I haven't owned a front wheel drive car since 2006, but this one (which is ostensibly a Ford, the last front wheel drive car I owned by the way), is phenomenal! It has plowed through snow and seen itself through some of the toughest hail I can remember with minimal scarring. However, the clear coat on the hood and the roof is mostly gone, but that's cosmetic isn't it?
The low-pressure turbo kicks in nicely and it seems to get reasonable gas mileage for such a heavy car operating under a 4Cyl. turbo. But that brings me to the most important point: Whomever designed the fuel gauge "empty point" is a jackass. The fuel light comes on with 6 gallons left in the tank! So I'm constantly "running out of fuel," despite what my brain tells me, which is a stressor like you wouldn't believe.
Despite this problem, the car has never done me wrong. I know that by this stage in Volvo's history, this car was essentially a Ford Focus, however, I've been in one of those and it's not nearly as good. It doesn't look as nice, it handles differently, and it's not as refined or elegant. Volvo, for their part, did something with this car. Maybe it's the turbo itself, or maybe it's the leather interior, but this car seems special.
Like I say before, I've never owned an automatic before this one, however, it's reasonable. 5 speeds, Winter Button (which does... Something marvelous in the snow) and traction control, coupled with ABS, this car is impossible to crash in the snow or ice. I'm a firm believer in manual transmission cars and it hasn't changed, but this Volvo has done a damn fine job.
A lot of people have a downer on newer Volvos, and I did too before I checked this one out, but I think it's because we believe that there has been a fundamental shift in the engineering and design. On the surface, maybe that's more true, but maybe under the hood: it is far less obvious. The 1.9L engine in this car is fantastic, and the transmission is smooth, on point, and capable. For a wagon it corners just as well as you'd expect, and the amenities are all there, maybe with the exception of the satellite navigation, which honestly, should have been included with the initial price.
This brings me to the question: why is this car so cheap? You can pick up a used S40 or V40 for under $2400, and that's "excellent condition," according to KBB.com. Like I say, I've owned this car, which currently has 152K miles on it, for over a year, and there are no problems at all, besides the fuel gauge anomaly. No leaks, no indication that it is anything other than a brand new car out for its first drive.
I will say this: it is not the most attractive car, but it has a certain boxy-charm that is indicative of the Volvos of old, met with the demands of roundness of the 21st century: It is in keeping with the time that it was conceived.
Honestly, and this is going against every indication of "good" cars that I have: pick one up if you find one. You'll get a hell of a bargain and a great car as well. But be warned: the wipers are crap.
