Thw S40/V40 is not a well liked car on this board and is much maligned. Truth is, the car is a mixed bag. It is the result of a joint venture between Volvo and Mitsubishi and was manufactured in the Netherlands (there is no Ford influence in this car, be it good or bad). It made it's debut in Europe in 1996. It handles well but the ride is stiff and not sporty. The front seats are comfortable but the rear is cramped. It has traditional Volvo safety gear, such as airbags, antilock brakes etc. It should give you a little bit better fuel economy than a 850 but the difference might not be significant. More importantly, reliability has not been it's strong point. An 850 in good condition may be a better bet.