Volvo V40 road tests and consumer car reviews

Volvo V40 2.5D 1999

I bought my V70 diesel new at the end of 1999, and it’s still going strong - and strong is the word. Now done 151k miles, no appreciable engine wear, original clutch, gearbox etc. I have had to replace the usual parts as they wore out - shocks, brakes discs and calipers etc - and I have had it serviced by the book by a specialist, but it has been very good value for money so far. I paid £23k for a fully loaded car with all the toys in Holland, and imported it to UK, getting what would have been a £32k UK priced car for £9k less. I expect to get another 10 years or so out of it, which means I will have spent roughly £1k per year to fly around in a lovely car with a high spec. I doubt very much whether you would find another care which would offer the same at this price. If anyone else out there thinks like I do - buy them new/nearly new, them run them into the ground - Volvo is a very good way to go. I have driven a lot of hire cars for work over the years, all new or nearly new, and it is always a relief to get out of them and back into my 11 year old V70 as it feels so sharp and responsive by comparison. Excellent car.