I recently bought a 2007 S40 (38k miles), didn't notice until a the day after I bought it that after I start it it rev's high and sounds like a go-cart for around 20 seconds or so.">http://s124.photobucket.com/albums/p...t=IMG_0454.mp4 (Note: In this video, the driver's side door is open so you can hear better. This was this morning, first start of the day).

Is this normal?
This is my first Volvo so if it is normal I'm not used to it. Even the sound of the exhaust after it warms up sounds a little off to me, but again I never had a Volvo so this might be normal too.

 

Yes, that idle is perfectly normal. My 2005 s40 does it every morning. It just does this to get a quick little warmup. You've got nothing to worry about.

 

Sounds pretty close to my 2009 S40 with 31K miles on it and yes the increased RPMs are normal AFAIK. FWIW I have the same behavior on my Toyota Highlander as well.

Is yours a T5?

 

I have a T5 and it does the same thing. I read in the manual that it will do that to heat the engine up so it will run better.

 

It idles high to get the cats hot as quick as possible. A detailed explanation should be in your owners manual. Drive safely.

 

What do you guys think about the actual sound of the exhaust? That was my main concern, the fact that it sounds like a "go-cart" as I put it in the first post.
It just threw me off the first time I started it at home, especially when I was backed up to a garage door and it amplified it even more. I wasn't expecting that top come out of a fairly new Volvo...even the sound of the exhaust after it is warmed up sounds loud and 2-stoke-ish.
Is this typical with this vehicle? Before I go and have it checked out ($$) I figured I'd ask some folks who would have some experienced feedback. Thanks

 

To be honest it does sound a little scratchy, like maybe there's an exhaust hole somewhere or something.