Volvo S40 (2004 - 2012) 1.6D SE (06/07-01/09) 4d (2008/58) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

It was a bit of a Q-car really. Most people associate Volvos with caravans and old people but there was something just a little bit different having an S40 over an A3 or a 1 Series.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

My parents and in-laws loved it. My grandparents also loved it. My friends were supprised by it and one of them actually went on to purchase a C30 on the back of their supprise with my S40!

Would you buy this car again and why?

Yes - but only if there is a face lifted version. The S40's been about since 2004 with relatively little change and hasn't benifited from the visual upgrades that the C30 has in line with the new Volvo face seen on the S60 and XC60. If it were updated, I probably would have had one.

What are you likely to buy next?

I leased a Focus after the S40 was returned. I really enjoyed "owning" the Volvo and would quite happily have had another car from their range. I looked at the XC60 and the S60 as an alternative and whilst the leasing costs were competitive, the maintenance costs were extortionate. The Focus costs me a lot less each month and actually comes with a lot more equipment - that said, after a month of driving it, I still like my Volvo more!

Type of dealer you bought from?

Franchised

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

September 2008

Did you get a good deal and why?

Leasing costs of this car were particularly favourable.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Company lease car. Offered good value in comparison to similarly spec'd Audi, BMW and was something a little different to the norm.

What was the dealer like?

The dealer that the car came from was excellent. Car was immaculate when it was delivered and their aftercare was great. Unfortunately they closed down and the experience I had with an alternative dealership was not quite as good. It really is pot luck if you get a good one or not.

What's it like to drive?

The 1.6 diesel is spirited enough, but its not going to set the world on fire. In the lower gears it will go to the redline easily but does struggle on hilly B-Roads and you have to change down a lot to get the best out of it. The 5sp box feels a little low rent and was repaced by a better 6sp on newer models just after I got this one. Although it never felt like the car was struggling, you know you have the smallest engine in the range. I wouldn't fancy the less powerful 1.6 petrol thats for sure. This wasn't the Drive version so it didnt benifit from stop/start. That said, on a 80/20 mix of motorway/town driving I still managed to get 59mpg if I made an effort to be sensible and about 52 if I didn't try.

What's it like to park?

Parking sensors would be really useful - mine didn't have them. Visibility out the rear window is good enough, but its still easy to miss judge. The lock on the steering is good though so getting around in the car park is quite easy really - you just have to get used to the size of the car.

Have you had any problems with the car?

During the 2010 winter the handbrake got stuck on, which was later rectified in a recall mod. The air con died, losing all its gas and the guy who picked the car up said this was a common problem as intercooler corrodes and needs cleaning at the pipe joints. One of the fuel injectors came loose from the engine and allowed exhaust gasses into the cabin. The fault wasn't picked up by the dealership even after two visits - they put it down to dirty filters in the air con. I had to point out that when the car was running you could hear something that sounded like gas escaping and under the bonnet stank of exhaust gas. A second dealership rectified this upon my first visit. Everything that went wrong was covered by warranty, but the exhaust gas was potentially really dangerous.

What's most practical about your car?

The interior is largely brilliant. The seat covering is wipe clean - great with kids, its comfortable, relaxing and a very nice place to be. The intruments are really clear and everything is well laid out and very neat.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Cruise Control - the interface on the steering wheel is perfectly laid out and so easy to get used to. The body coloured sill strips and bumper bottoms really make the car look better and I think you have to have at least 17's to fill the wheel arches out!