[Mike]

Greetings

I've just ordered a V40 SE D2 to replace my ageing Mazda 6. I've test driven a number of cars over the past year and to be honest the V40 was the only one I was unhappy to hand back.

I wanted something that was frugal, stylish and would stand out from the crowd - hence the Vibrant Copper colour choice

The main options I went for are:
- Premium Sound Multimedia - 10 speakers should be sufficient
- Winter Illumination Pack - I like the heated everything, but I love the fancy LED running lights!

The only downside is I have to wait until late November for delivery.

In the coming months I'll be interested to hear about people's experiences with the D2's fuel economy.

Cheers
Mike

 

[London_2012]

Welcome Mike! Nice spec on your D2 SE, and yes Fuel Economy is a hot topic so no doubt as the first orders arrive across Europe next month there will be lots of posts.

 

[GusGecko]

Nice good choice.

Vibrant copper is the colour I would choose out of the current selection...

 

[Mike]

Nice good choice.

Vibrant copper is the colour I would choose out of the current selection...

I'll take that as a compliment from man who drives a lizard coloured car!

Also forgot to mention my favourite V40 option - the 'Active TFT Crystal Driver's Instrument Display and Illuminated Gear Knob'.

The display gives the V40 a touch of high tech class with a feature from my all-time favourite vehicle - the space shuttle.
Although I'm not so sure about the need for a illuminated gear stick. I've never had any trouble finding such things in the dark

 

[GusGecko]

Yeah tft display is a must. Havnt even SEEN photos of a manual display

 

[Mike]

Yeah tft display is a must. Havnt even SEEN photos of a manual display

There is an image on page 69 of the V40 Owners Manual.

I saw one on a V40 in the showroom where I did the test drive. It looked pretty ordinary, which made me feel better about my choice.

 

[Mje2408]

Just ordered very similar spec - vibrant copper D2 SE Lux, blonde interior, TFT, DAB, winter pack, boot organiser and keyless.

Have been given an indicative (but only indicative) date of 4th October. Beginning to feel it will be a lot later than that if you've been quoted end of November!

Replacing company car that's just a year old that I am happy to pay to give up early - a Mini Countryman Cooper S Auto. Worst mistake I've ever made. Feel every bump, pothole, pebble and drinks petrol at 28 mpg. Test drove Volvo and hooked. Glided over bumps and hopefully great mpg to make the savings worthwhile to justify paying to give up mini. Big learning from Mini (which replaced a superb Lexus RX) was never, ever get a car again without test driving!

 

[London_2012]

Yes TFT is a must, although after showing my 9yr old how it worked he spent an hour insisting it should be permanently set to performance!

@Mje2408 Interesting insights on the Mini Countryman ride and fuel economy, thanks. It was on my company car list too, decided to steer clear of it as even the diesel mpg is not great, emissions are high (and subsequent bik is prohibitive), basic 'One' model is very basic, only comes with steel wheels.
I'm guess the Countryman was 4wd? and the Lexus also 4wd? What led you to decide on a fwd car?

 

[Mje2408]

@london2012 Lexus was 4WD. Chose it because of comfort in driving distances and tax efficiency made it affordable as a company car and not because of 4WD. When it came time to change after 3.5 very happy years and after recent winters and days of heavy snow wife preferred idea of 4WD. As I was looking to downsize to pay for daughter's university accommodation options were limited. Unfortunately the 4WD option was main reason for choosing Countryman. Suffice to say in 13 months never needed it! Mileage reduced significantly now and office now 16 miles away in Manchester rather than 50 in Leeds so a very comfortable and yet very economical 2WD is my car of choice!

 

[hasofy]

Guys, I must be one of the very few that ordered without TFT.

Although TFT looked very stylish, modern, high-tech, up-market and matched the center screen perfectly, I prefer normal dials, like I prefer vintage watches. I would keep the TFT on normal setting permanently anyway, which is nearly identical to physical dials regarding layout, since preformance looks slightly too much Need For Speed for my taste and I do not try to drive economically, so Eco would never be used. If the TFT would transfer to a rear view camera when in reverse or have any other influence on performance of the car, I would think twice. Further, normal dials are visible in all situations, while TFT was little hard to see in bright sunlight when I test drove it, but only in some few situations. I also have some issues with my eyes, so it might be tiring for them, especially in the night. The dealer driving the V40 after work, told me he thought it was slightly too bright in the night. In my 406 Coupe I reduce illumination in the night to minimum, but in the V40 I might not get the screen dark enough, as brightness settings in the TFT version are very limited. I just think I already spend too much time in front of screens, I do not want another one.

I fully understand why nearly all choose TFT, but for me and my eyes normal dials just seemed a better choice. They look quite nice by the way, better than in the V60 in my opinion, but far from as stylish as on my 406 Coupe, and they are surrounded by cheap plastics. The plastics surrounding the dials, both normal and TFT, I think is the only detail I do not like in the V40 interior, it just does not match the luxurious interior in terms of design and especially quality, don't you think?

When I reflect my experience of the interior, I remember I thought the gearstick could be nicer as well, less cluttered with less plastics and more leather. It does not feel upmarket enough and seems like it belongs in a lower priced vehicle. Otherwise, I think the interior is amazing, one of the nicest I have ever seen, for sure the nicest of all Volvo interiors, in my opinion.

 

[GusGecko]

And your 9 year old is absolutley correct!!

 

[hasofy]

My daughter also LOVED the performance mode on TFT, like she loves the iPad, she will be disappointed with daddy's boring vintage choice

 

[mrlazy]

I think the TFT display is a must if the car is a private purchase -When you come to re-sell the car, its going to be something alot of people will be looking for.

 

[hasofy]

Yeah, since nearly all people want it, that will surely be the case. I was really close to order it, went to dealer with intention to mark it, but I did not when I actually was there

The TFT was included in a very well priced intro package, coming with parking sensors, rear view camera and illuminated gearstick. While I personally can not see any advantages with an illuminated gearstick, neither visual nor practical, the rear view camera will be missed. Since it is quite a small car and my V40 will arrive fitted with Volvos awesome parking sensors, the rear view camera in my opinion is not crucial, only good to have. The visibility through the small back window is lousy, but I will manage and I hope my partner will as well, which in her case is not completely obvious She prefers using the mirrors and sensors she says, so we decided we can live without the rear view camera, like we have done until today, in all cars we have driven.

If my eyes were better though, I would probably choose the intro package with TFT, despite it's minor flaws, as it makes the car even more premium and is simply more fun than normal dials.

 

[GusGecko]

That rear view camera is pretty nifty...a pricey option though.. I hate choosing options, you always think 'right what do I NEED and what do I WANT'

 

[Mike]

I NEED a medium sized vehicle that reliably gets me to work.
I WANT 25 grands worth of leading edge Swedish automotive technology.

 

[GusGecko]

Prosactley!

 

[Mr Peeveli]

Guys, I must be one of the very few that ordered without TFT.

Although TFT looked very stylish, modern, high-tech, up-market and matched the center screen perfectly, I prefer normal dials, like I prefer vintage watches. I would keep the TFT on normal setting permanently anyway, which is nearly identical to physical dials regarding layout, since preformance looks slightly too much Need For Speed for my taste and I do not try to drive economically, so Eco would never be used. If the TFT would transfer to a rear view camera when in reverse or have any other influence on performance of the car, I would think twice. Further, normal dials are visible in all situations, while TFT was little hard to see in bright sunlight when I test drove it, but only in some few situations. I also have some issues with my eyes, so it might be tiring for them, especially in the night. The dealer driving the V40 after work, told me he thought it was slightly too bright in the night. In my 406 Coupe I reduce illumination in the night to minimum, but in the V40 I might not get the screen dark enough, as brightness settings in the TFT version are very limited. I just think I already spend too much time in front of screens, I do not want another one.

I fully understand why nearly all choose TFT, but for me and my eyes normal dials just seemed a better choice. They look quite nice by the way, better than in the V60 in my opinion, but far from as stylish as on my 406 Coupe, and they are surrounded by cheap plastics. The plastics surrounding the dials, both normal and TFT, I think is the only detail I do not like in the V40 interior, it just does not match the luxurious interior in terms of design and especially quality, don't you think?

When I reflect my experience of the interior, I remember I thought the gearstick could be nicer as well, less cluttered with less plastics and more leather. It does not feel upmarket enough and seems like it belongs in a lower priced vehicle. Otherwise, I think the interior is amazing, one of the nicest I have ever seen, for sure the nicest of all Volvo interiors, in my opinion.

There is one without TFT too. When I ordered my V40, I prefered original "old" look. Only thing I hate now, is that there is no motor temperature dial. Motor temperature dial includes to the TFT. This is very important thing here in Finland because here is very cold winters. But, I can't do now anything because my car is coming soon.

 

[MichelR]

@Mr Peeveli -> Did you check with dealer if order is already locked?.
Mine is being build this week..

 

[Mr Peeveli]

@Mr Peeveli -> Did you check with dealer if order is already locked?.
Mine is being build this week..

Yes, my order is locked (4.7.12).

I just called the dealer and the salesman did'nt know where my V40 now is! He claimed that he can't see the real time situation from the ordering-system.:huh: I'm afraid of the order is in some way full of problems or something else. Have you heard that there would be something problems in the order-systems?