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?!"

Would it make you feel better if I said the thing drove like garbage?

I got a chance to test drive a new S40 T5 at a VCOA tech day held at the Santa Rosa, California Volvo dealer. There were four people in the car for the test drive. Three of us thought the car was garbage, the fourth was the Volvo salesdroid. I couldn't care less what wheels are being driven. Admittedly we all own RWD cars. Been through 2 240s and am on to a 760, myself all turbos.

The big complaints I had:

1.) Lack of traction accelerating from a stop. Instant wheelspin in a straight line, horribly awkward traction control. Of course an FWD car is going to loose traction when you accelerate, I was just disapointed that with four people in the car it would be so easy. Even with the TC, I was able to get the tires to squeal for a second or two before it drastically cut power and let me limp off the line.

2.) Unresponsive geartronic transmission. I've driven some bad automatics (ZF4HP22, AXOD, Ford's current FWD offerings). This unit was, by far, the absolute worst automatic transmission I've experienced. It was exceedingly slow at responding to any inputs (either from my left foot or my right hand).

More subjective complaints include:

Lack of rear headroom
Automagically locking doors
Gimmicky center console
Slippery leather

Consider that this car is priced significantly higher than its real competition, let alone its cousins. The Acura RSX w/ 6 speed manual is a fair chunk (I believe about $6k) cheaper.

My favorite comparison was with the 1999 Toyota Camry V6. Think about how much one of those costs. Add about $3k for the TRD supercharger, maybe another $1k in suspension mods and installation. You've got a 300hp, six cylinder, manual transmission beast with Japanese build quality.

In general I think that the S40 is a very poor showing. The more down market S40 with non-leather seating surfaces was far more comfortable to me.

Don't underestimate the 240. A nice, simple, RWD car would go a long way towards restoring many poeople's faith in Volvo. Even something based on the late 760/early 960 platform. The real problem, IMO, is that Volvo is trying to move upmarket. No US spec 700/900 cars got u-crank-it windows. Almost all got heated seats and sunroofs, etc. I think Volvo would have a much easier time selling a $30,000 utility wagon than a $30,000 rice rocket... nay sport compact.

--
alex