Hi,

The lease on my Saab 9-3 will be up in January, and I'm looking for a new car...have narrowed it down to the S40, another Saab 9-3, or Acura TSX.

Did anyone face a similar decision amongst those three and why did you pick Volvo? I drove a friend's Volvo several years and was very impressed with it.

My problem with the 9-3 is the number of mechanical issues I had with it. The thing is simply not reliable. Very fun to drive and nice looks, though.

Are you happy with your Volvo and do you regret the purchase at all? Has it been rock solid for you? Do you find yourself bored with it, or still very happy?

Consumer Reports says, "Reliability is average for the non-turbo, but the S40 scores too low to be recommended." S60 got a fairly bad score from CR as well, except CR has always struck me as a shill for Lexus/Acura.

 

I've had an S60 NA since 2005 and other than a new evaporator at (GULP!) $1300 the rest has been normal maintenance.

 

With SAAB and GM both is bankruptcy in their respective countries, and GM dumping SAAB to ??????? Company, you may find a SAAB lease to be sky high due to the very uncertain resale value. Look around the web to see if the V40 is going to be made next year, too. I read somewhere that Volvo was planning to make a 4 door wagonesque C30 version to replace the V40. Maybe I'm wrong with that one, but I think I read it on one of the car magazines.

Its prime audience is in Europe, I believe; and the Euro market likes hatchback vehicles. So do I, but I'm not a market leader.

 

S40 all the way! I'm not just saying that because I own one either.. Okay kinda lol. I've worked for a VW dealership parts dept. and have driven many different vehicles and those Acura's look nice but when it comes to everything the S40 has like safety, class, comfort, reliability and over all looks nice. There is no comparing at all. I am a fan of the Saab's too, but for me it still just doesn't quite have all the things the S40 does. My friend had the same dilema a year ago between the S40 and a Acura tsx.. He went with a silver S40 and loves it! Good luck!!

Marianne

 

Well...yours does look pretty sexy!

 

I think the red shark looks pretty sexy too. I'm gonna go home and wash-er up. It's beautiful weather here so a nice clean car is a must!..