2001 Volvo S40 Base 1.8 petrol
Summary:
Good prospect for second-hand buyers
Faults:
Suspension degraded severely after 70000 miles.
Dirty crankshaft sensor after ~57500 mile. Required roadside assistance, corrected without replacement parts.
Alternator failed at 80000 miles.
General Comments:
Solid, stable motorway cruiser. Good ergonomics and comfortable seats make it an easy car to drive for long distances.
Prone to body roll in corners, increasingly so as the car ages (see note about suspension above).
Can't fault the car for reliability.
Trim is generally rock solid with a satisfying absence of creaks. (Varies with temperature - in real cold the trim contracts!)
Interior trim and other cosmetic details such as clear headlights on the 2000 - 2004 models look much more modern than the earlier models to my eye.
No rusting evident anywhere on the car.
'Peacock green' paint scheme still looks excellent, despite a cavalier attitude to car care.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 11th February, 2010
17th Aug 2003, 15:16
Well, Performance is really good - yes it IS a quick car - comfort - is a point I would dispute - despite the seats 'adjustability' they simply AREN'T sports seats - - fuel economy - reasonable - 31mpg driven fairly hard - all-in-all - The Jury's out - My wife has a V5 Golf - much more comfortable - but it simply doesn't have the Turbo grunt!... Hmmm VALUE, now that's hard... I like it... all in all - but I have serious misgivings about the residuals- go for a Golf R32!