1997 Volvo S40 CD review from UK and Ireland

Ignition coil burnt out @ 123000, cost to fix £382 plus VAT at dealer who proceeded without telephoning me. Part available from German Swedish & French for less than £15.

All the front bushes are clonking again after 10000 miles since replacement. The anti roll bar bushes are an engine out job thanks to idiotic design.

The standard CD changer keeps crashing and has to be reset.

1) Performance better in warm weather than cold. 40-60mph seems a bit weedy.

2) Extremely noisy and intrusive engine very tiring on long motorway journeys.

3) Automatic gearshift very lumpy and unpleasant.

4) Leather seats not too bad (why not heated?) and interior quality generally OK, except shiny coating on dash controls, door handles etc that is scratching off.

5) Economy is bizarre, ranging anywhere between 24mpg and 38mpg average. It likes being driven everywhere at a steady 45mph which is extremely unfortunate because I don't.

Just about every mechanical aspect of this car could have been improved by an extra £50 in research and development or five minutes intelligent thought. That is what Volvo is usually best at.

This is extremely annoying as the quality of construction after 135000 miles is every bit as good as new, it can be fun when you're in the right mood and it looks the part. This car could have been perfect. V70 next, I think.