Anyone here got a new S40?

[Rob Guenther]

Alright, I've fallen in love... the new S40 seems to be the perfect car for
me, and I want one.

How is the base 5 cylinder... I've read all the reviews I can find in
magazines/paper but they all test the T5 version, I don't need the
inclination to get tons of speeding tickets, so I want the basic engine in
it (168hp is more then enough to get one in trouble) I've heard 8.5 secs to
60 with the automatic, which is plenty (I'm used to around 11-12)... But I
want the manual tranny... How are Volvo manuals in general. They seem
incredibly long lasting (dad's friend got 370+K Kms on his original clutch
in his 740 wagon, and the tranny still had 5th gear O/D working fine)....
But long lasting doesn't mean they'll have smooth gear engagement, I'm used
to VW manuals, which have rather poor synchronization and shift harshly
compared to something like a Honda gearbox (wonderful things those are, at
least in the Civic I drove).

How's the rear seat space... I want more room in the back than in my
Golf.... Not expecting as much room as the families 960, but somewhere in
the middle would be great.

Anyone (preferably an audiophile) hear the 12 speaker Dolby 2 system in this
car yet?

Looking at:
2.4i engine
Audio package (maybe with the 140W sub... Hoping the main speakers do a good
enough job with bass handling so I don't have to get it)
Climate package
16" Alloy upgrade
Trim package (either wood or aluminum... ill have to see both first hand to
decide).
Sunroof if it's not bad for air buffeting above 80kph
Maybe (and it's a big maybe) the navigation system

 

[Steve n Holly]

Alright, I've fallen in love... the new S40 seems to be the perfect car for
me, and I want one.

How is the base 5 cylinder... I've read all the reviews I can find in
magazines/paper but they all test the T5 version, I don't need the
inclination to get tons of speeding tickets, so I want the basic engine in
it (168hp is more then enough to get one in trouble) I've heard 8.5 secs to
60 with the automatic, which is plenty (I'm used to around 11-12)... But I
want the manual tranny...

I have that engine in my base 850, a bigger heavier car--it's ok, if you rev
it it is faster then one would expect, and the 40 is I guess 1000 lbs
lighter.

How are Volvo manuals in general. They seem

incredibly long lasting (dad's friend got 370+K Kms on his original clutch
in his 740 wagon, and the tranny still had 5th gear O/D working fine)....
But long lasting doesn't mean they'll have smooth gear engagement, I'm used
to VW manuals, which have rather poor synchronization and shift harshly
compared to something like a Honda gearbox (wonderful things those are, at
least in the Civic I drove).

dont know--drive one...

How's the rear seat space... I want more room in the back than in my
Golf.... Not expecting as much room as the families 960, but somewhere in
the middle would be great.

sit in one and make your own judgement.

Anyone (preferably an audiophile) hear the 12 speaker Dolby 2 system in this
car yet?

I am sure it sounds wonderful, but stop by a high end stereo shop before you
pay what volvo wants for the upgrade system and see what they can do for you
for the same money. You might want the built in look, or you might like
more music for your buck.

Looking at:
2.4i engine
Audio package (maybe with the 140W sub... Hoping the main speakers do a good
enough job with bass handling so I don't have to get it)
Climate package
16" Alloy upgrade

Go to a wheel shop and see what they can do or look at www.tirerack.com
again much more bang for your buck, and a cool tool at tire rack to see what
the wheels would look like on the car.

Trim package (either wood or aluminum... ill have to see both first hand to
decide).
Sunroof if it's not bad for air buffeting above 80kph
Maybe (and it's a big maybe) the navigation system

Aftermarket again, at least look

 

[Rob Guenther]

Thanks for the opinions, but I won't be going aftermarket on anything at all
on this car, just listed what I want in it for people to get a feel for what
the car will end up as, in the hope that someone has or has been in a
similar setup.

850 weighs around 3200lbs and an S40 weighs about 3100 lbs according to
carpoint. If you shed 1000lb off of an 850 you'd get something like a
Tercel... not an S40 (they're a solid built car... lots of steel in em')

I was hoping for some 2004.5/2005 S40 owners here, I guess there aren't any
yet, I know it's mostly 200,700, 800, and 900 plus a few S80 owners in this
group, but you never know some lurkers might come out of the woodwork.

I did have a look at the S40 at the dealer to look at space, but that isn't
real world with actually cramming 2-3 real sized people back there when i'm
in my properly set up driving position.

 

[Steven Poole]

Alright, I've fallen in love... the new S40 seems to be the perfect car for
me, and I want one.

How is the base 5 cylinder... I've read all the reviews I can find in
magazines/paper but they all test the T5 version, I don't need the
inclination to get tons of speeding tickets, so I want the basic engine in
it (168hp is more then enough to get one in trouble) I've heard 8.5 secs to
60 with the automatic, which is plenty (I'm used to around 11-12)... But I
want the manual tranny... How are Volvo manuals in general. They seem
incredibly long lasting (dad's friend got 370+K Kms on his original clutch
in his 740 wagon, and the tranny still had 5th gear O/D working fine)....
But long lasting doesn't mean they'll have smooth gear engagement, I'm used
to VW manuals, which have rather poor synchronization and shift harshly
compared to something like a Honda gearbox (wonderful things those are, at
least in the Civic I drove).

How's the rear seat space... I want more room in the back than in my
Golf.... Not expecting as much room as the families 960, but somewhere in
the middle would be great.

Anyone (preferably an audiophile) hear the 12 speaker Dolby 2 system in this
car yet?

Looking at:
2.4i engine
Audio package (maybe with the 140W sub... Hoping the main speakers do a good
enough job with bass handling so I don't have to get it)
Climate package
16" Alloy upgrade
Trim package (either wood or aluminum... ill have to see both first hand to
decide).
Sunroof if it's not bad for air buffeting above 80kph
Maybe (and it's a big maybe) the navigation system

I made pretty much the same decision - also upgrading from a Golf (Mk IV)
with a view to getting a little more internal space and a bigger car feel.
Here in the UK the spec/options are arranged differently, I went for:

S40 2.4i SE Manual

This includes ECC, High Perf Audio (4 * 40W, 8 speaker, 6-CD - but not the
Dolby), 17" alloys (Stylla), leather. I went for aluminium trim - which
looks good with the off-black leather.

This has been my first Volvo and so far (I have only had the car for a week
or so) I have been very pleased - I have scored it 9.8 out of 10....

Steve.

 

[Rob Guenther]

How do you find the room in back? When we take the Volvo (960) for family
trips, there's never a complaint about space... but when I go with just
friends I take the Golf TDI.... and the back passengers have their knees up
to either side of my seat, or they are contorting their bodies or
something... complaining of course. Have you fit 2-3 adults in the back of
the S40 yet?

Glad to hear you like the car.

 

[Steven Poole]

It is OK - I experienced similar complaints in the Golf when having 3 adults
in the back. I haven't yet had a full load in the S40 but do not expect the
same problems. It is not likely to be nearly as roomy as the 960 though I
suspect.

Steve.

 

[Rob Guenther]

Great, thanks for your help... very much appreciated.

Doubt it will have the same space as a 960, it's a big car... But then
again, all I really need is like an extra 2 inches or so.... From what I've
been reading tho: they hollowed out the toe room under the seats, put a roll
in the bottom of the seat so it's more comfortable for the ankles when they
touch it, raised the seat cushion so your legs hang lower, and carved out
the seatback so the knees don't make contact. I haven't read a complaint
really about the S40's room. We'll see.