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Volvo S40

1807 messages,  Last post on Jul 01, 2011 at 7:51 AM

You are in the Volvo S40 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volvo S40, Sedan



Messages Page 41 of 182

#394 of 1807 Volvo S40 by pdcornwell

Jan 17, 2001 (8:05 am)

My husband and I test drove the 2001 Volvo S40 the other day and got a lease price as follows: $1767 down (includes first month payment & taxes), $369/mo for a 4 yr lease, no service included (we have to pay for all service, including oil changes). The car has leather seats, sun roof, audio pkg, heated seats. Is this a good deal or should we keep looking???? We also test drove the 2001 BMW 325i and could have that for a 3 yr lease at $478/mo, with $1600 down (includes first month payment & taxes), this includes all service & oil changes, and it has the leather seats, moon roof, cd pkg, etc. Help!

#395 of 1807 Volvo/Passat by ooler

Jan 17, 2001 (11:03 am)

I am in the market for a vehicle. It seems the Passat gets better ratings, but my wife insists on a Volvo S40. Any professional recommendations?

#396 of 1807 Passat ! by r34

Jan 17, 2001 (11:40 am)

I will pick Passat. Although I found the S40 seems to be faster and smoother than Passat after I test drove it, I heard that S40 is not as reliable as the traditional Volvo. It is more liked a Japanese sedan. Its price can be expensive even though you just add sunroof package and CD player. The price will be closed to an A4.
 
If I a Passat, I will spend ~$800 to extend the bumper-bumper warranty to 5-6 years (I don't want to keep the car for 10 years).
 
S40
Pro: 1. Quicker
     2. It did not require premium fuel in 2000
        but I am not sure if the 2001 model needs
     3. Volvo image
     4. Safty-oriented
     5. Automatic climate control
     6. Power antenna
     7. normal/sport mode
     8. less weight (good for me but bad for some)
     9. Larger glove box and better cup holder
     10. better security system
     11. better bumper-bumper warranty
     12. Turning circle is smaller (good for U-
         turn ??)
 
Passat
Pro: 1. Built-in fog lights
     2. standard headlight washers in 2001.5 ?
     3. updated model (2001.5)
     4. Tilt and telescope steering wheel
     5. Standard traction control
     6. more interior and trunk room
     7. nicer plastic inside (I think)
     8. 1 touch AUTO up and down windows on
        driver and passenger side. You can even
        use the key to control windows/sunroof
        up/down ! (S40 doesn't have any 1 touch
        auto up window. It has only 1 touch auto
        down driver side window. No 1 touch AUTO
        up/down at passenger side)
     9. more rear legroom
     10. If you option for leather, Passat has
         better leather than S40.
     11. better powertrain warranty
     12. You can choose 5-speed or automatic
         trans. Tiptronic is much more fun than
         S40's.
     13. Better look.
     14. Engine and components similar to A4's.
     15. Full size alloy wheel spare tire.
     16. Sunroof package gives you alloy wheels.
     17. A little bit more sporty feel
     18. It is easier to add a remote starter to
         its security system.

#397 of 1807 S40 Headlights by melbourne1

Jan 20, 2001 (6:06 pm)

I just finished replacing my second S40 low beam headlight bulb -- car is <1yr old has about 9,300 miles on it. This is a great car, EXCEPT, it is almost impossible to replace these bulbs because there isn't enough clearance behind the headlight assemblies to get the rubber boots off and the bulbs in and out. Has anyone else had this problem.

#398 of 1807 To pdcornwell re: S40 vs 325i by paoletti

Jan 20, 2001 (7:01 pm)

Until Dec 31, 2000, Volvo had a special lease promotion on the S40. The S40 lease price you quoted, of 369/month for 4 years with 1767 down, is much higher than the recent promotion. I got my S40 loaded for 349/month with 0 down (before taxes). If you're not in a hurry, I would wait for Volvo to offer another incentive program. Currently I saw a lease deal on the Volvo S60, which will still come in much less than a BMW. If you are looking at BMW, and money is no object (the price you quoted is 478/month), I think the BMW is a better car. Price-wise, comparably equipped, the BMW is definitely in a higher price class, though.

#399 of 1807 Snow chains/cables on S40 by jchoe

Jan 23, 2001 (12:33 am)

Does anyone know if snow cables can be safely put onto an S40? According to a dealer, there is not enough clearance for snow chains and they need to put on a specially mounted system onto the wheels that will cost more than $300!

#400 of 1807 Looking to Lease S40 by pvaughan

Jan 24, 2001 (3:56 am)

I am in the midst of closing a deal on a 2001 S40. (I need to sell my truck first). The lease deal I am looking at is as follows:
 
Fully loaded (every option, bell and whistle)
Capitalized cost - $28,300
$3000 drive-off
48 month term
Monthly lease rate - $350 (includes tax)
 
Is this a good deal? The cap cost is $500 off MSRP.
 
Thanks in advance,
-Paul

#401 of 1807 S40 headlights by elainetx

Jan 25, 2001 (3:39 pm)

I've got a 2000 S40 with 20,000 miles; it's 13 mos old. The front passenger headlight has burnt out 3 times so far, with increasing frequency.
 
There's a "retro fit" for this problem; something about too much amperage (or something) going to the lights hence they burn out.
 
Unfortunately, the retro fit (on my car) has also failed. After the retro fit fix, my passenger headlight burnt out in about 10 days, but the crowning achievement was that the other headlight also burnt out two days ago, leaving me with no low beam lights whatsoever (bright still works).
 
I'm afraid that this experience, including bringing the car in to the dealership three times this month is starting to sour me on the car. I shoulda kept the Honda...
 
The Volvo is currently at the dealership where the stumped service dept is trying to figure out what's going on.

#402 of 1807 S40, NOT A GOOD BUY by amyes

Jan 26, 2001 (8:00 am)

I HAVE A 2000 S40, 1 YEAR OLD THIS PAST NOV. NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS SINCE I BROUGHT IT HOME. 1ST..THE STEREO FADING IN AND OUT, THEN THE CAR WOULD NOT ALWAYS START THE FIRST TIME AND SOMETIMES THE SECOND, IT HAS BEEN IN 5 TIMES FOR THAT AND ONE TIME A WHOLE MONTH THEN THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT THEY SAID THAT WAS NORMAL. I ALSO THINK IT GETS BAD GAS MILLAGE FOR A 4 CYL. I UFORTNATLEY I DON'T HAVE A VERY GOOD OPINION OF THIS CAR BECAUSE OUT OF THE 14 MONTHS AND 22,000MILES MY CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 8 TIMES. I HAVE HAD 4 HONDAS IN THE PAST AND I THOUGHT A VOLVO WOULD BE EVEN BETTER ESPECIALLY IN THE RELIABILITY BUT I WAS WRONG. I AM TRYING TO GET OUT OF IT NOW AND BACK TO A HONDA ACCORD. THEY ALSO DON' HOLD VALUE VERY WELL AS I AM NOW FINDING OUT.

#403 of 1807 My S40 is nice...................... by ahhjetta

Jan 28, 2001 (10:58 am)

Was gonna get a loaded Jetta but got a base 2001 S40, paid 22,600. with 7100 miles (salesmanagers car) I love it, wife misses the 97 A4 Q 1.8T Auto (she misses the styling), this car doesn't have the looks but I enjoy driving it. I like the handling, power, cabin is quiet, better ride, more solid feel, cold starts in A.M. fine, fan isn't noisey, great 5spd auto, safety. Have not taken it in for service but here are the problems so far, pulls to the right, driver door popped open going over RR tracks!!, Brakes sometimes kinda grind, visibility out the back window, some of the interior parts and exterior seem flimsy, trunk space, I installed Spike Spiders for winter driving. Avg 25 mpg so far- Mtn driving. I would recommend one at this time.

Messages Page 41 of 182

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