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S40 Or Accord Or Camry?


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#1
powwee1

Posted 01 February 2009 - 07:49 PM

powwee1

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Hi all, I find the 2009 Volvo S40 very nice and is considering to buy this car. But I would like to get some "insider information" from the Volvo experts here before I make my final decision...

First, I only found one model available from Volvo Malaysia website...which is the 2.4i model. Can anyone here confirm only 1 model available in Malaysia? I am not sure if I need such a big engine size..., hence if there is a model with smaller engine size, say a 2.0, I will prefer the 2.0 one.

I would like to hear, especially from any 2009 Volvo S40 owner, your feedback on this car.

I know that Toyota Camry and Honda Accord both offer 2.4 models and they are all about the same price....what do you think about the pros and cons among these three cars?

I have a few "worries" with respect to buying S40, I would like to hear a bit more from Volvo owners to varify if my "worries" are valid or just not...

1) What is the fuel consumption of S40 compared to Camry and Accord? My driving pattern is approximately 75% highway and 25% city (percentage as per distance travel). As I mentioned above, S40 only offers one engine size (2.4) while Camry or Accord both offers lower engine size models....So, I am worried that, just because I like S40, I am forced to buy a 2.4 model and ended up have to pay a lot more for the petrol...

2) How much does it cost to maintain S40 compared to Camry and Accord? In Volvo Malaysia website, it was shown that service interval is every 20,000 km, and the approximate cost of each service is about RM 1,192. S40 owners: is this true? Any hidden cost? If I buy a new Volvo and use the car for 6 to 7 years. From your experience, what is the average annual cost of maintaining this car?

3) As you know, Volvo is owned by the troubled US car maker Ford. I am wondering what will happen to my Volvo car (if I bought it) if Ford gone bankrupt. I heard recently that Ford is planning to sell Volvo, and one of the likely buyers is a Chinese car manufacturer....Again I am wondering, if this come true, what kind of service and quality are we expect to see in future Volvo....

Ok, I think I have asked too many questions already....better stop here. Please share your experience or view. Thanks in advance!







#2
jboy

Posted 03 February 2009 - 02:19 AM

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QUOTE (powwee1 @ Feb 1 2009, 08:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi all, I find the 2009 Volvo S40 very nice and is considering to buy this car. But I would like to get some "insider information" from the Volvo experts here before I make my final decision...

First, I only found one model available from Volvo Malaysia website...which is the 2.4i model. Can anyone here confirm only 1 model available in Malaysia? I am not sure if I need such a big engine size..., hence if there is a model with smaller engine size, say a 2.0, I will prefer the 2.0 one.

I would like to hear, especially from any 2009 Volvo S40 owner, your feedback on this car.

I know that Toyota Camry and Honda Accord both offer 2.4 models and they are all about the same price....what do you think about the pros and cons among these three cars?

I have a few "worries" with respect to buying S40, I would like to hear a bit more from Volvo owners to varify if my "worries" are valid or just not...

1) What is the fuel consumption of S40 compared to Camry and Accord? My driving pattern is approximately 75% highway and 25% city (percentage as per distance travel). As I mentioned above, S40 only offers one engine size (2.4) while Camry or Accord both offers lower engine size models....So, I am worried that, just because I like S40, I am forced to buy a 2.4 model and ended up have to pay a lot more for the petrol...

2) How much does it cost to maintain S40 compared to Camry and Accord? In Volvo Malaysia website, it was shown that service interval is every 20,000 km, and the approximate cost of each service is about RM 1,192. S40 owners: is this true? Any hidden cost? If I buy a new Volvo and use the car for 6 to 7 years. From your experience, what is the average annual cost of maintaining this car?

3) As you know, Volvo is owned by the troubled US car maker Ford. I am wondering what will happen to my Volvo car (if I bought it) if Ford gone bankrupt. I heard recently that Ford is planning to sell Volvo, and one of the likely buyers is a Chinese car manufacturer....Again I am wondering, if this come true, what kind of service and quality are we expect to see in future Volvo....

Ok, I think I have asked too many questions already....better stop here. Please share your experience or view. Thanks in advance!



Hello! I've had the Volvo S40 2.4i for almost 5 years and just sold it recently.

The S40 was pretty much problem free all those years so I can say that quality was quite good. My main complaints on it were the stiff power steering (like BMW's), below average fuel consumption, and poor resale value (at least in my country). Also, although the S40 had 170 horses on paper, power delivery seemed kinda inadequate. Strange but I even felt that the new Jazz 1.5L was more powerful if not for its noisy engine during high revs.

Among your 3 choices, I would rank the 2.4 Accord the highest. I've test driven both the 2.4 and 3.5 variants and the Accord is a very comfortable drive and looks sharp too. Interior space is also much bigger which I'm sure you will appreciate later on. Camry would be 2nd while S40 3rd.

Volvo S40 is actually not bad and still looks fresh after almost 5 years of ownership. But you have to remember that this is a 5 year old model already. With today's newer Japanese cars having many of the cool features that used to be available to premium European cars only, I can recommend an S40 only if you are buying 2nd hand at a really great price.

#3
andrewlim8

Posted 03 February 2009 - 10:51 AM

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QUOTE (powwee1 @ Feb 1 2009, 08:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hi all, I find the 2009 Volvo S40 very nice and is considering to buy this car. But I would like to get some "insider information" from the Volvo experts here before I make my final decision...

First, I only found one model available from Volvo Malaysia website...which is the 2.4i model. Can anyone here confirm only 1 model available in Malaysia? I am not sure if I need such a big engine size..., hence if there is a model with smaller engine size, say a 2.0, I will prefer the 2.0 one.

I would like to hear, especially from any 2009 Volvo S40 owner, your feedback on this car.

I know that Toyota Camry and Honda Accord both offer 2.4 models and they are all about the same price....what do you think about the pros and cons among these three cars?

I have a few "worries" with respect to buying S40, I would like to hear a bit more from Volvo owners to varify if my "worries" are valid or just not...

1) What is the fuel consumption of S40 compared to Camry and Accord? My driving pattern is approximately 75% highway and 25% city (percentage as per distance travel). As I mentioned above, S40 only offers one engine size (2.4) while Camry or Accord both offers lower engine size models....So, I am worried that, just because I like S40, I am forced to buy a 2.4 model and ended up have to pay a lot more for the petrol...

2) How much does it cost to maintain S40 compared to Camry and Accord? In Volvo Malaysia website, it was shown that service interval is every 20,000 km, and the approximate cost of each service is about RM 1,192. S40 owners: is this true? Any hidden cost? If I buy a new Volvo and use the car for 6 to 7 years. From your experience, what is the average annual cost of maintaining this car?

3) As you know, Volvo is owned by the troubled US car maker Ford. I am wondering what will happen to my Volvo car (if I bought it) if Ford gone bankrupt. I heard recently that Ford is planning to sell Volvo, and one of the likely buyers is a Chinese car manufacturer....Again I am wondering, if this come true, what kind of service and quality are we expect to see in future Volvo....

Ok, I think I have asked too many questions already....better stop here. Please share your experience or view. Thanks in advance!



powwee,

1st of all, want to ask u a question, do u love car? and to what extent?

if no, then u can choose either camry or accord.

if yes, then u better go for S40. the specifications in S40 as compare to accord or camry, just like u r comparing an adult with a kid.

#4
richard912

Posted 03 February 2009 - 11:40 AM

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Powwee

Just a simple question to you before I comment further, "Have you ever owned a continental car?".

As for me, here's a list of cars I've owned before, in chronological order:

1. Mitsubishi Tredia 1.4 (inherited it from my Dad a loooong time ago....)
2. Mazda 323 1.3
3. Fiat Uno 1.0
4. Fiat Tipo 1.4
5. Citroen ZX 2.0
6. Fiat Brava 1.8
7. Volvo S40 2.0NA
8. Honda Accord 2.0 (company car)
9. Volvo S60 T5 (the monster which I got after I managed to convince my boss the Accord suxx)
10. Citroen Picasso 2.0
11. Volvo S40 2.4i (my current ride)

I figure my next ride will likely be yet another Volvo, the all new S60 when it gets here circa 2011/2012?

The reason for my pointing out the above is to highlight one thing, once you've owned and driven a conti, it's VERY difficult to switch to any other... the built, the feel and the experience of driving a continental car! What's more, with a Volvo, I have not much to fret about car-jackings, car-theft etc, which is an added bonus wink.gif

So, back to your question, an S40, Accord or Camry. This really is a question that you will need to answer for yourself. Based on the 3 choices, the S40 offers the least room in terms of cabin size but then again, you'd probably experience the most "fun" driving it!

As with most cars, there will be some chronic "lemons" which require a lot of "TLC" (tender loving care) in the workshops and $$$ sad.gif but from my overall experience, these have been manageable. It too depends on your driving style i.e. the more often you push your car, the more you'd need to maintain it, regardless of the type and make.

Although the S40 has a service cycle of 20k km, it is advisable to send it in for lube change every 10k km given our climate here in malaysia.

As for your fear of what would happen to Volvo in the future considering the troubles faced by its parent Ford, I am confident something amicable will appear in the horizon in so far as the future of Volvo goes.

#5
powwee1

Posted 03 February 2009 - 05:48 PM

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jboy, andrewlim8, richard912, thanks for the reply.

jboy,

I saw your reply in another topic about the S40 consumption, 18.8L/100km is very high! Other owners in that forum reported around 11 L/100km for mixed city and highway driving.

However, I am happy to hear that your S40 is pretty much trouble-free.

andrewlim8,

whether I love car or not is very subjective, hahaha. Yes, I do appreciate nicely designed exterior, comfortable and elegantly designed interior. I do like my car to be less common, which S40 fits the requirement perfectly.

However, I won't call myself a car enthusiast, because I will not go the the extent of studying the break horse power, torque, gear ratios, etc. All I need to know with respect to performance are getting the 'feel' if there is adequate power via test drive, any significant noise (engine) while driving, is the seat comfortable and driving experience pleasant, engine responsive or not while over-taking, etc. Mostly derived from personal 'feeling' after the test drive.

But thanks for pointing out that the specifications of S40 are very different from Accord or Camry. Can you help me by pointing out the major difference?

richard912,

That's an impressive list of cars that you have owned! I have only owned 4 cars in my life (so far):

Nissan 130Y
Peugeot 405 (in UK)
Hyundai Coupe 1.8
BMW 320i (in Netherlands)

Yes, I have owned 2 continental cars. I perfectly understand what you say. Continental cars are in general very comfortable in the interior. The two continental cars I owned are in Europe. I am worried that the climate in Malaysia is not suitable for continental cars. I have seen the complete electrical wiring system of my dad's Mercedes being disfunctional (partially melted) after 6-7 years of hot sun in Malaysia.... and replacement cost more that RM10k.... Also, the Japanese/Korean cars that I owned was old technology. I am not sure how much improvement has the Japanese made in 15 years time....

So, I fully appreciate Continental cars, but I am also keeping an open mind on Japanese car too.

All, thanks again for your reply, keep the communication going if you have more the share.


#6
V406198

Posted 03 February 2009 - 08:52 PM

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Hi, powwee1

allow me to share some of my experience with Volvo here ...maybe my experience will not helping you to decide which car to buy as i dont have experience on both Toyota and Honda ...but hopefully will give you a clear pespective when owing a Volvo in malaysia....

coinciding, i was also owned Nissan 130Y &Hyundai Coupe 1.8 before i decided on Volvo ownership but.. olden & used volvo of couse and v40 are my first continental ride as my others ride beside the two mentioned above are local or jap/korean make..

so when i first brought my volvo , i do ask the same question like you as i have other choices with jap and korean make in my mind..but unfortunetely (or fortunetaly ) i have not one to ask for the opinion as i didnt come across any Volvo wedsite that time. so for some time i can't decide which to go until my new born baby are growing up and Coupe are unable to provide the space any more for all the baby stuff...

so blindly i decided on V40 that "look" handsome and yet with spacing for me family....the 1st day i took over my V40, im in superise that this sweden make are with such powerful & good built quality that i never experience before this and i can drive it in the heavy rain with full of confidend with my family beside...another big surprise that i have from my V40 are the highway FC consumption that are even lower than my previous smaller cc jap/korean rides with only 6.7L/100km from KL to Kuantan/trengganu and 9L/100km on town driving...that make my thought i had make right move...

but good day only last a while until few months later my v40 start giving me lots of problems with many funny sound & faulty operation from every departments as the car original design intend are with lots of recycle parts that will not last forever...and without any thinking i send my car in to the authorised workshop that i thought their are the best place to rectify my new (used) ride...but didnt realise my nightmare just begin...after a year of trying to repair my sick volvo i spend almost rm20K on it in those authorised workshop's....and start to thinking to sell off my car but only realise the reseller value are so low that i will lost every thing with offset the balance of bank loan...

so with no choice i keep my car and start looking for alternative to cut my bill's , first i found this volvo forum here and later with VOCM forum to ask for help and luckily many had came to help and given good advises and direct me to those so call "outsider volvo specialist " & "volvo parts shop" that had save me alots in parts & labour cost and my billing on V40 have drop alots to almost on par with those local/jap pricing...same time i start to joint the Volvo forum communinty on the weekly TT and also the outstation trips and over the time i had make lots lots of friendly friends there, some even became my very close friend's and we sharing knowledged on every thing included our lovely Volvo...so now i 'm proundly say i'm a happy Volvo owner again.





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#7
initialC

Posted 04 February 2009 - 10:00 AM

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S40 Or Accord Or Camry?
what did you expect the answer since you post in volvo column? rolleyes.gif
try to post it in Honda or Toyota column and see... laugh.gif

#8
tpl

Posted 24 February 2009 - 11:20 PM

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for good handling go for s40 u cant go wrong with this.. too sticky on the road.. haha
2012 NMT President

#9
baldwin

Posted 27 February 2009 - 11:16 AM

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though i might not give u a deep reply as compared to the other sifu's in here,

ur better off driving a Volvo given your high usage on the expressways as these Swedes'
are way safer and comfortable in the long runs. =)

*cheers

#10
scenic

Posted 27 February 2009 - 02:27 PM

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QUOTE (jboy @ Feb 3 2009, 02:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>
Hello! I've had the Volvo S40 2.4i for almost 5 years and just sold it recently.

The S40 was pretty much problem free all those years so I can say that quality was quite good. My main complaints on it were the stiff power steering (like BMW's), below average fuel consumption, and poor resale value (at least in my country). Also, although the S40 had 170 horses on paper, power delivery seemed kinda inadequate. Strange but I even felt that the new Jazz 1.5L was more powerful if not for its noisy engine during high revs.

Among your 3 choices, I would rank the 2.4 Accord the highest. I've test driven both the 2.4 and 3.5 variants and the Accord is a very comfortable drive and looks sharp too. Interior space is also much bigger which I'm sure you will appreciate later on. Camry would be 2nd while S40 3rd.

Volvo S40 is actually not bad and still looks fresh after almost 5 years of ownership. But you have to remember that this is a 5 year old model already. With today's newer Japanese cars having many of the cool features that used to be available to premium European cars only, I can recommend an S40 only if you are buying 2nd hand at a really great price.


Hi jboy,
What's your current ride after your S40 ? Cheers.

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