Quite a few people seem to have them... My next door neighbour bought a 62 plate V60 diesel a few months ago to tow his caravan.
I only ever owned one, a D reg 240 GL estate which doubled up as a delivery vehicle in a previous life. Never let me down.
The V60 range I find confusing... Soooooo many models over the past 5 or so years. The HJ specification lists dozens of variants from 2010. I idly considered a V60 as an alternative to a 3 series Touring, but couldn't find anything 3/4 yo, 2.0 4 pot petrol with around 200 horses minimum so didn't progress the matter, and never looked at a V60 to even see whether I liked it or not! Quite a few Polestars on sale, but double my budget and I certainly don't want 20'' rims.
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Do the recent ones still have Ford underpinnings, or have Geely completely re engineered them?
Last edited by: Old Navy on Mon 29 Feb 16 at 08:58
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I think Geely's input is principally financial, ON. The engineering is still Volvo.
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>> I think Geely's input is principally financial, ON. The engineering is still Volvo.
>>
The V40 and V60 are on Ford Focus Mk 2 platforms. Their replacements (when they come) will I suspect be Volvo/Geely's own work, in the same way that the XC90 and new S90/V90 are. I like the look of the V90 and think it will give the E-class some real competition.
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>> I think Geely's input is principally financial, ON. The engineering is still Volvo.
I think you will find the engineering is now/shortly to be Geely, the styling Volvo.
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I've just ordered a V60 D4 after looking at a lot of others. Subjectively it feels as good to drive as an X1 and Golf Alltrack, and quite a bit better than the Q3 and Qashqai. Seat comfort, and ease of entry and exit which are important to SWMBO, both far and away the best. The XC60 is higher off the ground but bigger than we need.
I've just read that Volvo are about to offer the 245 bhp petrol T5 engine (already offered on the V40) in the V60 and XC60. Tempting but probably an expensive option.
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There was a lot to like about my old T5. Cabin ambience slightly down on the 3 Series, maybe the build quality in the final analysis the Beemer is better made all round and feels more like the premium car that Volvo apes. Don't forget that my fully spec'd Volvo cost more than my current BMW - The V40s 5 pot petrol was a Ford unit made in Bridgend of all places. There was even a little Welsh Dragon stamped into the engine casting.Superb motor let down by the gearbox. I rather like the current XC models as well. Good cars and superb dealer here on Anglesey. Saw an old school T5 today....that was a nice motor as well.
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I liked my V60 but the R-design ride was just to harsh. Anyone who got in it passed comment on the ride.
Only other issue with it was the boot was quite small in relation to the size of the car.
Had a couple of XC60's on hire, liked them
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The boot on the V40 was non-existent - and a very flimsy rear shelf. Incredibly poorly made. I reckon it was designed to weigh nothing. The ride was fine - actually quieter than the BMW tyre wise. Every minor niggle disappeared when that engine was revved....far more subtle than my old three litre BMW but how it moved....I very occasionally miss it, but never when driving the 3 series. I miss the active cruise and the City braking thing.....brilliant in a queue of traffic.
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We had a Volvo - a 740 Estate with the 2 litre fuel injected lump.
Luvverly old beast and by' eck it could carry a full-to-the-roof heavy load and pull a caravan at the same time. (posted about it in 2013. here!)
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>> Luvverly old beast and by' eck it could carry a full-to-the-roof heavy load and pull
>> a caravan at the same time.
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Everything you say, plus the 2.3 litre engine is even better.
And in my opinion the 240 is an elegant design classic, now recognised as more than just a brick-shaped van with seats.
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Love my 2014 V70. Old-school slab-shaped design meaning everything fits in. Not trendy, no but the new V90 coming next looks much more stylish. Be interesting to see how big the boot will be...
Mine has the frugal but strong D4 engine, creamy-smooth 8-speed auto, comfy seats and excellent entertainment / sat-nav system.
Had a 2005 S60 D5 before and loved that too.
Dealers in both cases excellent
Prefer both to the 520d Touring BMW I had in between.
Think that this is a brand I will probably stick with.
Had the chance to drive the XC60 which I really like.
The V40 and V60 courtesy cars I have tried were good, but did not quite do it for me, with the V60 being too small for my needs, but nice nonetheless.
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I'm looking forward to the V90 too - hoping it'll be a real E-class rival, which the current V70 is too small to be. D4 engine, 8-speed auto, Volvo seats, Dynaudio sound system...show me the way to the south of France.
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I like the big Volvo SUV but to pay over 40 grand no thanks.
Volvo's have always been known for safety,the old Volvo Estate was very populair on the continent.Most of them had a LPG tank in the boot.
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Had an Amazon many many years ago. Quite like Volvos but we go to France quite a bit and the dealer coverage is a bit thin if you have a problem. I won't buy french so Ford is a safer bet.
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That sounds like rationalizing after the event and misunderstanding the reliability of modern cars. We've done 16 holiday trips to France, 10 of them in Swedish cars and all in makes that aren't hugely popular there. Never had a problem, of course; the closest was me snapping the fuel flap off the S60 and having to gaffer tape it back on for the rest of the trip.
The likes of Volvo and - our current holiday bus - Mercedes, offer Europe-wide breakdown cover for dealer-maintained cars. Enough peace of mind for me.
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My father had 5 Volvos in a row, starting with a 144 and followed by four 244s, I learned to drive on one of them.
Later on I had a 940 2.0 petrol estate, slow, ponderous thing but very spacious and two 850s which were quick enough and handled better than the 940 which didn't handle at all really, one had the 2.5 20v engine and the second one was fitted with the T5 engine.
Never really bonded with any of them though. Unlike some who swear by the ergonomics I never could get properly comfortable in them. Maybe the new ones are better. Having said that, not that I was experienced enough to judge at the time, I think the 240 was pleasant enough to sit in.
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Volvo ergonomics did, I think, dip for a while in the late 80s and early 90s. The 240 was beautifully stark and simple inside, but the interior style didn't really evolve to suit the more modern-flavoured 700s. It stayed simple but was slabby rather than enveloping. (Saab did ergonomics better at that time, with everything high up and in view, in contrast to the 90s trend of putting controls at ankle height.)
Possibly Volvo's worst interior of all was in the mostly-forgotten 440, which I considered briefly in about 1993 - until I sat in one. (Not saying it was a good decision to buy an Astra instead, mind - should have gone for a 306 - but I really didn't fancy the 440 at all.)
Things improved with the 850, and took a huge turn for the better - as did the exteriors - once the Horbury S80 came along in 1998. (Remember the 'returning astronauts' TV ad?) In terms of comfort and ergonomics, I doubt I'll ever drive a better car than the S60 I sold last year.
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There were some gaping gaps in the V40's ergonomics in my opinion. Seats were spot on comfortable beyond the norm, but difficult to pitch right - I know I should have set the memory buttons. The 3 Series are far easier to get right, especially with the crumb catcher extension thingy. I thought the floating console was good but BMW's current layout manages to squeeze things in in a much more convincing way - especially with the beautifully made and designed radio pre-sets that double as soft sat nav keys - absolutely brilliant de-cluttering. Someone has actually thought that out and innovated.
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Qashqais lull you into a false sense of security. If you drive one for anything up to a hundred miles or so you'd think it was supremely comfortable. Much over that and it becomes apparent that the seats are too soft and the raised position makes you begin to feel like you're sitting on a wobbly bar stool.
Fine for dibbling about though. And who doesn't enjoy the odd dibble?
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Had that same 'bar-stool' impression in that Micra last year. Cheap materials and that'll-do design would be my guess.
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My wife quite liked the Micra loaner she had at last year's service. I am a bit worried about her.
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Volvo - Popular on here? - Old Navy
