2005 Volvo S40 Starter & Fuel Efficiency

The starter replacement should not be a red flag unless there was a reason beyond "I did it because I could". Turbocharged cars are not usually fond of 87 octane fuel, I would check with the dealer or on a Volvo website if that is going to be a concern. As far as being $$$ to service I would guess that would depend on several factors such as how many miles you intend to drive per year and what you feel is an acceptable level of monetary commitment. The European cars are usually more expensive to maintain as far as the preventive maintenance goes, but cost no more to repair than their Asian or American counterparts. Please ask as many questions as you need to feel comfortable with your choice of the Volvo you have found, remember, asking the right questions now can save you from buying someone else's problem child. You may also wish to consider having a pre-purchase inspection performed before $$$ changes hands, it may be $$$ well spent!