Faults:

The only thing I can think that's ever gone wrong with my car is the thermostat got stuck on a few times.

Other than brakes and bulbs, nothing major has gone wrong yet.

General Comments:

I would recommend this car to any driver, young or old.

They're not much of a looker, but a nice set of wheels and lowering it make it look much nicer.

It's fairly fast once it gets out of 1st and 2nd, and handles surprisingly well.

I'm 20, with 2 years no claims and 3 points, and the insurance (fire and theft) is less than £500.

All round it's a good motor.

Faults:

Nothing major since I've had the car only this year, the radio chewed a tape and that's it.

The Only needed a tyre for MOT.

General Comments:

This Car is superb I've done 5,000 miles in 3 months and I can say it's a very comfy car. The car starts first time every time on the button.

The car handles great and goes great on long runs, acheving 35MPG and 70MPH.

Overall a superb little car for £500.

Faults:

An extremely badly-built car, as per its well-known reputation as "Volvo's Lemon Car".

Faults include:

Brake failure

Steering problems

Alarm problems

Central locking problems

Electric window problems

Exhaust problems

... many annoying problems, and I'm sure I've missed-out a few as-well!

General Comments:

Whilst it looked good, and was comfortable, I would strongly NOT recommend this vehicle. Volvos have subsequently, thanks to Ford ownership, improved however. However, it was a very strong car

Faults:

When I got the car home from the dealer's garage, the first things I needed to do were:

Change the oil and filter - much needed!

Fit a new cam belt - 9000miles overdue!!

Oil and free the wastegate actuator rod, as it was over-boosting.

Fill up the PAS, Brake and coolant reservoirs - way below 'min' mark.

Nothing has actually gone wrong with the car though (touch wood) just silly things that the cheap dealer couldn't be bothered to do himself!!

General Comments:

Unfortunately, I found out that buying from a dealer can be as much of a gamble as buying from ebay or anywhere else! It had been well-maintained, but then allowed to sit around to rot. However, I picked it up in Feb 2005 with only 69000miles on it (N-reg), got it home and gave it a much-deserved service.

The cam belt was the first thing to do, along with the oil and filter. Once they were done, I was happy, and it drove really really well. A bit too well, and then I found out that the turbo was in fact over-boosting. But with some advice and a little oil, that problem was fixed, and now it's running superbly.

Really quick, surprisingly quick, not just compared to my previous 340 1.7, but I managed to race and beat a 2002 Golf GTi, but that was when the turbo was over-boosting, but I can't believe it's much slower now.

Perfect on the motorway, which is why I upgraded to it, as I do lots of miles and need a comfortable car to drive all day long, at decent speeds!! This does it all perfectly.

My 340 seats were probably the most comfortable seats, but these are good enough, and it's really quiet and refined.

Fuel-wise...I worked out as 29.7mpg, but that was driving up and down hills in Bristol, and not exactly driving slowly either. So I would expect much more when I try it going slowly on the motorway - (60mph!) Although it's quite hard to keep it below ridiculous speeds, as it seems to want to go and go, which it does if you give in!!

Just waiting for my MBC to come through, then it'll be even better!But like I say, even as standard, it really is surprisingly quick, and is so subtle about it too!!

I cannot fault the handling either. So in general, this car is a perfect cruiser, and is up-to-date with technology, yet seems to be going really cheaply, so get one quick while they are still around!! Just watch out for dodgy turbos!

(Oh yes, I'm only 19, and insurance is relatively cheap too (Old man's Volvo!!) )