Hi,

I'm wondering whether or not to buy an S40. I live in Canada and I test drove an S40 today. It was the dealer loaner car, and the performance was very good, but the drivers door wouldn't open, the steering wheel adjustment felt very flimsy, and the view out the back window was pretty crappy compared to my 1985 740 sedan.

Does anyone recommend the S40 or V40? I am a Volvo fan, but this doesn't seem to be as high quality as the 740 and other Volvo's.

Thanks for your comments!

John,

I'd buy another S40 in a heartbeat. As a matter of fact I have 2 of them in the garage. Well, only because my 244 was broken into (they tried their damndest but couldn't get the radio out) the other night and I have another '01 S40 as a loaner. I got mine in October and just love it. The fit and finish is impeccable, and with having quite a few Porsches over the years, if there's a cosmetic problem with a car, THIS BOI CAN F*CKIN BITCH!

I'd say Alberto hit it on the head with hard grease for the door not opening. I've never had mine outside over night so I can't speak from experience on that one. What do you mean the steering wheel adjustment was flimsy? Flimsy as in cheap with the little handle under the column? If you want electric adjustments go for a 700 series BMW. The view out the back window... you have to remember that the rear window in a 740 is nearly vertical while the rear window of an S40 has quite a bit of aerodynamic slant.

There's a lot of bitching about suspension noise on these cars. I've yet to hear anything. Is the noise perhaps just simply the bushings doing their job? To eliminate bushing noise we'll all have to run greaseable heim joint suspensions.

The views of some that the 40 series isn't a 'true' Volvo because of platform sharing... pure unadulterated bull shit. If every model of car made were to have it's own platform we'd be paying another 25% for our cars. How does the platform by its self not make it a Volvo? Is an Audi not an Audi because it might be built on a VW platform? Other than the bottom pan of the car there absolutely positively is nothing in common with the Mitsu. As far as I can tell the only thing the platform does is allow the S/V40's to be built on the same assembly line as the Carisma.

I've never owned a FWD car before, so before I judge the handling I'm getting some Road America time with mine this spring. If I can handle a Porsche 962C GTP at speed with the engine cover and rear tail blown off this thing should be a pussycat. Here in NE Wisconsin we've had some really crap weather the past 2-3 days. Yesterday morning we had 4-6 inches of slush over ice on all but the main roads. 50-60mph was a piece of cake with the OEM Conti tires.

Is it possible for you to get the dealer loaner for a couple of days to really try it out? You can't buy a car with 1 or 2 test drives. I 'borrowed' my dealer's 2000 S40 for 900 miles before I really made up my mind. I'd have to say that after waiting 3 years for the 40 series to come to this side of the pond, and after waiting another 4 months after I ordered, these cars to me anyway are more than what I hoped for.

Actually fit and finish is quite good in the S/V40. Plus what really gives it unique charm is the intelligent thought in design and features that it and it's elders have to offer. Many of these features you don't really learn about or come to appreciate until you've had the car for a few months. Things like on the V40 having intelligent rear wiper that if you are using your front wipers, put the car in reverse the rear wiper will activate (if it's off). Auto open on the moon roof that opens to a preset setting that avoids buffeting wind.

We especially loved the car when we drove up to north central Wisconsin this past December (from NC). ABS, EBD, TRACS all worked amazingly well. The seat warmers were excellent, the engine comes up to operating temperature really quickly (within 5 min of starting to move) even in -10F temps. The headlamp wipers are a big asset in climates such as WI and yours (I imagine).

As for the driver's door not opening... I did experience something similar when in WI. It was Christmas morning and it was -26F (without windchill) and I was needing to get some more gifts out. The driver's door didn't open all the way. At those temps the grease in the doors turns to glue. It warmed about 10F and it opened all the way. The passenger side didn't have the problem. Keep in the mind the car is new and it probably has a lot of fresh grease that hasn't worn or thinned. Anyway, it was a fantastic trip made much more comfortable and enjoyable by our V40 (ours is totally loaded, the only thing it doesn't have is the rear integrated child seat boosters and the power passenger seat (which we wish we had ordered)).

I wish you the best in picking out your next new car!

Alberto

I don't like the S/V40s as they're not "true Volvos". It's basically a Mitsu with a Volvo drivetrain and you're right, the quality is definately not there. Anyone who says otherwise only needs to look around the car in a serious way, like under the dash, under the car where you'll see "made in Japan" all over.

Considering the rediculous price they're asking for these (for what is really is), consider spending a few more bucks per month and getting a "real Volvo" like the S60 or V70 instead. The S60, V70 are good cars, so are the older S/V 70s.

Hold o a second....just because the car has a Japanese influence (which is questionable at best) you think that it is a Mitsubishi? Can you tell me which Mitsubishi part(s) does it have other than the turbocharger??? I didn't think so...

Are you aware of the fact that despite both the Mitsubishi Carisma and the S40 being produced at the same factory, the Volvos have had a minimum of ONE HUNDRED SEVENTY FIVE M - A - J - O - R modifications in order to pass Volvo's standards regarding drivetrain quality, smoothness, suspension specs and safety standards???

What other car w/ BETTER quality, safer, quicker and w/ a 4yr-50,000 miles bumper to bumper warranty can you get for less than $23,500??? You can find cars with ONE of these atributes but not all!

Yes, for the price of a LOADED S40 one can get a very BASIC S60...but if you are looking for a nice, nimble and cute car, the S40 runs rings around the S60 (in those forms).

Yannis

Just got off a web-site that slammed v40s. Everything from lights not working to totally poor service at the dealer. This afternoon, I put down 500 bucks on a used v40 with a 100 thousand mile bumper-bumper wnty.

The car has severe wear on the outside of both front tires. Is this normal for a car with 18,000 miles?

I need some reinforcement here, folks. I don't want lemonade!!!! I really want to hear from owners of v40's with more than 20 thousand miles. Thanks!

Where is the website you referred to? I am about ready toget an S 40 and want to know all I can. Have you had any furhter problems?

I have almost 20,000 miles on my 2000 V40 and I have had next to no problems. The wear on the outside of the tires is most likely due to too much toe-in adjustment on the front end. After mine broke-in I had the front end aligned (something I do with all new cars). It had way too much toe-in, it was corrected and my tires look fine at this mileage. I do all my own service for this vehicle and it has never seen the inside of the dealers shop. It works perfectly and I have no complaints..

So....service it well and drive it with respect and you should have no problems...but ...have them check that front end alignment.

I have owned a V40 for the last year, and am already up to about 42 k miles. It's still running strong. I had a reoccoring vacume leak problem (3 dealer trips) but have had no problems for the last 15k. I didn't mind the down time because I made sure my dealer gave me a loaner car evey time (they seem to take more consideration of "my" time when I am putting miles on "their" car). I also had some trim pieces replaced, and three computer downloads as well. None of these has caused me loose sleep, or reconsider my purchase.

Andrew

2000 Red V40

Austin, Tx

I have a V40 since October 99 (1.9T) but very far from 20000 miles.

Two things that were mentioned here I got them fixed when I took the car to the dealer for an oil change at about 3000 miles (following advise from some of the guys here to change oil during break-in at least once)

One was the DSA light that a couple of times turned itself on.

The second was a slight movement (play) of the drivers seat.

The car runs fine, and so far feels solid, no annoying rattles of any kind, I must say that the roads around here are in very good shape though, so probably a better reference would be someone who drives in a big city, where potholes on the road can be seen and felt more often.

I don't know about the wear of the front tires, but I don't think is normal.

Regarding the dealers, I guess is like with any other car make.

The area where I live has just one, which is not a good situation, but I can't complain about the dealer, so far so good.

Good luck

Mitsubishi Turbo's are good! I don't know much about the Carisma, but why does every one think that Volvo was influenced my Mitsubishi? Did you ever think that Mitsubishi was influenced by Volvo and that the Carisma is more Volvo than Mitsubishi?

I only paid around 20k and owe 14-15k on this S40. I don't see any other car in it's range that can offer what a X40 comes standard on it, plus the safety that it gives. Sure if you want all the nick nacks get something else for the high 20's or 30's. I know this car isn't worth anywhere near 30k! What I am glad is, I am able to get into a Volvo at a price that the average car cost these day's.

What other car can you purchase that has a Turbo, power everything, super safe, has the Volvo name that lowers insurance prices and fools people that you have an expensive car. Great warranty, ever seen Fords or GM's warranty or 3yrs 36k miles. On call road side assistance! And much more!

I didn't want some mid size car with a lame V6 that can be found at every stop light. Let a lone a I4 with Vtec or some fancy name that only works at 5k plus to get power! Didn't want a rice car. Who says Japan made stuff is all that bad? I bet the computer your seeing this on has something made in Japan."Memory" Every car is not a pure brand, maybe a few hand made ones.

Yay got a tracking number for my PES Chip!

I'll be running with the mid sports cars and upper 30k and higher cars now!

Turbo rocks.

In the US, the loaded S/V 40s we see new at the dealership runs about $30K and the cheapest base model I've seen was about $24K. $30K buys you alot more car when compared to others. For a bit more than $30K, you're into an S60 comparing Volvos.

Japan? The only thing I've seen in my S40 that is made in Japan is the stereo. Pretty much everything else i've seen says Netherlands, Belgium, and France.

I've never owned a Volvo before but my passion was always behind the 850's, but I couldn't afford one then. Now it was just time for me to get a new car, I worked hard dammit and now I can afford a new Volvo. I like the quality of my ride, and who cares if this thing is a hybrid, most cars are hybrids nowadays, and what's wrong with having one? Nothing, it just means now we all have something more in common with everyone else. We can trade information, learn about what makes our cars go, and how to improve or modify our vehicles. No car is superior (except maybe the Hemi, the only thing for which I still remember Dodge for and respect them for)

All in all, I think the S40 is a good car decently priced, the rearview mirror is a little piece of S%*t but that's why you get a wide-inside mirror courtesy of uncle ben! HAHAHAHHAHAH

Thanks for that link Anthony, it's still cracks me up!!

Carlos