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 made 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 considered unsuccessful.

Models 440/460/480 appear next, but… something doesn't work either. It seems that the NedCar plant, which the company inherited from DAF, is somehow unhappy ... 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, Mitsubishi Carisma and Volvo S40, appears. 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 very beginning - it seems to be good for her!

Not Focus at all

Volvo S40 II

Many car enthusiasts 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 got the Volvo engines - for the RS and ST versions, they have a Swedish turbocharged "five" in store. But back to the S40, which shares about 60% of the parts with Ford, for which brand fans consider it a "fake Volvo."

Ford Focus II

Moving production to Belgium, to a factory in Ghent, had a positive impact on quality. And the car itself was a success; unlike its ancestors, it really was a "little Volvo", not a foundling. Comfort, style, all corporate conventions and "tricks" in terms of safety and controllability were observed. This is not to say that the car has become megapopular, but sales have gone uphill. 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 that disputes about "authenticity" can definitely be stopped there and finally admit an obvious fact. The partnership with Ford has had a profound impact on the company and has resulted in some of the most successful and scalable platforms in the global marketplace. 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. Suspensions are independent, front - MacPherson, 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 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 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 recovery 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 stops being quiet and comfortable.

The interior is strong and only on very old cars it starts 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 controls, 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 their solution. If something breaks, it is usually either not too expensive or it can be repaired successfully. Unless it's 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 replacement hatch 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 machines 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.

Here wheel bearings are short-lived. The running capacity 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 car's handling. The brake system on cars also does not present any special surprises. 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 - reliable ABS, well-located brake lines and reliable hoses.

The 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 it can 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 refurbished 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. from. 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. The 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 turbo engines 2.4 and 2.5 were 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 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 it 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 a little 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 a poor crankcase ventilation system and weak engine gaskets. However, all the shortcomings are covered by the simplicity, cheapness and 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 cheapest 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 for cars with Ford engines will not be the most luxurious.

So, if the operating price is very important to you, then the 1.6 engine with manual transmission is your choice. But you have to look for a good package, most of these cars will be "empty", and besides, they were often taken by "traveling" companies. Machines with 1.8-2.0 engines with manual gearbox are a little more expensive, but have a longer engine life, and they are also a reasonable choice. If you need comfort, then in-line "five" 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 make it possible to predict the remaining resource of the 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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There are not so many long-livers in the world car market, manufacturers are trying to periodically upgrade their models. But the Volvo S40 of the second generation lasted on the assembly line for eight whole years, after which, unfortunately, it retired.

The car was first presented to the public in 2004 at the Frankfurt Motor Show, in 2008 it underwent a slight upgrade, after which it was produced unchanged until 2012.

Sedan Volvo S40 of the second generation is based on the universal platform "Volvo P1" (we recall that Mazda3 and Ford Focus were also built on it).

The idea behind the Volvo S40 is impossibly simple - a compact car with a dynamic appearance, comfortably on par with the larger models, but more affordable and aimed at driving pleasure.

What does compact mean? The length of the sedan is 4476 mm, height - 1454 mm, width - 1770 mm. It has 2640 mm between the axles, but the ground clearance (clearance) is very modest - only 135 mm.

At first glance, the appearance of the Volvo S40 does not stand out with anything supernatural. And this could have been stopped if it had not been Volvo! As they say, "the power of charisma" is great. All the plastic of the front of the sedan is made in the corporate style for the brand, so you can recognize the car among thousands of others. The predatory optics of the head light, the spectacular side line that dictates the shape of the taillights, the layout of the stern - everything speaks of belonging to the Scandinavians.

In general, "es-fortieth" has a laconic appearance, characterized by a bright personality and athletic stockiness, which is especially evident in profile. We can say this about the Swedish sedan - it will delight the eye, both in the office parking lot and in any other surroundings.

The "second" Volvo S40 has an elegant, graceful, but at the same time moderately strict interior. The dashboard is simple enough, but functional and well readable. In general, the interior space of the sedan is inevitably built around the center console, the appearance of which largely determines the impression of the car. The Volvo S40 panel is bent by a "wave", and it is divided into several zones - an air conditioner and a telephone with "music". The center of the "dashboard" is studded with buttons, which are enclosed between four round selectors, similar to the tuning knobs of an old-fashioned receiver. Well, all the information is displayed on a single small display located under the ventilation deflectors.

But the most curious thing lies in something else - not only is the panel thin and it has an additional compartment for various small things, but also its finishing is possible not only with plastic, aluminum or wood, it can also be transparent, thereby revealing the entire electronic stuffing ".

Another distinctive feature of the Volvo S40 is that any function can be used without referring to the instructions - high ergonomics.

The Volvo S40 sedan provides ample space for front riders. Lateral support is not very developed, but a person of almost any build can sit comfortably. The adjustment ranges are wide, the steering column moves in overhangs and in height, making it easy to find the optimal comfortable position. On the whole, the back sofa is not bad, the seats are well-shaped, but there is not enough space for three.

The main problem of the "Swede" is embarkation and disembarkation, during which it is easy to hit your head on the sloping roof rack.

The luggage compartment of the "es-fortieth" is spacious - 404 liters of usable volume. The opening is wide, the loading height is acceptable, the rear seat back folds down, which allows you to put quite large things there. The lid hinges and wheel arches do not eat up the luggage compartment space.

Specifications. In Russia, the "second" Volvo S40 was offered exclusively with gasoline engines, although turbodiesel versions were available for the European market.

• The base role on the Swedish sedan is performed by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine, delivering 100 horsepower and 150 Nm of peak thrust. It works in tandem with a 5-speed "mechanics". Such a bundle allows the car to gain the first hundred in 11.9 seconds, and the top speed value is set at 185 km / h. The Swede needs an average of 7 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers in the combined cycle.
• It is followed by a 2.0-liter "aspirated", the return of which is 145 "horses" and 185 Nm of torque. The engine is exclusively matched to a 6-band robotic transmission with two clutches. The dynamics of such a sedan is at an acceptable level - 9.8 seconds from zero to hundreds and 205 km / h of maximum speed. With more power, such a machine needs only one liter of fuel more than with a younger unit.
• More powerful naturally aspirated engine - 2.4-liter, with five cylinders arranged in a row. With a power potential of 170 "horses", it develops 230 Nm of peak torque. The engine is paired with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The sedan does the exercise to accelerate to hundreds in 8.9 seconds, and its maximum speed is limited at around 215 km / h. In the combined cycle, the 170-horsepower Volvo S40 requires an average of 9.1 liters of fuel per 100 kilometers.
• The role of the flagship is assigned to a five-cylinder 2.5-liter engine, equipped with a turbocharging system and distributed injection. The power of this power unit is 230 horsepower, and the torque limit is set at around 320 Nm. To him in tandem can go as a 6-speed "mechanics" and 5-band "automatic", the drive is extremely full. In the first case, the "es-fortieth" gains 100 km / h in 7.1 seconds, in the second - in 7.5 seconds, the peak speed is 230 and 225 km / h, respectively. With decent power, the sedan is quite economical - fuel consumption varies from 9.5 to 9.8 liters of fuel per hundred run.

The "second" Volvo S40 is equipped with an independent spring suspension, which is available in two versions: Dynamic and Standard. The "dynamic" suspension is characterized by increased rigidity, as a result of which the car is controlled sharper, but road irregularities cause a lot of inconvenience. The "standard" variant is the golden mean, as the sedan rides with it softer.

"Es-fortieth" has various technologies that are aimed at improving the safety of riders. The most interesting of these is IDIS, which automatically blocks unimportant information if the driver is actively using the accelerator pedal and steering wheel. In addition, the Swedish sedan is equipped with an integrated Fenix \u200b\u200b5.1 engine management system, which monitors the condition of the fuel supply systems and maintain idle speed.

Equipment and prices. Unfortunately for many, sales of the second generation Volvo S40 ended in 2012. In 2017, in the secondary market, you can buy a supported sedan at a price of 400 ~ 500 thousand rubles. As for the equipment, the basic equipment of the car includes: ABS, front and side airbags, climate control, power accessories, cruise control, heated front seats and standard "music". More expensive versions have: leather interior, bi-xenon headlights, as well as electric adjustment of the front seats.

The small 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, Belgium, and the quality problems were forgotten, the small Volvo became as reliable as the large, if not better. Anyway, in that.

What should you buy 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 a lot to offer: a reinforced body structure is required for all cars of the brand, airbags are standard, 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 do not believe it if they say that it does not rust. Unfortunately, zinc plating does not 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 rear arch seams 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, the 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 above the windshield, amplifiers for the front and rear bumpers, a front panel in the lower part and at the central bulkhead, 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 of the side niches and seams of the side members under the soundproofing mats.

There are no problems with the repair of the thresholds, there are repair kits numbered 9008011 (left) and 9008012 (right). If the price seems too high, 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 severe corrosion in the area of \u200b\u200bthe engine shield and damaged 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. It is she who 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 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 wet 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 areas of damage to the anti-corrosion coating layer 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 background 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 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 these troubles together will pull a decent amount.

But the breakage of the windshield wipers trapezoid 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 several times more reliable than factory plastic with a bushing, it is not afraid of attempts to clean the glass covered with snow or with frozen wipers. Such parts can be purchased ready-made through the owners' 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 the mileage above 300 thousand, or the 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.

Pictured: 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 is 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 earlier. 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 racks, 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 even sometimes breaks off under increased load. Do not bring 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 the 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 at restyling, the suspension is both more resourceful and 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 breaking them are increased. It is useless to buy used, 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, 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 rail 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 tubes are completely reliable and only occasionally damaged by corrosion. The system as a whole works reliably, except that 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 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 in line with Mitsubishi Carisma at the Dutch NedCar plant. It was built from scratch 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 personality 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, noise insulation has improved, and in 1998, side airbags appeared.

Anyone 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 radiator grill have been updated.

In the first models, door hinges often suffered.

Chassis

The Volvo S40 cannot boast of good handling. Until 1999, the suspension was stiff, noisy, and short-lived. The shape, design and attachment points of suspension elements have changed over the years. 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 stabilizer struts outperforms many competitors.

The front axle is equipped with McPherson struts, lower wishbones and anti-roll bars. Unfortunately, the ball joints are firmly fixed, therefore, in case of wear, the lever assembly will have to be replaced (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 calls Multi-Link. Average service life is more than 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 someone who has dealt with both cars and knows what fits what will be able to pick up analogues.

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 the 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 multipoint 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 burn out regularly.

Transmissions also cause certain troubles: there are problems with shifting.

The body is very well protected against corrosion. However, in the earliest examples, 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 bought 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

The new Volvo S40 sedan was first introduced by Volvo in 1995. The car was produced at the NedCar joint venture with Mitsubishi, located in the Netherlands.

In 2001, the Swedish sedan underwent an update, as a result of which it received changes in the interior and exterior, as well as a number of technical improvements.

The first generation model was produced until 2004, and its total circulation was 352,910 copies. Interestingly, the Volvo S40 is the first car to receive 4 stars in the EuroNCAP crash tests.

The "first" Volvo S40 is a compact premium sedan based on the Mitsubishi Carisma platform. With her, the Swedish model was similar in terms of appearance.

S40 length - 4483 mm, height - 1411 mm, width - 1717 mm. The wheelbase of the car is not a record for the class - 2550 mm, and the ground clearance (clearance) is very modest - 150 mm.

The curb weight of the "es-forty" varies from 1225 to 1255 kg, depending on the modification.

Under the hood of the first generation Volvo S40, one of nine four-cylinder petrol or diesel units can be located:

• The gasoline part includes a 1.6-liter engine producing from 105 to 109 "horses", a 1.8-liter with a capacity of 115 to 125 horsepower, as well as a 2.0-liter, the output of which ranges from 136 to 140 horsepower. Well, the top-end is considered a 1.9-liter turbo engine, developing from 160 to 200 forces.
• Also for the sedan, a 1.9-liter Renault diesel engine was offered, the power of which varies from 90 to 115 horsepower.

The motors were combined with either a 5-speed "mechanics" or with a 4-speed "automatic", the transmission in all cases is front-wheel drive.

The car is endowed with good directional stability - it holds the road perfectly. The steering is supplemented with a hydraulic booster, but many owners note its low information content.

The first generation Volvo S40 has disc brakes in a circle, ABS is standard for all modifications. In addition, a dynamic stability system was offered for the sedan.

Two types of independent suspensions were installed on the "first" Volvo S40 - sporty and comfortable. Their differences lie in the different stiffness of the shock absorbers and the anti-roll bar. Each of the suspensions has its pluses and minuses: the first is stiffer, but more collected in turns, the second is softer, but in turns it gives itself out with increased rolls.

This Swedish sedan has gained a reputation as a reliable car, for which Russian motorists fell in love.

The main advantages of the model are excellent noise insulation, comfortable suspension, a spacious and well-thought-out interior, decent equipment, a high level of safety, good ergonomics, and stable behavior on the road.
Well, many owners of the "first" Volvo S40 complain about the modest ground clearance, not too quick automatic transmission and the high price tag for original spare parts.

In 2017, in the secondary market of the Russian Federation, you can purchase a first-generation Volvo S40 at a price of 200 ~ 300 thousand rubles (depending on the equipment and condition of a particular instance).