Now I’m considering a 2004 V40. At what point am I a “Volvo guy?”

[RocketUSA]

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Hey guys, I’ve had experience with a 2004 V70, a 2002 S80, and now I’m heavily considering a 2004 V40. Very clean car, about 140k miles. I’ve fought the DIM failures, and had to use Xemodex for a CEM failure. My thought is that the V40 is going to potentially have the same types of issues, perhaps. Nothing out of left field, really, right? Not saying that’s going to happen to a V40, but that it could have the same afflictions. Can I expect a similar experience in ownership?

[Rattnalle]

It's a Mitsubishi in a Volvo suit. Personally I don't think they're up to the Volvo badge. I'm also a bit biased since my brother has had more issues with his S40 in a year than I've had in five years with two other Volvos.

[alschnertz]

Probably no weirder issues than any 15-year old car with 140,000 miles.

Heater blower motor gets a mind of its own sometimes.
VVT sprocket seal failure is probably the only unusual thing I can think of. And they usually fail around 150,000 miles.
Aftermarket exhaust flex-pipes only seem to last 3 years compared to the factory stainless steel pipe.
Things are tight under the hood.

My '01 S40 would never have been my first choice for a vehicle, but it fell into my hands 10 years ago when it had 149,000.
Now has 236,000 and I wouldn't hesitate to take it anywhere. It is rusting though.