1997 Volvo S40 SE review from UK and Ireland
"Strong, hard, reliable yet elegant."
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Needed a new electric motor for the aerial.
Quite a few bulb's have gone over time there is quite a few!!
Not bad for 30000 + miles!
General comments?
A very sensible car with elegant looks for a reasonable price.
The cabin is spacious and well laid out with a high level of comfort.
However I do find the drivers seat a little too hard.
The 1.8 engine is OK, but lacks torque. This is very noticeable when heavily loaded or on steep hills.
The engine is economical when driven sensibly.
Handling is quite good for a car of this size, but is a little soft on this model. It does tend to lean quite a bit on corners however does give a very comfortable ride.
The car is very tough, durable and reliable.
The SE model has a lot of annoying blank buttons which leaves you wondering on long journey's what they would have been.
I have found Volvo dealer ships quite expensive. It is always a good idea to locate a local Volvo specialist, which are a lot kinder on the wallet. However keep an eye on the parts. Bosch parts are often used which although are cheaper, do not have that Volvo reassurance.
I have just recently had my cam belt and drive belt changed. This was expensive, if your purchasing one around 70k miles make sure this has been done!
My next car will be a Volvo S40 T4.
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| I'd buy another one! |
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| A rough diamond |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| Model year | 1997 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 2003 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.8 16v Manual |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 8 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 43000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 75200 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo 440 |
| Date of Entry | 2nd February, 2005 |