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Volvo S40
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Comments
"The Mazda won't offer WHIPS.."
You meant the whiplash-protection front seats? It does. The Mazda3 has minimum 42% parts sharing w/ the new S40/V50, just likely to be much more reliable & thrifty.
Edmunds says that the Side airbags and curtain airbags are optional and Traction and Stability control are not offered.
"Height- and shapeoptimised headrests help minimize whiplash in a rear impact, while seatbacks are designed to permit rearward movement of the occupant’s torso."
Sounds like it can crunch the rear passengers' knees, but it should absorb the front passenger's body-momentum energy better than just moving the headrest toward the neck as seen in the Saab. Which one does the S40/V50 use?
"Traction and Stability control are not offered" in the cheap North America at least this year. Even the entire Focus II is cancelled forever here!
The Volvo Cars web site has a lot of info on the new 2004.5 S40 -> www.volvocars.com
I believe the Volkswagen Jetta is also due for a model changeover when either the 2005 or 2006 models come out.
My sister had a Jetta and had nothing but problems with it. That may not be a common occurrence, but it has soured me on the Volkswagen product line. They make great looking cars, but I have not heard great things about their reliability.
The new S40 is going to be exactly that - new. It is yet to be seen what problems if any it will have.
I'm looking pretty much in the same price range and have the new S40 on my list along with the Acura TSX and Audi A4 1.8T.
Tony
Similar? Wait till the new generation, then the almost-identical control-blade rear suspensions done by the Focus engineers will make them almost like brothers.
Too bad only the "Jetta hatch" (Golf V) is out now, won't be coming to North America till next year when the Jetta V is ready.
I think the new Volvo w/ std 5-cyl is more expensive than the 4-cyl turbo VW, maybe about the same as the VR6 Jetta. Maybe VW is also planning to bring the VR5 engine over here.
Expect worse steering communication from VW's pure-electric than Volvo's "Focus II type" electro-hydraulic assist.
In the mean time, the Mazda version of the new S40 -- the 3 -- is having more road noise than the new Golf V. Expect both the VW & Volvo to ride smoother & quieter than the more reliable & less costly Mazda. So it'd be interesting to find out which, Golf/Jetta V or S40/V50, will be quieter or comfier riding.
I took my car into the dealership and was told that there was nothing wrong with the car, but a faulty computer that was giving me false positives.
Instead of plunking down the $ for a new computer, I'd like to turn the check engine light off. Any ideas? All advise is welcome.
Thanks.
I personally would avoid the present Mitsubishi Carisma-derived S40 all together. An '02 base BMW 325i sedan would be my favorite used European car. & I'd also avoid the ones made in S Africa.
What year is your Accord? The '98 & newer ones are all pretty decent w/ lots of room on the 4-door.
By the way, if you want the reliability good enough to compete w/ the Accord, why not getting the new Mazda3 w/ black leather & even navigation? It's the noisier cheaper version of the new excellent-steering/handling S40 w/ the same Euro-plaform but everything else Japanese such as engine & factory.
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brunoluong/detail?.dir=/Album+02- - - - - - - &.dnm=starlightgreen_front.jpg
http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/brunoluong/detail?.dir=/Album+02- &.dnm=beige_interior.jpg
http://www.mazda3.de/de/upclose/gallery_popup.asp?documentid=2075- - - - &image=small
The 2003 and 2004 models are fine cars.
Very little the do w/ the Carisma, only about 20% of the parts are interchangeable.
No, Virginia, Volvo does not make turbos.
Except for the S60 R, which is a KKK unit.
Big body style change over the '04? Not really.
http://www.caranddriver.com/article.asp?section_id=29&article- - - _id=7170
creakid1 "New S40/V50" Sep 19, 2003 12:04am
http://autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_cod- e=carnews&loc_code=index&content_code=04498892
http://www.cardesignnews.com/autoshows/2003/frankfurt/preview/vol- vo-s40/index.html
However, the 2004 will be cheaper to buy due to incentives.
2004 S40 turbo @ $23,000
2004.5 S40 2.4i @$27,000
2004.5 S40 T5 @ $32,000
Also, the Sport styling kit will be available.
Look for the 2005's in August.
Thanks
creakid1 "New S40/V50" Feb 22, 2004 6:52am
anon - yes, the glove box does have a SEVERE design, but i would get used to that after a days worth of driving. did you see the center console in the black wood, as opposed to the silver? in the black wood, it almost looks like one of those neat Bang and Olufson units, to me anyway...looked like it was "quality"...
i see the S40 stealing sales from the S60, big time.
Around here in S. California. People are knocking off $3000 off the MSRP of this Accord. But I'd prefer the new S40 auto w/o metallic paint at the same MSRP & wait for discounts available even if it's not $3000.
The German-car-based new S40 is less boring to drive, & the manual driver seat is already fully adjustable. The door armrest is so high you can brace your elbow on it & hold both the 9'o'clock position of the steering wheel rim/spoke while operating the turn signal & cruise control all the the same time! & it's a compact w/ a much smaller turning circle.
My folks just got the Accord EX leather, & I find the dashboard high enough so you can't judge the length of your front end. The back seat is super roomy.
How is the height of the dashboard in the S40 ?
Thanks,
Webby
i guess it depends on your priorities if the new s40 is worth more than $3k than an accord i4.
i was impressed with the new s40's interior, especially the leather seats. huge improvement over the car it replaces. and i'm sure i'll love the performance of the t5. but the quality of the exterior trim is disappointing. it shouts to me, "i'm owned by Ford".
the TSX is just like the Mazda3 hatch -- too much.
The S40 is nice BUT it's a first year Ford/Volvo which could result in serious first year bugs. There were alot of problems with the 2000 S40 but Volvo seems to have corrected most of them by now.
It's built in Belgium like the S60, which had higher reliability rating than any other European car sold in America, according to the April '03 Consumer Reports.
There's no doubt that the Honda Accord, especially the Japanese-assembled 4-cyl models, should be more reliable than the new S40 but not necessarily more than the German-built old Focus, which we can't get.
the new S40, to me, is the next step up from the stylish but small Jetta. same sporty and upscale feeling with class-leading safety and looks, for a really good price.
http://www.aaa.asn.au/NCAP/ozindex.htm
What a surprise!
SAAB 9-3/9-5 5 Stars
Subaru Liberty(Legacy) 5 Stars
Volvo S40/60/80 4 Stars
i wouldn't let one test let me think that Volvo is not safe.
http://www.subaru.com.au/news/?newsid=11969