Drove the Volvo S40T5

[ed325i]

I had some time to kill today, and decided to check out the S40.

First, the interior is very attractive. It looks like Ikea took at Mazda 3, and redesigned the interior. Ok, maybe that's exactly what happened. The key looks like an Ikea product as well, but from the "kids' room" section of the store.

I sat on the leather seats, and on the standard cloth / funky material seats. I like both, and if I was in the market, I would go with the non-leather seats, especially if I like in a sunny climate.

The demo car was an auto T5. One thing that bugged me immediately is the positioning of the door handle. It's too high, either gets in the way when I make turns, or hangs my left elbow up a little too high. I do like the thick steering wheel, with telescoping and up/down adjustments. Oh, the AC is adequate, without feeling like it steals significant power from the engine.

The car handled well. Unfortunately, there was traffic, and the salesman came with me on the test drive, so I cannot really test the car's handling limits. I would say that it handles similar to the new Legacy, with about the same understeer, but without the Subaru's ability to be induced into oversteer via throttle input. Of course, this is an inherent disadvantage of FWD. On the hand, I went WOT in both 1st and 2nd gears, and need not notice any torque steer. I also took a moderately hard and fast right, and did not notice torque steer during the maneuver.

The engine has nice torque. Unlike the Legacy, there was not lag. Torque is always there. However, I think the Legacy has more noticeable torque, once its turbo spins up. The Volvo's engine is also a bit less smooth than the Subaru's, and there was a bit more vibration felt through the steering wheel. This is minor, however.

Overall, the S40 is nice car. I think a Legacy GT with BETTER non-stock tires, would be faster on the road, and handle better at 8/10 or higher. Comments?

Ed

[TD]

Is it available with a manual? I recall checking out the Volvo site a while back for the hell of it and not seeing a manual tranny available.

[Kaz]

Is it available with a manual? I recall checking out the Volvo site a while back for the hell of it and not seeing a manual tranny available.

MT is supposed to be a midyear addition, as well as AWD. See this:

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53419

[ed325i]

Is it available with a manual? I recall checking out the Volvo site a while back for the hell of it and not seeing a manual tranny available.

There was black 6 speed manual on the lot. It was for real paying customers. :)

Ed

[AF]

First, the interior is very attractive. It looks like Ikea took at Mazda 3, and redesigned the interior. Ok, maybe that's exactly what happened. The key looks like an Ikea product as well, but from the "kids' room" section of the store.

Ed,

I'm not quite understanding this ... are you are saying you like the interior or it's cheap looking (which I am guessing from the reference to Ikea) :dunno:

Also how did you find the size of the interior ... it looks a little on the small side from the exterior but do you think it is as big as the E46 sedan in the back ?

I heard the steering is supposed to be very communicative ... how did you find it to be ?

[ed325i]

Ed,

I'm not quite understanding this ... are you are saying you like the interior or it's cheap looking (which I am guessing from the reference to Ikea) :dunno: ...

I LIKE Ikea's stuff. (I even like the food in their cafe.) The interior is attractive, but "Ikea like". I like it, but not everyone may agree.

The forward compartment are LESS roomy the E46. The rear seems to be the same or a bit taller.

The steering is nice, but not as good as a good RWD system such as E36/46. It is more communicative than the Legacy's, but the Legacy had sucky tires. :dunno:

Ed

[KP]

I LIKE Ikea's stuff. (I even like the food in their cafe.) The interior is attractive, but "Ikea like". I like it, but not everyone may agree.

The forward compartment are LESS roomy the E46. The rear seems to be the same or a bit taller.

The steering is nice, but not as good as a good RWD system such as E36/46. It is more communicative than the Legacy's, but the Legacy had sucky tires. :dunno:

Ed

IKEA food, blech! :D I haven't been inside an S40, but I think it's one of the better designs Volvo has put out recently. I like the new Legacy as well, leaps and bounds over the previous generation. They need to bring the WR-Limited though :thumbup:

[Sean]

I have wanted to drive one, but I am waiting for the 6 spd. AWD. :thumbup:

[TD]

I have wanted to drive one, but I am waiting for the 6 spd. AWD. :thumbup:
I am also interested. I do not expect it to impress me, but who knows. On paper it sounds goods.

[LeucX3]

Did it have the whiny 5-cyl sound? I never did get used to that when i had the S60 T5.

[bmw325]

Did it have the whiny 5-cyl sound? I never did get used to that when i had the S60 T5.

I haven't driven a recent volvo- but i kind of like the wharbling exhaust note on an 850GLT that i rented from Hertz a long time ago.

[ZBB 325Ci]

I am also interested. I do not expect it to impress me, but who knows. On paper it sounds goods.

I hate to say it TD, but I doubt you'd like it... I drove a manual Euro-spec T5 (FWD only) at a Volvo event in April and was rather dissapointed. The car didn't feel that fast, and the shifter had a horrible rubbery feel to it... Suspension also felt pretty soft (firmer than the non-turbo, but still softer than my stock 325 Ci...

[TD]

I hate to say it TD, but I doubt you'd like it... I drove a manual Euro-spec T5 (FWD only) at a Volvo event in April and was rather dissapointed. The car didn't feel that fast, and the shifter had a horrible rubbery feel to it... Suspension also felt pretty soft (firmer than the non-turbo, but still softer than my stock 325 Ci...
Well, I did say that I didn't expect it to impress me. So I won't actually be disappointed as my hopes aren't particularly high.

[JetBlack330i]

R&T also had harsh words for that rubbery shifter.

[LeucX3]

I wish i could like Volvo more than i do. But i think i'm too much of a driver. I haven't driven an S60R. The S40 T5 would seem to be a good fit, not as big as the S60, but not too small either.

[AF]

I wish i could like Volvo more than i do. But i think i'm too much of a driver. I haven't driven an S60R. The S40 T5 would seem to be a good fit, not as big as the S60, but not too small either.
Didn't you have a volvo ? I seem to recall you had the S60 with a manual transmission ...

[AF]

Well, I did say that I didn't expect it to impress me. So I won't actually be disappointed as my hopes aren't particularly high.
I can't resist ... the glass is half empty ... right ? ?

[TD]

I can't resist ... the glass is half empty ... right ? ?
It's a Volvo. With Volvo, it's not pessimism, it's realism.

[LeucX3]

Didn't you have a volvo ? I seem to recall you had the S60 with a manual transmission ...
Yeah, i had an 01 S60T5 manual. Everything was good about the car except for the way it drove and sounded. Kinda floaty, not very responsive...and then there was the turbo 5 drone. The Spaceball gearshift was very cool. The seats are stereo were incredible, but not good enough for me to keep the car longer than 11 months.

[Sean]

I am also interested. I do not expect it to impress me, but who knows. On paper it sounds goods.


I wasn't that impressed when I saw one in person. I liked the car (silver T5) Volvo kept showing us, but naturally those wheels are not standard nor optional. They are an accessory. :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn: