I have a Saturn that I bought 14 years ago that is about to go to that great garage in the sky. It's been a great car, but I don't think I will replace it with another Saturn. I have been looking at the Volvo S40 T5 because of the fuel economy, price, and, well, it's a Volvo. My problem is this: I don't know anything about the car other than what I have just said. Does anyone on the BrickBoard have information that they feel is crucial to deciding to buy or walk away?

Have you actually driven them around yourself?

I've driven the S40 about as much as anyone else who doesn't own one -- my Volvo dealer, when customers bring their Volvos in for service, offers these as loaners. After four or five times, though, I've asked for the S60 instead, and they've obliged me.

It's certainly not like my own Volvos (three 240's) -- which are greenhouses compared to the S40.
The main impression of sitting in an S40 is cramped (e.g., dash up right in your face, claustrophobic padding and consoles surrounding you so you can't really move around, low roof, etc.).
And visibility is attrocious -- my main complaint and the one I use to justify asking for a S60 loaner instead. Your forward quarter line of sight is blocked by the A pillar, as is your side and rear vision by the B and C pillars. I guess these wide pillars are to provide room strength and side instrusion protection, but they really make a view of the traffic around you a mystery -- you really need your mirrors expertly adjusted just to change lanes without fearing someone in your blind spot (happily, the power mirrors are well designed and positioned). And parallel parking is virtually out of the question.

An S60 is not great (compared to my 240's), but is SO much better, viz. visibility.

Okay, to be fair, I forgot to mention...

The S40 is a LOT faster than my 240's! And even though I've got IPD bars, strut to firewall braces, 205/55-16 Michelin Pilots on 6.5x16 Hydra wheels, etc., on my 240's, this little S40 really handles well, with FWD torque steer only on the most brutal mashing of the pedal! In other words, it's "go kart" fun.

But the S60 is a little more refined and feels almost as fast -- I still prefer it.

It shares it's platform with the Mazda 3 and the second-generation Ford Focus sold in Europe. Interestingly, there is now a performance version on the European Ford Focus sold with the turbocharged Volvo inline 5 from the S40 and V50!

I can't drive the S40 because to fit the I5 engine, they cut too much space out of the footwell for my feet to fit. Otherwise - besides the not-exactly-minor issue that I can't drive the car - I thought the S40 was OK, the seats were nice and it looked, felt and smelled just like Volvos always have.

The April "New Car Issue" of Consumer Reports comes out in a few weeks. Why not spend the $4.99 and seriously research this topic if you're going to keep the car for 14 years?

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 167k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, XC grill, Lidatek LE30, V-1, Mobil-1 since new

"The major difference between a thing that might go wrong and a thing that cannot possibly go wrong is that when a thing that cannot possibly go wrong goes wrong it usually turns out to be impossible to get at or repair." -- Douglas Noel Adams (1952-2001)

Don't know much either, except that from (mid?) 2005 the S40 shares the same chassis and many parts as some kind of Ford and Mazda. So parts are supposed to be cheaper. The earlier models shared some parts, but not many. So the new S40 is actually a Ford with Volvo accessories.

The T5 is very nice, no matter what Volvo it's in.

Fuel economy is only good if you drive in accordance to how the testing is performed. Our 1997 2L S40 (not available in the US) uses 10L/100km (do not know what that translates to) because my wife knows about accelerate and stop, nothing in between. But that's actually not bad concidering how it is driven!

On the turbo models the air flow has to be measured precisely so they use a hot wire sensor. These things are extremely expensive to replace. Non-turbo normally do not use a hot wire sensor, because it is not that critical and there are easier ways to do it if you only have vacuum. However, I do not know if tighter emissions legislation resulted is forcing manufactures to use it in non-turbo engines as well. I am a bit behind on the latest developments.

I think the S40 now comes with the 5 cylinder engine of the Volvo 850. If so, then go for it (even if non-turbo). The 5 cylinder performs very well.

My old S40 feels a bit too low on the ground, the A-pillar is obscuring the view a bit, and you can not see behind you when reversing (boot is too high). The nose is also a bit low, scaping when turning into some driveways. But these features do make it easy to wash the car!