Test drive Volvo S40 1996 - 2000 sedan

Free Volvo

A year and a half ago, when in Russia they only waited for the new S 40, the autopilot with the help of one of its readers got this car for a test from Spain. The Volvo representative office was very surprised and, perhaps, that is why we were offered a new, charged version of S 40 to the test for the official premiere of the model on the salon in Frankfurt. In Germany, they were just about to wrap the car in a traditional bedspread, and we were already traveling to T4 along Sweden roads.
S 40 - for those who are not for 40
New cars - as a generation of today's 16 -year -old long -legged giraffes. Which of them will turn out in a couple of years: either a dull bitch, or the queen of beauty is incomprehensible. Old cars look like a served boxer - they are large, awkward, but kind and reliable.
The lanky Swede on the 740th Sarai, seeing how we photograph the S 40 T 4 in the parking lot, was not too lazy to stop, get out of the car, hide his tongue and say with satisfaction: Turbo is good!. In Sweden, as in Germany, they love their cars, giving preference not to cheap Japanese, but to quite expensive Saabs and Volvo.
With what to briefly compare the new T 4? One of my friends, having bought the BMW 328i, said with the horror done: this is some kind of nightmare, it accelerates to 100 kilometers in 6 seconds! How I will ride it without a driver! .. I said nothing, remembering that the BMW 328 was gaining a hundred still not in six seconds, but in 7.7, but T 4 - for 7.3. So, the new Volvo is for those who can feel and evaluate these 0.4 seconds. And it is unlikely to use the services of the driver.
Remember the Volvo advertising video scrolled by all channels: a couple V 40 under the Atas song, fun, the working class is spinning in the dust, and Vasya Strelnikova's voice says behind the scenes: Safe Udovolpion? We take a chance to assume that the S/V 40 is still not for the working class, and the unsuccessfully selected musical accompaniment to the video clip reflects one very important trend - the Swedes completely change the image of their machines of the middle group. According to rumors (we repeat, according to rumors), some time ago the leadership of the concern parted with a large number of employees of its design bureaus, simply throwing them out into the street. It is a pity, of course, unemployed Swedes, but the point here is in another - having changed the team of designers, she also changed her image. Swiftly leaving the niche of reliable, but very boring cars only for dad, mom and I, the creators formed a somewhat selfish image of the rubber eater, brake pads and kilometers of high -speed highway. And it is precisely on this - on the swiftness, aggressiveness and individuality - now most of the advertising campaign of small Volvo is being built.
Hold on the driver stronger, ram!
Almost 20 years ago, the first turbocharged model Volvo appeared on the market. The current S/V 40 T 4 leads their short history from the famous T 5 - versions of the popular 850th model with turbocharged.
The technology is simple: supplying a small engine with a large volume of air under pressure, you can increase power and torque. Four -cylinder engine S/V 40 with a volume of 1855 cm cube. With turbocharged produces almost the same capacity as the three-liter six-cylinder engine of the representative 960th. With a mass of slightly more than 1300 kg, the new T 4 simply flies low.
We felt this from the very first kilometers of the road - as soon as the tachometer arrow crossed 2500 revolutions, the car shot like a catapult.
The new T 4 refers to those cars in which the pleasure of driving covers everything. You can forgive a slightly noisy salon (if you have 200 horses under your hood, why don't they make a sneak?). Sitting in it, I don’t really want to listen to music (the sound of the motor here is a separate song). And no other serial volvo (except, perhaps T 5) will allow you to pass steep turns at speeds at 100 km/h.
On T 4, of course, only a mechanical five -speed gearbox. This is the same M 56, which is used on S 70 and V 70. The absence of the machine is generously compensated by other all kinds of branded Volvic lotions: this is both an independent rear suspension of the Multilink and a very intelligent ABS system and the EBD brake distribution system, which helps maintain a exchange rate Sustainability and increases the efficiency of braking. And the DSA dynamic stabilization system allows you to develop maximum acceleration on any coatings, adjusting the optimal speed of rotation of the leading front wheels using fuel.
Honestly, we had a desire to try DSA for a tooth, and at some point we turned it off, pressing the button next to the gear lever. Nothing special happened, and none of the neighbors could appreciate our experiment on the stream: it simply bought rubber and we took off with acceleration, perhaps for a couple of tenths of a lot than usual.
T 4 was very pleased with one of the authors of this female material. The co -author of the opposite sex, frankly, had very complex sensations, especially in those moments when the driver experienced a low -profile rubber of Pireeli in a speed of 120 km/h.
SWEDISH FAMILY
On the second day, the test drive of our route passed through the Mantorp Park. There is one of the oldest Swedish racing tracks, and at a distance of 4150 meters we were allowed not only to freeze the standard S 40, but even offered several combat versions of the sedan.
The first number was a trip as a passenger on S 40 Racing, which was driven by the pilot Kelvin Bert, a participant in the British body championship, at which this year the Volvo S 40 team entered the three winners. The Englishman was an increase in a meter with a cap, but pulled a lever very briskly. Although, to be honest, the trip with the driver was curious, but no more.
The authors of these lines have caused much more emotions for independent Drivers S 40 JTCC. The Volvo concern specifically made two dozen such cars for the young generation of Swedish riders of the Unior group. From standard S 40 they differ in a more powerful (170 hp) engine, the absence of steering hydraulic power, the rear seat, the sound insulation of the body and decorative linings in the cabin. They have a sports (20 mm below standard) suspension, a protective frame and sports seats with special seat belts.
Junior versions of Volvo are another trick of the concern, performed very competently. It’s just that these machines give a very good idea of \u200b\u200bwhat serial versions are capable of in sensible hands - excellent controllability and stability with remarkable comfort. And at the same time - a lot of pleasant sensations. Fans of particularly acute sensations were invited to travel on two wheels, but none of the authors of these lines could drive more than three meters - this is a difficult thing.
The new Volvo produce Born in the Dutch city, and in Sweden itself the car costs about $ 25 thousand. In Russia, this amount will most likely increase to $ 37-40 thousand. We decided among ourselves that T 4 is worthy of this money - with a maximum of comfort , the owner of this machine will have in his hands a very temperamental, obedient and dynamic toy in his hands.
The editors thanks for the help of organizing the trip the leadership of the Volvo concern, his Moscow representative office and personally - Ms. Victoria Pavlova.

Terminator-II
Finally, Volvo was able to turn off an unpleasant trend. About the 400th series is not always, but quite often one could hear offensive words: the car is a wild r .... It breaks, you see, cramped, ugly. Whether the case is 800-900. Words, of course, are unfair, especially offensive, taking into account the huge popularity of the Swedish brand in Russia. They did not deserve a small class Volvo. But public opinion is a terrible force, and it is not so easy to change. The appearance of the S40/V40 series, apparently, helped to fulfill this task.
In the BOVIST Motor Show, Volvo S40 was called a hit of the season at joy. In fact, the S40, a small class car, is not yet more often bought than the prestigious 900 series, and in principle, this situation is quite strange. But when compared with what was, success, of course, is evident. The station wagon V40 was less lucky: they sell it five times less than a sedan. In general, such a stir as with some new products (take the same Passat), with new Volvo is not observed. There are no queues for cars. There are always any forties in the salons. What? - we asked at the Kuntsevo car dealership. The plant offers to take the cars completely naked, they answered us. - But we always put at least air conditioning, speakers, antenna, and, of course, rugs. Without all this, selling in Russia is simply indecent. In general, if we talk about the configuration, there is an interesting pattern: if the buyer requires a car with a maximum of all sorts of bells and whistles, then this is a private trader, if with a minimum - a company.
Firms are quite actively using S40/V40. Especially the representative offices of foreign companies - Bosch -Siemens, Mary Kay Cosmetics, known for his Sandvik saws. The driver Maxim from Bosch-Siemens told us that he was terribly glad to control such a machine, but finds it a little dumb.
As for the machines with the T4 index, talking about a powerful turbo engine, we did not accidentally leave them at the very end. Sales will begin only in a month or two, and only journalists express the opinion of the purchasing community so far. Here's what the Mirror writes: T4 is nice to have and nice to drive. Smart Swedes improved the already excellent S40 and V40. With the new turbo engine, they are not inferior either in power or in traction to the older brother of the S90 with its 3-liter engine. The changed suspension is perfectly adapted to the increased capabilities of the machine. And you are driving a real sports excitement.
But the most clearly a description of the influential Australian Sydney Morning Herald was a description: the modest appearance of this machine hides the most powerful possibilities. I don’t even know whether to believe or not such a miracle: T4 accelerates to 250 km/h. It will be more abruptly the 328th BMW! The 850th T5 at one time was dubbed the terminator, what can I call T4? And what is the most interesting, outwardly he is a modest! Small differences from ordinary S40/V40 do not allow you to guess the beast in this machine ...
Model/Modification Volvo S 40 T 4
The manufacturer Volvo Car Corporation
The manufacturer of Holland
BODY
Type sedan
Number of doors/places 4/5
ENGINE
Basin type with injection and turbocharged
The location in front is transversely
Working volume (see cubic meter) 1.855
Number/location of cylinders 4 in a row
The number of valves per cylinder 4
Cylinder diameter X piston stroke (mm) 81x90
Power (KW) 147 (5500)
Power (L.S.) 200
Moment (NM) 300 (2400-3600)
TRANSMISSION
Front -wheel drive
Gearbox 5-speed mechanical
STEERING
Type gear rack, with an amplifier
Brakes
Front disk (ventilated)
The rear disc
ABS, EBD+DSA standard equipment
Tire size 205/50zr 14
Dimensions/about EME/Weight
Length/width/height (mm) 4483/1717/1411
Wheel base (mm) 2550
Front track/back track (mm) 1454/1474
Minimum turning radius (m) 10.6
The volume of the fuel tank (L) 60
Dry mass (kg) 1300
Dynamic characteristics
Maximum speed (km/h) 235
Acceleration to 100 km/h (sec.) 7.3
Economy
Fuel consumption average (l/100 km) 9.5

What else
The charged versions of ordinary serial sedans and station wagons, which have recently been done by Volvo, have long been given close attention to such eminent German firms as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi. Often, these expensive toys are built by court tuning companies. It is this category that includes BMW/Alpina B3 3.2 and C 36 AMG: 3.6 24V.
True, unlike the Swedes, German experts, when strengthening the power of engines, use mainly not just the installation of turbocharges, but prefer an increase in working volume, setting in intake and graduation tracts, and other witchcraft. But even an increase in the power of the engine sometimes fades into the background after selecting the suspension parameters - after all, a more powerful car should be perfectly controlled.
Another lovers to sprinkle ordinary family cars live in Japanese islands. Although personally, the imagination refuses to draw a hot Japanese guy who is strikingly trampling on the floor of the accelerator pedal on a similar machine (and where to do this? In traffic jams of Japanese megacities? ..), the fact remains - most hot cars do not even export for export, And they prefer to supply for internal use.
Fedor Alexandrov,
Margarita Anenkova
 

Source: "Autopilot"