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volvo 5-cylinder

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cutecr03

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I'm getting ready to buy a Volvo S40 and it has a 5-cylinder. I was wondering the pros and cons on that. Can anyone help?

Thanks
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think that they're okay......I had an Audi with a five-pot, and I had no problems with it, it was a nice motor.

[/ QUOTE ]

I'll agree, if the Volvo 5 is half as stout as the Audi 5,
it'll run about 200K miles before it needs anything...
 
Eh...well...my last car was a Volvo 850 with the straight 5. They are pretty stout, but they have their quirks and problems like anything else. The Volvo's don't have a PCV system, at least the 850 didn't. It has a flame trap, which has to be periodically cleaned or it will foul, plug up, and cause the internal crankcase pressure to build. This will then cause seals to start popping, most likely the rear main. These are not easy or cheap to replace. Other than that it's a decent motor. Don't expect to much in the way of power unless it has the turbo, which I believe the S40's have the low pressure setup, correct? My daughter could accelerate faster on her bike than my N/A 850. Transmissions were not great in the 850's either, but that was largely Volvos fault. They marketed the car as having tranny fluid that was good for the life of the vehicle, yet they were using the same DexIII fluid as everyone else. As a result, I'd say roughly 1/3 of the 850's out there had to have their boxes replaced by 100K miles, at $1800 to $2400 a pop. Mine was starting to slip at 110K when I gave the car to my dad, and I had changed the fluid at 90K when I bought it. Was to late, the damage had already been done.

Last thing though, the newer Volvos are fiendishly complex. Having owned a modern Volvo I won't buy another one newer than what I had. I was talking to a guy who is a tech at my local Volvo dealership and he said the eletrical systems in the new cars as so insanely complex that they often have to get someone to come in from Volvo to figure out how to fix them. Not trying to discourage you, just be prepared that they are not exactly considered cheap cars to own or maintain, but they are nice.
 
Well, you could buy a new Audi, It has more
wiring in the door than your average '70 MGB
has in the entire body, don't ask me how I
know this, lets just say, the sisters A4 went
to Uncle Bob to repair the power window...

SteveL
 
thanks for all the feedback. I have been reading and found that a lot of ppl have fuel pump problems or other minor problems..Anyone else experience any of those?

Thanks
 
Fuel pump relays were a big item on the 850's. Didn't have the problem myself but alot of people on the forum I used to frequent did.

If you want specific answers to Volvo related questions from current Volvo owners and a few experts try the brickboard, some nice people over there and they are a good resource.

Brickboard
 
Here's the best place for your research:https://swedespeed.com/

I'm on my 4th Volvo; started with a '85 245 Wagon, an '87 245 Wagon, an '89 740 Wagon & now, my first new Volvo a left over 2004 V70 we bought in '03. I kept all the older ones till over 250k /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif as primary vehicles, except the '87 which got T boned when my wife was hit by a loaded Ford F350 dump. No injury except a bruised leg!

The 850 just went off warranty at 50k & the only thing we had done under warr was sway bar links.

I take my cars to an independent Volvo only shop. The guy was factory trained & is great. My daughter just got her lisc & he's looking for a late model 850 for her as we speak.
 
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