Faults:

Overdrive solenoid was dead the day I bought it.

Power antenna motor dead.

Speakers were poorly wired.

General Comments:

I bought this car off the original owners last year (2012), and I loved the condition in which it was kept. The last owner put only 6,000 kilometres in the last 9 years, and had it rust proofed annually. The car was literally free of rust. It had all service records, and was driven with care.

Fuel economy is very poor, given that it's literally a box, which has 0% aerodynamics. The 4 cylinder engine really picks up, due to the massive amounts of torque, and the tranny shifts very smoothly!

Most of my friends hate the styling, but love the comfortable seats and the vault sounding doors. Some say it looks like a car that would be owned by the mafia; others think otherwise!

I've now listed this car for sale, but unfortunately it's tough finding a buyer. It's got a very niche market, exclusive to only Volvo owners or people who have only bought classic Volvo's for the past 40 years of their lives and never anything else (must have very boring lives). There are more cars out there than just Volvo's, they're tough, but how about performance and handling? Don't Volvo owners want to try something different? BMW's, Jag's, Lexus, Infiniti, Toyota, etc? I mean I saw it as an alternative from your regular Honda Accord/Camry from the 90's! It's just as reliable, and 1000 times tougher!

All in all, it's a great car, no doubt about it! As Volvo owners say "if you haven't owned one, you won't appreciate one."

Faults:

If this car was any more dependable I would marry it!

With 170,000 on it when I bought it, I rebuilt the front suspension and replaced the rear shocks.

The only failure has been the air mass meter.

I fixed a rattle in the double-walled header pipe by driving in three or four short, self-tapping sheet metal screws.

General Comments:

Amazing handling for a wagon.

Feels like a solid steel brick in corners.

Actual 27+ MPG at 70-80 MPH (corrected for speedo error).

I love driving this car! While not a performance vehicle, I normally can leave just about anyone behind on most on ramps. Its torque-filled motor allows it to cruise comfortably at 70-80 without complaint.

It is also very easy to work on. And even with 207,000+ miles on the odometer, it uses very little oil. So little I do not bother to keep track, but it is probably about 1/2 pint per 1000 miles.

Faults:

I bought this car new and picked it up at Gothenberg... put 5,000 miles on it in Europe, rest in US. I keep the car due to insurance/tax costs versus annual repair approximations.

Transmission linkage broke 97,000 miles.

Clutch pedal disconnected from clutch mechanism at 100700 miles.

Fog lights - one light bulb blew at 97,000 miles.

Exhaust - mufflers and pipes - most not Volvo parts - wear out every 2 years.

Catalytic converter had to be replaced at 93,000 miles.

Steering linkage mechanism replaced at about 85,000 miles.

Brake lights circuit boards were replaced.

Radio was replaced at 75,000 miles. Shock absorbers replaced same time.

Steering linkage, 85,000 miles due to dealer recommendation.

Seats wear badly with yellow stuffing leaking out.

Driver's side door switch for interior light not working.

Driver's side electric window motor malfunctioned - was restarted and is okay - problem at about 70,000 miles.

General Comments:

The car has little pep, maybe due to mostly urban use.

The exhaust system, using either Volvo or aftermarket pipes and mufflers has been replaced too often, maybe due to my living at the seaside.

Twice I have had problems with catalytic converter, lst time replaced it.