Any Problem With The 'old' Volvo S40 ?

[thairookie]

Maybe with the spanking new models on display at BITEC at the moment, this is not a good time to ask question about an 'old' model.

I wonder anyone has ever owned a S40 - the boxy one. Has anyone had any problems with that car ?

BTW, is S40 a Mazda or Mitsubishi (apart being a Volvo) ?

[thairookie]

Guess it's really old...could no longer find anyone who owns or owned the 'old' Volvo S40.

[tuktukmike]

[edit] First generation (1995–2004)

First generation

Production 1995–2004

Assembly Born, Netherlands

Rayong, Thailand

Body style(s) 4-door sedan

5-door station wagon (as V40)

Layout FF layout

Engine(s) 1.6 L I4

1.8 L I4

1.9 L turbocharged I4

1.9 L diesel I4

2.0 L I4

2.0 L turbocharged I4Standard in North American models and only available in North America rebadged as 1.9T

Transmission(s) 4-speed automatic

5-speed manual

Wheelbase 2000–01: 2550 mm (100.3 in)

2002–04: 2557 mm (101 in)

Length 2000–01: 4470 mm (176 in)

2002–04: 4521 mm (178 in)

Width 2000–01: 1720 mm (67.7 in)

2002–04: 1717 mm (67.6 in)

Height 2000–01: 1410 mm (55.5 in)

2002–04 S40: 1423 mm (56 in)

2002–04 V40: 1426 mm (56.1 in)

Related Mitsubishi Carisma

Proton Waja

In the summer of 1995 Volvo released the S4/V4 series but had to change the model's name as it conflicted with Audi who had already reserved the "S4" name[citation needed]. The quickly renamed S40 saloon (sedan) and V40 estate (station wagon), manufactured at the NedCar factory in Holland (a pre-Ford joint venture between Volvo and Mitsubishi Motors) and based on a common platform with the Mitsubishi Carisma. The V40, with Drag coefficient of 0.32,[1] was the first whole model to be introduced under the direction of the British designer Peter Horbury, Volvo’s Design Director, [1] and was marketed in Australia, North and South America, and the Far East.[1] The V40 was named the ‘Most Beautiful Estate Car in the World’ at an Italian award ceremony.[1]

In 2001 Volvo updated the 40 Series ("Phase II"), implementing a number of technical improvements, e.g., improved engine management, direct (diesel) fuel injection, extra safety features, larger brake discs, new front suspension and steering, revised rear suspension, larger tires and a widening of the track width. A minor facelift gave larger headlights, more streamlining and larger rear light clusters as well as minor instruments and fascia re-design.

The 40 Series cars were equipped with four-cylinder engines, such as a 1.9 turbo diesel or 1.6 (1588 cc), 1.8 (1731 cc), 2.0T (1948 cc), 1.9 T4 (1855 cc) or 2.0 (1948 cc) fuel-injected gasoline engines all of which are derivatives of the modular whiteblock engine series that started life in the Volvo 960 and carried in both 5 and 6 cyl formats in Volvo's bigger FWD cars. There was also a 1.8 L (1834 cc) Gasoline direct injection engine provided by Mitsubishi as part of the platform sharing between the 40 series and the Carisma.

The low (2.0T) and high (1.9 T4) pressure turbo variants at the top of the motor range. The 2.0T was rounded down and badged as 1.9T and was the only engine available in North America. The 5 speed manual transmission, widely available in Europe was not certified for us in US spec S40s, with the 5 Speed automatic the only option. No electric CVT transmission was planned unlike the 440 HTA / High Tech Auto CVT that had been released before the 400 series was completely phased out.

In the UK trim levels were XS, SE and CD.

Due to the common platform, many components of the suspension and drive train are compatible with Carisma as well as the Mitsubishi Evolution III.[citation needed] and Proton Impian.

The Volvo S40 was the first car to earn four stars in Euro-NCAP.

2003–2004 Volvo S40 (US)

Volvo V40 1.9T (US)

Mike.

[Thanh-BKK]

Hi.

I know nothing about the S40 but i used to own (here in Thailand) it's predecessor, the 460. It, too, was made in The Netherlands and was more a Renault or Peugeot with a Volvo-Body.

Problems? Aplenty...... nearly everything that has to do with "electricity" on that car died at least once in the six years i drove it, and a good many mechanical parts as well (power steering, ABS, the entire fuel system after changing to Gasohol, exhaust, brakes). ABS as a prime example - failure caused by the really thin cables to the brake calipers simply snapping, one such "special cable" cost a whopping 1,800 Baht and it lasted less than 3 weeks - snapped again. Most expensive single-part failure was a leak in the aircon radiator which had to be replaced - to get to it the whole dashboard, center console and front seats had to come out, no other way to do it, kept two mechanics busy for two entire days. Sold it shortly after and got a brand new Isuzu D-Max.

Main problem with those "Made in Europe and imported CBU" cars is the non-availability of after-market spare parts. Each and every bit has to be imported from Europe and hence those bits are crazily expensive. Some bits are simply not available - i spend months trying to get hold of a left headlight, Volvo couldn't get it from Europe, wreckers didn't have them and no after-market at all..... ended up fixing it with hot glue (the inner reflector was lose and it's adjusting mechanism, cheapish plastic, fallen apart). Same with the glove compartment lid - simply not available (and yet so easy to fall apart just by itself).

Went through three starter relays and two starter motors, the relays for the electric radiator fan kept failing resulting in an overheating engine (solved by myself by soldering those relays directly to the wires instead of using the sockets that kept melting) and the electric windows worked only if it wasn't raining.

And i have never driven a car as thirsty as this one - at constant 120 km/h it was ok at 12 liters/100 km but in Bangkok-typical traffic the 60-liter tank was empty after 250-280 kilometers. The car is heavy and the engine has to work hard to move it (2.0 Liter, 8V engine, automatic gearbox).

My opinion: If you want an older Volvo, get a 940 or 960. Every Volvo-Mechanic will tell you the same - those are really good "Volvo"-Volvos, long lasting, easy to fix if broken and even parts are available as those cars have been assembled in Thailand.

Best regards.....

Thanh

PS the smaller Volvos are not holding their value either - i bought mine in 2002 for 300,000 Baht and was lucky to get 80,000 for it in 2008.

[Jingthing]

I owned a Volvo S-40 made in the Netherlands for 5 years. There weren't any special problems with my car, but on the other hand it wasn't very exciting to drive. I remember Consumer Reports rated it about medium for reliability and even safety, not as good as you would expect for a Volvo.

[thairookie]

Between Volvo S40 and Peugeot 406, which is the lesser of the 2 evils ?

[Eazy-Going]

Yes...it's a Volvo!!! Are you old enough to drive one?