My wife and I are seriously looking to purchase an S40 T5 Volvo (or V50 T5), and have read in reviews that the performance sport suspension rides pretty hard for most people (and that would apply especially to my wife). How can I tell in a used S40 or V50 if the suspension is this firmer sport type of suspension? I have read that in some years this was standard with the AWD versions, but not all. Is there some way of looking at one of these cars to tell what type of suspension that it does have? We live in the Chicago area. Thank you, Spokes

 

you can try a dealer look up via the VIN and there should be a chassis plate (firewall or door?) which can be used to decode suspension options.

 

That is if the previous owner didn't mess with it.