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Volvo S40
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Comments
But this 5-cyl is just so noisy to rev, worse than the Mazda 4-cyl 2.3. So in order to keep the engine from being too loud, you can't "zoom zoom" your way out quickly.
But Mazda3's sound insulation, especially road noise, isn't great. So as long as you're just cruising, the S40 2.4i is still quieter than any Mazda3 or Focus (I & II).
If we wanted one of these, it would be an automatic...which would add maybe $1000. Also might want the stability control (DSTC) for another $500 or so. I thought we would be looking at about $23,000 with those two options added and considering the $1500 "marketing support" incentive to dealer. Am I estimating too high?
We'd probably not like the sport suspension...
I kept seeing $19,995 ad price in S California for the new S40 5-sp manual. You might have to order a base model w/ the DSTC.
I thought the turbo lag with the automatic was really really bad. But, i used to have a saab, which may have had even more lag, and i did eventually acclimate.
I'm a bit sour on turbos. It seems that manufacturers have been getting similar economy and power out of NA engines.
The reason I am on this S40 thread is that I am interested in getting an S40 owing the pressure I am under from my kid (at college). I think he wants to drive it to work in the summer! It looks a great car and I might add it to the S60 we have ..... developing story...
See:
creakid1, "Volvo S40" #1028, 26 Dec 2004 2:15 pm
THANKS!
Volvo's turbo charger finally switched to water-cooled since late '80's. Even if you don't cool it down before shutting the engine off, the temperature still peaks at below the normal operating temperature of the older primitive air-cooled turbo charger. So the turbo's longevity should not be a problem. Volvo's resale value might, though.
The S40's AWD set up is a FWD w/ RWD added as a back up when needed. The BMW AWD is primarily rear bias to begin with, then adjusts accordingly. So if power-oversteer fun is what you want, then forget about the Volvo & take the new $50k Acura RL w/ std AWD & SH (Super Handling) differential from the Prelude.
From what I have read SH behaives pretty much the same as the combination of Haldex AWD + DSTC on 60R.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '08 Charger R/T Daytona; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '08 Maser QP; '11 Mini Cooper S
I did not say they work the same, I have read that it feels the same.
If you're looking for "entertaining" RWD feel, the RL is not the choice; it's designed to eliminate that sort of thing.
Due to high resale value & not-so-roomy rear leg room (much more cramped than the Accord), the $50k new RL is probably pretty comparable to a loaded AWD S40, cost wise.
But enough to oversteer? Or just to cancel any understeer/oversteer & keep it neutral?
As long as the DSTC is programmed to be oversteer-bias, then, yes, it can be done. I wish there's such kit for the driver to adjust the oversteer/understeer balance simply by dialing a knob. Some experimental system has been tested in England on the Impreza.
Volvomax, who's driving S60R can give you better perspective.
And, in correction of what I have said on other board once before, after reading more about SH AWD on RL, I do believe that it is unique as a single system solution.
http://www.wheels24.co.za/Wheels24/RoadTests/0,,1369-1373_1453282- ,00.html
What is the zero to 60 time for the S40T5?
Just buy the car that works best for your situation. Even the "reliable" cars fail. My other car is a 4Runner, at 140k the tranny fell out. I could infer that all 4Runner trannies fail @ 140k and therefor I shouldn't buy a new one.
As for the R's Haldex system, while you will never be able to hang the tail out Dukes of Hazzard style a certain amount of oversteer is obtainable. The pros at the track event the Lev refers to took us out and were demonstrating that and some really good 4 wheel drifting!
I've fell in love with the XC90 and have bought one, was very-very impressed with the S60R, just did not feel like driving such demanding car.
I liked S40 a lot, and will probably get one for my daughter in a couple years.
FWIW: I've always had good luck with BMW's, but these were all sedans built before the Bangle and iDrive re-designs, including the current E46 3-series.
FWIW, part deux: I leased an S40 2.4i with the premium pkg about nine months ago. Thus far, no problems; no defects; no concerns; and no unwanted noises, rattles, squeaks, etc. (Knock on woodgrain!) I haven't returned to the dealer since I drove it off the lot. I finally made an appointment for the complementary 7500-mile oil change service just a couple days ago. Not bad for a first-year (2004.5) model!
Thanks!
Thanks.
http://apps.volvocars.us/ownersdocs/2005/2005_S40/05s40_07a.htm#p- - g101
"However, we're not so convinced about the car's quality - and we think this might have something to do with the fact it has so much in common with the Focus. Two things are particularly frustrating: the gearbox and wind noise."
Well, neither the gearbox or the wind noise have anything to do with the Focus. The gearbox is unique to Volvo, coming straight out of the S60R, and the doors/seals (the source of the wind noise) are also unique to the S40.
It's fine to have an opinion, but shouldn't you at least try to connect the dots? Sheesh!
Now, what is it that you really meant to say? I'm not trying to be a rude - just genuinely confused.
One Brit comparo had the V50 vs Focus II wagon vs Mazda6 wagon, & I remember the new Focus II still got more road noise than the V50.
Mazda3's road noise is suppose to be at least as loud as Focus II's.
I personally can't wait for these cars to come out. A C50 Convertible with AWD and a folding hardtop will be a sweet ride.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2022 Wrangler Sahara 4Xe, 2023 Toyota Tacoma SR 4WD
It will feature seating for 4 and a retracting hardtop.
We should see the car in the summer of 06.
Actually, that's what I was told by a Volvo rep at the L.A. Auto Show a few years ago -- the next C70 convertible is most likely based on the new S40.
Mercedes also denied the fact that the C-class sold here is really a 1.8 C180 Kompressor, which sounds more worthless than the '84 2.3 190E. So the rear deck of the '05 sedan still sez C230.
The XC90 is so much bigger than the S60 but is build on the same P2 platform.
Let's not over exaggerate the real place of the platform (as being the floor plan, or part of the floor plan).
The next C70 IS based on the current S40.
Which is also the donor platform for the C30.
In fact a stretched version of the S40's P1 platform(P1+) will underpin the next S60 and probably the next S80 as well.
Is this a done deal that S80 will be based on a stretched C1+ (P1+)?
I am still reading the controversial rumors that it could be an updated P2.
Were you , Volvo guys advised one way or other?
My understanding was that the P1 platform is the small cars platform and that there would be a new/modified P2 platform for midsize and larger Volvos (S60, V70, S80, etc). The new S80 is rumored to be a little larger than the current model. The new s60 and V70 are also supposed to be a little larger; with the V70 being just a wagon version of the S60 - as opposed to a separate car as it is today.
It seems strange that Volvo would be willing to live within the constraints of the P1 platform for larger cars, such as the S80, with bigger engine/transmission needs, almost certainly including a V8. Remember, the I5 engine had to shrunk to fit the P1 platform. It also took some effort to fit a V8 into the XC90 on the larger P2 platform.
Could it be just a matter of semantics and P1+ is the new P2 platform?
S80, from what I have read can go two ways - further stretched C1+ or updated current P2.
The P2 platform is a good example.
The S60 is 180 inches long and weighs 3300 lbs.
The XC90 is 189 inches long and weighs 4500 lbs.
Same platform.
A platform is just a blueprint, its not a carved in stone thing.
While there are certain "fixed" points ie, the slope of the windshield, suspension hardpoints etc, there is a lot of latitude in a modern platforms design.
The P1 will spawn a convertible, a small car and larger ones.
Volvo is being very quiet about the new S80.
Even about what size it actually will be.
Thanks!
Volvo had an event here to show of their 4wd. It was a rainy day here in chicago and the track was *very* slick.
I thought the turbo lag was really mitigated on this car as compared to the automatic, which i disliked. With the stick, i thought acceleration was quite good, even starting off. The engine was quiet until i flogged it, whereupon it emitted a nice growl. I drifted the car through two of the corners pretty fast, and i could tell DSTC was working, but it was not too intrusive, and kept the car inline. If it was my bimmer, i probably would have spun it attempting the same maneuver. I really like the gore-tex seats, they seem better to me than the same leather seats.
I later drove an automatic s40, and the lag is not as bad as i seem to recall. Perhaps this was because this car had some miles on it, and had been flogged at the track already?
I also drove the s80 and xc90. Nice interiors, i guess, but not what i want.
Checking the volvo website, it seems i could euro-deliver an s40t5 AWD with select package, xenons, weather(heated seats) and DSTC for 28,415, pretty close to what i paid for my certified pre-owned 3-series. Not too bad. Euro delivery is definitely how i'd go.
I'll still wait until i try out the new a4 and 3-series, and i really do want a real eco-car, but i am now strongly considering the s40 again, before it was almost off my list.
dave
"I later drove an automatic s40, and the lag is not as bad as i seem to recall. Perhaps this was because this car had some miles on it, and had been flogged at the track already?"
The slush box's torque-converter slip actually shortens the turbo lag by letting the engine rev sooner from standing still.
"I drifted the car through two of the corners pretty fast, and i could tell DSTC was working, but it was not too intrusive, and kept the car inline. If it was my bimmer, i probably would have spun it attempting the same maneuver."
So your Beemer's DSC allows too much slipperage?
The S40's DSTC originally from the Focus is wonderful, as it only helps & doesn't intrude into your aggressive cornering in the wet.
By the way, yesterday I just spun out a soft-suspension base RX-8 auto w/o DSC during a test drive in the rain. I did correct it but the salesman & my buddy thought we had to use the head curtain airbags this time. ;-) Then the 2nd RX-8 w/ 6-sp & DSC cornered hard in the wet just fine, but the ride was firm.
How was the ride of the AWD S40 over bumps? I never had a chance to sample one in S Cal. The ride of the 2WD S40 w/ sport-suspension sucks either w/ 16"s or 17"s. The other 2WD suspension uses up the front spring travel a little too easily over the deep ones.
That was my very first test drive over bumps -- 16"s w/ & w/o sport suspension.
17"s should make the short abrupt bumps more obvious, but it's the sport suspension that won't yield over any kind of bumps, including the larger ones.
Take my advice, go for the 16"s, either w/ non-sport suspension or the AWD model's set up, which has the sport-suspension shocks/sway-bars but longer-springs.
Or take my other advice, get the base RX-8 automatic w/ 16"s that rides like a premium sedan while its electric-assisted steering is actually more confident inspiring than the hydraulic-steering of the '05 American Focus, which beats Mazda3's, which beats S40's. This comfy base RX-8 already out corners just about anything else! This isn't a crazy comparison, as the ride, rear leg room, reliability rating & price of this 4-dr Japanese car isn't far off from the S40 w/ base suspension! The main difference b/t them is that one allows the driver to sit very high w/ a comfortable high door armrest & the other one...
The next C70 is really an S40 convertible, but then this P1/C1 platform has German-design suspension & steering better than P2's anyway.
What I find funny is that auto manufacturers mislead people by the way their cars are named. My doctor buddy thought an SLK is a great deal 'cause it's an "S-class". Wait till he sees the sticker shock of the "C-class" CL. So I told him to try the base RX-8 auto, which out rides/handles any Benz.
W/in the Ford empire, the next Mondeo will be a stretched C1/P1 Focus platform w/ Control Blade rear suspension. So this could be the same one for the future larger Volvo's. The current Mazda6 platform, which will also be used in the future mid-size Lincoln/Mercury, is pretty similar to the current Mondeo's.