Buying S40, Need Advice

Hi all,

I have test drove an used S40 2.4 2004 today and have few questions before buying, hope to get some advice from you guys..

1) The temperature points to the middle line, is this normal temp coz my nissan is usually slightly below the middle line.

2) The odo reading is 78000km and the indicator shows "due for service" Is it due for the 80k service as indicated by FA or the owner is stretching the service which is suppose to due much earlier? The indicator will signal how many km before the next due?

3) Is the first batch of 2004 fitted with immo?

4) Does it has driving behaviour memory as mentioned? I suppose it does coz it changes gear at each time at 3000-3500 rpm even though i tried to push it harder..maybe bcoz the owner is quite decent in driving..

Other than that everything seems fine. Less responsive below 3000rpm but takes off easily above that reading..Good sound system and perfect handling. Very solid car.

Thanks

Hi Jonas,

Good that now you have experience for yourself how is it to actually drive the car. To answer ur questions:

1. Temp gauge is normal to be at middle line for S40, when its at optimum temp. My car usually takes about nearly 5mins driving before it climb to middle line, and it stays there.

2. From what I know, when the indicator shows "due for service, meaning you will have to bring the car to service immediately. In think, as you suspected, the previous owner might stretch the service interval.

3. Not sure about the immo for 2004 model. But I supposed if the key is all plastic (no metal protruding), then it is all immo enabled.

4. I am sure the car is fitted with the driving behaviour memory as earlier discussed. Maybe the owner was a careful driver. Hence you the behaviour as your described. I think when you drive the car for a week, then it will change to your driving style. Frankly I am a soft-on-the-paddle kinda driver. Due to that the car becomes more sensitive to any time I press the paddle hard. It is much more responsive now.

I drove the car down to Johor for a day trip over the weekend. And I tell you this baby really rocks! Seems like it cannot get enough of speed though I was cruising at 140km/h, the baby just want to get way past 170km/h mark easily, very, very easily..... Hope the saman didn't catch me . Feel like I am a mat rempit in a car liao!!! Hehehe....

Fadli

Interesting reply Fadli... just like to summarize my experience below and get your feedback if they are true:-

1. from standstill to 50 km/h, the S40 is lazy under normal pedal pressure
2. above 60 km/h the S40 starts to wake up
3. above 120 km/h the S40 is raring to go on and on
4. above 160 km/h... i've not tried. but around 150-160, it is very stable.
5. it is cramped for my family of 5. cannot find a suitable place for a tissue box.
6. (yet to feel the effect of adaptive transmission)

I was coming back from johor around 8 pm yesterday and reached the crawl from senawang up to nilai. wasted 2 hours and a few litres...

all Volvo car interval service reminder will appear few K km before than actualy designed service mileage so owner/driver will be aware the service are require soon....when the speedometer mileage are closed to the service mileage then the reminder light will tend to stay in longer time...

Thanks Fadli for your reply..

On Q no 4, since my wife is the one who's buying the car and will drive it most of the time.. So if once a while i bring it out for a ride then i'm sure it's abit sluggish since she'd not be so hard on the pedal.. If i hit it out hard during my ride means the car would adapt to my style of driving. Would it harm the system since it has to readapt again and again.......??

Richard,

Thanks for your info. The service indicator went off after 2-3 min as what i observed. Maybe it's due for the 80k service since it's running 78k km now..

and by the way,

How much is the 80k km service? i read from FA website qouting 2 prices in 2 diff pages...one is ard RM1,0xx something another one is RM1,7xx something.. Any other authorised SC offering lower price? Thanks

then try SM @ jalan sungai Besi.... cost of parts & labour are quite standard on both of authorized WS ( FA & SM ) but is how their appreciate the customer will be diferent from both....

Personally, I bring my ride to SM@sg besi becos I have found the service level to be better compared to FA. Besides which, the Service Advisor I go to at SM is someone I have known since his days at FA@Jln 222 and I have come to trust his assessments of things that need to be done (if any). Look for Amarjeet Singh. Really a good guy!

Hi Jonas,

To answer ur question on the adaptive transmission, I do not think change in the driver between you and your wife will affect the the car in the long term. All the changes are electronics only and no mechanical changes. I am no engineer, but our sifu like Andrew maybe can elaborate further on this. Frankly I think it is okay. The car is designed to handle a much rigorous handling that what we are doing daily.

Guys,
I heard so much about the service levels at FA. The service for my car is not yet due, but I have been sending the car to FA Jln 222 for some complaints. Quite true, seems like they are not that passionate about the car, and the SA is more like "I am just doing my job" kinda attitude. Unfortuantely I am stuck with FA for 5 years since I am taking the Extended Warranty. And I heard FA 222 will move to Glenmarie end of the year. Hopefully they will improve their service in Glenmarie and get more passionate and dedicated people there.

Rgds,

fadli15,

which sifu Andrew are u referring to? me?? if yes, then this is the 1st time in my life, someone is addressing me as "SIFU" ....hahahaha

recently i just found out that by installing a "desulfator" on our S40 2.4i, will really make our car come live again. if u trust me, just buy one n try, RM100 plus. (i am not the dealer or sole agent for this product)