S40 2.0 Powershift - Tempting But No

Each time I see a new Volvo S40, my heart skips a beat. Despite the fact that the model has been around a few years now, it can still turn heads.

Now that the S40 2.0L variant has been launched, the S40 is all the more desirable for those who have always wanted one. Though not as powerful as the 2.4L version, the 145Bhp S40 2.0 "Powershift" is, well, a Volvo.

As Volvos go, the S40 won't be going out of style any time soon. For that matter, I suspect the S40's shape would be about as evergreen as the old 240.

At RM170,000+, the difference in price between the 2.0L version and the 2.4L version is a paltry RM1,000+. But in the long run, you save on fuel with the 2.0L version, by about 14% according to Volvo, which is a lot when you add up your fuel bill.

Yes, it's a slower car compared to the Ford Focus S2.0, in that the Volvo S40 2.0 Powershift takes 9.8 seconds to get from 0-100Km/h, compared to the Focus' 8.4 seconds. Nonetheless, the S40 2.0 has a higher top speed of 205. This means that, on long stretches, it'll leave the Focus S2.0 behind (the Focus S2.0 has a top speed of about 190Km/h).

Of course, for a speedster like me, the S40 2.4L would be the better choice. However, I'm no longer in the market for a new car.

In spite of all my blogs about wanting to buy a new car sometime soon, I recently had a dream; one that I took as a sign from Allah to be grateful for what I have.

That is to say, in that dream, I am driving an old Datsun bone rattler and I'm happy and grateful for what I have. Compared to the Datsun, my darling Focus s2.0 is so much better.

In fact, when I first started out in working life, all I had was a beat-up Mazda 626. If I could be happy and contented then, I should be able to be happy and contented now.

So, I'll stick with my Focus S2.0... for now.