... I was thinking of changing cars at the time, so I took myself along to my local Volvo dealer and arranged a 24 hour test drive. I fell in love with the car and put my name down for a new S40 1.8 with a couple of option packages added in (these option packs included things like Alloys, Cruise ... Read review
Saloon - Front (FWD) - 5 Speed - (Man) / 5 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2435 cc - Max Speed: 138 mph - 170 bhp - Petrol - Available Trims: S, SE, SE Sport, Sport
Estate - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 140 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: R-DESIGN, R-DESIGN Premium, SE, SE Lux, SE Lux Premium, SE Premium, S, Sport
Advantages: Comfort, Safety, Reliability, Performance, Security Disadvantages: I can't think of any!
...myself along to my local Volvo dealer and arranged a 24 hour test drive. I fell in love with the car and put my name down for a new S40 1.8 with a couple of option packages added in (these option packs included things like Alloys, Cruise Control, Trip Computer...)
I loved the car every minute that I owned it, it was far and away the best car I had owned. The 1.8 engine was adequate, if nothing special, and had a distint torque band, ... ...The saftey aspects of the Volvo are well documented and cannot be ignored, and I had the misfortune to test them out on one occasion when some guy rear-ended me at 30+ mph. There was extensive damage to the rear of the Volvo, but none to me, not even whiplash. While my car was being repaired the Insurance company provided me with a Vectra and I hated every moment in that car (2 weeks), by comparison it was poorly built, and felt tacky and somewhat ... more
The first time I saw an S40 was in an advert in a glossy mag. I thought that it looked quite stunning, without being overboard and too "flashy". I was thinking of changing cars at the time, so I took myself along to my local Volvo dealer and arranged a 24 hour test drive. I fell in love with the car and put my name down for a new S40 1.8 with a couple of option packages added in (these option packs included things like Alloys, Cruise Control, Trip Computer...)
I loved the car every minute that I owned it, it was far and away the best car I had owned. The 1.8 engine was adequate, if nothing special, and had a distint torque band, but I soon got used to this. The road handling was fine so long as you're not the type who likes to tear around country lanes. For motorway and A road cruising it was great, remained stable and predicatble at high speeds, stopped well and gave an overall air of "feeling safe".
It was well built, solid, comfortable and quiet. In Flame Red it was a bit of an eye-catcher and we once returned to the car to find a group of kids looking down it's lines while one remarked "Wow. it's a Volvo". Well, it was unlike all previous Volvos!
From a security angle, the car was a winner, with alarm, immobiliser and deadlocks which always scored well in "Product Tests" in leading car magazines.
The saftey aspects of the Volvo are well documented and cannot be ignored, and I had the misfortune to test them out on one occasion when some guy rear-ended me at 30+ mph. There was extensive damage to the rear of the Volvo, but none to me, not even whiplash. While my car was being repaired the Insurance company provided me with a Vectra and I hated every moment in that car (2 weeks), by comparison it was poorly built, and felt tacky and somewhat "cheap".
Since then I changed my S40 for a V40 and although there is almost no difference between the two cars from a drivers point of view, I really miss the stylish looks of my S40. Even more so because I sold it to a guy at work and still see it every day, and my heart pines. There are 8 of us at work in our small company, and 2 have S40's and 2 have V40's and we are all extremely pleased with these cars.
Advantages: Reliable and well built Disadvantages: Relatively limited back seat space. Quite poor rear visibility during parking.
...those found higher up the Volvo range, such as in the V70 or even the discontinued 960 models. If I'm looking for niggles, I should probably mention than the glove-box for some unknown reason is designed to kneecap anyone curious enough to attempt opening it. While the cup holders are more like token effort small indentations between the front seats, which in reality are only deep enough to prevent something as short as a shot glass from falling ... ...so basically like any other Volvo you've ever seen. If carting the family about is all that's needed it's a good choice, but if you're a fan of driving you'd probably best look somewhere else - or at least to the T4 model, which is genuinely quick - think near on150mph top speed and 0-60 in sevenish seconds, but you should also consider the insurance jump from the 1.8s group 9 or 10 upto the T4s group 15 or 16. ...
musicfan123 14.08.2006
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Volvo S40 1.8
Advantages: Big boot, lots of buttons to press! Disadvantages: Could do with some more power
...into something more comfortable.
Volvo is latin for "I roll". (see the great pun with the title now?)
I've always admired Volvo's for their safety and although some say Volvo's are for Grandads, that is certanly not the case anymore.
I'm the proud owner of a Black Volvo S40 2002 model. I've got the SE edition which adds a lot to the enjoyment of this car.
THE KIT
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Climate control - set the temprature and the system will take care of the ... ...======
I wanted a volvo for the looks (I really love the volvo look) but also for safety. It boasts side impact bars, driver and passenger airbag, inflatable curtains (airbags in the roof to prevent you from hitting your head on the roof incase your car rolls), whiplash protection (the seath jilt back and forth if you get hit in the rear limiting the damage to your neck. PRICE
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Volvo has just brought out the new S40, so there are a "old" ...
gekornro 14.04.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Volvo S40 1.8
Advantages: Comfortable Disadvantages: Awful ride and handling, dismal performance
...spent 65,000 miles enduring a Volvo S40 and I do mean enduring. Typically the Volvo S40 will compete on size and cost with the likes of the Laguna/Mondeo/406 with Avensis and Xantia also within a possible group of candidate cars. Myself and my colleagues are free to choose any make and so far 2 of us had chosen Volvo S40s. Neither of us will repeat the mistake. I will be fair and say what was good about it. It was from an engine point of view reliable ... ...he already has. Can the Volvo S40 do this? No way. The handling of the Volvo S40 is simply no match for any of the cars in its class. The steering has no feel at all and although this was reported to the agents and they did change the steering rack it did not improve. Then there is the ride - this was just too stiff. First of all I admit to making a mistake and choosing lowered suspension as an option - a very big mistake. Now sometimes a stiff ride ...
polydeuces 22.12.2000
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Advantages: Reliable. Quick. Economic. Safe. Disadvantages: No rear wiper. Expensive to service.
...Toyota ranges, but then the Volvo is supposed to be a more upmarket marque than the usual rep-mobiles.
Build quality is second to none as are the safety features as may be expected from a Volvo. My mother had a head on collision (other driver was at fault) at ~70mph in a V40 (the estate version) and walked away from it. The other car (a Peugeot 306) was destroyed. ...
dvdlcs 19.03.2007
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Advantages: Space, ride and comfort Disadvantages: Running costs
...the back of the boot.
One recommendation though is, especially if the vehicle is reaching old age, don't have it serviced by a Volvo main dealer, the costs are horrific. Find a good independant, and the car will run forever if looked after, and it looks stunning on the drive! ...
leo85 22.09.2005
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo S40 1.8
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Advantages: Reliable, comfortable, good used prices, safe, secure, customer service Disadvantages: image a bit dated now, high fuel costs
I travel to work everyday by car, which means I need a good reliable car, but thats got a bit of an image to it too. I went for a VolvoS40, Volvo have always had the reputation of strong well built reliable cars and in the past ten years have been up their competing with the likes of luxry marques like BMW and Mercedes.
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PRICE
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We bought the car used at £7995, a bargain considering that brand new this particular model (the 1.8i) was over £17,000. Yet at seventeen k new, this is still around three k under the new price of a Mercedes Benz C Class and a BMW 3 series (its main competitors) and at a similiar price to the saab 9-3, the car it is most commonly compared with as saab and volvo are both sweedish firms. I was fair happy to pick up the volvo at what I thought was a low price. It is fair to say that ...
gusgusrule 30.04.2004
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: very helpful Review of Volvo S40 1.8i
Advantages: Useful extras like pull up booster seats, extra locking button for the children, strong car. Disadvantages: The lights stay on in the day. It's built like that. (safety purposes)
I've just purchased a VolvoS40 sport. Amazing car. Really strong body as I hit it into a ballard the other. I was surprised as it has little damage for the hard knock I gave it. Plus the other features include pull up booster seats in the back. You don't have to carry booster seats with you anymore. The other good function is the heaters they are really quick in warming up, and if you still feel cold the the heated seats will solve that problem for you. It also has a new feature which is the safety mechanism for kids in the back. Children can't open the back doors if you have the button pressed in the frontt. Some very useful gadgets. Also good on fuel. Recommended to buy this car. Just bought a 2003 model for £2100 one previous owner, 6 months tax, mot and also 116k on the clock. Please rate the review. ...
ashrafi78692 26.01.2009
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo S40 1.8i
Advantages: Everything Disadvantages: No rear windscreen wiper
I have purchase our VolvoS40 T4 to replace my S401.8i which I felt was a little underpowered. This you cannot say about the T4. The main reason for purchasing a T 4 is that you have the feeling of being safe in a classy looking car with the power of a sporty car - all in all you have everything. The leather upholstery and heated front seats are a must for the cold Scottish winters. There are two things I would like to see Volvo fitting to the T4 and that is a rear wiper and a heated front windscreen. The fuel consumption for the type of driving that I do is not brilliant about 22 - 25 mpg. The after sales service from Strathmore Motors in Perth, Scotland is excellent. I travel 120 miles to this garage although there is a Volvo dealership only 20 miles from my home. ...
IAAlexander 19.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo S40 T4
