Faults:

My Grandad was the previous owner and when he drove it through a Ford in the Dales once, it sucked in water and bent the conrod, thus requiring a new engine which Volvo were glad to pay for after admitting responsibility. The first engine had only done about 40,000 until its untimely demise, but it now leaves me with a fairly decent engine. Apart from that only minor trim problems have affected me.

General Comments:

A really good, unassuming all rounder. The squarish looks are helped on my model by the spoiler and alloys but overall a fairly pleasant looking car. I don't have a clue why this car gets the "Grandad" stigma along with it. Goes round corners pretty good, but doesn't tell you how far you can go as I found out to my cost.

Engine needs a good old poke to raise the speed but once in third you can watch all those boy racers pass you by. I reckon (if my speedo was working right) that I got 130MPH with a good run. Loads on the market now for under a bag of sand, that's how I ended up with mine. Not bad motoring for 600 brick.

Faults:

An elderly lady was the first and only other owner of the car, she lived in the wilds of Cornwall and did very short trips between home and the dairy the family owned, consequently the rubber bushes in the gear change mechanism needed replacement (bushes £4.00 labour plus VAT £36.00), quite expensive but well worth the money.

General Comments:

On a run from Exeter to Edinburgh 43 mpg was obtained. It is well worth getting the injection engine. Apart from the image old boys car" excellent value at £2800 with a full service history in 1998. Why pay more?

Faults:

Alternator. Goes through tyres at a fair rate of knots (50/50 share of blame between me and car).

General Comments:

Basically a good solid work horse of a car that should last for years.