Volvo V40

[tua2kee]

Hi, thinking of getting the V40. Can anyone recommend a good dealer in Bangkok? Thanks.

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[steveromagnino]

the new V40 hatch is a very nice looking car. Thought long and hard about one but the lack of Polestar 'improvements' yet led me to spend 3X more on something else which I am still thinking about!

I found Volvo just off Rama 9 to be pretty good near Petchburi Dtut Mai/Pattanakarn area to be good (not sure of the branch name there), all depends on finding the dealer closest to your home.

[GirlDrinkDrunk]

very nice looking

[tua2kee]

Thanks! Polestar performance tuning not impt for me for the moment. Will check out the outlet at Rama 9.

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[sjonburi]

Nice choice! I was actually gonna write "why don't you look for a Focus" as I presumed the specs were similar but was surprised to see they offer a full option 5-pot direct injected T5 engine in the V40 for actually a very competitive price (THB 1,68 million) The safety-options for this car are amazing and only found in Premium D-segment Good luck @ the dealer and keep us posted ;-)

edit: dam_n this thing is pretty quick, about 6.5 sec 0-100

edit 2: the vid is from the 2.5 L T5 which is faster than the engine offered in TH

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beY5k1vAd_M

[tua2kee]

Just tested the car at Volvo Lumphini. Turbo lag is apparent. Steering is light. Suspension is soft. Rear space is small. But hey, at 1.68mil, I can live with the above. Only freebies are solar film and registration. The basic model is only available in Nov and sports model is existing stock.

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[steveromagnino]

yes, it's a very nice car. can't go wrong with it I think. Resale of this group of Volvos (S60, V60, V40) likely to improve compared to before also.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Just tested the car at Volvo Lumphini. Turbo lag is apparent. Steering is light. Suspension is soft. Rear space is small. But hey, at 1.68mil, I can live with the above. Only freebies are solar film and registration. The basic model is only available in Nov and sports model is existing stock.Sent from my GT-N7105 using Tapatalk

Basically a Ford Focus in drag...whack off 600k and buy the Ford and spend the savings on wine, women, and song.

[steveromagnino]

If the Focus was available in a decent ST spec here then yes, but it isn't; the Focus is only here in Titanium spec (I think) offering 170HP and you cannot get that much more out of it (you can't just wind up the boost or rechip it as I don't think it's a turbo) whereas the Volvo is giving you 213HP straight out, plus if and when Polestar give you a rechip + air intake + freeflow exhaust you can crank that up to something like 240HP easy.

Plus the Volvo has a certain style to it nowadays. For the same reason I like the IS250, but I don't describe it as 'just a Toyota rebadged' and I don't describe the Audi A1 as a 'Fabia in drag' as the specs are actually a little different. If you can afford the better one, then why not?

If the Focus ST or the fiesta ST is actually available here, then I would be keen enough, despite having to deal with Ford Thailand who totally screwed up delivering my pickup truck more than once (failed to be able to deliver so in the end went and bought something else).

[funcat]

If the Focus was available in a decent ST spec here then yes, but it isn't; the Focus is only here in Titanium spec (I think) offering 170HP and you cannot get that much more out of it (you can't just wind up the boost or rechip it as I don't think it's a turbo) whereas the Volvo is giving you 213HP straight out, plus if and when Polestar give you a rechip + air intake + freeflow exhaust you can crank that up to something like 240HP easy.

Plus the Volvo has a certain style to it nowadays. For the same reason I like the IS250, but I don't describe it as 'just a Toyota rebadged' and I don't describe the Audi A1 as a 'Fabia in drag' as the specs are actually a little different. If you can afford the better one, then why not?

If the Focus ST or the fiesta ST is actually available here, then I would be keen enough, despite having to deal with Ford Thailand who totally screwed up delivering my pickup truck more than once (failed to be able to deliver so in the end went and bought something else).

...so,this Focus would make it just perfect...

[tua2kee]

Hmm...ford focus n volvo v40 share the same base, but have diff engine, safety features and ride handling. The interior is also very differently designed.

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[arthurwait]

If it's the same no turbo engine and box from the previous s40 , only spec available in Thailand, it's an utter pile of pooh.

[culicine]

Ignoring depreciation and service/parts costs, it would be hard to shell out 1.7M for an accord/camry/teana compared to the v40. It's pretty quick according to that video above...I'm sure there are aftermarket parts to stiffen the suspension if it's too soft....then I guess a chip will be along soon enough! I like it...

[ignis]

If it's the same no turbo engine and box from the previous s40 , only spec available in Thailand, it's an utter pile of pooh.

On Volvo website Thailand shows both models of the V40 as a T5 213 hp Five-cylinder direct injection turbo petrol engine (E20).

[steveromagnino]

I looked at this car at the motorshow; the 2 spec levels are basically regarding non essential stuff like size of wheels and so forth; the engines are both the T5 which is very, very decent (as in Golf GTI, Cooper S, A250 decent) in terms of performance.

The gearbox cannot be more 'average' than the A250 for sure, and Volvo does have that nice understated boxy but good coolness factor to it (anti-cool?) compared to the try-hard look of some of the other choices, all of which are more expensive.

It is not relating at all to the S40 previous generation at least in terms of the engine, since this one is putting out 213HP I think. The new S60 rides really nicely, would imagine this new Volvo would be pretty sweet as well.

I think Volvo are now doing all in maintenance deals (like BSI, etc) so that removes another barrier as well; in retrospect I should probably have bought the Volvo at the last motorshow, as I'd have it by now.

[arthurwait]

Cool bananas. Test drove a S40 about one and a half years ago, put your foot down and you could count to ten before it moved.

New S60 , newer than about one and a half years ago ?

[steveromagnino]

Cool bananas. Test drove a S40 about one and a half years ago, put your foot down and you could count to ten before it moved.

New S60 , newer than about one and a half years ago ?

S 60 is about 2 years old now; a lot slower than the V40.

[jibberjabberjibberjabber]

Has anyone bought one yet? I have a 1.8m budget for a lease car coming up soon and the V40 S is looking pretty interesting.

I drive a Pajero Sport now and there isn't anything in the SUV category that interests me so I think I am down to a choice between the Volvo and the Accord. BMW and Merc are just out of my price range so I figure the V40 is the best bang for my buck.

Any opinions?

[CGW]

I looked at buying a Volvo recently and would have gone through with it until I found that living in Udon Thani I would have to drive to Bangkok for services as there is no dealer any nearer.

I would have bought the V60 as it has more "boot" space than the V40.

[frankphuket]

Has anyone bought one yet? I have a 1.8m budget for a lease car coming up soon and the V40 S is looking pretty interesting.

I drive a Pajero Sport now and there isn't anything in the SUV category that interests me so I think I am down to a choice between the Volvo and the Accord. BMW and Merc are just out of my price range so I figure the V40 is the best bang for my buck.

Any opinions?

I would probably say at that budget the V40 is a nice choice. Or you could ask VW if they give you a great deal on the GOLF GTI, last time it was about 2m, but i also heard they were discounting them up to 1.9m.

If this is too small and before going Accord maybe a Skoda Superb would fit the bill.

Or something very very niche....Citroen DS4....stylish...not sure about the rest.

[jibberjabberjibberjabber]

I think the Volvo is a lot more car for the money versus the Citroen and reviews aren't exactly overwhelming but I appreciate the suggestion. I am going through the leasing company my firm uses so i am not sure I am going to be in a position to negotiate much but the GTI would be very tempting. As I plan to drive rather than be driven I am erring away from the Accord/Camry to something that will be a bit more fun.

One concern I have is whether the golf bags are going to fit in the back. I can't make head nor tail of the reviews that have been written. Half praise the V40 for its boot space and half say that it is very limited. I guess I am just going to have to get myself down to the dealership to give it a whirl.

[IMHO]

yes, it's a very nice car. can't go wrong with it I think. Resale of this group of Volvos (S60, V60, V40) likely to improve compared to before also.

For Volvo resale value to improve, at least 2 of these 3 things would need to happen:

1. They'd need to actually keep parts in stock, and sell them at reasonable prices

2. They'd need at least another 150 dealerships

3. Thai mechanics would need better knowledge on how to fix them

[arthurwait]

I looked at buying a Volvo recently and would have gone through with it until I found that living in Udon Thani I would have to drive to Bangkok for services as there is no dealer any nearer.

I would have bought the V60 as it has more "boot" space than the V40.

It's pretty limited in the V60. With a 2 year old and all the stuff he needs: buggy, car seat, baby stuff bag it suddenly seems quite a small car inside.

[ignis]

I like Volvo, the new V40 looks good, but same sort of size as the V40 and same price is the Hyundai Veloster, [sports estate/hatch and different] uses the 1.6 Turbo engine ??

Another one that comes to mind is the new A class Benz, was there not some sort of promotion with the AMG model making it under 2 million [sports hatch]

As for the Golf GTi, is not the Skoda vRS with supercharger and Turbo not a better deal at under 1.6 million ?

[steveromagnino]

Benz A class is the A180 (a relative slug compared to the V40) for 1.89m from memory; the A250 which would match V40 performance is 2.49m, and the CLA is 2.65m; the dual clutch in the benz you need to test drive to decide if you could live with it (I couldn't).

Equivalent BMW is the 116, again a relative slug but looks the part as it comes with an M bodykit, around 1.89m also.

With Benz/Beemer they have a premium thanks to slightly more wank value and better resale, arguably.

Skoda vRS I wasn't aware it's only 1.65m but that's a great buy; if it is the Fabia you are talking about, then that's the next size down from a Golf (same platform as the Audi A1/VW Polo) and would suffer from slight resale issues, but it's an awesome little car albeit doesn't quite have the looks of the VW or the Audi IMHO. Distribution of the Skoda brand hasn't been so popular in the last few years, sadly. Definitely smaller, a lot smaller than a V40 inside and out (think fiesta vs. focus). Bear in mind the Fabia is about to be replaced AFAIK in the next year or so, and there won't necessarily be a VRS for the new model apparently.

The Hyundai Veloster is a funky looking beast, for sure. Very similar performance to the Volvo on paper, and price is very attractive at 1.739m; I suppose some who don't want a Japanese/Korean car would prefer to eye the Volvo. Gets good reviews; Hyundai also suffered in the past a little from resale issues but by the time 5 years from now that may no longer be the case depends on how their distribution model changes. Would be curious to see space in the back as it's pretty low slung, more like a Scirocco than a Golf.

[FarangTalk]

Sat in a V40 T5 today and was impressed with the finish and trim.

My concerns would be resale value and repairs.

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[tua2kee]

Yup. My sentiment s exactly on resale and repairs especially after the 3 year warranty.

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[ignis]

Sat in a V40 T5 today and was impressed with the finish and trim.

My concerns would be resale value and repairs.

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Can never understand why so many people always say the same -resale and repairs-

repairs maybe more expensive because there are few copy parts, so genuine parts for any car are more expensive...

Resale, almost every make drops in value, even a 2 year old main stream Benz will drop 1 million baht or more in 2 years !! even some cars costing only 6 - 800 K new have lost 45 % in 2 years

Guess if so concerned about resale value then best to buy a new eco car @ only 400 something thousand cannot lose that much, even if gave away the lose would be small., or buy a Pickup

[OMGImInPattaya]

Sat in a V40 T5 today and was impressed with the finish and trim.

My concerns would be resale value and repairs.

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Can never understand why so many people always say the same -resale and repairs-

repairs maybe more expensive because there are few copy parts, so genuine parts for any car are more expensive...

Resale, almost every make drops in value, even a 2 year old main stream Benz will drop 1 million baht or more in 2 years !! even some cars costing only 6 - 800 K new have lost 45 % in 2 years

Guess if so concerned about resale value then best to buy a new eco car @ only 400 something thousand cannot lose that much, even if gave away the lose would be small., or buy a Pickup

I too am often amused with many poster's seeming obsession with the resale value of the vehicle they intend to purchase and make this a major part of their purchase decision. I mean, you would almost think they look at purchasing a car as an investment and that they almost hope to get more for it when they sell it used than they paid for it new!

A vehicle is not an investment but a consumable item...it gives you transportation services, cost money to maintain and run it, and eventually gets old and wears out. It loses value over time (certainly collectible models excluded of course). Looked at correctly, houses/condos are the same, but due to tax and zoning regulations and other forms of government intrusion into the housing market, generally prices,do,tend to,slowly rise over time.

The best thing is to just buy the vehicle that fits your needs and budget at the time and get good use out of it. When it comes time to sell, just take what the market value is for the vehicle considering its age and condition.

[CGW]

I hear constant worries about the price of repairs, how often are "repairs" needed nowadays? I couldn't tell you the last time I had to repair a car, we run a car and truck which are 2 - 3 years old, even previous vehicles that were older just kept running.