Volvo s40 1st generation. The "first" sedan Volvo S40. What is worth buying

The new Volvo S40 sedan was first introduced by Volvo in 1995. The car was produced at the NedCar joint venture with Mitsubishi, located in the Netherlands.

In 2001, the Swedish sedan underwent an update, as a result of which it received changes in the interior and exterior, as well as a number of technical improvements.

The first generation model was produced until 2004, and its total circulation was 352,910 copies. Interestingly, the Volvo S40 is the first car to receive 4 stars in EuroNCAP crash tests.

The "first" Volvo S40 is a compact premium sedan based on the Mitsubishi Carisma platform. With her, the Swedish model was similar in terms of appearance.

S40 length - 4483 mm, height - 1411 mm, width - 1717 mm. The wheelbase of the car is not a record for the class - 2550 mm, and the ground clearance (clearance) is very modest - 150 mm.

The curb weight of the "es-forty" varies from 1225 to 1255 kg, depending on the modification.

Under the hood of the first generation Volvo S40, one of nine four-cylinder petrol or diesel units can be located:

• The gasoline part includes a 1.6-liter engine producing from 105 to 109 "horses", a 1.8-liter with a capacity of 115 to 125 horsepower, as well as a 2.0-liter, the output of which ranges from 136 to 140 horsepower. Well, the top-end is considered a 1.9-liter turbo engine, developing from 160 to 200 forces.
• Also for the sedan, a 1.9-liter Renault diesel engine was offered, the power of which varies from 90 to 115 horsepower.

The motors were combined with either a 5-speed "mechanics" or with a 4-speed "automatic", the transmission in all cases is front-wheel drive.

The car is endowed with good directional stability - it holds the road perfectly. The steering is supplemented with a hydraulic booster, but many owners note its low information content.

The first generation Volvo S40 has disc brakes in a circle, ABS is standard for all modifications. In addition, a dynamic stability system was offered for the sedan.

The "first" Volvo S40 was equipped with two types of independent suspensions - sporty and comfortable. Their differences lie in the different stiffness of the shock absorbers and the anti-roll bar. Each of the suspensions has its pluses and minuses: the first is stiffer, but more collected in turns, the second is softer, but in turns it gives itself out with increased rolls.

This Swedish sedan has gained a reputation as a reliable car, for which Russian motorists fell in love.

The main advantages of the model are excellent noise insulation, comfortable suspension, a spacious and well-thought-out interior, decent equipment, a high level of safety, good ergonomics, as well as stable behavior on the road.
Well, many owners of the "first" Volvo S40 complain about the modest ground clearance, not too quick automatic transmission and the high price tag for original spare parts.

In 2017, in the secondary market of the Russian Federation, you can buy a first-generation Volvo S40 at a price of 200 ~ 300 thousand rubles (depending on the equipment and condition of a particular instance).

The Volvo S40 / V40 tempts not only with its attractive figure and Scandinavian style, but above all with its price. The cheapest copies on the go cost about 100-120 thousand rubles, and the most expensive 250-300 thousand rubles. However, do not think that this is a true Swedish car. Only the logo is unique here. As for the rest, it is a "hodgepodge".

Teamwork

The platform and suspension are the result of an effective partnership with Mitsubishi. The Japanese also shared one gasoline engine - 1.8 GDI with direct injection. Diesel engines came from Renault.

To optimize production costs, the assembly was organized on the same line with Mitsubishi Carisma at the Dutch NedCar plant. It was built from scratch in conjunction with a Japanese partner specifically for this purpose. In accordance with the concept, the cars were not competitors. The S40 aimed at the premium segment, while Karisma aimed at the more popular segment.

Body and interior

The silhouette of the 40th Volvo is hard to deny the elegance and individuality of style. The interior also evokes positive feelings. Good ergonomics, pleasant materials. The only pity is that the build quality left much to be desired.

In the oldest examples, paint is erased from the front panel. Of course, you can find the S40 of the first years of production with the interior in good condition. But this is not the merit of Volvo, but the special attention of the former owner.

Fortunately, quality has improved over the years. The body was updated, the interior was refined and the suspension modified. As a result, a fairly large number of various improvements turned out. Since April 1997, noise insulation has improved, and in 1998, side airbags appeared.

Those interested in buying should remember that the first facelift was carried out in 1999 (the headlights and the center console were changed), and the second in 2002. It was then that the car received characteristic headlights with dark inserts, and the location of the indicators on the instrument panel changed. In addition, the bumpers and grille have been updated.

In the first models, door hinges often suffered.

Undercarriage

The Volvo S40 cannot boast of good handling. Until 1999, the suspension was stiff, noisy, and short-lived. Over the years, the shape, design and attachment points of suspension elements have changed. Therefore, be careful when ordering parts online. So, in 2000, the wheel track increased by 16 mm, and the wheelbase - by 12 mm.

Surprisingly, the durability of the stabilizer struts outperforms many competitors.

The front axle has McPherson struts, lower wishbones and anti-roll bars. Unfortunately, the ball joints are firmly fixed, therefore, in case of wear, you will have to replace the lever assembly (from 2,000 rubles). However, the design of some analogs allows you to change the ball separately (from 400 rubles per support).

At the rear, a multi-link circuit is used, which Volvo has named Multi-Link. Average service life is more than 100,000 km. But when something wears out, you have to spend a lot.

Front wheel hub bearings also do not differ in durability - from 2,000 rubles.

Restoring leverage is inconsistent with the plant's recommendations, and few people know how to do it correctly. Although the spare parts kit is closely intertwined with the Mitsubishi Carisma range, few chassis elements are interchangeable. Only those who have dealt with both cars and know what fits what will be able to pick up analogs.

The rear levers create the most problems (from 1200 rubles per lever).

Engines

The range of Volvo C 40 engines is very wide. All of them are equipped with a belt-type timing drive with a replacement interval of 60,000 km.

The most durable are aspirated gasoline. They are able to cover more than 400,000 km without interruption. With proper care, turbo engines will last as much. Only the coils, air flow meter, starter and generator have to be changed. Gasoline units have a specific design, and therefore it is better to service them in specialized services.

But be careful. The "black sheep" is the 1.8i (125 and 121 hp) with direct injection, which is borrowed from Karisma. It is this unit that creates problems during operation and does not allow the installation of HBO, which for many potential buyers is a serious disadvantage. It's all about the capricious fuel system.

It should be borne in mind that hydraulic valve clearance compensators were used only in old gasoline units. In the samples of the last years of production, pushers of a fixed size were installed, so possible changes in the gap will not be automatically compensated. Adjustment required. When using HBO, the procedure will be needed every 20-30 thousand km, which will cost 2000-3000 rubles.

With diesel engines, the situation is not so rosy. They all hail from Renault and are operated according to French standards. A typical ailment is numerous oil leaks for the first 100,000 km.

Diesel engines suffer from oil leaks that are expensive to fix.

There were three versions of the 1.9-liter turbodiesel to choose from. The 90-horsepower has a conventional distributed injection. It is not very fast, shows average efficiency and is sensitive to loads at high speeds. Quite often punches the head gasket. The head itself can burst.

The 95-horsepower has received direct injection and represents a reasonable compromise between price, performance and economy. The weak point is the high pressure fuel pump.

Versions with a recoil of 102-115 hp. differ in the Common Rail injection system. They are the most modern and quietest in the diesel range, have higher potential, but are quite expensive to repair. Vulnerable elements: turbocharger and fuel injectors.

Typical problems and malfunctions

Given the age of the model, you will inevitably have to deal with numerous minor malfunctions. Owners complain about unreliable turn signal and light switches, instrument panel illumination malfunctions, and problems with the bonnet opening mechanism. Over time, the immobilizer and central locking refuse to obey, the lamps of the rear lights regularly burn out.

Transmissions also cause certain troubles: there are problems with shifting.

The body is very well protected against corrosion. However, in the very first copies, traces of corrosion are observed on the trunk lid and hood. Outside door handles sometimes burst from severe frost.

Over time, the parking brake mechanism jams.

Conclusion

The Volvo S40 / V40 is one of those cars bought with heart, not common sense. Yes, it is thoroughly protected against corrosion, practical, functional and well equipped. But in terms of quality and spare parts, it does not compare with more popular competitors. Volvo can only be recommended to those looking for an original car at an affordable price. It is better to pay attention to the youngest specimens collected after restyling in 2002.

Specifications Volvo S40 / V40 (1995-2004)

Petrol versions

Diesel versions

There are not so many long-livers in the world car market, manufacturers are trying to periodically upgrade their models. But the Volvo S40 of the second generation lasted on the assembly line for eight years, after which, unfortunately, it retired.

The car was first presented to the public in 2004 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in 2008 it underwent a slight modernization, after which it was produced unchanged until 2012.

Sedan Volvo S40 of the second generation is based on the universal platform "Volvo P1" (we recall that Mazda3 and Ford Focus were also built on it).

The idea behind the Volvo S40 is impossibly simple - a compact car with a dynamic appearance, comfortably on par with the larger models, but more affordable and aimed at driving pleasure.

What does compact mean? The length of the sedan is 4476 mm, height - 1454 mm, width - 1770 mm. It has 2,640 mm between the axles, but the ground clearance (clearance) is very modest - only 135 mm.

At first glance, the appearance of the Volvo S40 does not stand out in anything supernatural. And this could have stopped if it had not been a Volvo! As the saying goes, "the power of charisma" is great. All the plastic of the front of the sedan is made in the corporate style for the brand, so you can recognize the car among thousands of others. The predatory optics of the head light, the spectacular side line that dictates the shape of the taillights, the layout of the stern - everything speaks of belonging to the Scandinavians.

In general, "es-fortieth" has a laconic appearance, distinguished by a bright personality and athletic stockiness, which is especially evident in profile. We can say this about the Swedish sedan - it will delight the eye, both in the office parking lot and in any other surroundings.

The "second" Volvo S40 has an elegant, graceful, but at the same time moderately austere interior. The dashboard is simple enough, but functional and easy to read. In general, the interior space of the sedan is inevitably built around the center console, the appearance of which largely determines the impression of the car. The Volvo S40 panel is bent by a "wave", and it is divided into several zones - an air conditioner and a telephone with "music". The center section of the dashboard is littered with buttons that are enclosed between four circular selectors, similar to the tuning knobs of an old-fashioned receiver. Well, all information is displayed on a single small display located under the ventilation deflectors.

But the most curious thing lies in something else - not only is the panel thin and it has an additional compartment for various small things, but also its finishing is possible not only with plastic, aluminum or wood, it can also be transparent, thereby revealing the entire electronic stuffing ".

Another distinctive feature of the Volvo S40 is the fact that any function can be used without referring to the manual - ergonomics at a high level.

The Volvo S40 sedan provides ample headroom for front riders. Lateral support is not very developed, but a person of almost any build can sit comfortably. The adjustment ranges are wide, the steering column moves in overhangs and in height, making it easy to find the optimal comfortable position. On the whole, the back sofa is not bad, the seats are well-shaped, but there is not enough space for three.

The main problem of the "Swede" is embarkation and disembarkation, during which it is easy to hit your head on the sloping roof rack.

The luggage compartment of the "es-fortieth" is roomy - 404 liters of usable volume. The opening is wide, the loading height is acceptable, the rear seat back folds down, which allows you to put quite large things there. The lid hinges and wheel arches do not eat up the luggage compartment space.

Specifications. In Russia, the "second" Volvo S40 was offered exclusively with gasoline engines, although turbodiesel versions were available for the European market.

• The role of the base on the Swedish sedan is performed by a four-cylinder 1.6-liter engine, delivering 100 horsepower and 150 Nm of peak thrust. It works in tandem with a 5-speed "mechanics". This combination allows the car to gain the first hundred in 11.9 seconds, and the upper speed value is set at 185 km / h. The Swede needs an average of 7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the combined cycle.
• It is followed by a 2.0-liter "aspirated", the return of which is 145 "horses" and 185 Nm of torque. The engine is exclusively matched to a 6-speed robotic transmission with two clutches. The dynamics of such a sedan is at an acceptable level - 9.8 seconds from zero to hundreds and 205 km / h of maximum speed. With more power, such a machine needs only one liter of fuel more than with a younger unit.
• A more powerful naturally aspirated engine is a 2.4-liter, with five cylinders in a row. With a power potential of 170 "horses", it develops 230 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The sedan does the exercise to accelerate to a hundred in 8.9 seconds, and its maximum speed is limited at around 215 km / h. In the combined cycle, the 170-horsepower Volvo S40 requires an average of 9.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
• The role of the flagship is assigned to a five-cylinder 2.5-liter engine equipped with a turbocharging system and distributed injection. The power of this power unit is 230 horsepower, and the torque limit is set at around 320 Nm. To him in tandem can go as a 6-speed "mechanics" and a 5-band "automatic", the drive is extremely full. In the first case, the "es-fortieth" gains 100 km / h in 7.1 seconds, in the second - in 7.5 seconds, the peak speed is 230 and 225 km / h, respectively. With decent power, the sedan is quite economical - fuel consumption varies from 9.5 to 9.8 liters of fuel per hundred mileage.

The "second" Volvo S40 is equipped with an independent spring suspension, which is available in two versions: Dynamic and Standard. The "dynamic" suspension is characterized by increased rigidity, as a result of which the car is controlled sharper, but road irregularities cause a lot of inconvenience. The "standard" variant is the golden mean, as the sedan rides with it softer.

"Es-fortieth" has various technologies that are aimed at increasing the safety of riders. The most interesting of them is IDIS, which automatically blocks unimportant information if the driver is actively using the gas pedal and steering wheel. In addition, the Swedish sedan is equipped with an integrated Fenix ​​5.1 engine management system, which monitors the state of the fuel supply systems and maintain idle speed.

Equipment and prices. Unfortunately for many, sales of the second generation Volvo S40 ended in 2012. In 2017, in the secondary market, you can buy a supported sedan at a price of 400 ~ 500 thousand rubles. As for the equipment, the basic equipment of the car includes: ABS, front and side airbags, climate control, power accessories, cruise control, heated front seats and standard "music". More expensive versions have: leather interior, bi-xenon headlights, as well as electric adjustment of the front seats.

Swedish cars Volvo S40, V50, C30 and C70 were produced from 2003 to 2013, the class is the same as Ford Focus or Mazda 3. They even use the same platform. We will now find out how much more reliable Volvo cars are than other competitors. S40 - sedan, V50 - station wagon, C30 and C70 - coupe. Volvo's body is clearly more reliable than competitors with the same platform. The hood is made of aluminum, does not corrode, and in general, the body is covered with a galvanized coating on both sides, so it stays well even on the oldest cars. The paintwork does not grow cloudy, does not peel off and does not rub off, as in the Mazda 3 or Ford Focus. Now on the market you can find cars with 10 years of age and over 200,000 km of mileage, but in good condition for adequate money. On such cars, the body is usually always in good condition.

There are also a lot of body electronics in the car, it can suffer from dampness. Buttons on the console may stop working after 12 years of use. Sometimes you just need to clean the contacts to make the buttons work.

The interior looks good enough even after many years of use. The plastic looks good, the leather also looks tolerable for a long time. Squeaks appear only after 10 years of operation. It happens that over time the immobilizer does not recognize the key, and the ignition lock may also wear out, the starter will not always turn. A new ignition lock will cost around 170 euros. Also, there are times when the windows begin to twitch, the electric seat drives can junk.

The power window control unit, which is located inside the doors, is afraid of dampness. Electromechanical door lock modules can also fail on older vehicles manufactured before 2007. The drainage of the hatch may become clogged, then it will not be very pleasant, because the upholstery will deteriorate, and there may be problems with the wiring, so you need to monitor this.

If the headlights, dashboard or interior lighting suddenly start to junk, it means that you need to check the state of the CEM unit board, sometimes it is enough to just clean it and seal it from moisture. But it is better not to hesitate and immediately correct the situation, because the whole car can turn off. A new CEM unit costs about 800 euros.

In general, there are many different minor problems, in most cases it all depends on who was the owner of this car. It happens that the wiring harness of the electric drive of the lock breaks, it also happens that the trunk stops closing. There are cases that after 100,000 km. mileage, the Bosch fuel pump, which is installed in the gas tank, fails. To change the fuel pump, you will have to remove the tank, and a new pump costs about 250 euros. But recently, craftsmen have learned to install cheap VAZ petrol pumps in Volvo. You also need to monitor the radiator fan, because if moisture or salt gets on it, it will quickly fail.

Engines

In the basic trim levels, there is a 1.6-liter engine, this is the B 4164 S3 (Duratec 1.6) engine, it is necessary to periodically change the timing belt in it. The same motor was developed back in 1998 for the 1st generation Ford Focus. For the Volvo S40, this motor comes without phase shifters, therefore it is considered very reliable. But he also has some minor problems. It happens that ignition modules or some sensors fail. You also need every 120,000 km. manually adjust the valve clearances. But in general, if the motor is not specially tortured, then it can serve its 300,000 km. very easy.

There are also motors with a chain - these are motors with a volume of 1.8 and 2.0 liters, running on gasoline. These motors are installed on about 15 and 17% of cars, respectively, made in Mazda, they have the same design, the chain can withstand about 220,000 km. mileage. These engines can last even longer than a 1.6 engine. Mileage 350,000 km. - not the limit. But it also happens that there are minor troubles with the motors.

For example, rather weak bearings of the belt rollers of ancillary units, it often happens that they already require replacement after 80,000 km. And to 100,000 km. mileage may fail the thermostat, so while driving, it is advisable to monitor the temperature of the coolant. A new thermostat costs about 35 euros.
It happens that the engine starts to float at idle, it jerks or starts up badly when driving, this means that the time has come to replace the ignition coils, and the ignition wires can also be changed. It also happens that after 120,000 km. mileage due to wear on the right hydraulic support, the motor begins to tremble. A new such hydromount costs about 100 euros.

It also happens that the throttle body gets dirty, so it is advisable to clean it every 50,000 km. Because a new unit of this kind costs 250 euros. The fact that it's time to do the cleaning will be said by the floating engine speed, and if you completely start this business, then the throttle may generally wedge. If suddenly, after 3000 rpm, the thrust starts to disappear and the check engine light comes on, then this means that the intake manifold flap control valve needs to be changed, which costs about 80 euros.

It is advisable, after replacing the candles, to check whether there is oil in the candle wells, if there is, then the valve cover is loose, it must be tightened, and if this does not help, then the gasket must be changed. But the most popular engines are the Swedish engines B 5244 with a volume of 2.4 liters, they are installed on 40% of cars. These motors consume a lot of gasoline - about 13 liters per 100 km. run around the city. But on the other hand, these motors last a long time thanks to the proven design. 500,000 km mileage - for these motors - not the limit. But in order to change the spark plugs in such an engine, you need to remove the intake manifold. There are also turbocharged engines, there are few of them - about 2%, the volume is 2.5 liters, they serve 350,000 km each.

Sometimes there are times when about 100,000 km. mileage there is a whistle from under the hood, then this is not a reason to panic, you need to check what is the matter here - unscrew the oil filler cap or pull out the oil dipstick. If the noise disappears, then the rubber membrane in the crankcase ventilation system has leaked. It will cost quite a lot to change the entire assembly - 150 euros, but now many craftsmen can simply change the membrane separately.

And on turbocharged engines with a 2.5-liter engine, thin tubes of the crankcase ventilation system are easily clogged, so it is better not to tighten the oil when changing the oil and change it every 7-10 thousand km.
Over time, the vacuum pump may also make noise, because the control valve is out of order. A new vacuum pump costs 350 euros, and a control valve complete with connections costs 100 euros. It also happens that the phase shifter couplings begin to flow after 90,000 km, but this must be eliminated immediately, because the oil will immediately fall on the timing belt, and it will quickly wear out. Therefore, if traces of oil appear on the casing, you must immediately sound the alarm so that you do not have to overhaul the motor ahead of time.
It is also desirable during maintenance, every 15,000 km. change and drive belts of ancillary units.

Diesel engines are rarely found in the Volvo S40 because there were no official cars with diesel engines. If they brought a car from Europe, then they may have a diesel engine.
Diesel engines are D 416 with a volume of 1.6 liters and 2-liter D 4204, they are quite reliable, made by the PSA Peugeot Citroen concern. There is also its own Swedish 5-cylinder D 5244 T, it was developed by Volvo and was first installed in the S80 in 2001. But this motor requires pure diesel fuel, and every 50,000 km. requires cleaning the swirl flap assembly. You also need to periodically clean the crankcase ventilation system. From city driving, the particulate filter begins to clog at about 100,000 km. and an exhaust gas recirculation system. The electric drive of the boost pressure regulator is still weak here; its replacement will require 150 euros.

Automatic transmissions were installed on cars manufactured before 2008 with Swedish motors. This 2000 Aisin-Warner ¬AW55-51SN five-speed transmission was not particularly reliable on Volvo XC90 and Volvo S60 cars. And in Volvo S40, V50, C30 and C70 an upgraded version of this box was installed. In 2004, it was finalized, a more reliable valve body was installed. On S40 cars, this box lasts long enough if you don't kill it - about 250,000 km. And after this run, it is enough to simply change the worn out oil seals, clutches, solenoids and bushings.

In 2010, a newer 6-speed automatic Aisin-Warner TF-80SD appeared. This box was first created in 2003, but by 2010 the hydraulics have been upgraded in this box. Once every 70,000 km. in these boxes it is necessary to change the transmission oil, then they will serve for a long time without jerking when shifting gears.

There is also a 6-speed preselector - Ford's Getrag 6DCT450, it was installed on the post-styled Volvo S40 and V50 in 2007, these cars are equipped with a 2-liter gasoline engine. At first, the electronic control units of the automatic transmission were changed under warranty. The oil and filter must be changed more often - every 45,000 km. It is possible earlier, so that the solenoid valves and the valve body do not have time to clog, if they clog, the robot box will begin to twitch and wear out faster. And already up to 150,000 km. will fail.

There are also manual gearboxes M65 and M66 from Getrag, they also come complete with 5-cylinder engines from Volvo. Mechanical gearboxes are also very reliable, the clutch only needs to be changed every 160,000 km so that the dual-mass flywheel of the engine does not fail, because it is quite expensive - 1,000 euros.

In trim levels with a 1.6 engine from Ford, there is a French 5-speed manual iB5 from Bordeaux Transmission. This is a rather old and not very successful transmission, it was also installed in the Ford Fiesta. Already after 70,000 km. drive oil seals begin to leak, and on cars after 2011, the seals were modified and these oil seals began to serve 2 times longer. But if you constantly load the box, then the pinion axle in the differential may not be able to withstand. The renovation will cost a lot of money - over 1,000 euros. After 100,000 km. noise from the input shaft bearing may appear so that it does not jam - it needs to be changed.

There is also a German MTX75 five-speed gearbox from GFT. This box goes to engines from Mazda (1.8 and 2.0). In this box, you also need to monitor the condition of the oil seals so that the oil level is always normal, because if it is not enough, the shafts and teeth of the gears will begin to wear out faster. After 60,000 km. mileage, the release bearing usually fails, which must be replaced as an assembly with the clutch cylinder. To replace the clutch, you will have to remove the box.

Suspension

In terms of reliability, the suspension is the same as on Fords and Mazda, does not differ in particular durability, but it does not break down quickly either. Spare parts for Volvo are slightly more expensive than for Mazda or Ford. The rear shocks are here with automatic body leveling. They serve approximately 100,000 km. But when the time comes for replacement, you will have to pay 400 euros for each shock absorber. Therefore, very often many owners, in order to save money, simply install ordinary shock absorbers, which cost 100 euros each, you can also find an analogue for 50 euros. Front shocks cost about the same.

After about 70,000 km. in the front suspension, it is already necessary to change the stabilizer struts and wheel bearings. Racks cost 30 euros for a branded part, and a non-original can be taken for 15 euros. To change the wheel bearings, you have to change the entire hub assembly for 200 euros. To save money, you can take a hub from Ford or Mazda, they are 3 times cheaper, and the design does not differ at all. It should also be remembered that the bearing is very well protected from dirt, therefore, if possible, it is better to avoid deep puddles.

Approximately 80,000 km. the front levers serve, usually the silent blocks fail earlier, each lever assembly with a ball joint costs 150 euros. But in general, the rear multi-link suspension is reliable and lasts a long time, it is necessary to make repairs in it no earlier than after 140,000 km. A complete overhaul of the rear suspension will cost around 600 euros. Silent blocks are usually changed in assembly with levers, but now on many services they can simply press a new silent block into the old levers.

Steering

Steering rods and tips serve at least 150,000 km. And on cars with a 1.6 petrol engine there is a hydraulic booster, it can come out of a standing position and the rail itself too. A new rake costs 1000 euros, but you can install a rake from a Ford for 650 euros.

09.09.2016

Cars for intelligent, calm and wealthy people, this is the image of the Volvo company. However, the second generation Volvo S40 model is most often interested in young car enthusiasts, so it is important to understand how reliable this car is and how much it will cost to maintain a car over the age of 5 years in the future. This is what we will try to figure out now.

A bit of history:

Volvo S40 has a rich history and was produced under different names "VOLVO 340" and "VOLVO 430", but both models did not enjoy great popularity among buyers. The first car with the S40 index was built on the same platform as Mitsubishi Carisma, but even in this case the expected results were not achieved. In 2003, the second generation of the model was released, which was built on the C-1 platform (the Mazda 3 was built on the same platform). The S40 shares about 60% of the parts with Ford, which is why it is called the more expensive version of the Focus 2.

In 2007, an updated version of the model was presented. The main task of the facelift was to bring the appearance of the entire line in accordance with the new corporate style set by the VOLVO S80 . The updated cars are easily recognizable by the updated bumpers, radiator grille with a large logo, exhaust pipe and head optics. The rear of the car received a modified apron, and LED optics began to be installed in the headlights. In addition to the refreshed design, the car received an original interior trim and added power, the avant-garde interior is made in high-tech style. The production of the model was completed in 2012, and it was replaced by the VOLVO V40.

Advantages and disadvantages of used Volvo S40.

The base engine 1.6 (100 hp) is a fairly old engine and is well known from Ford cars. The resource of this power unit, with proper maintenance, is more than 300,000 kilometers, but the attachments after 100,000 km will slowly start to fail. The main problem of these motors lies not in the motor itself, but rather in the owners of the cars, the fact is that the car is quite heavy and the engine of 100 horses is not quite enough for most drivers, and they start to spin the motor more, as a result, its resource is developed much faster ... The gas distribution mechanism is belt-driven and needs to be changed every 80,000 km.

Next in order of seniority are engines 1.8 (125 hp) and 2.0 (140 hp), these motors have proven themselves quite well not only on the Volvo S40, but on the cars of the brands Ford and Mazda. The two-liter engine has a timing chain drive, and is less whimsical to maintain, but unfortunately a car with such a power unit is quite rare. The 2.4 engine (170 hp) is quite expensive and difficult to maintain; its sore spots are the crankcase ventilation system and the ignition system.

There is also a 2.5-liter turbocharged gasoline engine, but they were also afraid of it, because the maintenance of such a unit is not cheap. In the line of power units there are several diesel engines, although in the CIS, cars with such engines are very rare, but if you come across such a copy, it is better to pass by, since they very quickly kill the fuel system from the quality of diesel fuel sold at our gas stations. The weak point of all engines is the thermostat, which often fails.

Transmission

The engines were combined with manual transmissions and classic automatic machines, the younger engines 1.6 and 1.8 were only paired with mechanics, and they were different in design. For a more powerful 1.8 engine, the transmission has been strengthened, as for reliability, the owners have no complaints about them. As for automatic transmissions, they are not a problematic place in the car, the gearboxes installed have proven themselves well not only on this model, but also on other versions of the concern "", in numbers this means that up to 200,000 km the box does not cause any trouble if change the oil in it every 60,000 km. If the oil is not changed, the transmission may overheat, as a result the valve body fails, the repair of which will not be cheap.

Suspension Volvo S40

In terms of suspension, the Volvo S40 is similar to the Focus 2, and this relationship was only beneficial, since many parts are interchangeable, and this in turn significantly reduces the cost of repairs, some parts are also suitable from Mazda, in addition to this, a large number of non-original ones are presented on the market spare parts. If the car is operated accurately, then there are not so many problems, and serious investments will be required once every 100,000 km. After 100 thousand mileage, it will be necessary to replace the struts and bushings of the stabilizer, silent blocks of the front levers and wheel bearings. This model is equipped with a hydraulic and electric power steering, this unit can disturb after 100,000 km of run.

Body

There are no problems with the quality of the metal of the body, and the paintwork is not here, even in places where paint is chipped, corrosion does not appear for a very long time. And if you see rust on the body of a Volvo S40, it means that the car was involved in an accident, and its owner saved a lot on repairs.

Advantages:

• High level of safety and comfort.
• Build quality and materials.
• Reliable components and assemblies.
• Large selection of non-original spare parts.

Disadvantages:

• High maintenance cost.
• Smallish (clearance 13.5 cm).
• Harsh suspension.

If you are or were the owner of this car brand, please share your experience, indicating the strengths and weaknesses of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help others to choose the right used car.