2012-19 V40 petrol auto...

[POIDH]

Helping a son with first car. He is 22, nearly 23. Has 3 years NCB as we insure with Admiral. Clean licence. Currently drives his mums Fabia estate and brothers Civic.

Needs a smaller (ideally automatic) car which can do a couple of junctions of motorway to work each day, but is easy to park and get used around town. He does not want too small, having tested an Aygo this week decided that was a step too far, and a better boot and a 'bit more car around me' was better. We live in Scotland so weather can be ste. He wants comfort, heated seats and a nice stereo, cruise control and reliability... Budget is upto £7k or so.

We have been thinking about a V40 (or even C30, but they are older). They seem to be a nice size compromise - not really an estate, but that is fine..

Auto gearboxes - it seems some of them have 'good' robust boxes and some have 'bad' boxes. How do we work out which is which?
Anything else we should know about?

(As an ex V70 owner, I approve of his idea...)

[ZX10R NIN]

The Volvo is a decent car & shared drivetrains with the Focus so a 1.6T version of those may be worth a look too.

Other options.

Ceed 4Tech:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508065...

3:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507014...

Mazda3 Sport Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202506193...

Astra Elite Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508145...

SRI Nav:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508125...

GTC LE:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202507104...

SRI:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508065...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508045...

Scirocco

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202508195...

T4 V40:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202504211...

[confused_buyer]

POIDH said:

Helping a son with first car. He is 22, nearly 23. Has 3 years NCB as we insure with Admiral. Clean licence. Currently drives his mums Fabia estate and brothers Civic.

Needs a smaller (ideally automatic) car which can do a couple of junctions of motorway to work each day, but is easy to park and get used around town. He does not want too small, having tested an Aygo this week decided that was a step too far, and a better boot and a 'bit more car around me' was better. We live in Scotland so weather can be ste. He wants comfort, heated seats and a nice stereo, cruise control and reliability... Budget is upto £7k or so.

We have been thinking about a V40 (or even C30, but they are older). They seem to be a nice size compromise - not really an estate, but that is fine..

Auto gearboxes - it seems some of them have 'good' robust boxes and some have 'bad' boxes. How do we work out which is which?
Anything else we should know about?

(As an ex V70 owner, I approve of his idea...)

I'd guess the "unreliable" is the Powershift one which was also used by Ford. The "reliable" one is probably the more regular 6 speed auto (I don't think they ever did an 8 speed). Generally the smaller engines tend to use the Powershift.

[paul_c123]

2015 and onwards models used Volvo engines and gearboxes including the automatic, which means the Powershift is replaced by a conventional torque-converter auto by Aisin.

[Boringvolvodriver]

Rear visibility for parking is not the best in the V40 - parking sensors essential I would say from experience.

Also the boot is not the biggest especially if you have a spare wheel.

[66HFM]

He cold also look at the V60 as well, although is a Volvo Estate in the cool bracket with people in their 20's....?

[POIDH]

Boringvolvodriver said:

Rear visibility for parking is not the best in the V40 - parking sensors essential I would say from experience.

Also the boot is not the biggest especially if you have a spare wheel.

We already drive a Civic - which has atrocious rear visibility!

As for Volvo being cool - youngest want's a Saab estate as apparently that is cool....eldest lived in a house full of petrolheads with a V40, S40, a 9-5 estate and a 205 GTi....so it seems that not all want Fiesta's...

[Rob 131 Sport]

Can’t see any of my children (late teens and 20’s) wanting a Volvo as I’d like to think I’ve brought them up correctly. I’ll ask and let you know.

[macron]

V40 has a very low roofline, so if your kid is tall even in th front they may find it less than optimal. If he's 5'5, no worries!

[Composite Guru]

macron said:

V40 has a very low roofline, so if your kid is tall even in th front they may find it less than optimal. If he's 5'5, no worries!

I’m nearly 6 foot. Had no issues getting in mine.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Rob 131 Sport said:

Can’t see any of my children (late teens and 20’s) wanting a Volvo as I’d like to think I’ve brought them up correctly. I’ll ask and let you know.

I spoke to my 23 year old son (who sells cars) and he said absolutely no way.

My daughter (whose a Law Student) would consider one if it was free.

[POIDH]

I would say that I have a household who ship mountainbikes, canoes, and mates around. Perhaps that and growing up with a V70 has influenced their decisions...

[Dg504]

What an odd set of comments from the 131 guy.

Personally and from those who I speak to I think the v40/60 looks pretty modern and is aging very well - have a 2013 v60 as one of my open tabs to look at more for my next.

[Rob 131 Sport]

Dg504 said:

What an odd set of comments from the 131 guy.

Personally and from those who I speak to I think the v40/60 looks pretty modern and is aging very well - have a 2013 v60 as one of my open tabs to look at more for my next.

it was a bit of a joke.

However my children and their friends seem to exclusively covet Audi’s (A1’s and A3’s), Mini’s, 1 Series BMW’s and sporty VW’s (Polo’s and Golf’s).