Although I have yet to receive my car - first brand new auto so I'm a wee bit excited :D - it was the seat and overall seating position that sold me. Every seat that lacks angle adjustment is too low in the front and too high in the rear for my liking. I'd still love to sit one inch lower in the Volvo, but with the front tilted up as high as it goes, it's as good as it gets. I also like that I can lower the steering wheel towards my lap without obscuring the instruments, although getting it back another 2 inches would be perfect.

With no other experience than a brief test drive it is hard to say what will be most annoying, but I think the tiny buttons for the radio together with the rear view mirror obscuring a little too much of the windscreen will be it.

Jonnieb - If you press the 'head' shape on the ventilation control this directs air to the windscreen and you can then turn the a/c off manually.

Best: my T5 engine and the 'stance' of the car.

Worst: rear leg room, fidgety ride at low speeds.

Welton,

Is this basically the same function as the demister but without the aircon on? i.e. demister button off.

BEST: The look and the performance/economy of the 2.0d

WORST: The overly hard ride with the dynamic chassis (A sporty ride can still be supple Volvo!!)

What do you mean by dynamic chassis? Mine will come lowered 10 mm to reduce drag, and the same was the case with the V50 I tested. No car is supple today in my experience - even the Renault Megane Tour Wagon that every test report complains about is soft is pretty firm compared to cars made a couple of decades ago - but the Volvo was better than my 2004 Mondeo and my mother in law's 2000 Saab 9-3 and a Passat 2008 at work. Not to mention my friend's Octavia RS on 19" wheels ;)

I would say that after testing a bunch of cars, from small to fairly big, the Volvo was only beaten by the Renault in ride, and then not by much. Oh, and the harshest car I think I've ever driven was a new Mazda 3 - it was just bouncing across the road like it was fitted with struts.

You don't know what a hard ride is! I have the sport setup on mine and compared to the '07 Seat Leon with sport setup I had, it's positively comfy!

BEST BEST BEST feature for me is the fantastic reliability.

I traded in a car with 24,000 miles for an S40 with 100,000 miles and i had NO IDEA what to expect.

I have been to volvo dealer ONCE in 18 months - for an additive topup and THATS IT!!!!! for a car with 100,000 miles on it at purchase!!!!!

MOT'd at 139,000 miles at passed with a single advisory of slightly worn bushes.

BEST car I've ever owned.

The ride on rough road surfaces could be better, especially with 17" wheels I find the Volvo V50 on the firm side. (15" is better.) My old Saab 9-3 was definitely softer.

It is a pity that most cars nowadays are setup with a firm "sport oriented" suspension.

Paint finish on my 2010 1.6d drive, bird lime ruined the bonnet even after removing droppings within 5 mins of the event and the car has supagard treatment not impressed.

Fedupspark - I had the same problem on the bootlid of mine, not Supagarded, could not get rid with T-cut and wax. Took it to my friendly local body shop and 3 minutes with an electric buffer and some trade Fastcut and it was as good as new. The heat draws the stain out without damaging top coat.

He also said he was always getting called in to sort out this problem on new cars by main dealers!

In any case, your Supagard came with a warranty against damage from bird lime, take it back and get it sorted!

Best features of S40 - performance/economy
Worst: Firm ride, especially at low speeds (I came from a Citroen C5!!)