Almost like a Focus, only better: choose a used Volvo S40 II. "Volvo S40": advantages and disadvantages, reviews Body and interior

Little Volvos were weird right from the start. They appeared in the model range of the Swedish company mainly due to the purchase of the DAF passenger department in 1972. There, at that time, they were making small DAF 66 cars, which, accordingly, became Volvo 66. But the Swedes did not want to do badge engineering and tried to do something of their own. And now the rear-wheel drive Volvo 340 family appears with its extremely capricious and fragile CVT. The experience was found to be unsuccessful.

Models 440/460/480 appear next, but… something doesn't work either. It looks like the NedCar plant, which the company inherited from DAF, is somehow unlucky ... They want to close it, but the government comes to the rescue, and now a joint venture with Mitsubishi is being created and a new pair of soplatform cars appears, Mitsubishi Carisma and Volvo S40. the plant revives again.

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Volvo 440, 460, 480

But for the Swedes, the experience again turned out to be not very successful from a financial point of view, and by 2001 they sold their share in the enterprise and stopped producing the first generation "fortieth" by 2004. And in 2003, the second version of the Volvo S40 was released, which will be my story today. She had nothing to do with the Netherlands and the DAF legacy from the beginning - it seems to be good for her!

Not Focus at all

Volvo S40 II

Many motorists undeservedly consider the second generation S40 to be just a copy of the mega-popular Ford Focus II. They are not entirely correct. Indeed, Swedish engineers took an active part in the development of the C1 platform, on which the Focus, Mazda 3 and several other models are built. That is why the "second" Focus is so big and surprisingly comfortable for its class - there is a bit of premium Scandinavian blood in its genes. Take a look, because in design it is much closer to the S40 than to its relatives in the concern, and he also got the Volvo engines - for the RS and ST versions, they had a Swedish turbocharged "five" in store. But back to the S40, which shares about 60% of the parts with Ford, for which fans of the brand consider it a "fake Volvo."

Ford Focus II

The transfer of production to Belgium, to a factory in Ghent, had a positive effect on quality. And the car itself was a success, unlike its ancestors, it really was a "little Volvo", and not a foundling. Comfort, style, all corporate conventions and "chips" in terms of safety and controllability were observed. This is not to say that the car has become megapopular, but sales have gone up the hill. The second generation S40 was produced from 2003 to 2012, the total production volume was about three hundred thousand cars. The C1 platform, which is the basis of these machines, found its continuation in the EUCD platform, on which all modern cars of this brand are created, so the debate about "authenticity" can definitely be stopped there and finally admit an obvious fact. The collaboration with Ford has had a profound impact on the company and has led to the development of some of the most successful and scalable platforms in the global market. And the little Volvo did not lose at all from this - the relationship with some of the most popular cars in the world made it inexpensive to operate, but still of high quality in Swedish.

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Design features

The design of the S40 is quite traditional. Carrying body, with front and rear subframes. Independent suspension, front - MacPherson strut, rear - multi-link. The range of motors is recruited from Ford units, but the most powerful engines are from the Volvo series of in-line "fives". Gearboxes here are also either Ford or Japanese Aisin, for which the Swedes were one of the main customers of automatic transmissions. Unlike the simpler Ford and Mazda, Volvo also has an all-wheel drive option. The main difference from the mass platform relatives is the build quality, colors, the number of options and, of course, the abundance of powerful options.

Most of the cars have a 2- or 2.4-liter engine and an automatic transmission under the hood. Well, the quality of the paintwork allows you not to think about how to sell an already rusty five-year-old car with maximum profit. The Swedes still make sturdy and long-lasting cars. However, there are enough difficulties.

Breakdowns and problems in operation

Body and interior

The body is very well painted and also made of galvanized metal. The bottom is protected by a thick layer of mastic and many plastic elements, from lockers to sills with aerodynamic panels. The body is noticeably heavier than that of the soplatforms - the Volvo has thicker body panels, much more noise-insulating materials and a higher quality of performance of almost all interior elements. The junior series does not reach the monumentality of at least the "average" S60, but the comparison with classmates will easily win. The main body problems are associated with the difficulties of recovering from accidents, the price of new parts, and the absence of non-original elements, and a lot of seemingly secondary parts that are not especially needed, affect here. But after a cheap repair, the car ceases to be quiet and comfortable.

The interior is strong and only on very old cars does it start to get crickets, but the materials of the seats, door cards and a little - the electrician fail. Unfortunately, most of the seats are made of artificial leather, and after three to five years of use they already look shabby. The steering wheel, door cards of the front doors and control elements, buttons and handles, are badly rubbed. But that's half the problem.

After five to seven years, the interior equipment begins to fail more often and more strongly. For example, the power window unit may fail, it is located in the door, and its tightness is insufficient, or the guides of the power windows themselves may break. Immobilizer and electric seat drives will malfunction. Even on older cars, problems with the drives of the climate system appear, but they are very rare. In general, do not expect absolute reliability, but in comparison with almost any modern car, the S40 is a role model.

Electrician

This is not to say that there are no problems at all. Rather, there are no major problems. Salon "little things" have already been mentioned above. To them should be added the problems with the trunk lid harness, which are almost universally found at the age of three years. Also at risk are engine cooling fans, adaptive optics, xenon ignition units, a gas pump and a weak generator on cars with a 1.6-liter engine.

But here the car again is almost a role model, even very old people should not annoy with failures and at the cost of solving them. If something breaks, it is usually either not very expensive or it can be repaired successfully. Unless it is difficult to change the fuel pump - there is no hatch in the cabin, you need to remove the gas tank to replace it, and the pump itself fails too often, and the fuel level sensor in the tank also breaks down more often than we would like. By the way, many owners cut out the hatch for replacement on their own - do not be alarmed, this greatly facilitates maintenance in the future.

Chassis

Common suspension components in one of the most common machines in Europe are not only low maintenance costs and a large number of "non-original" excellent quality in stock, but also good reliability. And if there are no items in the Ford catalog - it doesn't matter, look at Mazda catalogs. Most of the suspension components have a resource of at least 100 thousand kilometers, and often more. As usual, most often require replacement of the struts and bushings of anti-roll bars, and the rear silent blocks of the front arm. On cars that are often operated at full load, the resource of the rear suspension is greatly reduced, but it is unlikely that it will go less than 50-60 thousand kilometers even on bad roads and with two riders in the back.

Hub bearings are short-lived here. The driving range of the original ones fluctuates in the range of 50-100 thousand kilometers, but drops greatly after forcing deep puddles - the bearings have poor tightness. Non-original ones often go even less. Moreover, the "native" Volvo hub also has studs 5 mm longer, and an additional oil seal on the reverse side, in contrast to the Ford and most of the non-original. Those whose hubs come out too often try to modify the design by stuffing grease under the dust cover or installing other protection. Traditionally for Volvo, the Nivomat body leveling system is among the options. With it, the cost of shock absorbers is overestimated several times, but the problem is solved in the usual way - by installing standard suspension elements. The cost of "regular" shock absorbers - no surprises. The difficulty lies elsewhere, there are more than a dozen versions of the suspension in terms of height and rigidity, and during repairs you need to be careful so as not to spoil the controllability of the car. The braking system on cars does not present any special surprises either. The relatively low price of brakes on cars with engines up to two liters is further reduced if you look at the parts from Fords. On more powerful machines, the components are slightly more expensive. The rest is a reliable ABS, well-placed brake lines and reliable hoses.

Steering on cars with a 1.6 engine is generally without surprises, a conventional power steering pump and a rack. Tapping on it with runs over 150 is a common thing, but with proper operation, it will not flow. But with engines from 1.8 liters there are difficulties - here EGUR. The pump drive here is not from the engine, but from a separate electric motor. In theory, the system is more convenient and economical. In fact, with minimal fluid leaks from the system, it is airborne, the pump starts to "whine" and breaks down very easily. Unlike a similar Ford system, you can add fluid here - there is a filler neck. However, the pump still remains extremely vulnerable and in the fifth or sixth year of life may fail even if everything is in order with the fluids, simply having exhausted the resource of the electric motor. The replacement cost is about 40 thousand rubles, but over the past few years there have been proposals for remanufactured parts or work to restore this element. For 2.4 engines there are good kits for installing a standard power steering pump - the pump itself and the connection lines. This option is for those who want to get rid of the problem of the "progressive" amplifier forever.

Transmission

Manual transmissions are traditionally reliable. And the Swedes avoided the problem that the Ford Focus 2 has - a reinforced box is installed on the 1.8 engine. On rare all-wheel drive cars with a 2.5 engine and a Haldex clutch, do not forget about changing the oil in the clutch and take care of the gearbox, especially if the engine is boosted to 300 hp. with. and more. Sometimes, with rough shifts, it cuts off the upper gears with a stock engine, to say nothing of tuning. There are no special problems with automatic transmission. Aisin AW55-50 / 55-51 series boxes already familiar from other Volvo were installed on the car. The problems of this box have long been known, and the resource is quite predictable. With quiet driving and regular oil changes every 60 thousand kilometers, you can count on 200 thousand resources before the first serious breakdowns. With more frequent oil changes, the resource may be even longer. But most often these boxes still overheat, they clog the valve body, which successfully disables the mechanical part of the unit. One has only to put on an unsuccessful crankcase protection, overheat the engine or automatic transmission, or simply not change the oil until the "first call" ...

The good news: repairs are not so expensive, spare parts are widely available, the box is well known in services, and for a long time there are means to extend its life. To do this, put a non-standard automatic transmission radiator and change the oil often, every 30-40 thousand kilometers, depending on from the style of movement. Since 2010, a more "fresh" Aisin TF80SC box has appeared on diesel engines, but since there are almost no cars with diesel engines, the chance of encountering such a configuration is also minimal.

The engines are of two series. Volvo 2.4 and 2.5 turbo engines have been repeatedly covered in reviews, and. They are good, reliable engines with some quirks and long-standing weaknesses. It is worth watching the crankcase ventilation system and ignition modules. And also remember that the timing belt needs to be changed, as well as to monitor the valve clearances, and the adjustment process is quite complicated here.

The engines from Ford 1.6 and 2.0 are also very good. The 1.6 engine family is quite old-fashioned in design, and the main drawback is one - low power for a rather heavy machine. It does not have the most reliable control system, but the safety margin of the "hardware" allows it to overcome most of the troubles. Failures of ignition modules, phase shifter valves, sensors and other trifles are usually not fatal and are easily diagnosed. And the elements themselves are not very expensive.

The motor was developed a long time ago, back in 1998 with the help of Yamaha for the first generation Focus, and since then it has not become much worse. The S40 uses the simplest and most reliable version, without phase shifters, which significantly increase the cost of maintenance. In addition, Volvo recommends for him not low-viscosity SAE20-SAE30 oils, as Ford does, but the quite familiar SAE40 oil, which greatly increases the engine resource - even on a heavy Volvo, it can go all 250-350 thousand kilometers before piston wear in a typical urban cycle, and when driving on highways and all half a million kilometers. Just do not forget, again, to adjust the valves and change the timing belt. Engines 1.8 and 2.0 are from a different family. They are designed by Mazda and belong to the MZR. They are no more capricious than 1.6 engines, and many are impressed by the fact that they have a chain timing belt, with a chain resource of 150-200 thousand kilometers, which slightly simplifies maintenance in the first five to seven years of the machine's life. In addition, the power of a car with such an engine is almost like that of a Rolls-Royce, that is, "sufficient". With these motors, it is already possible to order an automatic transmission, which was done by most of the car buyers.

In comparison with the weakest version of the Volvo "five", the MZR is slightly cheaper to maintain, but in practice, the 140-horsepower 2.4 engine is still faster than the 145-horsepower Ford one. Of course, the engine has its disadvantages, for example, a very poor thermostat design, a tendency to leakage due to an unsuccessful crankcase ventilation system and weak engine gaskets. However, all the disadvantages are covered by simplicity, cheapness and a good resource of the engine. A feature of the design is the keyless landing of the timing stars on the shafts, which, with hard operation, improper maintenance and unqualified repairs, can lead to fatal phase displacement and the meeting of pistons with valves.

What should you choose?

The small sedan from the Swedish company turns out to be a very good car - one of the most inexpensive to operate in the class in general, and certainly the most inexpensive of the premium cars. Of course, it is not the most advanced, and automatic transmission cannot be ordered with small motors, but if the quality of the design and economy in operation are important to you, you can put up with this. True, the configurations on cars with Ford engines will not be the most luxurious.

So, if the operating price is very important for you, then the 1.6 engine with manual transmission is your choice. But you will have to look for a good package, most of these cars will be "empty", and besides, they were often taken by the "traveling" company. Machines with 1.8-2.0 engines with manual gearbox are slightly more expensive, but have a longer engine life, and they are also a reasonable choice. If you need comfort, then in-line "fives" 2.4 and automatic transmission are best suited: traction, sound, a sense of communion with the "classics" of the company, and the configuration is usually maximum. Motors 2.0 are a little more practical when it comes to cars up to five to seven years old, but they also have less "Scandinavian fairy tales". We must try to take cars with a known mileage - this will allow us to predict the remaining resource of an automatic transmission and the cost of restoration. With a successful combination of circumstances, you can slightly modify the machine and extend the resource of the "weak link" by another hundred or two thousand at low cost. Finally, I will say that these same motors with manual transmission are most likely either the cars of the "racers", or they came already used from Europe. This means that the runs will be serious, and the operation will be tough. In general - to refuse.

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A re-styled version of the second generation of the well-known Volvo S40 sedan (2008-2012) appeared in 2004. Before that, the model was produced for 4 years, and this version was on the assembly line for 5 years. The model was shown to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show and has not changed very much, but we'll figure it out later.

The manufacturer used the P1 platform, which is also used on the Mazda 3 and. The goal was to create a simple small sedan for city driving, which at the same time would have a slightly aggressive appearance.

Exterior

The car got really good looks for that time. The smooth shape of the bonnet and the narrow lanterns look really stylish. The lights are halogen on the filling, lenses are present, and xenon can be installed for an additional fee. In the middle is a small radiator grille with chrome trim and company logo. The massive bumper of the car in the lower part received a rectangular air intake and deeply installed fog lights.

Looking at the car from the side, you realize that the line running from the front arch to the rear optics is quite stylishly designed. The wheel arch extensions are impressive, but the rear ones are much larger. The threshold has a slightly embossed shape, and in the middle there is a molding, which is painted in body color. The rear-view mirrors are quite large, and there is another turn signal on them, by the way, they are made of chrome. In general, the body shape itself is quite dynamic.

The rear of the Volvo C40 car also looks sporty, it has stylish optics, which are made in the classic style of the brand and, at the same time, it is elegantly fitted to the body shape. The boot lid is oversized and has a spoiler that adds aggression. The bumper has received a massive size, and in its lower part there are many relief shapes, there are also reflectors there. The exhaust pipes, although they are under the bumper, look beautiful.

Dimensions:

• length - 4476 mm;
• width - 1770 mm;
• height - 1454 mm;
• wheelbase - 2640 mm;
• ground clearance - 135 mm.

Salon

The branded moderately strict interior of the car is quite good in terms of build quality and ergonomics. Many details of the interior decoration are sheathed with high-quality leather, unfortunately this will not be in every configuration.

As always, we start our discussion of the interior with the seats, as we believe that this is an extremely important part. In front, there are quite comfortable leather seats, with weak lateral support. Behind a simple sofa for three people with a folding armrest in the back. There is not so much free space, but in principle there is enough, in the back it is slightly not enough.

As you know, the manufacturer pays a lot of attention to safety. 6 pillows were installed, and in the later years of production it was possible to find a blind spot monitoring system. For an adult audience, this level of security is very attractive.

The shape of the driver's steering column in the Volvo S40 (2008-2012) has been thought out in terms of ergonomics. No hints of sports, the task is to make the driver as comfortable as possible. The steering wheel received 10 keys, the main part is for multimedia, some for cruise control, if available. On the one hand, the dashboard is very simple, but after that you notice that readability and convenience were really thought out. In fact, these are simple large analog speedometer and tachometer gauges and two on-board computers, but they are really convenient.

The center console has the same architecture, but the material may differ depending on the configuration. The panel can be:

• Plastic;
• Aluminum;
• Wooden.

The console has a small monitor, 4 washers and vertically positioned buttons. Everything is designed to control music and air conditioning. The selected settings are displayed on the monitor located above. On the dashboard at the top there is a small folding display responsible for the navigation system.

The tunnel separates the front passenger and the driver, also partially made of wood, plastic or aluminum. There is a large gear selector on it, behind which is a couple of buttons and a cigarette lighter. To the left is a small mechanical handbrake. The end part greets us with an opening box with cup holders and a small niche for small items.

The trunk of 404 liters is quite enough, and the volume is honest, the lid hinges do not interfere with the use of the compartment. The rear backrests fold down to carry more cargo, the volume is 883 liters.

Characteristics Volvo C40

Type of	Volume	Power	Torque	Overclocking	Maximum speed	Number of cylinders
Petrol	1.6 l	100 h.p.	150 H * m	11.9 sec.	185 km / h	4
Petrol	2.0 l	145 h.p.	185 H * m	9.5 sec.	210 km / h	4
Petrol	2.4 l	170 h.p.	230 H * m	8.2 sec.	220 km / h	5
Petrol	2.5 l	230 h.p.	320 H * m	7.1 sec.	230 km / h	5

This car in our country was sold with 4 units in the line. They are all gasoline, but their power is not that high, since the car is designed for simple city driving. Let's discuss them in more detail.

1. The most popular and weakest is the L I4 gasoline engine, familiar to Focus owners. This is a borrowed 1.6-liter unit. The atmospheric engine has 100 horses and 150 torque, this is not enough, so the owners often spin it up to high revs. He spends about 9 liters in the city and lives long enough - 300 thousand kilometers. Attachments often begin to require replacement after 100 thousand.
2. The two-liter 145-horsepower engine is also borrowed from the American manufacturer. The motor is the same, its volume is larger and more powerful. The dynamics here are as simple as possible - 10 seconds to a hundred. He needs a lot of fuel by modern standards - a large 10 liters. The problems are the same, that is, minor.
3. The inline 5-cylinder engine in the Volvo S40 line (2008-2012) has few problems, but they are "chronic", ventilation and cooling system often fail. The engine produces 170 horsepower and 230 H * m of torque. It is not worth buying it, since acceleration becomes better by only one second, consumption is more than 13 liters and more problems.
4. The 2.5-liter 5-cylinder turbocharged inline row was often not purchased due to expensive maintenance. There are few problems with it, but their solutions are expensive. 230 horses and 320 torque units allowed the sedan to accelerate to a hundred in 7 seconds and have a maximum speed of 230 km / h. In terms of consumption, it is not particularly demanding, about the same as the previous one.

There are a huge number of gearboxes, depending on the engine, 5 or 6-speed mechanics were installed. A 5-speed automatic and a 6-speed robot are also offered. The drive is front and full. There are no particular problems with boxes if they are serviced on time.

The suspension of the model does not have any particular problems, but this is only at the front. MacPherson after a while requires replacement of ball and silent blocks. The rear multi-link suspension is cheap to repair, but quickly breaks down again, but in a different unit. It is recommended to spend a lot of money once on repairing the entire rear suspension and drive quietly for several years. The brake system lives for a long time, problems only happened with the parking brake.

Volvo S40 price

This car was discontinued in 2012, but now it can be bought on the secondary market without any problems. On average, a sedan is sold for 450,000 rubles which is not that expensive as the car is good. There were many configurations offered, so you should check them out, because the base had only:

• fabric sheathing;
• heated seats;
• radio tape recorder;
• air conditioning;
• fog optics;
• full power accessories;
• 4 airbags;

The most expensive equipment was replenished with the following:

• leather sheathing;
• multimedia;
• electrically adjustable seats;
• climate control;
• Cruise control;
• xenon optics.

This is a great family sedan that is still not out of date and can be bought now and enjoyed the ride. In principle, you can take the model to a young guy, because the design is quite aggressive and there is potential for tuning. We highly recommend the C40 model.

Video

The smaller Volvo 300 and 400 series were considered desirable but problematic cars. It just so happened that cooperation with Renault in terms of engines and manual gearboxes, while the French electrician and Dutch assembly did not provide the traditional Swedish quality. But the first S40 tried very hard to turn the tide.

The motors were now mostly their own, plus one from Mitsubishi. They tried to raise the quality of the car - in particular, the galvanizing of the body was supposed to solve most of the issues with corrosion resistance. But in practice, the set goals were not fully achieved.

The car was able to get much better, but the quality problems were not completely solved. Corrosion, manual gearboxes, suspensions and electrics were troublesome even on fresh cars. Fortunately, restyling helped with the rejection of total unification with Carisma.

This step, for example, made it possible to make the suspension more comfortable and more reliable, the anti-corrosion treatment of the body was improved, and the paint stopped peeling off. As a result, the body began to corrode slowly and not so noticeably. And the MKP was replaced with its own, getting rid of the problem brainchild of Renault.

It is not known what the next generation of the model could become, but the issue was solved simply. Ford Motor Company bought Volvo, got rid of the unprofitable plant, and the next generation S40 was built on a global platform and with Ford components. The production of the model was moved to Ghent, in Belgium, and the quality problems were forgotten, the small Volvo became as reliable as the large, if not better. Anyway, in that.

What is it worth buying for?

The first generation Volvo S40 is still attractive today. Excellent Scandinavian design, a very high-quality interior, and even on the move, the cars retain their nobility, despite the years passed. The level of comfort is incomparable with the soplatform Mitsubishi, and it is simply impossible to guess about the relationship.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "1996-2000

And in terms of safety, Volvo has something to offer: a reinforced body structure is relied on for all cars of the brand, airbags in the basic configuration, all proprietary protection systems are also available. In general, the car remains relevant. And at a price of less than 200 thousand rubles, or even less than 150, this is a very attractive option for poor and, moreover, demanding drivers. But she also has a lot of "pitfalls" in store. Let's talk about them.

Body

If you are told that the Volvo S40 is galvanized - believe me, it is. Just don’t believe it if they say that it doesn’t rust. Unfortunately, zinc plating is not able to permanently protect the body metal, especially if the paintwork is weak and the body panels have many points where dirt can collect. In addition, the soil on galvanized metal holds worse than on ordinary steel.

It was the painting that became the main problem for dorestyling cars, and after restyling, despite the change in the technical process, there were difficulties with poor ventilation of the area under the plastic door sills and with the tightness of the seams of the rear arch and other seals.

Front bumper

price for original

34 978 rubles

It is easy to see what these shortcomings lead to: it is enough to inspect a car that costs less than 100 thousand rubles. Rotten sills and peeling and rusting arches will almost certainly not be hidden. On cars after restyling, damage is usually less, and the general condition of the panels is better, but the list of the main problem points, where corrosion is at least already present, remains. These are sills, especially in the front, rear and front wheel arches, a roof over the windshield, amplifiers for the front and rear bumpers, a front panel in the lower part and at the central partition, a rear panel under the boot lid seal and a "shelf" under the rear window, where adjoins the trunk lid, especially the drains on the sides, and "sandblasting" places on the bottom and arches. The trunk lid and bottom of the doors also suffer in the first place, but how the attachment parts are repaired and changed is much easier.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2002-04

Do not forget about the salon inspection. Wet floors almost certainly lead to the appearance of foci of corrosion at all seams, and a wet trunk can also lead to rotting out of the side niches and seams of the side members under the soundproofing mats.

There are no problems with the repair of thresholds, there are repair kits numbered 9008011 (left) and 9008012 (right). If the price seems too big, then the pieces of iron from the VAZ-2109 are good (do not forget that we are talking about ultra-budget cars). The threshold itself and the floor connector from the "chisel" need to be lengthened by about 1 cm. Repair kits for arches are also available, and they can also be picked up from domestic cars if you are confused by the prices of Chinese parts. Rumor has it that they fit from the Chevrolet Niva with minimal revision.

Thanks to galvanizing: there are practically no cars with serious corrosion in the area of ​​the engine shield and damage to the suspension cups, with a rotted bottom and struts, but restoring neglected copies usually does not make sense. It is always easier to find a relatively complete body, and if you do not shy away from working with your hands, it is better to change the manual gearbox or engine than invest in the body.

When buying, you should be meticulous and not be fooled by the external shine. A lift or overpass is required, and the thresholds should be tapped - often there is simply no metal there. In advanced cases, the amplifier of the threshold also decays, which greatly increases the cost of repairs, but for most cars it is enough to replace the outer part and clean-anti-anticore the insides with checking the work of the body drains.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "1996-2000

The outer plastic sill protects little against sandblasting, but is poorly located. She is responsible for most of the problems of sills and adjacent areas of the body. In winter, it collects dirt and snow, and its attachment points are natural catalysts for corrosion.

Front wing

price for original

13 088 rubles

The design of the lockers at both the front and the back is also one of the causes of the problems. Weak fastening of the edge at the junction with the wing leads to damage to the paintwork at the clips, and the profile of the front locker corny collects moisture in this area. In addition, they do not seal the arch well enough, and it is constantly damp there. The parts are not that expensive, but if the body of your car is still intact, then you should pay close attention to the condition of the plastic and its attachments. Arch expanders, which are supposed to protect the edge from "sandblasting", in practice collect dirt and lead to the destruction of the paintwork under them, during inspection it is necessary to remove them and check whether the metal is preserved inside.

The underbody is generally in acceptable condition. Slight corrosion on the brackets and in places where the anti-corrosion coating layer is damaged is bound to occur, but serious and extensive corrosion is relatively rare. Pay attention to the condition of the aluminum heat-shielding casings, they protect the central part of the body from corrosion, and if they are removed, or they do not come into contact with metal, then you need to check the bottom with partiality.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2000-02

Against the backdrop of corrosive problems, all the rest look like a trifle - the usual troubles of old cars. The optics are usually worn out, and the glass headlight covers also lose their transparency. Weak fastenings of decorative elements and a radiator grille, cracked foglights, breakdowns of gear motor headlight cleaners, breakdowns of an electrified antenna - these are all characteristic troubles, but they cannot be called serious. Unless all together these troubles will pull a decent amount.

But the breakdown of the trapezoid of the windshield wipers is already expensive. Over time, the bushings of the leash axle sour, and the bushing turns in the mounting bracket. Of course, the work of the wiper further proceeds with a huge backlash, and it does not clean the glass. Any tapping from the drive side is a reason to look under the "frill" for the purpose of revision. Breakdown is solved either by installing repair parts, or by light "collective farm", and the latter is more effective if performed at the proper level.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2002-04

A new part with an installed bronze bushing or even a ball bearing turns out to be many times more reliable than factory plastic with a bushing, it is not afraid of attempts to clean glass covered with snow or with frozen wipers. Such parts can be purchased ready-made through the owner's clubs, and at a price they will not be more expensive than the original.

In frosts, the locks of the car tend to freeze, as a result, the "central lock" stops working. But you can usually get into it with a key, so do not forget about the larvae in the door.

Salon

The interior is made as it should be for a premium car. Reliable, solid and with good materials. Age has a very weak effect with minimal maintenance: both leather and fabric after a good dry cleaning are able to please with an almost pristine appearance. Moreover, the skin can be synthetic, this usually does not affect the condition. Obviously visible wear is either mileage above 300 thousand, or frankly swinish handling of the car.

In the photo: Torpedo Volvo S40 "2000-02

There are few exceptions. The manual transmission lever cover, the driver's door handle and the leather steering wheel may lose their presentation earlier, but again, this is most likely a consequence of poor care. There is little damage to the interior equipment.

Pay attention only to the power window control panel and their drives, as well as to the operation of automatic climate control. By the way, here it is little distinguishable at first glance from manual adjustment, since it does not have displays fashionable in the late 90s, but take a closer look, the temperature adjustment knob is marked in degrees on the driver's side. Therefore, this is precisely automatic climate control. If there are no numbers, but the temperature is on the passenger side, then manual. The only drawback of such a system is that the temperature markings for cars with the imperial system of measures look extremely unusual.

In machines with high mileage, wear of the fan bearings is observed, but they are quite successfully replaced. Even in cars with climate control, the MJ802 transistor in the fan control system may fail, and it will stand up. It is not difficult to find a replacement, but the reason for the departure of the transistor is usually the wedging of the notorious fan bearings, and the work must be carried out in combination.

Photo: Interior Volvo S40 "2002-04

A loose rocker of the manual transmission lever on cars before restyling is usually not only a result of wear of the stage bushings, but also the general looseness of the switching mechanism of an unsuccessful renochnical manual gearbox. The bushings can be replaced, and the mechanism can be adjusted, but in any case this is a typical problem and can be solved expensively, difficult and not for long. For cars after restyling, there is only one reason for looseness - wear of the backstage ball.

Electrical and electronics

The main electrical problems are associated with wet floors, failures of the relay box and passenger compartment fuses. The rest of the electronics is doing well, especially in cars after restyling.

The reliability of the generator is decent, it will easily pass its 250-300 thousand, only an overrunning clutch, which relied on turbocharged versions of motors, can fail before. Electromechanical breakdowns are not uncommon, take into account the age of the machine. Fans and geared motors do not last forever, so their performance should be checked carefully. New parts can cost very low budget, and old ones in a "live" state are hard to find.

Brakes, suspension and steering

The braking system of the Volvo S40 is quite simple, and there are few problems. The first step is to pay attention to the condition of the brake lines of the body, especially in the rear. The tubes rot along with the body, and many cars have already been replaced. Brake pipes require mandatory fixation on the struts, in the "free" state, they will certainly rub against the wheel. They are made with a fair amount of length, and you should not leave them hanging out.

With disc brakes, the main problem is the reliability of the caliper pin. It is prone to wear and tear with runs of more than 150-200 thousand kilometers and sometimes even breaks off under increased load. Do not bring it to a strong knock, especially since the original parts are inexpensive, and the part fits from the Gazelle, although the resource will be many times worse than the original. Breakdowns of the ABS unit are mainly related to itself, inside it tears off the conductors with age, and the wiring to the speed sensors is quite reliable and is a minimum of hassle, like the sensors themselves.

Bushing, rear trailing arm

price for original

1,335 rubles

The suspension of cars before restyling coincides with that of Carisma almost completely, but then conclusions were made on its reliability, and the suspension was significantly redesigned, changing the design of the front levers, supports and stabilizer struts and revising the design of the rear suspension silent blocks.

It is clear that for a car with more than 200 thousand mileage, the suspension resource rather depends on the quality of the components used, and not on the construct. But even with original parts, dorestyling suspensions rarely cover more than 30-50 thousand kilometers without knocking, but on restyling, the suspension is both more resourceful and more silent. In fact, it is better in everything, there is only one exception: the supports of the front struts after restyling are made with an open bearing in a plastic cage, and it very badly tolerates movement on country roads and dirt.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2000-02

The suspension springs for a heavy car turned out to be a little weak, they sag significantly, and the chances of their breakage are increased. It is useless to buy a used one, the problem is present even in cars that were operated only in Europe. Those who want to save money have their own ways: for example, many silent blocks can be picked up from Zhiguli or old Mitsubishi. The silent blocks of the subframe are often replaced with the shock absorber support of the Zhiguli front suspension, and in the rear suspension, rubber bands from the "Japanese" are pressed into the levers, and they are sometimes used to restore engine mounts.

The steering is reliable enough. On pre-styling cars, there are thin Mitsubishi steering rods, they have a smaller resource. After restyling, the rail was changed, and the steering rod is already its own, more resourceful and durable. The very same rake remained the same, moderately resourceful and not prone to knocking.

In the photo: Volvo S40 "2002-04

Basically, the racks are afraid of wear and tear on the power steering pump and contamination of the fluid, after which they begin to leak. They are repaired quite easily, and for the power steering pump there is a repair kit from a stator and a rotor, which greatly reduces the cost of restoring the system as a whole. The tubing is completely reliable and only occasionally damaged by corrosion. The system as a whole works reliably, unless it is recommended to change the fluid in the system more often.

***

As you can see, things are not so bad for a frankly cheap and rather old car. With the proper skill, it is possible to find a sane copy, especially if you have at least 200 thousand and ask the price for the restyling. And what about the boxes and motors? Let's find out.

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 "team 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, sound 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 over 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 knows 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 a 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 drawback. 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 faults, 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 that people buy 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 supply, it does not compare with more popular competitors. Volvo can only be recommended to those who are 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

Version
Engine				direct injection
Working volume
Location cylinders / valves
Power
Maximum torque
Performance
Maximum speed
Acceleration 0-100 km / h
Average consumption, l / 100 km

Diesel versions

In 1995 Volvo introduced the new S4 sedan. However, due to the fact that the Audi brand already had it, the Swedes had to change the name of the car to S40 (the station wagon began to be called). This car was produced at the NedCar joint venture with Mitsubishi in the Netherlands and was designed on a common platform with the model.

The Volvo S40 was equipped with petrol engines 1.6 (105-109 HP), 1.8 (115-125 HP) and 2.0 (136-140 HP), and the most powerful were versions with 1.9-liter turbocharged engines, which developed from 160 to 200 forces. Also, the sedan was offered with a Renault 1.9 diesel engine (90-115 hp). In 2001, the model was modernized, but the appearance of the car remained practically unchanged.

2nd generation, 2004–2013

The second-generation Volvo S40 sedan entered the assembly line of the plant in Ghent, Belgium in 2004. The station wagon version received an index. The car was created on a common platform with the second generation and first generation models.

Initially, the car was offered only with in-line five-cylinder engines: 2.4-liter (140 or 170 hp) and 2.5-liter turbocharged with 220 hp. with. The version with a 220-horsepower engine was called the Volvo S40 T5, it could be not only front-wheel drive, but also all-wheel drive. Later, sedans with four-cylinder power units 1.6 (100 HP), 1.8 (125 HP) and 2.0 (145 HP) went on sale. Diesel engines 1.6, 2.0 and 2.4 were also installed on the ES-fortieth. from 115 to 177 liters. with.

In 2007, the Volvo S40 was modernized: the design was slightly updated, new options appeared in the equipment list (for example, adaptive headlights, blind spot monitoring during lane changes), and the T5 modification became even more powerful - 230 hp. with. At the same time, the Flexifuel version debuted with a 1.8-liter engine capable of running on a mixture of gasoline and bioethanol E85. Later, this engine was replaced by a two-liter one.

Production of the model ended in 2012 and was replaced by a hatchback.