Volvo V60 or what else?

[Max5476]

Im looking at upgrading my car, i currently have a 2007 megane, and I am looking at a newer bigger car. I'm going to test drive a V60 estate tomorrow, and have a look around a V70, but I'm wondering what else i'm missing.

I have 10-15000 to spend, and am looking for something thats a few years old, without to many miles (isn't everyone)

What else should i consider, is the V60 good, should i be worried about a diesel?

[Colonial]

How many miles you do will determine whether a diesel is worth it.

V60 is a good shout, I also like (and own) the Skoda Octavia.

[Deerfoot]

I've had a V60 for about a year. It's great.

Many reviews criticise the size of the boot (on paper it's smaller than rivals) but I've never had a problem with it. On the rare occasions that we've needed more space we just stick a roof box on.

It's well equipped and everything works well. The seats are fantastic.

Volvo dealers are a mixed bunch. My local one isn't fantastic but luckily there is a well respected Volvo indy nearby who looks after my car.

It's quite heavy on front tyres (mine is a D5 auto) but they aren't that expensive (I have 17 inch tyres).

I tried a 3 series (harsh ride), a C Class (liked it but poverty spec for my budget) and an A4 (just didn't like it) and found the V60 to be a good compromise.

Edited by Deerfoot on Friday 30th June 08:23

[NickdeBug]

Love Volvos!

I've been driving a V70 2.4D SE Lux for the last 3.5 years (70k miles) and it has been the most comfortable car that I have owned or driven.

Your budget would probably get you one of the 190 D4s which have a decent turn of pace and are pretty frugal.

Just about to change to an A6 Avant, but only because I couldn't get as good a deal on the much newer V90. I will almost certainly be rejoing the Volvo fold in 3 years time!

If buying used then Volvo often much better value than the big 3 Germans. Every bit as refined though.

[Max5476]

So I went to a dealer today and test drove a D5 auto with all the toys. Always a mistake, as it blows the budget, but now I couldn't settle for anything else, particularly without adaptive cruise.

I agree, the premium german brands my money wouldn't go further enough, but i wonder if I should be looking at something from the far east. The civic estate looks good, but definitely not as nice a place to be, or as much tech.

I'm a big fan of skoda, so would consider the octavia, but my dad has one, and I don't really want the same car as him, regardless of how good it is, the superb would be tempting though.

Here goes convincing the other half to up the budget.

[valiant]

Another V60 D5 auto owner here.

Had it for around 9 months now and still throughly enjoy the car. Simply does everything I ask of it. Enough power to get you into trouble, superbly comfy seats, economical enough from me and loads of toys.

Haven't had much dealings with the dealer apart from buying the thing although the buying process was sooooo relaxed and effortless.

Just finished a 300 mile round trip that, thanks to mental traffic, took me the best part of 8 hours and the car took it in its stride and I got out without any hint of backache (which is incredibly important to me).

Only got bog standard cruise though..<firstworldproblems>

[Max5476]

Deerfoot said:

I've had a V60 for about a year. It's great.

Many reviews criticise the size of the boot (on paper it's smaller than rivals) but I've never had a problem with it. On the rare occasions that we've needed more space we just stick a roof box on.

valiant said:

Had it for around 9 months now and still throughly enjoy the car. Simply does everything I ask of it. Enough power to get you into trouble, superbly comfy seats, economical enough from me and loads of toys.

Just finished a 300 mile round trip that, thanks to mental traffic, took me the best part of 8 hours and the car took it in its stride and I got out without any hint of backache (which is incredibly important to me).

Having done more research, i'm worried about the lack of space. We are having our first child soon, and I know people cope in fiat 500s, I want to make sure we are comfortable. How much stuff do you regularly fill in, and does it include prams / pushchairs. (which is what worry me)

I would be happy to use a top box for a week away, but not for a weekend.

It looks like other options would be a skoda superb / octavia, VW golf / passat, Audi A4 Avant, or Seat Leon St, but the spec is very variable on the local ones. I have resided to having a diesel now, i only do 10000 miles a year, so not necessary, but more down to whats available. The car will mainly be used for weekends away, not commuting so shouldn't be an issue of getting clogged up. Need to go and have a look at some more cars I think.

[RobXjcoupe]

Just by a pushchair that fits whatever estate you buy. Your child will soon grow out of it

[Croutons]

More to the point, a replacement pushchair is an annoying expense, but is usually a lot cheaper than swapping cars!

[Deerfoot]

Max5476 said:

Having done more research, i'm worried about the lack of space. We are having our first child soon, and I know people cope in fiat 500s, I want to make sure we are comfortable. How much stuff do you regularly fill in, and does it include prams / pushchairs. (which is what worry me)

I'd say the V60 is plenty big enough. I said previously the numbers on paper make it appear to be a small boot but in practice it's plenty big enough. My kids are 8 and 10 so although I've not tried a pram (I know how enormous they can be...) in it I can't see it being a problem. Ours also has a net integrated into the rear seat back so it's easy to use the entire height of the load space without fear of the stuff being catapulted forwards in the event of rapid deceleration.

You can get a really decent spec V60 for far less that your £15,000 budget. I paid a whisker under £11,000 for my 55,000 mile D5 SE Lux Auto (61 plate) and it's a great spec although it hasn't got the active cruise...

I wouldn't bin the idea of a V60 just yet...

[ZX10R NIN]

Or you could go for more mainstream cars:


I'd say take a look at the Focus they come loaded with kit they're a good steer & well priced.

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Kia C'eed GT Line

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

Astra Elite

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2017...

[GreatGranny]

OP, the V60 will be plenty big enough with 1 child.

You can split the back seats if you want more room as only 1 seat is needed in the back.

If you have any more just upgrade to the V70 :-)

We had the Series 1 V70 when we had 2 kids and plenty of room.

Went to the XC90 when we had the 3rd.

Eldest is 17 now so looking to downsize early next year (she only occasionally travels with us)

Think we will look at the V60 when the time comes.

[BoRED S2upid]

We upgraded to the V60 when number 2 arrived its big enough we can fit pushchair, buggyboard, 2x rucksacks, swimming gear, buckets spades changes of clothes etc... boot isn't as deep as others but it's square which helps it's plenty big enough for 2 kids day to day.

[Jag_NE]

Colonial said:

How many miles you do will determine whether a diesel is worth it.

V60 is a good shout, I also like (and own) the Skoda Octavia.

I don't subscribe to this view point across the board when it come to used cars. The vast majority of models do not have an even distribution of petrol and diesel sales and car values as they age will not be linear, also affected by supply and demand. A diesel may be cheaper to buy than a petrol equivalent depending on make and model. Servicing prices are a wash generally speaking. There is an argument that a diesel is more economical and will save you money day to day but has a higher bork potential that may offset this, but unless you do an extremely low mileage its massively speculative as to what may or may not happen.

If you are buying an estate car for 10-15k that was originally 20-30k in value its going to be 3yrs+, most important will be to pick a car that fits your needs, in the best possible condition and from a trustworthy source. Swerving highly appropriate diesel cars just because you do 8k a year doesn't always make sense.