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Actually, it's much less a Ford than you think. The chassis was a development between Ford, Volvo and Mazda...with Volvo playing a large part of the development. Drive a Mazda 3 and drive an S40, two totally different cars. Ford doesn't "inspire" anything Volvo does, and those (like you) who say they do are simply making stuff up. Ford actually takes safety items from Volvo AFTER Volvo has released them in their cars. You will not find any Ford parts on the new S40 or any other Volvo besides the world platform being used (which means suspension mounting points, door mounting points etc.) Volvo even uses different steel in the construction of the safety cage than does Ford and Mazda. Ford lets Volvo design it's own cars 100% independently and only chimes when it comes to management and financial situations. Volvo is not something that Ford wants to mess with, as it is their only "premium" brand that is making money. I can't stand when you guys sit here bitching about Volvos being Fords when it's totally not the case, and has nothing to do with reality. Volvo makes its own decisions, its own engines, its own suspensions, its own safety gear, its own everything! Chassis sharing is a common thing in the auto industry, and you can successfully get multiple cars from the same foundation without compromising anything. It's not badge sharing like GM does with SAAB, etc.
So, get off it! Go find a nice 240, buy it, and stop complaining. Many people complained about the very car you drive when they first came out, "oh, it's front drive! oh, its a 5 cylinder developed by Porsche! Oh, its not a Volvo anymore! oh, it's not as safe as a 240! why can't volvo build the 240?!"
The 240 was a great car in it's day, and I still love them, but I don't expect that Volvo will build it again just to satisfy the 10 or so people on brickboard who want one.
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