Discussion
Changing jobs shortly so my very much loved 8P S3 has to go. 25mpg will not cut it.
New trainee role has allowance that works out as £300 a month in my pocket. Advisory fuel rates work out as 12ppm.
The S3 is paid for so that will go towards a new fun car for the better half, R56 Cooper S to M135i.
So looking to get a loan from the bank (currently 3%) to pay for a car for myself. Usage will be travelling between sites but home based. When I did the job previously I could do Bath from Derby return in a day easily. Milage will be 25k a year.
Putting 10-12k into a V40 will get me the new 2.0 D4 engine which gets goods reviews; a balance of economy and power. Does anyone have any real experience of these cars. Size wise it’s perfect. What are the auto boxes like? And are there any inherent issues?
I have never really strayed away from Vag. The last two work vehicles were a mk6 Golf GTTDI and a Passat TDi, both were excellent.
New trainee role has allowance that works out as £300 a month in my pocket. Advisory fuel rates work out as 12ppm.
The S3 is paid for so that will go towards a new fun car for the better half, R56 Cooper S to M135i.
So looking to get a loan from the bank (currently 3%) to pay for a car for myself. Usage will be travelling between sites but home based. When I did the job previously I could do Bath from Derby return in a day easily. Milage will be 25k a year.
Putting 10-12k into a V40 will get me the new 2.0 D4 engine which gets goods reviews; a balance of economy and power. Does anyone have any real experience of these cars. Size wise it’s perfect. What are the auto boxes like? And are there any inherent issues?
I have never really strayed away from Vag. The last two work vehicles were a mk6 Golf GTTDI and a Passat TDi, both were excellent.
My OH's car is a V40 D4 R Design with the 8 speed auto 'box. It's a great car overall - very well equipped and the D4 engine has a fair bit of grunt for what it is whilst returning good economy. Probably my biggest gripe is the auto 'box. Whilst it's fantastic 98% of the time, it does get a little bit caught out when (for example) rolling up to a give way junction and you can see that it's clear, it often seems to be in 1 higher gear than you want so there is a slight hesitation before it realises that you want to get going again without coming to a stop. But, in saying that my Alfa Giulia Veloce ZF does that at times too.
Anyway, the V40 is a great quality car with an excellent blend of performance and economy. It's also very comfy yet can be hustled down a back road when the opportunity arises. We have done 19k miles since getting ours at 3k miles (ex demo) with no issues.
Anyway, the V40 is a great quality car with an excellent blend of performance and economy. It's also very comfy yet can be hustled down a back road when the opportunity arises. We have done 19k miles since getting ours at 3k miles (ex demo) with no issues.
Some other good options are the Infiniti Q30/50, these use the same drivetrains as the Mercedes A/C Class's build quality is better than the Volvo & the drivetrains are well proven
Q30's are exactly the same as the previous gen A Class as you can tell from the interior shots.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
AWD Versions
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The D4 V40 is a good car & they have 20bhp more & you won't go wrong with either this or the Q30:
R Design Lux/Pro
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Citroen DS5 Elegance 180
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
But also look at the Q50 in Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Sport Tech these come with 360 Cameras Adaptive Cruise etc
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Q30's are exactly the same as the previous gen A Class as you can tell from the interior shots.
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
AWD Versions
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The D4 V40 is a good car & they have 20bhp more & you won't go wrong with either this or the Q30:
R Design Lux/Pro
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Citroen DS5 Elegance 180
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
But also look at the Q50 in Sport:
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Sport Tech these come with 360 Cameras Adaptive Cruise etc
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
The trip computer is currently showing 44.3 mpg as an average but that is probably 80% town and 20% motorway. We get the best part of 600 miles per tank more often than not.
I would have to take issue with the post above suggesting that the Mercedes A klasse is better built than the Volvo. The Mercedes is what we originally set out to buy (an A200 or A220d both AMG Line) and the quality wasn't as good as the Volvo and the ride on both Merc's was pretty harsh (all cars on 18"s) by comparison. Don't get me wrong, the Mercedes wasn't poorly built - I am a Mercedes fan, but the Volvo was a better all round proposition at the time. There's abviously a new A Klasse now. And, of course, the Infiniti might be a whole lot better put together.
If you do go ahead and budget allows, seek out models specced with packs including the panny roof, leather, heated front screen & seats - I can't remember what all the packs are called now!
I would have to take issue with the post above suggesting that the Mercedes A klasse is better built than the Volvo. The Mercedes is what we originally set out to buy (an A200 or A220d both AMG Line) and the quality wasn't as good as the Volvo and the ride on both Merc's was pretty harsh (all cars on 18"s) by comparison. Don't get me wrong, the Mercedes wasn't poorly built - I am a Mercedes fan, but the Volvo was a better all round proposition at the time. There's abviously a new A Klasse now. And, of course, the Infiniti might be a whole lot better put together.
If you do go ahead and budget allows, seek out models specced with packs including the panny roof, leather, heated front screen & seats - I can't remember what all the packs are called now!
I think that the thing with Volvo's (and Saab's when they were made) is that they don't overly impress on a test drive, but after 20k miles, nothing pi**es you off. They are very comfortable, have great climate control and decent music systems, they are not usually running on rubber band tryes and therefore make a supreme mileage muncher.
I bought a V50 one of the last just as the V40 was launched, its seven years old and now has a fraction under 200K on the clock (so similar to the OP's intended annual mileage), it drives as well as it ever did, doesn't rattle, still returns 55+ mpg.Ok the drivers seat has some wear and the gear lever is a little sloppy, but its a great car that just gets on with the job.
My wife is so smitten with its build/reliability/comfort that she's put a V40 at the top of her next car shopping list.
I bought a V50 one of the last just as the V40 was launched, its seven years old and now has a fraction under 200K on the clock (so similar to the OP's intended annual mileage), it drives as well as it ever did, doesn't rattle, still returns 55+ mpg.Ok the drivers seat has some wear and the gear lever is a little sloppy, but its a great car that just gets on with the job.
My wife is so smitten with its build/reliability/comfort that she's put a V40 at the top of her next car shopping list.
Gassing Station | Car Buying | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff