think they are great cars. My mates had a laugh when I said I was getting one, but now I have taken them for a drive in it they have changed their tune.

They are not PH company director cars but I am proud of mine and I'm delighted to have it. It will, of course, be well handled and well looked after.

[anonymous-user]

AB said:

zarjaz1991 said:

no sore back or sore arms / hands despite many hours of non-stop driving.

I'd hope that has something to do with you being 24!

Our company Skoda Octavias would give even the 19/20 year old fitters who borrowed them back pain after a 2 hour drive!

[ajb85]

I don't know what it is about Volvos. I love the look and slightly niche appeal, but this has only lead to great disappointment when I've been behind the wheel of one. I can't vouch for your V40 (Focus chassis?), I dare say it's pretty decent. However upon replacing my ageing 9-5 Aero estate I really fancied a V70 (2005 onwards) but couldn't get over how unengaging it was to drive. Everything about it felt so vague, save for the vocal 5 cylinder lump which I thought had some character. Followed the pack in the end and bought a 3 series Touring.

Talking of company cars at a young age; at 24 I had a bobby-basic Zafira Life. This was somebody's cancelled Motability order that I took great pleasure in grounding on the back roads to work. Nope, I couldn't be trusted!

[zarjaz1991]

dme123 said:

Our company Skoda Octavias would give even the 19/20 year old fitters who borrowed them back pain after a 2 hour drive!

I'm currently working with a 17 year old IT apprentice, which is a fairly interesting experience.
When we need to send him out on a job, he drives his own Fiat 500, which I only take the piss out of occasionally.
He gets a sore back from the longer drives we make him do, (although I think anyone would get a sore back in a Fiat 500).
As soon he turns 18 in March we're going to put him through his C1 and then let him take the Transits out. You don't seem to get bad backs in a Transit.

[blearyeyedboy]

dme123 said:

Our company Skoda Octavias would give even the 19/20 year old fitters who borrowed them back pain after a 2 hour drive!

What interests me with my vRS is that I don't get much of a bad back on longer trips, but my wife complained abotu long trips in the passenger seat and I thought she was just moaning a lot. Then she drove a longer stint and I finally understood- the vRS driver's seats are good and while the passenger seats *look* identical, they aren't.

I wonder if a V40 might serve as a decent replacement. Anyone have experience of a T4/T5?