R versions of P80 volvos have nivomat self-levelling shocks but I'm not sure about S40.

 

The R on S40's was purely cosmetic enhancements.

 

Not even dampers/springs? That will make the process a little easier

So that leads to another question. But first , some qualifiers. Like I mentioned in post 1, I drive this car every day. Not only that , some of the roads here are kinda crappy and Denver gets a few decent snow storms every year.

So with that info, anyone who has upgraded suspension, whether it's just springs or a complete overhaul. Are there aftermarket parts that can be installed that will keep the car comfortable enough for daily driving or should I stick to oem bushings and maybe slightly upgraded dampers/springs? And if anyone has a lowered P1, do you live somewhere that gets snow? How much snow is too much for your car to handle?

 

The P1's are "R design" (not R model) which is to say they get fancy seat stitching and blue gauges, etc. The suspension options were available, but separate. You can look at your build plate on the passenger side b-pillar rear. There is a thread here somewhere with some of the details.

 

Vewy intewesting. Is your car lowered now? Or is that coming with the poly bushings? Is there a place online that’s a one-stop shop to source all the bushings or is this a piece meal operation?

 

Vewy intewesting. Is your car lowered now? Or is that coming with the poly bushings? Is there a place online that's a one-stop shop to source all the bushings or is this a piece meal operation?

#1 - In theory a 2006 Ford Focus polybushing kit is an exact match to all of ours for under $200. Can't remember the exact year/make/model, but it's what I recall reading. Poly is poly - don't think that anyone one kind is better than the other, as long as it is really poly.
#2 - If you're doing it piecemeal like me - PowerFlex has high quality stuff that you can see a diagram on and where it goes and order what you want, but it's $$$ above #1, and top notch quality. I'm doing it piecemeal so it'll just take a small bit out of my paycheck every month, while ordering the cheapest parts off RockAuto to sacrifice to the poly gods.
#3 - I am not lowered, and because I have 3 children+carseats and a full sized car battery in the back(dual battery setup), I don't plan on going lower any time soon. Also it puts a rather large strain on your axles if you drop - so if you want to, be prepared that if your axles have any weakness in them, the extra strain will exploit it.

 

First off, thank you all for the great info. But I’m going to slightly derail my own thread a tad

My next focus is on engine/trans mounts. Are stock mounts adequate or is there a combination of stock and aftermarket that is recommended?

 

First off, thank you all for the great info. But I'm going to slightly derail my own thread a tad

My next focus is on engine/trans mounts. Are stock mounts adequate or is there a combination of stock and aftermarket that is recommended?

Passenger side: OEM is best and most expensive, but also most reliable. Aftermarket name brand have had good luck but some have had bad luck. Don't buy cheap, ever.
Drivers side: OEM on the 05 is a rubber unit. Easy to do. Costs the same as the hydraulic upgrade kit, which comes with the newer version mount and the arms and bolts you need. Do it if you're a glutton for punishment and like doing things so you can say you did them, otherwise drop in a direct replacement - they last about the same.
Torque Mount: Buy OEM and it'll last for some time and eventually break on you. Buy OEM and buy an insert from Powerflex or the like and it'll last practically forever until the rubber physically disintegrates enough to cause slack. Buy the electric focus (e-focus) - drop in replacement with a solid round rubber mount, considered an upgrade over plain stock. Other performance ones follow the efocus design and use polyurethane instead of rubber and are pretty looking. Can substitute an Mazda Speed 3 version as long as you get the matching bolt for it.MS3 version is the best IMO, it takes the stock design and puts it into a round bushing, so you can still use a Powerflex insert but at the same time it is similar to the upgrade (efocus) one.