The Mk1 S40 was actually the very first complete car under Peter Horbury's direction. He joined Volvo as Design Director in 1991 and this Mk2 S40 was actually probably one of his last at Volvo! The Getrag automatic was the Powershift that was only available with Ford engines. This S40 has the Aisin Warner gearbox, who are a long standing supplier of auto gearboxes to Volvo going back to the 240.
The Aisin boxes are Double-Clutch System transmissions, rather than 'slush-box' automatics; they are more fuel efficient and have the option of changing gears manually. The dry-clutch DCS units, fitted in the likes of the sportier Focus, were mechanically unreliable and were the cause of many a warranty claim. Those fitted to the C30/S40/V50 family were changed to wet-clutch units, that helped resolve the problems that seemed to be endemic to dry-clutch Aisin DCS boxes.
@@jaysteele1031Sorry, not sure what you mean. Aisin-Warner have never made a DSG to my knowledge. The only gearbox of this type ever fitted to a Volvo was the Ford Powershift. Getrag manufactured that.
I do like these S40's, very good looking car. My grandparents replaced their 740 and 940 in the early 2000s with an S40 with the 2.4i automatic. A very good car that's never given them any issues still going strong with 75,000 miles (not that many granted but it only does 100 or so a year now)
The automatics are 5 speed Aisin boxes Manuals are true Volvo trans. The T5 engine is the legendary Volvo white block motor. The 1.6, 2.0 variants are Ford motors and robotic ford gearboxes, which is kind of frowned upon in Volvo community:) The wood trim is real wood, at least it is on mine.
I have this car in family, bought new in 2010, i wanted the T5, my parents not (so they took the 1.6, because the 2L was "too much"). To me still very good looking (i choose white ext, black leather inside and 17inch wheels), high quality, nice to drive, confortable. Far better than a lot of cars sold today. Great vid as always
I looked for a long time and finally got one of these with the best specification. 2.5L turbocharged 5 cylinder, 6 speed manual, and all wheel drive. It’s been a great car for the 3 years I’ve owned it.
Great video showing off the s40. I had one of these in the same colour until June this year. It was only the 1.6 petrol SE but it was a fantastic car that I still miss everyday. I would change back from my Mercedes w204 in a heartbeat. There was just something more special about the Volvo for me personally😊.
My last car was a V50 T5 and it was a great car. My biggest gripe was the lack of space for my 6’5” frame - a passenger couldn’t sit behind me. I was delighted when I got it because it looked like a mini V70 which I adored (and now have!) and with the T5 it was an absolute hoot and beat a lot of cars at the lights. The handling was excellent thanks to the Focus heritage but there was a lot of upgrades to the P1 over a Focus - an aftermarket intercooler for a Focus ST will not fit these because of the extra metalwork and beams on the Volvo which the Focus did not have. The metal was a higher grade and the electrics such as the ECU and many BCMs are Volvo rather than Ford. That dash was a lovely design and overall a brilliant little car! Great review Matt!
Nice one Matt. So many options are great on the face of things but manufacturer inventory is a nightmare as would be the servicing and spares. Imagine trying to test drive different models in different trims and providing the dealers with enough samples along with storing the things. Anyway, I do like this car, it has an individual elegance to it in a time when the Ford Focus (a terrific car) were everywhere. A pleasure to see this review of an arguably modern classic. Many thanks for sharing.,
Great review Matt - I have a face lifted 2012 R-Design D2 which I bought in 2016 and love it to bits. Despite approaching 150,000 on the clock it still drives like new and (touch wood!) has never let me down! I think the design still looks great today - I prefer the styling over the V40 which replaced it.
wow this is my current volvo and very nice they are indeed..thank you very much indeed for the video...I have had 240 and 740 saloons before and i tended to dismiss post 850 volvos...i ate my words and my 2008 S40 has been the best car i have ever had..
I had a lovely C30 for a number of years... Gorgeous looks, and nice and sporty on twisty b-roads; but sadly the underpowered 1,6 petrol returned terrible fuel consumption, and the engine was way too busy at motorway speeds (it really did lack a 6th gear). Suspension felt surprisingly harsh when sat in the back seat.
Love my 5-speed 2.4i. Very mechanical and simple car. Just gotta be vigilant about the timing belt, especially as these are all going on 20 years old. Great, sporty little ride
I remember servicing a S40 with a see through centre console, really liked that. Never seen one again, most of them have the aluminium look or wood centre console. Still a good looking car, and quality wise they were pretty good. Another great review Matt, keep them coming.
I recently got a V50 and it's a very nice car for what it is. I actually love the radio screen as it is super clear, 0 lag and no fuzz. Even modern touch screen head units now are laggy and annoying to use. This just works.
Great video, I have a 2004 estate and they were badged V50 for some reason, it is a lovely car to drive with the winter pack and a 6 speed gear box, mine has the 2.0d engine which I believe is a Peugeot/Citroen one.
I have the prettier sister, the C30 with a manual box and a Polestar optimised D5 engine delivering 205BHP… I had a MK4 golf GTI previously and I’m not at all disappointed. The C30 is arguably more practical than the S40, if you can deal with it being a 3 door, there’s more room for passengers in the back (albeit with 1 less seat) and the loading space with the seats down is much more useful.
Have to put hands up. Never owned one but ive driven a few. Needed more servicing than the Forth Rail Bridge. Expensive to run according to an owner . Bags of comfort and nippy as well. Excellent descriptions as usual. Thanks for the video. Every day is a school day. Didn't know they were Chinese Owned. Later👍
At the time the original Ford Focus was launched I had a shunt and whilst my car was being repaired I was delighted to get one of the newly launched Ford Focus. My then brother in law took one look at the dash board and said " looks good today but that dash will age quicker than a cheap Korean stereo from Currys". Always stuck with me that. He wasn't wrong and its a recurring thought I have had about other cars I have driven since
@@simonhodgetts6530 It was the style at the time! The AU Falcon was given a similar swoopy dashboard, with reduced materials quality compared to the previous model. Ford Australia felt they read the market wrong as the trend, instead, was for vehicles to go more upmarket. There's a fascinating "Shannon's Design to Driveway" episode here on RUclips about the AU Falcon and the new edge styling being applied to the Falcon. [Notwithstanding Hubnut's Fairmont that already has the premium version of the dash with wooden inlay and analog clock!]
I have a 09 V50 T5. Absolute beast of a wagon, it's like a better built Focus ST but it cost me £1k in diagnostics and reset codes to find out the battery was duff a few years ago.
Glad to see a Mk2 S40 review. This market segment definitely does still exist today and is dominated by the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Mercedes A-Class. The S40/V50 were basically premium(ish) C-segment offerings and could be bought for roughly mid-range VW Golf money . . . very good value indeed! Having owned both a Mk1 (2003) and Mk2 (2011) I prefer the Mk1 overall, particularly the timeless styling. The quality of the Mk2 was also a notch lower I feel, but then it was more driver-orientated than the rather stodgy Mk1. One small correction, Peter Horbury designed the Mk1 (the V40 was voted the most beautiful estate in Italy) but Dutchman Fedde Talsma designed the Mk2 . . . to me the Peter Horbury design has aged better. Thanks for posting.
My uncle has a 04 s70 2.4 petrol manual with 150k on the clock bought at auction in 2018 for £500 other than routine servicing it’s been utterly reliable it just keeps going
It was called v50 in estate form and it was the previous generation that was called the most beautiful estate in the world. That's only because the alfa 159 had not been put on the market yet though.
Nice Work Matt, I think Volvo’s best work is always Estates. I guess in the Kidnapping world you’re quite limited with this model as only old snake hips will fit in that boot!
The estate version is the V50. The hatch is C30, and there the C70 coupe Focus MK2, Mazda 3 BK are based on same platform but share very few actual components. So it’s far from a focus with posh interior.
I owned an unusual one of these a 2010 s40 r design but specced with the 1.6 diesel drive e engine and tall geared eco gearbox. A real sheep in wolfs clothing what the original owner was thinking when they ordered it in that configuration ill never know. Still was a nice enough car if quite slow 😂
I feel you! I drove a V50 summum with this engine, ex-corporate car of a lady executive - full spec, smallest engine... 🤪 loved the design and the luxury spec (full leather, anything electric) hated the machine... completely underpowered, the 2l is the much better option.
Nah, the Rover 400 is based on a Honda -- the mighty EG/EK chassis -- so it wins by default! The MG ZS 180 is a much fruitier hot hatch than the Volvo C30 T5. The C30 T5 seems to be tuned as more of a cruiser (compared even to the Focus ST 5cyl which is already more of a cruiser than the MGs or Honda Type Rs to start with), compared to the double wishbone MG ZS.
I do love my S40, even if it is the bog standard SE 1.6 Petrol. Definitely enjoy the "waft" of it, an absolute cruiser even at the higher revs with the 5 speed box.
12:19 .. ' if you're kidnapping someone & bundling them in the back of the car you'll struggle ' ..... come on Matt , any proficient kidnapper will rock up in a V40 Estate / Wagon .. lol
@7:30, bits of this and the x90 were designed by a woman, hence the actually good practicality of the x90 for peeps with load of kids and the s40 floating dash was meant to have a space for a handbag, so it doesnt roll off the seat or over and spill etc :-)
I have a C70 based on this platform. Longer doors and a 2+2 interior seems to fix most of the interior space issues, at least for the driver. A manual gearbox makes a big difference too.
I drove a V50 for some years and share Matt's impression - though sharing the Focus platform, the Volvo is dull and uninspiring to drive, it is easy in the city and at low speeds but hates to be forced, the ESP will stop you early and harsh. The 5-pot is desirable but thirsty. I had the 1.6 Diesel from Peugeot which was really economic with great MPG but massively underpowered and troubled with dropping the turbo hoses and clogged DPFs. Electronics were a constant annoyance, lots of errors that sometimes disappeared when restarting the car after some minutes of rest, sometimes not. at the end of my use phase, the immobiliser hit me with extremely annoying, irreproducible errors repeatedly. On the plus sides is definitely the overall design inside and outside, which is not only very aesthetic from any angle of view but also very practical in the details: EG the angular hatch and a boot that fitted Billy shelf packages from IKEA in such a perfect way that it could not be a coincidence. It is big enough for a family of four. What it lacks is interior storage space in doors and dashboard. And earlier models did not offer any way to connect an audio device via AUX or Bluetooth to the otherwise decent Stereo. So, it is a mixed bag. The Volvo is a looker, but after all, you had more space and a better driving experience in a much cheaper Focus.
You're going to make me regret selling mine! Although the lag on the 1.6d was atrocious and the black colour was a bit boring. Happy with the red Z3 I replaced it with in the summer.
'The Swedish Rover 400' is very Alan Patridge 😂 You know I'm joking and love the channel. Hope you get a Peugeot 306 D Turbo or C6 on the channel soon. 😊
Nice, I keep thinking I might like a V50 - my dads had Ovlovs for getting on for 30 years, and they’ve all been very dependable. But no, not a Swedish Rover 400 - it’s much more interesting!
i had a S40 but it was the underpowered 1.6 version, however it never let me down and was a solid base model, i ended up trading for a mk2 C70 D5 2.4, volvos i love so much.
Come on Matt, do you homework. The comment about the first gen S/V40 is very unfair. Yes, it shared the floorpan and production line with the Charisma. But other than that they were completely different cars, except for that both had the same Renault diesel engines, and there was 1 rare version of the S/V40 (the "1.8i") that had the Mitsubishi 1.8 GDI engine. In terms of driving, interior and general feel the cars really had nothing in common. The normal petrol engines (1.6/1.8/2.0) were Volvo's own BTW.
"Sharing platform" means it has the same or very similar control arms (perhaps with different bushing stiffness), similar (if not identical) front subframe, rear subframe, similar fuse panels, similar HVAC ducts, the same fuel tank, same fuel pump, similar brake line routing if not the same brake calipers, and so on and so forth. "other than that they were completely different cars" If they didn't share any of that stuff, that completely defeats the point of sharing platforms to cut costs... It doesn't mean the cars drive or feel the same, but it does mean the way the door is wired might be exactly the same, the door lock might be exactly the same, the door check strap might be exactly the same, the window regulators might be very similar if not identical, the airbags might be all exactly the same part numbers etc. I.e., the whole point of platform sharing is to have a huge number of interchangeable part numbers, not to make cars that are "completely different". It seems unlikely they were "completely different", but please enlighten if you have evidence to the contrary. Just as this Volvo S40 has parts that say FoMoCo (Ford Motor Company) all over it as does the Mazda3 of the same era -- if they weren't using as many of the same parts as possible, that would defeat the point of platform sharing to cut costs! I appreciate the Volvo would have had much more steering caster than the Lancer, as I doubt Volvo would have thought 2.5 degrees of steering caster would be acceptable (doesn't feel very stable or "European" at speed), but I doubt they did all that much reengineering to change that, unless you have evidence to the contrary? :) E.g., I found a post on a Volvo forum where the S40's inner arch liners are *identical* to the Mitsubishi part numbers, which suggests (among other evidence) that the S40 and Lancer/Charisma are very closely related indeed! Same brake discs and brake pads (and calipers). Same sway bars. Rear suspension is entirely interchangeable (albeit differently tuned when new). It seems to go on and on... The front subframes appear to be different to accommodate the Volvo engines compared to Mitsubishi engines though. :)
@@TassieLorenzo You're very right on the parts shared! Making it completely different from a technical perspective would, as you say, defeat the purpose. But it is completely different in terms of the result. I was an intern at Volvo Car Netherlands at the time and driven with Carisma and S/V40 quite a few times. Even though the chassis shares many parts between the 2, they really don't drive the same way. Thank god... the Carisma is one of the least engaging cars you can possibly find, the Volvo struck a reasonable balance between comfort, tautness and feedback. I'd say they were just as different as the second generation is to a Focus in terms of resulting experience. I stand by my earlier criticism that Matt's comment is unfair.
Back in the day my local Volvo dealer had a load of nearly new S40s at a tempting price. Sadly they were all 1.6 petrols. Lovely cars but too slow to tempt me from the Passat I had at the time.
Argh! The Volvo of my nightmares. My wife had a 2005 five cylinder 2.4L gasoline engine S40 for eight years - expensive to maintain here in the US. And, worst of all in left-hand drive form, I had to remove part of the dash and completely remove the drive-by wire accelerator pedal assembly just to gain access to change the cabin air filter.
A Swedish Focus. Tho unless in the know… loved mk1 and 2. Sturdy excellent cars. The Carisma bypass bar the diesel junk. The SpaceStar ok. Tho. For cheap motoring
Funny hearing englishmen liking the v50 and s40 alike. In sweden they are hated as the plague. Having worked on one I know why. They are horribly engineered in terms of maintenance and reliability. Multiple issues such as ecus burning up entirely due to water getting into the A-pillar and tons of other hidden fun little quirks. Not great cars by Volvo standards.
Hmm.......I don't mean to sound Victor Meldrew-ish, but it's not really my kind of Volvo. If I was spending Volvo money, I'd rather have a 240, 940 or even an Amazon. Just my personal taste.
I had the V50 with the 1.8 petrol engine. I loved the car but that particular engine was a nightmare. Its piston rings went at 118,000 miles despite yearly / 10,000 mile oil changes .
The V40 estate (the Mitsubishi / Volvo one) was voted ‘most beautiful estate car’ - my dad had one - and it was indeed a very good looking car. A bit ‘meh’ to drive though!
Not even in the same league for torque, drivability and durability as a normally aspirated 5 cylinder. These engines easily do 200k with correct maintenance. The PSA is very poor for durability and are lucky to manage 100k without major issues - it’s highly stressed all the time.
Okay the Superb is a different category, the Octavia would be a fair comparison. but I share your impressions regarding reliability. Lots of annoying experiences with a V50. Switched to an S-Max, also a different category and very much so.
@@martinkrautter8325The 2.0T and T4 has both Volvo engine and gearbox. All other engines has Renault gearboxes. Also 2.0 and 1.8 (not 1.8i) has Volvo engines. Even the 1.6 but the only Renault engine was the diesel one. These engines had one cylinder cut from the Volvo 850-engine. And whats so great about the older square style dashboards? Do your homework please.
The Mk1 S40 was actually the very first complete car under Peter Horbury's direction. He joined Volvo as Design Director in 1991 and this Mk2 S40 was actually probably one of his last at Volvo!
The Getrag automatic was the Powershift that was only available with Ford engines. This S40 has the Aisin Warner gearbox, who are a long standing supplier of auto gearboxes to Volvo going back to the 240.
The Aisin boxes are Double-Clutch System transmissions, rather than 'slush-box' automatics; they are more fuel efficient and have the option of changing gears manually. The dry-clutch DCS units, fitted in the likes of the sportier Focus, were mechanically unreliable and were the cause of many a warranty claim. Those fitted to the C30/S40/V50 family were changed to wet-clutch units, that helped resolve the problems that seemed to be endemic to dry-clutch Aisin DCS boxes.
@@jaysteele1031Sorry, not sure what you mean. Aisin-Warner have never made a DSG to my knowledge. The only gearbox of this type ever fitted to a Volvo was the Ford Powershift. Getrag manufactured that.
@@Jeffrey_M Pete horbury True Talent I had Volvo C3O I Loved It
Great Car
I do like these S40's, very good looking car. My grandparents replaced their 740 and 940 in the early 2000s with an S40 with the 2.4i automatic. A very good car that's never given them any issues still going strong with 75,000 miles (not that many granted but it only does 100 or so a year now)
The automatics are 5 speed Aisin boxes
Manuals are true Volvo trans.
The T5 engine is the legendary Volvo white block motor.
The 1.6, 2.0 variants are Ford motors and robotic ford gearboxes, which is kind of frowned upon in Volvo community:)
The wood trim is real wood, at least it is on mine.
Big switches in Volvo's where a design ethos that you could operate the controls with gloves on, due to extreme cold.
Verses today's design of no button just a screen which, even when stationary and with piano playing dexterity have hard to touch virtual buttons.
I have this car in family, bought new in 2010, i wanted the T5, my parents not (so they took the 1.6, because the 2L was "too much"). To me still very good looking (i choose white ext, black leather inside and 17inch wheels), high quality, nice to drive, confortable. Far better than a lot of cars sold today.
Great vid as always
I looked for a long time and finally got one of these with the best specification. 2.5L turbocharged 5 cylinder, 6 speed manual, and all wheel drive. It’s been a great car for the 3 years I’ve owned it.
The C30/S40/V50 are bargain gems these days. Decent cars, too.
Great video showing off the s40. I had one of these in the same colour until June this year. It was only the 1.6 petrol SE but it was a fantastic car that I still miss everyday. I would change back from my Mercedes w204 in a heartbeat. There was just something more special about the Volvo for me personally😊.
My last car was a V50 T5 and it was a great car. My biggest gripe was the lack of space for my 6’5” frame - a passenger couldn’t sit behind me. I was delighted when I got it because it looked like a mini V70 which I adored (and now have!) and with the T5 it was an absolute hoot and beat a lot of cars at the lights. The handling was excellent thanks to the Focus heritage but there was a lot of upgrades to the P1 over a Focus - an aftermarket intercooler for a Focus ST will not fit these because of the extra metalwork and beams on the Volvo which the Focus did not have. The metal was a higher grade and the electrics such as the ECU and many BCMs are Volvo rather than Ford. That dash was a lovely design and overall a brilliant little car! Great review Matt!
Had a s40. Was my favourite car by a mile
Nice one Matt. So many options are great on the face of things but manufacturer inventory is a nightmare as would be the servicing and spares. Imagine trying to test drive different models in different trims and providing the dealers with enough samples along with storing the things. Anyway, I do like this car, it has an individual elegance to it in a time when the Ford Focus (a terrific car) were everywhere. A pleasure to see this review of an arguably modern classic. Many thanks for sharing.,
Great review Matt - I have a face lifted 2012 R-Design D2 which I bought in 2016 and love it to bits. Despite approaching 150,000 on the clock it still drives like new and (touch wood!) has never let me down! I think the design still looks great today - I prefer the styling over the V40 which replaced it.
wow this is my current volvo and very nice they are indeed..thank you very much indeed for the video...I have had 240 and 740 saloons before and i tended to dismiss post 850 volvos...i ate my words and my 2008 S40 has been the best car i have ever had..
Little correction. The D5 was a diesel. The Focus ST engined model was badged T5.
The video is absolutely riddled with wrong facts.
@@Jeffrey_M That's the problem when you try to cram too many "facts" in a short amount of time.
I had a lovely C30 for a number of years... Gorgeous looks, and nice and sporty on twisty b-roads; but sadly the underpowered 1,6 petrol returned terrible fuel consumption, and the engine was way too busy at motorway speeds (it really did lack a 6th gear). Suspension felt surprisingly harsh when sat in the back seat.
Love my 5-speed 2.4i. Very mechanical and simple car. Just gotta be vigilant about the timing belt, especially as these are all going on 20 years old. Great, sporty little ride
A nice improvement on a focus saloon, 👍
That generation of Volvo still looks great today. It's one of those cars you'd love them to bring back.
Thanks matt. My wife and I have a volvo S40 2008 2.0 rdesign and we love it thanks for your review the S40 goes under the radar
I remember servicing a S40 with a see through centre console, really liked that. Never seen one again, most of them have the aluminium look or wood centre console. Still a good looking car, and quality wise they were pretty good. Another great review Matt, keep them coming.
Yes lots of light colours, the dark wood is very unusual here
I recently got a V50 and it's a very nice car for what it is. I actually love the radio screen as it is super clear, 0 lag and no fuzz. Even modern touch screen head units now are laggy and annoying to use. This just works.
Great video, I have a 2004 estate and they were badged V50 for some reason, it is a lovely car to drive with the winter pack and a 6 speed gear box, mine has the 2.0d engine which I believe is a Peugeot/Citroen one.
Thank you for reviewing the S40 on your channel, sir! I am afraid that those number plate screw covers are staying as they are.
I certainly wouldn't mind the five cylinder sitting on my drive as a sensible daily.
That floating dash board looks like a bit of magic
I have the prettier sister, the C30 with a manual box and a Polestar optimised D5 engine delivering 205BHP… I had a MK4 golf GTI previously and I’m not at all disappointed. The C30 is arguably more practical than the S40, if you can deal with it being a 3 door, there’s more room for passengers in the back (albeit with 1 less seat) and the loading space with the seats down is much more useful.
Nice review. Nice car. I like the idea of a 5 cylinder one
12:40 You jogged my memory on that ad. I remember watching it at the time.
Have to put hands up. Never owned one but ive driven a few. Needed more servicing than the Forth Rail Bridge. Expensive to run according to an owner . Bags of comfort and nippy as well. Excellent descriptions as usual. Thanks for the video. Every day is a school day. Didn't know they were Chinese Owned. Later👍
At the time the original Ford Focus was launched I had a shunt and whilst my car was being repaired I was delighted to get one of the newly launched Ford Focus. My then brother in law took one look at the dash board and said " looks good today but that dash will age quicker than a cheap Korean stereo from Currys". Always stuck with me that. He wasn't wrong and its a recurring thought I have had about other cars I have driven since
My thoughts exactly. Shame, the mk1 Focus was a fine drivers car. But, the dash was a bit dismal!
@@simonhodgetts6530 It was the style at the time! The AU Falcon was given a similar swoopy dashboard, with reduced materials quality compared to the previous model. Ford Australia felt they read the market wrong as the trend, instead, was for vehicles to go more upmarket. There's a fascinating "Shannon's Design to Driveway" episode here on RUclips about the AU Falcon and the new edge styling being applied to the Falcon. [Notwithstanding Hubnut's Fairmont that already has the premium version of the dash with wooden inlay and analog clock!]
I have a 09 V50 T5. Absolute beast of a wagon, it's like a better built Focus ST but it cost me £1k in diagnostics and reset codes to find out the battery was duff a few years ago.
Lovely S40. An incredibly stylish car.
Such a shame that the compact/medium saloon sector has all but disappeared now. Save for the Mazda 3.
Glad to see a Mk2 S40 review. This market segment definitely does still exist today and is dominated by the Audi A3, BMW 1-Series and Mercedes A-Class. The S40/V50 were basically premium(ish) C-segment offerings and could be bought for roughly mid-range VW Golf money . . . very good value indeed! Having owned both a Mk1 (2003) and Mk2 (2011) I prefer the Mk1 overall, particularly the timeless styling. The quality of the Mk2 was also a notch lower I feel, but then it was more driver-orientated than the rather stodgy Mk1. One small correction, Peter Horbury designed the Mk1 (the V40 was voted the most beautiful estate in Italy) but Dutchman Fedde Talsma designed the Mk2 . . . to me the Peter Horbury design has aged better. Thanks for posting.
My uncle has a 04 s70 2.4 petrol manual with 150k on the clock bought at auction in 2018 for £500 other than routine servicing it’s been utterly reliable it just keeps going
It was called v50 in estate form and it was the previous generation that was called the most beautiful estate in the world. That's only because the alfa 159 had not been put on the market yet though.
Nice Work Matt, I think Volvo’s best work is always Estates. I guess in the Kidnapping world you’re quite limited with this model as only old snake hips will fit in that boot!
The estate version is the V50.
The hatch is C30, and there the C70 coupe
Focus MK2, Mazda 3 BK are based on same platform but share very few actual components. So it’s far from a focus with posh interior.
Sounds like you stretched your descriptive abilities with the colour scheme there! 😀
I owned an unusual one of these a 2010 s40 r design but specced with the 1.6 diesel drive e engine and tall geared eco gearbox. A real sheep in wolfs clothing what the original owner was thinking when they ordered it in that configuration ill never know. Still was a nice enough car if quite slow 😂
I feel you! I drove a V50 summum with this engine, ex-corporate car of a lady executive - full spec, smallest engine... 🤪 loved the design and the luxury spec (full leather, anything electric) hated the machine... completely underpowered, the 2l is the much better option.
I remember sitting in one of these at the NEC motorshow I think in 2004, for some reason it’s the great smell inside I remember the most 😂
Huge difference between the Rover 400 and the Volvo! The Volvo wins in every respect IMO.👍😊
Nah, the Rover 400 is based on a Honda -- the mighty EG/EK chassis -- so it wins by default! The MG ZS 180 is a much fruitier hot hatch than the Volvo C30 T5. The C30 T5 seems to be tuned as more of a cruiser (compared even to the Focus ST 5cyl which is already more of a cruiser than the MGs or Honda Type Rs to start with), compared to the double wishbone MG ZS.
Still,give me the Volvo any time....
I do love my S40, even if it is the bog standard SE 1.6 Petrol. Definitely enjoy the "waft" of it, an absolute cruiser even at the higher revs with the 5 speed box.
Is the Volvo S40 2.4i and the Ford focus using the same cv joints
12:19 .. ' if you're kidnapping someone & bundling them in the back of the car you'll struggle ' ..... come on Matt , any proficient kidnapper will rock up in a V40 Estate / Wagon .. lol
@7:30, bits of this and the x90 were designed by a woman, hence the actually good practicality of the x90 for peeps with load of kids and the s40 floating dash was meant to have a space for a handbag, so it doesnt roll off the seat or over and spill etc :-)
Thanks for reminding me - Ive met her! She was picking up a design award at a show somewhere
I have a C70 based on this platform. Longer doors and a 2+2 interior seems to fix most of the interior space issues, at least for the driver. A manual gearbox makes a big difference too.
I currently have one of these. Absolutely beautiful cars to drive. Its almost the dame exact spec as the one in the video apart from the sunroof.
I drove a V50 for some years and share Matt's impression - though sharing the Focus platform, the Volvo is dull and uninspiring to drive, it is easy in the city and at low speeds but hates to be forced, the ESP will stop you early and harsh. The 5-pot is desirable but thirsty. I had the 1.6 Diesel from Peugeot which was really economic with great MPG but massively underpowered and troubled with dropping the turbo hoses and clogged DPFs. Electronics were a constant annoyance, lots of errors that sometimes disappeared when restarting the car after some minutes of rest, sometimes not. at the end of my use phase, the immobiliser hit me with extremely annoying, irreproducible errors repeatedly. On the plus sides is definitely the overall design inside and outside, which is not only very aesthetic from any angle of view but also very practical in the details: EG the angular hatch and a boot that fitted Billy shelf packages from IKEA in such a perfect way that it could not be a coincidence. It is big enough for a family of four. What it lacks is interior storage space in doors and dashboard. And earlier models did not offer any way to connect an audio device via AUX or Bluetooth to the otherwise decent Stereo. So, it is a mixed bag. The Volvo is a looker, but after all, you had more space and a better driving experience in a much cheaper Focus.
You're going to make me regret selling mine!
Although the lag on the 1.6d was atrocious and the black colour was a bit boring.
Happy with the red Z3 I replaced it with in the summer.
The v40 was the mk1 estate. Mk2 estate was renamed v50 and was not the car that was referred to as the most beautiful estate car.
'The Swedish Rover 400' is very Alan Patridge 😂 You know I'm joking and love the channel. Hope you get a Peugeot 306 D Turbo or C6 on the channel soon. 😊
Id love a 306, and XSi or GTi6
Totally with you Matt, the automatic box one of the best but she needs to have a manual.
the small swede is a dutchman!! built at Borne in the Netherlands!! worked there!!
I really like the look of these. ❤
Engines and gearboxes!
*Petrol*
1.6 | 1,596 cc 4cyl 16v / 100 PS / 150 Nm (Volvo)
1.8 | 1,783 cc 4cyl 16v / 125 PS / 165 Nm (Volvo)
2.0 | 1,948 cc 4cyl 16v / 145 PS / 185 Nm (Volvo)
2.4i | 2,435 cc 5cyl 20v / 170 PS / 230 Nm (Volvo)
T5 AWD | 2,521 cc 5cyl 20v / 220-230 PS / 320 Nm (Volvo)
*Diesel*
1.6D | 1,560 cc 4cyl 16v | 109-116 PS / 240-270 Nm (Ford)
2.0D | 1,997 cc 4cyl 16v | 136 PS / 320 Nm (PSA-Ford) > succeeded by D3 models
D3 | 1,984 cc 5cyl 20v | 150 PS / 350 Nm (Volvo)
D4 | 1,984 cc 5cyl 20v | 177 PS / 400 Nm (Volvo)
D5 | 2,400 cc 5cyl 20v | 180 PS / 400 Nm (Volvo) > succeeded by D4 models
*FlexiFuel (E85)*
1.8F | 1,783 cc 4cyl 16v / 125 PS / 165 Nm (Volvo)
2.0F | 1,948 cc 4cyl 16v / 145 PS / 185 Nm (Volvo)
----------------------------------------------------------
*Manual*
5-speed M56 (GETRAG)
6-speed M66 (GETRAG)
*Automatic (torque converter)*
5-speed (Aisin-Warner AW55-50)
6-speed (Aisin-Warner TF-80SC)
Nice, I keep thinking I might like a V50 - my dads had Ovlovs for getting on for 30 years, and they’ve all been very dependable. But no, not a Swedish Rover 400 - it’s much more interesting!
Ovolovs! Is it intentional?
i had a S40 but it was the underpowered 1.6 version, however it never let me down and was a solid base model, i ended up trading for a mk2 C70 D5 2.4, volvos i love so much.
Come on Matt, do you homework. The comment about the first gen S/V40 is very unfair. Yes, it shared the floorpan and production line with the Charisma. But other than that they were completely different cars, except for that both had the same Renault diesel engines, and there was 1 rare version of the S/V40 (the "1.8i") that had the Mitsubishi 1.8 GDI engine. In terms of driving, interior and general feel the cars really had nothing in common. The normal petrol engines (1.6/1.8/2.0) were Volvo's own BTW.
"Sharing platform" means it has the same or very similar control arms (perhaps with different bushing stiffness), similar (if not identical) front subframe, rear subframe, similar fuse panels, similar HVAC ducts, the same fuel tank, same fuel pump, similar brake line routing if not the same brake calipers, and so on and so forth.
"other than that they were completely different cars" If they didn't share any of that stuff, that completely defeats the point of sharing platforms to cut costs... It doesn't mean the cars drive or feel the same, but it does mean the way the door is wired might be exactly the same, the door lock might be exactly the same, the door check strap might be exactly the same, the window regulators might be very similar if not identical, the airbags might be all exactly the same part numbers etc. I.e., the whole point of platform sharing is to have a huge number of interchangeable part numbers, not to make cars that are "completely different". It seems unlikely they were "completely different", but please enlighten if you have evidence to the contrary.
Just as this Volvo S40 has parts that say FoMoCo (Ford Motor Company) all over it as does the Mazda3 of the same era -- if they weren't using as many of the same parts as possible, that would defeat the point of platform sharing to cut costs! I appreciate the Volvo would have had much more steering caster than the Lancer, as I doubt Volvo would have thought 2.5 degrees of steering caster would be acceptable (doesn't feel very stable or "European" at speed), but I doubt they did all that much reengineering to change that, unless you have evidence to the contrary? :)
E.g., I found a post on a Volvo forum where the S40's inner arch liners are *identical* to the Mitsubishi part numbers, which suggests (among other evidence) that the S40 and Lancer/Charisma are very closely related indeed! Same brake discs and brake pads (and calipers). Same sway bars. Rear suspension is entirely interchangeable (albeit differently tuned when new). It seems to go on and on...
The front subframes appear to be different to accommodate the Volvo engines compared to Mitsubishi engines though. :)
@@TassieLorenzo You're very right on the parts shared! Making it completely different from a technical perspective would, as you say, defeat the purpose. But it is completely different in terms of the result. I was an intern at Volvo Car Netherlands at the time and driven with Carisma and S/V40 quite a few times. Even though the chassis shares many parts between the 2, they really don't drive the same way. Thank god... the Carisma is one of the least engaging cars you can possibly find, the Volvo struck a reasonable balance between comfort, tautness and feedback. I'd say they were just as different as the second generation is to a Focus in terms of resulting experience. I stand by my earlier criticism that Matt's comment is unfair.
Lovely car, please but ask the owner to change those yellow caps on the front number plate. It kills the look of the front.
Great looking S40.
I love my C30 T5 - great car.
2:39 Think Ford still has fingers in Pies!!! 😂😂
My 2016 V40 still has the floating dashboard lol
Back in the day my local Volvo dealer had a load of nearly new S40s at a tempting price. Sadly they were all 1.6 petrols. Lovely cars but too slow to tempt me from the Passat I had at the time.
Even this lowly Volvo is now, in my eyes at least, a very desirable motor compared to that absolute muck on sale now..!
Argh! The Volvo of my nightmares. My wife had a 2005 five cylinder 2.4L gasoline engine S40 for eight years - expensive to maintain here in the US. And, worst of all in left-hand drive form, I had to remove part of the dash and completely remove the drive-by wire accelerator pedal assembly just to gain access to change the cabin air filter.
A Swedish Focus. Tho unless in the know… loved mk1 and 2. Sturdy excellent cars. The Carisma bypass bar the diesel junk. The SpaceStar ok. Tho. For cheap motoring
The reason the cabin is tighter than the focus is that Volvo increased the crash protection between the engine and the cabin.
I would say it was in the same class as Audi A4 and BMW 3 series (E46 is not a big car).
A excellent review of a well known Wafty Car.
Well known but little known perhaps?
You need to do the estate version of this car now... then compare the 2.
V50 in this model
9:07 honk! honk!
The interior is the same colour as putty. I prefer the C30, cool looking cars.
Bring back saloons & Ban "SUVs" / crossovers
Funny hearing englishmen liking the v50 and s40 alike. In sweden they are hated as the plague. Having worked on one I know why. They are horribly engineered in terms of maintenance and reliability. Multiple issues such as ecus burning up entirely due to water getting into the A-pillar and tons of other hidden fun little quirks. Not great cars by Volvo standards.
I own the facelift model, it handles very well, I think it is better than the bmw F30 in this regard.
Hmm.......I don't mean to sound Victor Meldrew-ish, but it's not really my kind of Volvo. If I was spending Volvo money, I'd rather have a 240, 940 or even an Amazon. Just my personal taste.
en coche, excelente en su maniobrabilidad y consumo de combustible, gracias por compartir el video
I had the V50 with the 1.8 petrol engine. I loved the car but that particular engine was a nightmare. Its piston rings went at 118,000 miles despite yearly / 10,000 mile oil changes .
I got this one in a 3 door hatchback. Very underrated awesome hot hatch.
Focus with a chance of meatballs
Lovely car, unfortunately I don't fit in it because the B pillars intrude so much my shoulder doesn't fit 😢
shame, I guess Defenders are out as well then?
@@furiousdriving yeah, drove my uncle's 90 td5 once and it's OK for a short while but not for longer trips 😅
'It's 8 degrees,bloomin' freezing'...🤔🤔
The V40 estate (the Mitsubishi / Volvo one) was voted ‘most beautiful estate car’ - my dad had one - and it was indeed a very good looking car. A bit ‘meh’ to drive though!
Not the T4!!!
Pani Paneer is indeed a thing!
Did you mean panoply? An extensive or impressive collection.
that was the word I was fumbling for
3-pot also makes a throaty burpy sound (puretech 1.2L).
Not even in the same league for torque, drivability and durability as a normally aspirated 5 cylinder. These engines easily do 200k with correct maintenance. The PSA is very poor for durability and are lucky to manage 100k without major issues - it’s highly stressed all the time.
Not a Swedish Rover 400 - it's a Swedish Ford Focus.
Lovely guy and your channel is superb but there is no way I would allow you into any of my cars
All this eating and drinking, big no no
Vw bora not Jetta
🤞🤞
Don't like
Yipee i'm 6th today
Noooooooo😂
@furiousdriving the Swedish Rover 400? is the volvo that bad seriously?
How very dare you! 400s are excellent!
@@furiousdrivingI take you are comparing with the R8 based 400, not the slightly hopeless HH-R?
Had one of these years ago. Too unreliable and far too cramped, so i upgraded to a Skoda Superb mark 3. A far superior car in every imaginable way
Okay the Superb is a different category, the Octavia would be a fair comparison. but I share your impressions regarding reliability. Lots of annoying experiences with a V50. Switched to an S-Max, also a different category and very much so.
The previous S40 (classic) series was far better than this series , Ford sent Volvo backwards
Not a popular opinion, the Charisma was pretty unloved as a base for the Mk1
The mk1 S40 is much more a Volvo than the mk2. It may share the same chassi as the Carisma but not much else.
Charisma Chassis, Renault motors, made in the Netherlands,, yeah, a "real" Volvo... if ugly dashboards are the hallmark of "real" volvos...
@@martinkrautter8325The 2.0T and T4 has both Volvo engine and gearbox. All other engines has Renault gearboxes. Also 2.0 and 1.8 (not 1.8i) has Volvo engines. Even the 1.6 but the only Renault engine was the diesel one. These engines had one cylinder cut from the Volvo 850-engine. And whats so great about the older square style dashboards? Do your homework please.