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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 93 of 182

#913 of 1807 Questions about S40: by carguy58

Oct 09, 2004 (2:52 pm)

I have been a long time Honda/Acura and Mazda enthusiast but however this new S40 caught my eye. It looks like a beautiful car. I have a few questions though. I have seen the S40 offers a 2.4 liter 5 cylinder engine making 168 horsepoer. A base Mazda 6 makes 160 horsepower already. The Honda Accord makes 160 horsepower. What bugs me is the 24K price tag for the Volvo and the reliability is also not up to the level of the Japanese. I realize Volvo makes up for some of the value with their world class leading safety. What expreiences have people on this board had with Volvo's? Have they been good experiences and would you buy one again? I would like to hear from people any age who have switched from a Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infinti, or Mazda product who now own a 2001+ Volvo S60 or own an all new 2004.5 or 05 Volvo S40 and what their experience has been. Is there any people from the 20-30 year old bracket that own an all new S40 on this board also? I;m 24 going on to 25 years old. Am I the only person inside the 20-30 years old age bracket that actually likes the new S40? I might look at this car in a couple years as a replacement for my Acura.

#914 of 1807 by anonymousposts

Oct 10, 2004 (7:26 am)

" I realize Volvo makes up for some of the value with their world class leading safety"
 
Volvo still makes safe vehicles but their safety isn't heads and shoulders above the rest of the market like they used to be. The S40 does well in NHTSA's test but other mid-size sedans actually bests it in some measurements now.

#915 of 1807 such as the side-curtain protection by creakid1

Oct 10, 2004 (1:24 pm)

Was it the Saab 9-3 or 9-5 that took the top honor?
 
While the new TL & ES330 are ranked in the next category behind?
 
& the new S40 is ranked in another category further behind.
 
The only thing this little S40/V50 excels in crashes is the extra engine room that produces the least leg injury to the driver, & that's pretty important, IMO.

#916 of 1807 Correct by anonymousposts

Oct 10, 2004 (5:37 pm)

The Saab earned a Good and a Best Pick. The Accord, Camry, TL, etc, earned a Good rating but were not selected as a best pick, and the S40 earned an acceptable rating in side impact crash tests peformed by www.iihs.org

#917 of 1807 Re: s40 [dhanley] by beaunedoc

Oct 11, 2004 (8:21 am)

Replying to: dhanley (Oct 07, 2004 3:44 pm)
I'm 6 weeks into my lease on an AWD 6-speed so I can give you some distinct impressions that may be helpful. Milage has been as advertised on the sticker if you can drive the car conservatively. Fortunately or unfortunately, it is delightful to drive the car unconservatively. The feel of the car on road is very similar to my old S4, a car that I can't afford now at 50large. You feel the dips and undulations of the road surface. The car feels firm and connected and very solidly built. That was the feature that sold me on the test drive. It has a slightly increased ground clearance over the FWD car to accomodate the AWD system and a bit more understeer and body roll than the S4. It does feel a bit more like a FWD car in daily use than the Audi. That car always felt like a RWD car to me. The tranny is slick and sure, the seats are great. So far I have had a wide grin everytime I drive it. (knock wood) Do get the zenons; they're geat looking and provde great illumination. The trunk is too shallow; volume is adequate. That's my biggest complaint about the car.
If carguy58 reads this message, I'm a fiftysomething you likes smaller, fun to drive cars that leave a few dollars for other fun pursuits. The sales brouchure was obviously directed towards your demographic group. I've owned Audis, VW's, a Porsche, a T-bird turbo coupe, a 280 Z and even a Reliant (my attempt to help bail out a failing Chrysler). What a boring car that was, a true toaster of a vehicle! Performance wise, the S40 does not disappoint.
beaunedoc

#918 of 1807 Re: s40 [beaunedoc] by creakid1

Oct 11, 2004 (9:46 pm)

Replying to: beaunedoc (Oct 11, 2004 8:21 am)
"You feel the dips and undulations of the road surface. The car feels firm and connected and very solidly built."
 
Your AWD got the optional sport suspension, or just the 17" wheels? I remember the V50 AWD is not available w/ sport suspension.

#919 of 1807 Re: s40 [creakid1] by beaunedoc

Oct 12, 2004 (11:28 am)

Replying to: creakid1 (Oct 11, 2004 9:46 pm)
You are correct. The sport suspension is not available with AWD. As I understand it, the car has a slightly higher stance to accommodate the Halex AWD system. I do have the 17" wheels. beaunedoc

#920 of 1807 Re: s40 [beaunedoc] by avolvofan

Oct 12, 2004 (11:17 pm)

Replying to: beaunedoc (Oct 12, 2004 11:28 am)
The AWD edition comes with the re-valved shock absorbers and larger anti-sway bar that are included in the non-AWD Sport package.

#921 of 1807 So does the FWD's sport suspension by creakid1

Oct 13, 2004 (1:06 am)

from the Sport Package come w/ anything else such as firmer springs or bushings besides the re-valved shock absorbers and larger anti-sway bar(s)?
 
From my experience, not slowing down over a speed bump will use up the FWD's std suspension's front spring travel. So by increasing the spring travel plus firmer sway bars alone should solve this problem!
 
& exactly how much higher is the AWD S40/V50 over the FWD model? BMW's AWD 325xi is suppose to be about half an inch taller than the 2WD 325i.
 

#922 of 1807 Re: s40 [beaunedoc] by dhanley

Oct 13, 2004 (9:24 pm)

Replying to: beaunedoc (Oct 11, 2004 8:21 am)
Wow! Thanks! That's a ton of great info!
 
I don't mind feeling dips and udualtions in the road; i like sporty rides, as my 328 has. My biggest pet peeve is wind and road noise. Engine growl is quite fine, and is if fact encouraged.
 
I hope the lag isn't anything like my old saab's was. That drove me nuts.
 
It's interesting that you compare it to the old s4 because that car severely tempted me as well.
 
I don't expect the car to ride/handle quite as good as, perhaps, a new 330, but there are other ways i think the car is better.
 
And, for the age datapoint, i'm 32.
 
dave

Messages Page 93 of 182

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