Hey guys I currently own a 2003 s60 Auto FWD N/A. Im looking for a second car for either me or my wife as we are currently sharing the s60. Im looking at second gen S40's to purchase in about 6 months and my budget is probably going to be around 8k. Im looking for something a little faster and has better handling than the s60. I see s40's that are auto and non turbo all over the place but dont see many standard with turbos. Do the N/A s40s seem slow? Any suggestions on which years to choose and which to avoid. From my understanding a 2.4L engine in an s40 should be almost the same as what I have unless there are many changes. Any tips would be great.

I love the look of the second gen s40's and since we already have the bigger car I figured go with something smaller and more fun to drive.

 

Sure, the S40 is zippier, but I believe the S40 had more troubles than the S60.. but why not looking for another S60 turbo or even a V70 turbo. Having the same car will be easier when problems happen.

 

I would buy a turbo s60 but I do like the look of the s40's. Also just having something different not just another of what I have even if its faster. But it is interesting how you mention that they have more problems. I was assuming they didnt for some reason.

 

This site might be relevant Volvo S40 Reviews - Carsurvey.org

 

And where do you get that from?

 

Thanks for the car survey tip. Someone on that site mentioned that the 2007+ were better ones to buy. Were there more problems with the 2005-06 models? Being a brand new style car in 05 I could see that there were no prior years to work out the kinks. The same went for the s80's and s60's. Everyone said to stay away from the early ones.

 

The 2007+ with AWD had the later/better Haldex versions. I've read the premium sound system also includes an aux input of some type. Manual with turbo and AWD will be the hardest to find. I've got a 2005 T5 AWD with auto that works well.

 

Ok thanks for the input.

 

Im looking at a 2005 auto T5, after doing a lot of looking I am having a hard time finding standard shift t5's I can settle for an auto if they are still fun. The one I was looking at has the full package with bose speakers, heated seats, etc BUT needs struts and engine mounts. Do you guys think an 05 with 120k on it for 8 grand is worth it. I definitely want to talk him down to 7 grand and on his post he is claiming it has "low miles" which 120k isnt bad but when I think of low I think of under 100k.

 

is it 120k miles or km? are you in the US? if it's miles then even 6 grand is high. with 8 grand, I would look for around 70k miles that had the pcv system replaced in time at around 50k miles or less.

 

Ya its in the US and I was thinking this was high. Any way, why volvo sticks with that stupid pcv clogged up oil trap box I never could understand. Changed it on my s60 at 160k and it was like removing an ancient rock from the front of my engine.

 

It was not only Volvo... it all started somewhere in the early 2000.. the engineers believed it's a more efficient system to recycle the burned oil vapors without rejecting them into the atmosphere, because they are very polluting. Several other european car makers (Saab, BMW) did use the same system until the mid 2000's when they realized this type of system actually needs regular service, just like the timing belt. I've seen on Saab and BMW forums terribly sludgged (and ruined) engines, and the owners were swearing having done 3000 miles oil change interval from new... but nobody was aware that the PCV was going to get blocked anyway. That's how sometimes engineering is working.. they do mistakes

 

Volvo should know better though. My old 1986 240 would blow the cam oil seal from the back of the head when the oil vapor trap became clogged.