tina Posted May 16, 2009 Report Share Posted May 16, 2009 Hello,We currently have an 1998 S70 with 170k miles on it, it's help up pretty well, some minor things have needed attention but nothing too serious. We now need a second car. While shopping for another S70 with lower miles I have seen a few S40's that looks very nice too - and as they are a bit smaller, easier to park and maybe a bit easier on gas. I have my eye on a 2001 1 owner S40 with 58,000 miles going for $7k.Does anyone have comments on the S40 (specifically I have looked at a 2001 and a 2003) as compared to the S70 in general and as reliability and DIY repair ease goes?What are the common S40 issues to look out for? Any "bad years"?PS our price range is 5-6K but we may be able to go a little higher for exceptionally low miles/good condition, in the SF bay area.Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatnic Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Hello,We currently have an 1998 S70 with 170k miles on it, it's help up pretty well, some minor things have needed attention but nothing too serious. We now need a second car. While shopping for another S70 with lower miles I have seen a few S40's that looks very nice too - and as they are a bit smaller, easier to park and maybe a bit easier on gas. I have my eye on a 2001 1 owner S40 with 58,000 miles going for $7k.Does anyone have comments on the S40 (specifically I have looked at a 2001 and a 2003) as compared to the S70 in general and as reliability and DIY repair ease goes?What are the common S40 issues to look out for? Any "bad years"?PS our price range is 5-6K but we may be able to go a little higher for exceptionally low miles/good condition, in the SF bay area.Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatnic Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Hello,We currently have an 1998 S70 with 170k miles on it, it's help up pretty well, some minor things have needed attention but nothing too serious. We now need a second car. While shopping for another S70 with lower miles I have seen a few S40's that looks very nice too - and as they are a bit smaller, easier to park and maybe a bit easier on gas. I have my eye on a 2001 1 owner S40 with 58,000 miles going for $7k.Does anyone have comments on the S40 (specifically I have looked at a 2001 and a 2003) as compared to the S70 in general and as reliability and DIY repair ease goes?What are the common S40 issues to look out for? Any "bad years"?PS our price range is 5-6K but we may be able to go a little higher for exceptionally low miles/good condition, in the SF bay area.Thanks!Just got done looking and buying a volvo. To be honest, I only bought the volvo because it was cheap and it looked decent enough. Some things to look out for are the A/C system--very expensive to repair and its very poorly engineered, so you'll be shelling out another couple thousand on that. And of course every time you turn around another sensor will be bad, so better keep a trunk load of extras...another thousand. And don't forget the interference engine...which means you better be changing your t-belt every 75k. Unless you are paying close to wholesale for the car, you'd be much better off financially getting a lexus or acura. Just my opinion...I've owned several volvos and I don't hate them, but they're not well engineered....maybe one step above a ford or gm, but that's not saying much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsychoWagon Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Just got done looking and buying a volvo. To be honest, I only bought the volvo because it was cheap and it looked decent enough. Some things to look out for are the A/C system--very expensive to repair and its very poorly engineered, so you'll be shelling out another couple thousand on that. And of course every time you turn around another sensor will be bad, so better keep a trunk load of extras...another thousand. And don't forget the interference engine...which means you better be changing your t-belt every 75k. Unless you are paying close to wholesale for the car, you'd be much better off financially getting a lexus or acura. Just my opinion...I've owned several volvos and I don't hate them, but they're not well engineered....maybe one step above a ford or gm, but that's not saying much.Don't be so fast to judge, if you dished out all that money on one car, you're doing something very wrong.and obviously you don't know volvos all that well! 2001-2004.5 S40s are extremely reliable cars, with the only things really going are fuel pressure regulators and map sensor (engine compartment wise), suspension never goes, rear springs break, and that's pretty much it. If you want to buy the most reliable volvo out there, 01-04.5 s40 is for you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tina Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Just got done looking and buying a volvo. To be honest, I only bought the volvo because it was cheap and it looked decent enough. Some things to look out for are the A/C system--very expensive to repair and its very poorly engineered, so you'll be shelling out another couple thousand on that. And of course every time you turn around another sensor will be bad, so better keep a trunk load of extras...another thousand. And don't forget the interference engine...which means you better be changing your t-belt every 75k. Unless you are paying close to wholesale for the car, you'd be much better off financially getting a lexus or acura. Just my opinion...I've owned several volvos and I don't hate them, but they're not well engineered....maybe one step above a ford or gm, but that's not saying much.I have never understood why people come to a Volvo board to diss volvos. I've been a Volvo owner for 15 years now and I keep buying them because they are very good cars and very safe. OUr 740 saved us when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and totalled our nice wagon but we didn't even have a bruise. A Lexus or Acura would cost be 2x as much for a similar condition car in this area, and to be honest I was not asking whether I should buy a Volvo, I was asking for advice from people from this particular model (S40) how it compares with other models, which I am familiar with. Our previous car, and 850 wagon, had 365,000 miles on it when we sold it due to a value problem, my husband's and my first car was 81 240 wagon had over 300k as well and was running fine when we sold it to move from Canada to the USA. Our current S70 as I said has been a reliable car as well. I like the idea of the smaller S40 so I wanted to know how it stacks up.One of the reasons I find Volvos to be a good deal is the ease of DIY repairs. I have saved thousands of $$ fixing things myself thanks to the Volvo forums. Last week I fixed the A/C on our S70 thanks to a Volvospeed member - I used 3 20 cent washers and 15 minutes of time.Psychowagon thanks very much for the info - I am going to look at another 2001 S40 tomorrow, even lower miles (51k) and a color combo I like better. I may just come home with it! I am happy to hear the S40 is a good Volvo. I wonder how I can check for fuel pressure regulators and map sensor? Sounds like something that will just fail out of the blue one day, but if there are signs to look for please do advise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnknownSoldier Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Stay away from the earlier pre 2001 ones Tina, nothing but bad experiences. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tina Posted May 17, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Stay away from the earlier pre 2001 ones Tina, nothing but bad experiences.So 2001 - 2004 is good but not 2000? I don't recall when the model was introduced, but I've only seen 2001-2008 advertised (2005+ are out of our price range). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
UnknownSoldier Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 So 2001 - 2004 is good but not 2000? I don't recall when the model was introduced, but I've only seen 2001-2008 advertised (2005+ are out of our price range).Unless its a T4 or T4 SE, the s40's came out in 95 but the Phase 2 ones 2001-04 are much more reliable and also have nicer lights and front grille. My 1999 s40t had non stop trouble and melted pistons and valves just over 100,000k's and also fuel pressure trouble, i have personally seen quite a few that have had major problems in the Phase 1 95-2000 models. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
64pvolvo1800 Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Unless its a T4 or T4 SE, the s40's came out in 95 but the Phase 2 ones 2001-04 are much more reliable and also have nicer lights and front grille. My 1999 s40t had non stop trouble and melted pistons and valves just over 100,000k's and also fuel pressure trouble, i have personally seen quite a few that have had major problems in the Phase 1 95-2000 models.Maybe it's a ROO thing, but we didnt have S40 anythings that far back in the USA. I tend to agree Tina, the S40 is failry cheap and reliable. Good luck in the hunt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsychoWagon Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 2001 are fine. Had a couple transmissions and couple racks, but early early (warranty around 30k).I wouldn't worry about it.FPR cheap, map sensor cheap :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatnic Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 I have never understood why people come to a Volvo board to diss volvos. I've been a Volvo owner for 15 years now and I keep buying them because they are very good cars and very safe. OUr 740 saved us when a drunk driver ran a stop sign and totalled our nice wagon but we didn't even have a bruise. A Lexus or Acura would cost be 2x as much for a similar condition car in this area, and to be honest I was not asking whether I should buy a Volvo, I was asking for advice from people from this particular model (S40) how it compares with other models, which I am familiar with. Our previous car, and 850 wagon, had 365,000 miles on it when we sold it due to a value problem, my husband's and my first car was 81 240 wagon had over 300k as well and was running fine when we sold it to move from Canada to the USA. Our current S70 as I said has been a reliable car as well. I like the idea of the smaller S40 so I wanted to know how it stacks up.One of the reasons I find Volvos to be a good deal is the ease of DIY repairs. I have saved thousands of $$ fixing things myself thanks to the Volvo forums. Last week I fixed the A/C on our S70 thanks to a Volvospeed member - I used 3 20 cent washers and 15 minutes of time.Psychowagon thanks very much for the info - I am going to look at another 2001 S40 tomorrow, even lower miles (51k) and a color combo I like better. I may just come home with it! I am happy to hear the S40 is a good Volvo. I wonder how I can check for fuel pressure regulators and map sensor? Sounds like something that will just fail out of the blue one day, but if there are signs to look for please do advise.Tina, you asked for opinions I gave you mine since I just bought a 2001 S40. Why is posting the common problems with this model bashing? I bought a subaru forester for my wife a couple of years ago, with AWD since we're in Maine. I've never visited a subaru forum and I wonder if they even exist? All you need to do is get in the car and drive it. Maybe change the timing belt once and while and the oil. But you're not working on it every friggen' weekend.....and try to find one for sale on ebay, few and far between but volvos are a dime a dozen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsychoWagon Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Tina, you asked for opinions I gave you mine since I just bought a 2001 S40. Why is posting the common problems with this model bashing? I bought a subaru forester for my wife a couple of years ago, with AWD since we're in Maine. I've never visited a subaru forum and I wonder if they even exist? All you need to do is get in the car and drive it. Maybe change the timing belt once and while and the oil. But you're not working on it every friggen' weekend.....and try to find one for sale on ebay, few and far between but volvos are a dime a dozen.Only thing I have done to my 99 s80 is front brakes nad oil changes.Only thing I've done to my S70 is a MAF and brakes. (other things were preventative for the BOOST).And you just don't know what to look for in subarus lol, and wait until you do the timing belt on that flat head, good luck... and wait for the fuel leaks :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VTT5 Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Tina, you asked for opinions I gave you mine since I just bought a 2001 S40. Why is posting the common problems with this model bashing? I bought a subaru forester for my wife a couple of years ago, with AWD since we're in Maine. I've never visited a subaru forum and I wonder if they even exist? All you need to do is get in the car and drive it. Maybe change the timing belt once and while and the oil. But you're not working on it every friggen' weekend.....and try to find one for sale on ebay, few and far between but volvos are a dime a dozen.There are forums. That's where I went to vent when my new 2000 Legacy spent 3 of its first 48 months in the shop. (ECU alone failed twice.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tatnic Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 Only thing I have done to my 99 s80 is front brakes nad oil changes.Only thing I've done to my S70 is a MAF and brakes. (other things were preventative for the BOOST).And you just don't know what to look for in subarus lol, and wait until you do the timing belt on that flat head, good luck... and wait for the fuel leaks I took it to a local dealer (Ocean Subaru in North Hampton, NH)...they charged me $270 which tells me there wasn't much labor involved. That's short money. I had a toyota and when the belt broke I just towed it in and replaced it...no new heads or engine replacement.The Forester is not a beauty, not like the S40, but Tina mentioned she couldn't afford the newer models so I assume she's trying to live within her budget. If she's in CA, she's going to need an A/C and if she's looking to replace a leaky evaporator, that could run her $2k in the Bay area. Or she could try to do it herself. I'm thinking of cutting through the firewall to access mine.....Thinking outside the box here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsychoWagon Posted May 17, 2009 Report Share Posted May 17, 2009 The Forester is not a beauty, not like the S40, but Tina mentioned she couldn't afford the newer models so I assume she's trying to live within her budget. If she's in CA, she's going to need an A/C and if she's looking to replace a leaky evaporator, that could run her $2k in the Bay area. Or she could try to do it herself. I'm thinking of cutting through the firewall to access mine.....Thinking outside the box here.I've never once had to replace an evaporator in a 2001-2004 s40. As a matter o fact, I've seen s40 with 400 000km on them with still original working AC.There's something terribly wrong with YOUR S40.and when subarus break, they're more expensive to fix because it's a lot harder for the DIY scene. Maybe you got a good subaru and a bad s40?Either way, if you can't afford the car new, you can't afford to fix it.It's like buying older BMWs, Audis, Mercedez etc... if you want REAL luxury (Lexus isn't REAL luxury), you're going to pay in repairs unless you buy new. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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