2000 Volvo S40 1.9 Turbo review from North America
"Fun to drive a real sleeper. Laugh as Beamers and Audis try to catch up!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
On certified used Volvo reviews: Some of these reviews really surprise me. I do not think that a headlight problem or brake wear can hardly qualify this vehicle. It is a used car and you expect to replace some items. The manner in which the vehicle is driven is a major factor. I had to request my 120 point inspection report since they did not give it to me. Sometimes the dealers may cut corners so you should check that all has been verified and replaced when buying a certified vehicle. That inspection is part of the warranty.
General comments?
I have had this car for 19 months. I bought mine with 43,000 miles and I know have 60,000 miles. I have put 17,000 miles on it and have not had any major factory defects. Who cares if I had to replace my cup holder or if Volvo had to adjust my A/C button or if they had to change a bushing; These are not major problems and they paid for fixing them (sometimes you have to insist though). I have changed brake pads once and had regular service at Volvo (I bought the service plan). This car outperforms all the vehicles in its class and still gets 29 MPG highway and 24 city! I have left a lot of BMW 3 series to shame; It does 0-60 in 7.5 seconds! I have put this car several times on alligator alley in Florida at 137 MPH! Beamers can't go over 125 mph before the governor tells them how to drive. It reaches 130 MPH in no time. Acceleration from 90 MPH to 120 MPH has left tailgating racing motorbikes become specs in my mirror.
I paid $14700 all taxes and fees included in 2003 and I could not have bought a better car. I am glad I did not buy an expensive Beamer or a Mercedes C class. The C-240 with 6 cylinders does 0-60 in 8.5 seconds. The A4 takes 8.3 seconds to reach 60 MPH. Inside it has all the luxuries of a Mercedes and under the hood this car has a little monster. It is a fantastic blend of luxury, stability, and power. It is a real sleeper at a great value. To be honest I put this car to extremes on the road and it delivers 100% even at 60,000 miles. I only do the regular maintenance and do the obvious things. I have friends with M3's and Audi's that have all the electrical and mechanical nightmares you can imagine. I will miss this car if I ever sell it. It has raised the bar for all luxury compact cars and it will be difficult to replace.
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![]() ![]() | Safe, mostly reliable, sturdy transporation |
![]() ![]() | The worst car experience I have ever had, bar none |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model Year | 2000 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9/10 |
| Reliability marks | 10/10 |
| Comfort marks | 9/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 4/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 7/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 43000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 60000 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo S40 |
| Date of Entry | 13th April, 2005 |



