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Message: <blockquote data-quote="wysiwyg" data-source="post: 95394" data-attributes="member: 419">Hmm... getting a little off-topic, but what the heck...Volvos aren't all bad. Most of them are not exactly drivers' cars but IMHO, one model truly stands out... the S40 2.4i. OK, they had help from the C1 team comprising chassis engineers of the 05 Focus (probably the best-handling FWD ever) and Mazda 3. What strikes me most about the driving experience of this little gem is that the handling is decidedly un-FWD. It's very neutral, there's no glaring torque steer, understeer is minimal which is probably in line with Volvo's safety philosophy, yet oversteer is there for the taking, if induced. It also has fantastic high-speed composure on bad roads (much more than the E46 or W203 Merc). The 5-pot engine is also very distinctive and has good output curves. Internal fit and finish is elegant and very well tied down and the driving position is one of the best around.If anything, I would say that the S40's "problem" is its 5-speed auto box which isn't the smoothest. That, and an uninvolving drive on highways (take it down a trunk road and the chassis really shines). The chassis sweetspot is also quite narrow: in 2.4i form the front-end weight and vanilla suspension makes for brilliant handling. But in T5 form, it gets too front-heavy, the suspension can't cope with the torque steer and the sports suspension with 17" wheels upsets the car's composure and tautness. Amazing (and disappointing) how the performance version is the poor cousin here.</blockquote>

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