2000 Volvo V40 review from North America

Nothing as the car was not driven for most of the 3 1/2 years owned. Only maintenance was engine and cooling system flush at 39500 miles.

The service engine light comes on every time one starts the car. According to the owner's manual, it comes on every 750 hours or 12 months, whichever comes first and can only be reset by a dealer.

My oldest son purchased this car from his aunt. As he never got his license, the car sat for 3 1/2 years, accumulating only 2000 miles in that period. After I started driving it, I understand why my son was afraid to drive it.

I June 2003, I traded in our 1986 Volvo, purchase new, on a 13 year old Mercedes 300E, vowing never to own another Volvo as I did not like the new front drive models (except for the 850).

When my wife's sister purchased the V40 new in 2000, I was given a chance to try it out - I turned around after driving 1 block. I knew from that short distance I did not like the car.

Jump ahead 7+ years. My youngest son just got his permit. On Saturday, she took him in my 300E to practice driving in a vacant parking lot. He did fine. Sunday she took him out again, this time he wanted to drive from the house - 2 blocks away he managed to put the 300E into a tree, totaling the car.

I needed a car - fast. I went and picked up the V40, spent $200 for and engine flush (the oil was like molasses) and a coolant flush (the glycol was black like cola). I proceeded to drive across Illinois to where I was living. I was beginning to like the car.

The car requires Premium fuel (91 octane) but will run fine on 87 octane. Where I live 89 octane is the cheapest fuel, the car's performance and efficiency was the same (25 mpg) regardless of fuel grade.

While I liked the pick-up and ride of the car, one thing still bothered me - excessive torque steer when starting and turning from a stop. The more I drove the more I was discovering I did not like front wheel drive. I was starting to worry about the upcoming winter and traction - I live in a very hilly region in NW Illinois. The 300E - rear wheel drive - had no problem going up the snow covered hills in the winter. I have noticed how many of the front drive cars spun their wheels in the snow.

The car is quite fast for it's size and weight. Although called a station wagon, the back seat is more akin to the old 2+2 as there is no legroom for other than small children. The storage area behind the seat is similar in volume to a sedan rather than a wagon. The front seats are comfortable, although they lack lumbar support. The heated seats are very hot and probably unnecessary with cloth seats. The rear window defroster does not turn off automatically. The car has climate control, which works better than the one in my 300E.

While I find the car tolerable, I cannot recommend it. I am not a fan of front drive, 42+ years of driving rear drive cars in all types of weather (and never leaving the road) has me longing for a nice, safe, reliable rear drive car.

I drove this car for about 1 month, during which I spent most of my weekends looking for a replacement rear drive car (not easy to find). I settled for all-wheel drive, a 2002 BMW X5.