Volvo S40 petrol engines (2004-2012)

[VR99]

Hi all,
As I continue to search for a replacement to my 15 year old ford focus, the Volvo S40 has caught my eye. I'm only looking at petrols as cover less than 5k miles p/yr.
Ideally I want to avoid the 1.6 as with 99bhp seems v underpowered. The 2.0 145 bhp would be ideal and not keen to drop below this for a heavy-ish Volvo saloon but I am seeing a few of the 125bhp 1.8 models appearing within my price range. Any big issues with the 1.8 petrol aside from also being a bit low on power? My focus is a 1.8 n/a and with 113 bhp is as exciting as watching.paint dry however in the lightweight MK1 3 door guise it's enough for getting about.
I have no issue with getting a diesel but with my low miles I'd rather avoid dpf/carbon build-up headaches not to mention the tractor-esque sound in mornings

[ZX10R NIN]

No issues with it, it's the same engine that's in the MK2 Focus it's adequate but I'd go for the 2.0.

[CoreyDog]

My previous car was the 1.8 S40 before I got a V50 Diesel.

It's not bad... The S40 itself was a lovely comfortable car that never put a foot wrong. In 3 years of owning it, only thing that ever failed was a bonnet release catch.

The engine though... Hm... Was extremely reliable, cheap in servicing but always felt abit gutless to me.

If budget will stretch, I'd go for the 2.0.

[VR99]

Thanks for the input, responses in line with what I expected. I wont be winning traffic light grand prix anytime soon but then not looking.to be driving around like a loon either.
I've been very happy with reliability and servicing costs of my focus...hoping the S40 will at least feel more solid to the extent that I won't end up as a pancake if someone hits the car..don't feel that sense of security with the focus
I think the S40 looks nice for what it is too and relative to the price plus practicality bonus.

As an aside any other petrol Volvo's worth considering or other models such as S60?
I don't need anything bigger than a S40 tbh

Edited by VR99 on Monday 1st April 13:18

[ZX10R NIN]

Try the Mk2 Focus it fares better than the S40 in crash tests mainly due to the S40 being based on the Mk1 Focus saloon.

[VR99]

My cousin had a Mk2 petrol...the thing was terrible. End up being deemed unroadworthy and needing over £1k in repairs so he scrapped it.granted I don't know how it was treated but I've heard the Mk2 wasn't as good as the MK1...saying that I did consider moving to the 2.0 petrol Mk2 model..142 bhp in what is a standard n/a focus is respectable. I've put that idea on hold as a lot of the mk2's I've seen have been ragged silly. So moving my search to 2010ish and onwards..so maybe an Mk3.

[Jamescrs]

I have a V60 on a 61 plate with the T4 which is I believe the same 1.6 Turbo engine found in a number of Ford variants, it has a reasonable pace at 180bhp and it's a very comfortable place to be, I'm very impressed with the tech It's not an exciting car but as a daily driver and load lugger it's very capable.

I can see me keeping it for a long while supplemented by something more sporty in the garage.