[darreltian]

So what should I do? I really like the lines of the S40. Does it break down a lot? My dad is asking me to decide as soon as possible since my car is sold. I mean the passed on car from my dad. Perdana V6. Freaking big. I'm actually thinking Forte or S40 now. Is it that bad about breaking down? Common?

save all ur worries and get a new car then....the question is now can you find a well maintained S40?
since u don't know much about this 'gem', skipt it and u can buy it next time after u done ur homework
trust me, cars can give you nightmares!

[V406198]

save all ur worries and get a new car then....the question is now can you find a well maintained S40?
since u don't know much about this 'gem', skipt it and u can buy it next time after u done ur homework
trust me, cars can give you nightmares!

all thought i'm hardcore Volvo fan and love too see more Volvo drivers around..but with your background i will second what darret comments with better buy KIa tham Volvo.....or after you get boring with KIA than i can sell my S60R to you later .

[toodles]

I'm very sorry but I actually think Kia Forte is a very nice car but they are very faulty due to the cars built over here and the lack of experience of the service centers.

Is the Volvo S40 of 05 gen old? Actually can it last long? As in 10 years with little hassle? I made a research but found no answers. Problems like gearbox or major parts problems. Does it come within 10 years time?

So far, I learned, it is much more reliable compared to BMW or Mercedes. The spare parts are expensive. It is actually a reliable car overseas. But so far for you guys, is the Volvo reliable?

[sengih]

Toodles, reading from all of your responses, you actually had more or less made up your mind on the S40. No point of other forummers to say their piece now. Rite? I think you just want to confirm/assurance/comfort from other forummers that you are making the right choice.

[V406198]

I'm very sorry but I actually think Kia Forte is a very nice car but they are very faulty due to the cars built over here and the lack of experience of the service centers.

Is the Volvo S40 of 05 gen old? Actually can it last long? As in 10 years with little hassle? I made a research but found no answers. Problems like gearbox or major parts problems. Does it come within 10 years time?

So far, I learned, it is much more reliable compared to BMW or Mercedes. The spare parts are expensive. It is actually a reliable car overseas. But so far for you guys, is the Volvo reliable?

OK, since you still keen on S40 2.4i..abit of background of this mrk2 S40, S402.4i was the joint products of collebration between ford focus, mazda 3 on P1 platform , so certain parts are commonly share between the three manufacturers on undecarriege & suspension & braking system, and varies of engine models like S40 t5 ( no available locally but same as local V50 t5) are sharing same 2.5L engine with Focus ST & latest RS..the first batch of local CKD S40 2.4I was launched back on late 2004 and today only 2.0 powershit model are available with superseded 2.4i model back on 2009.

With current second hand market value on 2005 s40 2.4i should be around rm8xK to 9xK depend on the condition. and until today Volvo Car haven't announce any replacement plan of new mrk3 S40 either from sweden or china so it should be able to stay on until another couple of years from now ( in fact the priorty should go to XC90 now as it is almost 9 years old now )

If you opt for 2005 S40 2.4i and since it is N/A model, you can rule out the problem on the turbo charger. pay more attenction on the gear box & engine condition by checking the oil sludged internally ( as Volvo recommendated the service interval with 20K Km that is almost all 1st owner's will blindly follow throught..) and also early 2004 model have this problem of external water sucking in to MAF/engine with the designed air intake snorkle hose at too lowe position on the grille ( 2005 onward have improved position ), and replacement gear box/engine from half cut yard will lighten your wallet by around rm8 -10K or factory new unit will broken your back account by robbed around rm2xK...

If the above items are in good care condition ( i know some 1st owners in very small percentage will performanced the oil change service in between the factory service sechedule to avoid sludged problem ) that others wear & tear items are will be quite minor cost to replace..as for 5 years old car make sure all major replacement parts are in place then just performance another round of all oil/fuel drain out & top up uppon your proceed new ownership...with that you are good to go for another couple years down the road.

And since the factory warranty are out by now, for future maintenance , you can buy the original/oem Volvo parts from those outside Volvo parts shop (normally part price will cheaper by 30-40%) and go to those outside Volvo specialist workshops that near by your living (again the labour fee will normally cheaper by 40-50%), but if you are looking for peacefull mind to maintance you car in tip top condition with parts replaced with warranty and dont mind pay for premier then you should opt to go with Volvo authorized dealer as FA or SM..

So last answer to your last question..is Volvo realiable ? my anwser is simple...realiable are price to pay, as long as you maintance any model of Volvo with following the workshop mechanic advise ( regardless from authorized workshop or outside Volvo specialist ) by changing faulty parts in time , you will be safe /save in any major bill of repairing.

[toodles]

@sengih: You are so damn right! It looks awesome la. Drove it once in my uncle's car, fell in love with it already. What I need is assurance, comfort and support. LOL! But I don't wanna blindly buy the car and get into massive problems later on. I wanna know about the pros and cons of owning an s40 from you s40 drivers. Makes my scope of knowledge about the car much better. I don't wanna drive the car then halfway stall. Gone case la like that. Thanks for being so understanding! OMGOSH! Nice one. You caught me there.

@V406198: Yeaps, service it before it goes bonkers. Preventive maintenance is much better than fixing. Thanks a lot. I know it shares the same chassis with mazda 3 and Ford Focus so I was thinking maybe it would be cheaper to maintain. But oh wells, I've already made up my mind about the s40. I sourced a Volvo specialist near my place already. Taman Segar. By the name of Jeffrey. Heard he's pretty good and a reliable mechanic.

Oh yea, about your centre consoles, do you have problems with the computer where the CD player refuses to play songs or have a mind of its own and only goes back to normal when you restart your car? If my car has that problem, how much to fix? I'm just talking about possibilities. Here's a start to an 18 year old with an S40!! Can't wait!!

[V406198]

@sengih: You are so damn right! It looks awesome la. Drove it once in my uncle's car, fell in love with it already. What I need is assurance, comfort and support. LOL! But I don't wanna blindly buy the car and get into massive problems later on. I wanna know about the pros and cons of owning an s40 from you s40 drivers. Makes my scope of knowledge about the car much better. I don't wanna drive the car then halfway stall. Gone case la like that. Thanks for being so understanding! OMGOSH! Nice one. You caught me there.

@V406198: Yeaps, service it before it goes bonkers. Preventive maintenance is much better than fixing. Thanks a lot. I know it shares the same chassis with mazda 3 and Ford Focus so I was thinking maybe it would be cheaper to maintain. But oh wells, I've already made up my mind about the s40. I sourced a Volvo specialist near my place already. Taman Segar. By the name of Jeffrey. Heard he's pretty good and a reliable mechanic.

Oh yea, about your centre consoles, do you have problems with the computer where the CD player refuses to play songs or have a mind of its own and only goes back to normal when you restart your car? If my car has that problem, how much to fix? I'm just talking about possibilities. Here's a start to an 18 year old with an S40!! Can't wait!!

if you think by using mazda3 or focus parts is cheapen alternative maintenance route then you will be very wrong, as in fact Volvo parts are cheapen than both of relative.... provided you source from right sources.

Jeffrey of Saideki ( hope i spell it right ) are good old timer Volvo specialist, he is honest & hard working boss but the problem of him are he dont easily turn down any of customers that just walk in to his shop even though his garage are already full of cars that been waited for weeks for his repair ( you will normall see many Volvo camping outside his garage awaiting for repair..) so if this S40 going to be your daily ride then think you better look for altenative Volvo workshop that will able to attend to your car in short time...

if your S40 HU are already in haywire operation then you might be looking for big sump of repair cost. as Volvo design the factory fitted HU to incoporated the alarm system in it, so no alternative repalcement will be sonsider if your no intent to pay the premier cost from factory replacement as new unit of HU will require down load security alarm software & coding only from Volvo Sweden that normaly will cost you few rmK....so far i haven't see any one in KL able to repair the faulty factory HU..and mind you your HU are in built. so.. good luck.

[toodles]

yea, just wanna know. But is the HU easy to get faulty? Is there another alternative to another Volvo specialist around Cheras? Or slightly further?

[phas3r]

sorry for bumping the old topic but i'm considering a 2005 s40 2.4i from my uncle
pros are i know him and the car is worth a lot in terms of mods, 18" bbs, heico bodykit, exhausts, spoiler, and also eibach suspension as i was told, and i can get cheaper stuffs from the mechanic

but cons are the car is in not so good shape and mileage is hitting 170k km

price is around RM70k, should i go for it ? any signs of soon to be damaged gearbox?

[V406198]

sorry for bumping the old topic but i'm considering a 2005 s40 2.4i from my uncle
pros are i know him and the car is worth a lot in terms of mods, 18" bbs, heico bodykit, exhausts, spoiler, and also eibach suspension as i was told, and i can get cheaper stuffs from the mechanic

but cons are the car is in not so good shape and mileage is hitting 170k km

price is around RM70k, should i go for it ? any signs of soon to be damaged gearbox?

try have a deal with your uncle, asking for 3 months warranty from him and any thing breakdown in this period he pay the bill, and also 170km should be done the 2th timing belt change and also few other major parts should be replaced by now like....

igntion coils, o2 sensors, lower arm bushes & ball joints, radiator, thermorstat, drive shaft cover, steering rack tie rods, shock absorbers & top mounts, brake pads & disc rotor, PCV (engine breather system), all engine mounts..

ask you uncler is those parts had been replaced ? if changed then how long ago? if between last 2 years then is fine, if not then better change it now under your uncler account otherwise all this thing will cause your burning pocket.