Volvo S40 (2004 - 2012) 2.5 T5 SE 4d (2006/06) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

"This man wanted a good car that wasn't a BMW or Audi"

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

From the outside it's a bit anonymous if anything. Some have mistaken it for a BMW, which was probably the designer's intention. People who get in it love the "floating" centre aluminium console.

Would you buy this car again and why?

The engine is now a bit dated, you can get the same power with less emissions and therefore better economy. So I wouldn't buy the same model if I were in the market for a new car.

What are you likely to buy next?

Skoda Superb 2.0TDI 170 Estate is on order. When I got the S40 I wasn't thinking about having kids. It's coped very well but now we have two, it's a bit of a squeeze to get all our luggage in on weekends away. The boot on my version is great but watch out if you see an S40 with a full size spare wheel - a colleague has one and it's much less practical. Rear legroom is becoming an issue for the older child but that's mainly because I'm over 6ft and I like a laid-back driving position.

Type of dealer you bought from?

Didn't buy from a dealer

Did you buy this car new?

Yes

What price did you pay?

£0

When did you buy the car?

March 2006

Did you get a good deal and why?

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

Company car, therefore relatively low emissions compared to power output was biggest factor.

What was the dealer like?

I've been consistently impressed with my local Maidenhead-based Volvo dealer who (coincidentally) supplied the car to the lease company and have serviced it throughout its life.

What's it like to drive?

Great fun within normal road driving. The T5 engine has has even and strong power delivery, is quiet at speed. It's hard to find a use for 5th gear, as you'd be hugely illegal if you were using even 4th gear at high revs, 6th speed is great for cruising and still has plenty of motorway pull. Although the car has decent handling and grip, the DSTC is quite aggressive at preventing any hint of a sticky situation and can't be fully turned off. Thus I've never got near the car's true limits, which is probably a good thing. The clutch has an unusual bite point and it's easy to stall until you get used to it.

What's it like to park?

No parking sensors, but then I'm tall and I've never felt I needed them to tell me where the corners are.

Have you had any problems with the car?

One mechanical issue in 4.5 years - the positive compression ventilation valve (PCV valve) or its hoses clogged with carbon around 70K miles, resulting in high pitched whine like a bearing, plus sudden oil consumption. Volvoforums.com lists this as an occasional issue with this engine, oil filter unit had to be replaced to fix it.

What's most practical about your car?

Large boot for its class, reasonable fuel economy compared to power output (30mpg, 210PS).

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Standard fit, but the stereo is very good.