Have had a 2000 S40 since new. Though it has had some issues, it has been mostly a fine, reliable and fun car. Stock is nowhere near it's potential for performance. My favorite thing about it is its stability on the road (not recommending this, but above 85 mph, she just seems to glue herself to the road) and in cross-winds--head and shoulders above many other sedans I've driven. The short life of rear brake pads is a design choice--the rears kick in hard, but are kinda small, which seems to improve stopping and control in hard braking. I drive kinda hard and I'd say it works; probably worth the cost of having to change pads about twice as often as on comparable cars. I'm pretty quick changing my own pads now. Mormit says the Mintex pads add significant life--I don't know why I haven't tried them--Mormit seems to have good info. From what I have seen, the 2001s resolved many of the minor problems of the 2000s.