VW vs Volvo

[Marty Funkhouser]

Looking for a reliable estate - thinking of a VW Passat, like this or a Volvo V40 like this.

Any advice/tips - is there a huge reliability difference? Any advice appreciated.

TIA

[v8will]

The V40 looks expensive as it's the previous model which hasn't dated well IMHO. Can't comment on the VW as I have no experience of the later Passats but at face value I'd be looking at the VW.

[PaulFontaine]

Not even a comparison. Volvo by far. Safer, faster, more reliable and much better scewed together

[scotty_d]

Had a 2001 v40 with the same engine. I only sold it a month ago and it had 191k on the clock and still drove better than most of the hire cars i get to travel to and from work which have less than 10k on the clock. In over 5 years it needed very little wear and tear tyres brakes but that was it last of the real non ford Volvo's in my opinion.

If i needed a sensible reliable car again Volvo is really up there i have owned 2 and my father still has a 850 and a v50. Built to last

[GreatGranny]

The V40 is too expensive. You can pick up a V50 for not much more. Yes it will have more miles but they take the miles well.
TBH I would go for the Passat. Its a little bigger, the engines are pretty reliable and its the facelift design. The V40 design is probably 10 years older.
Drive the V50 and the Passat and then decide.

[DamienB]

That particular V40 is massively overpriced, and the 1.9 diesel is underpowered - really boring to drive and sod all poke for overtaking.

[JCB123]

Marty Funkhouser said:

Looking for a reliable estate - thinking of a VW Passat, like this or a Volvo V40 like this.

Any advice/tips - is there a huge reliability difference? Any advice appreciated.

TIA

Surely you ought to be comparing the Passat with a V70?

Then it'd be V70 all the way.....but as it stands the Passat is miles better than the V40 or even the V50....

[MadRob6]

I have a Passat like that (albeit a few years younger so has a few issues sorted) and I'd say Volvo.

The list of things that have broken on it for no reason are getting ridiculous and now it's out of warranty it's just trying to fall apart.

[y2blade]

scotty_d said:

Had a 2001 v40 with the same engine. I only sold it a month ago and it had 191k on the clock and still drove better than most of the hire cars i get to travel to and from work which have less than 10k on the clock. In over 5 years it needed very little wear and tear tyres brakes but that was it last of the real non ford Volvo's in my opinion.

If i needed a sensible reliable car again Volvo is really up there i have owned 2 and my father still has a 850 and a v50. Built to last

well summed-up

VW (or any VAG) vs Volvo

[ad551]

Wow, that V40 is way too expensive.

At that price level I'd be looking at a V50: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... or, even better, a V70 D5 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[Marty Funkhouser]

ad551 said:

Wow, that V40 is way too expensive.

At that price level I'd be looking at a V50: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011... or, even better, a V70 D5 http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

How about this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

[GreatGranny]

Marty Funkhouser said:

How about this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

Looks ok. Mileage not too high and has leather, cruise, parking sensors etc...

If you want something bigger then V70 would be the one to go for.

[ad551]

Marty Funkhouser said:

How about this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I'd want to check the service history on that quite thoroughly - seems strange that nothing is mentioned in the ad. I don't find the advert very confidence inspiring (mentions his tints and Bluetooth unit but nothing about the history) but it looks like a clean car. It's got a dog guard as well so it might have been used for carrying wet dogs around and you'll never get rid of the smell.

Have you been in a V50 before? They're the same size as a Focus estate (in fact, they're the same car) - a lot smaller than a Passat. The V50 is a very nice car but the V70 is a much better 'Volvo' if you're wanting some of that Swedish quality...

[jimbobsimmonds]

I know it's been suggested but any particular reason you are after a V40 over the V70?

[0a]

The V40 is now a seriously old car, fine if you're paying under £1k...

[Marty Funkhouser]

Is a 2005-2006 Passat significantly more unreliable than a v50/v70 Volvo of a similar era?

[y2blade]

Marty Funkhouser said:

Is a 2005-2006 Passat significantly more unreliable than a v50/v70 Volvo of a similar era?

not really much in it as far as reliability goes..but Volvo make much nicer cars to spend time in and with than VAG


Try and get a drive in a few, you will see the difference for yourself

[Marty Funkhouser]

ad551 said:

Marty Funkhouser said:

How about this: http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

I'd want to check the service history on that quite thoroughly - seems strange that nothing is mentioned in the ad. I don't find the advert very confidence inspiring (mentions his tints and Bluetooth unit but nothing about the history) but it looks like a clean car. It's got a dog guard as well so it might have been used for carrying wet dogs around and you'll never get rid of the smell.

I rang up and asked - the log book was "stolen" but apparently Volvo will provide a record of the service history.....hmmmmm

[S1_RS]

As already said, at that money I'd be looking at Phase 2 V70's or even save a couple of grand and go for a low mileage sub 100-k phase 1 if you can find one.

[ad551]

Marty Funkhouser said:

I rang up and asked - the log book was "stolen" but apparently Volvo will provide a record of the service history.....hmmmmm

Sounds great.