Whats Good
As E36, but lighter and therefore quicker. 13 10" long by 5 7" wide and weighing 1,215 to 1,400kg. 102bhp 1.6 (replaced by 105bhp 1.9 from January 1999), 90bhp 1.7 diesel, and 140bhp 1.9 litre twin-cam 318Ti quickest of all. No RHD sixes or M versions in the UK so drivers less likely to be branded as status seekers. 17th from top in R reg J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Survey. BMW, Toyota and Ford jointly suffered the fewest breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. BMW had sixth lowest average cost in warranty claims for cars up to 10 years old in 2002 Warranty Direct index. BMWs generally had below average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 81.41 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk
Whats Bad
As E36. Has simpler rear suspension based on E30 3-Series. Six-cylinder 323i engine available in LHD only. Later 2nd and 3rd year dealer warranty requires expensive top up to be effective. Climate Control Units @ £276 for the part are prone to failure.
What to Watch Out For
As E36.
Recalls
1997 (E36 from January 1996): tighten stub axle bolts. 1997 (E36-77,000 cars): possibility of corroded steering shafts. 1998: compacts built before Nov 94 recalled to fit new radiator cap (very few cars involved, as Compact not launched until Sept 94). November 2002: All lower steering shafts to be replaced FOC if not already replaced (takes about an hour).

Whats Good
Estates have excellent rear legroom, are comfortable and handle well. 15 long by 5 7" wide and weighing in from 1,125kg to 1,250kg. Engines now transverse, not overhanging. Was a 174 bhp VR6, briefly, 1993-95. TDI 90 best compromise engine. Estates hold value well. Saloons worth £2,000 less. Aircon available in lieu of sunroof. VWs generally had below average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 76.83 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

Passat (1988 to 1997)
Whats Bad
Good, well-specified estates hard to find and still sell for strong money. All diesel models may have been cabbed. Saloons have dowdy image.
What to Watch Out For
As Golf/Jetta/Vento. Make sure aircon blows cold. Make sure not cabbed. A lot of this model Passat began their lives on rental fleets. Problems emerging of stretched timing chains on VR6s and chains actually breaking at around 90,000 miles.
Recalls
1995 (VIN3ARE 0000001 to 3ASE 142536): headlamp failures. 1996 (4-cylinder Passats 1988F-1989G): bypass valve to be inserted into heater pipe; heater matrix to be replaced if degraded. 1996 (1993-95 build): Cooling fan motor may seize. VW Passat (Dec 95-Mar 98): may be airbag activator fault.

Whats Good
Top in class for secondary safety in NCAP crash tests. Turbo versions are very fast. 1.8 litre 125 bhp GDI versions economical. Always had three three-point rear belts. Plenty of places to store oddments inside. Significant, much needed suspension improvements from spring 2000. 5-speed 2.0 turbo automatic is a real flyer. The ordinary 115bhp 1.8 engine is 1,731cc; the 125bhp 1.8 GDI is 1,834cc, and the later 122bhp 1.8 non GDI petrol or bi-fuel engine is 1,783cc. Bi fuel LPG option from June 2001, but the car is noticeably less lively on LPG and the tank takes a lot of boot-space. S40LPG: £17,020; S40SE LPG: £18,842; V40LPG £17,870; V40SE LPG £19,692. Low 3 out of 9 point death rate from accidents in this model. 99% breakdown free in 2003 Which survey.

Self-help site: www.brickboard.com Volvos generally had slightly below average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 90.54 v/s lowest 31.93). Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk Rated one of the cheapest large cars cars to run in 2003 Which survey (but how is an S40/V40 a large car?). 1995-1997 and 2001-2003 fewest breakdowns, average for problems and faults; 1998-2000 average for breakdowns, problems and faults in 2003 Which survey. Production continued to June 2004. Run our models called S40/V40 Classic. All have leather upholstery, a/c, 6-speaker CD player, alloy wheels, electric windows, leather covered steering wheel. List prices start at £14,485 for S40 saloon and £15,485 for V40 estate. V40 and S40 4th and 5th most reliable car in 2005 Warranty Direct Reliability Survey with 12 and 13 repair claims per 100 cars. Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

Last updated 15-6-2007

S40/V40 (1996 to 2004)
Whats Bad
Bright, quartz iodine daytime running lights can dazzle and infuriate other drivers, especially at traffic calming points. If you switch to sidelights to avoid this you get no lights-on warning when you leave the car. Ride, steering, handling and roadholding not up to expectations created by good-looking body and clever marketing. Lots of early production quality problems at Dutch factory, later rectified. Not the car the image leads you to expect. Pre-spring 2000 cars had indifferent handling and overlight steering. (T4 very much better in this respect.)

What to Watch Out For
Minor accident damage buckles the inner-wing structure. Car may have been badly repaired to save cost. Bottom front suspension ball joints tend to wear prematurely. Anti roll bar mountings can come adrift. Problems of valves carbing up on T4s and also on lesser injection models driven on petrol with inadequate detergent content. Main wairing loom passes in front of radiator and is protected by a split plastic tube which cann let in water leading to severe corrosion by road salt blowing a 40 amp fuse and putting out heater, aircon and indicator circuits (see recalls). Sender for digital petrol gauge prone to failure. Joint fourth bottom in 2002 Which reliability survey of cars up to 2 years old; 126 cars surveyed. GDI system of 1.8s prone to failure at around 60,000 miles due to carbon build up if cars are run on 95Ron petrol rather than the 97 - 99 Ron Super the engine is designed for. On S40 and V40 when the car is locked and the alarm set the indicators may start repeatedly flashing and draining the battery. Dealer fix is £1,000. Short term fix is to leave the bonnet slightly open so alarm does not set. For a proper fix bring in a Car Electrics specialist (Yellow Pages).
Recalls
Volvo has an in service cure for intermittent poor running, applied if owners complain. 2000: 2000 model-year cars: front brake callipers may crack and leak fluid. 14-6-2001: on 2001MY cars a diode in the climate control system may not be sufficiently durable leading to fan stopping working. Additional heater fan cable harness with climate control diode to be fitted. November 2001: TSB issued with fix for cold start ignition problems on 1.8 engines. 14-5-2002: On diesel models, brake vacuum pump may fail leading to reduction in brake servo assistance. Solution: fit modified brake vacuum pump. 14-5-2002 VIN 315000 to 599999: Fault in alternator drive pulley may cause auxilliary drive belt to fail leading to loss of power assistance to steering and possibly also tangling in the timing belt resulting in catastrophic engine damage. 02-07-2002: 1,696 S40s and V40s recalled because part of horn operating mechanism may foul drivers airbag module causing it to become loose in nits mounting. Airbag mounting plate to be replaced. 11-7-2002: 1,042 Volvo Towbar kits recalled because tow ball can prematurely detach itself from rest of assembly. All towbars to be modified, then replaced at a later date once supplies are available. 17-11-2003: On 8,183 S40s and V40s the engine fuel rail may leak. Fuel rail end cover to be secured with a V-clamp.

Anyone got any experience living with a Renault Megane Coupe?  

Ive driven plenty of brand new ones, but ive got a "1.6e Sport II" winking at me.

its french.. enough to put me off lol

so im not exactly a brand snob.

Quote from: Chris

Rover 45 ftw.

im sure i mentioned somewhere "No Rovers", does someone else want to check?  

Anyone got any experience living with a Renault Megane Coupe?  

Only thing i want for it is a way to make my Blaupunkt MP3 CD player interface with the controls on the steering wheel.