Hello all,

I am brand new to this forum and in need of a little advice. I need to buy a reliable used car and I think Volvo is the way to go. I am a college student so I don't have a ton of disposable income to put towards this purchase. That being said, I'm looking at a Volvo from 2000 to 2003 and has miles anywhere from 140k and 180k. I really like the S40 and what I need from you, fine people of volvoforums, is some advice about these model years.
-What are the typical problems for a Volvo of this age?
-What should I look for when examining a car?
-Which year of the S40 has had the most problems, is the most temperamental?
-Any other advice would be great too!

Thanks so much.

 

For an S40 / V40, stick with 2001 - 2004 (aka Phase 2) for the earlier generation. The 2000 and older (Phase 1) had some suspension issues. The 2003 and 2004 had a little more horse power. Generally, the newer the better, however, with the age and miles that you are looking at it more depends on how the previous owner(s) cared for the vehicles. Other than the suspension issues with the Phase 1, I don't recall any generic issues with these cars. I had an '02 S40 for six years (80K miles) with no major issues until it got totaled. These cars are awesome in an accident which is why I bought another Volvo. I will say that the 2004.5 - 2013 are a real step up but the earlier generation is still very good.
Stan