New To Me S40 24i - updated
Pros:
Comfortable, supportive seats; fold-down center console in back seat
Cons:
Small glovebox and trunk, door lock issues
The Bottom Line:
A good value for Volvo's legendary safety, but beware manufacturers defects.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
I had to buy a car to replace my Saab 900S convertible. I have had 2 children since purchasing that car, and decided that I wanted a sedan. Then the Saab needed a new clutch, and the next thing I knew, I was in the market for a new car.
I looked at BMW, Camry, Audi, Lexus and Volvo. Armed with Consumer Reports print-outs and with a friend online at the other end of my cell phone, I finally decided on the Volvo S40 24i.
I like all of the amenities it has, especially the rear seat's center console with cupholders and storage compartment - perfect for the kids. I also was looking for good fuel economy, so I will be keeping an eye on that this first week. The seats are extremely comfortable for me - but this car is not built for big people. I am 5'9", and I think anyone over 6' would feel crowded in this interior. The seats themselves are very sporty - not cushy at all, but supportive in all the right spots - especially in the headrest, which is a big issue for me.
There were a few drawbacks. Small-ish trunk and TINY glovebox were the most glaring problem areas for me. Also, even though it is a 2006 with just 5000 miles on it - the drivers side door locks are malfunctioning. It is covered by the warranty, but really, that shouldn't be an issue already !
I am looking forward to driving this car, and will update if I learn anything new to pass on to you.
***UPDATE****
The door lock issue turned out to be extremely persistent, and in fact, 6 trips to the shop later, it is still malfunctioning. I spoke to another friend who had a very similar problem with her Volvo, different year, different model, same problem. There have been a few other hiccups as well, with brakes, window switches, and the remotes - the trunk does not open with the remote - and though Volvo has tried to fix these issues, I am frustrated by the time and expense of driving rental cars while they get to the bottom of it. The car now has 9900 miles on it, and while I am thrilled with fuel economy and all of the amenities, the repairs I have had to endure are overwhelming the benefits.
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