Faults:

Bought with difficult starting due to low compression.

Needed rebore and new cylinder head. Since then the engine has behaved perfectly.

Recently needed new front caliper for annual test.

Aircon has never worked - heater is fine.

General Comments:

Another cheap, well maintained, well used car (see my Lexus review) which has been perfect for my family and dogs for eight years. Regularly serviced, but nothing else needed in all that time!

Paint is faded and peeling, but only rust is under battery tray.

Leather interior is comfortable but worn.

It seems ideal to have a family car whose appearance doesn't matter, but the inbuilt quality and comfort are still there.

Performance is much better than the spec would suggest - diesel plus auto should be sluggish, but in fact it pulls like a train, and is a good tow car.

Economy is no better than the equivalent petrol engine, 30 to 33 mpg.

Engine is noisy at idle, from outside, but inside is quiet and smooth - six cylinders!

Virtually no electronics means that I can keep this going indefinitely, and this I intend to do.

Faults:

Had oil leak just before my holidays.

General Comments:

I always feel safe in the car. It's so comfortable to drive on long journeys. It may not have very quick acceleration, but it is very good to handle in any situation.

Faults:

No real faults so far.

Slight headlining sagging in the rear.

Sidelights plastic lenses fading.

General Comments:

Bought this V6 1989 Estate to replace my BMW 520 Tourer, which was out grown by our dogs.

Owned 3 previous 7 series estates some time ago and it felt like coming home when I found this VOLVO again.

BMW can't hold a light to this iconic estate car. It's fast, smooth, comfortable and strong as an ox.

Everything on the car works perfectly including the climate control, and the caramel leather interior harks back to the good old 80s.

I still can't fault these cars, and this will be my 4th. Anyone who is prejudiced towards these old VOLVO's hasn't owned a decent car like these and should try them out.

Hope this one reaches 400,000 miles like my last one. They don't make cars like this any more.

Faults:

Release bearing failed in clutch after two years of hard acceleration and much shifting, though I changed gears often without depressing the clutch pedal when driving sedately.

Fast car... very fast for 4cyls in a car of that size/weight. Aggressive turbo delivery, kind of sketchy in wet conditions, fun.

No repairs other than a removal and by-pass via looping of the leaking oil cooler, oh and an epoxy repair to a radiator spigot, probably strained from rocking the engine around in the well under launches.

My first Volvo after 50 cars I guess; got it for £100, very cool and useful mobile with fun squirt under the pedal, super cheap parts on internet, if ever required.

Upgraded my car rather than repair the clutch, though I was sad to retire it. My new 1990 auto is not nearly as quick by any means. This car made me buy a 1987 780, which is going to get a US V8 conversion, sweet.

General Comments:

Very good car, coming from a Canadian's point of view. Sweden is north and cold, like Canada. If it works there(s), it's gonna work in your warm country.

Solid car that will write-off another car in an accident and leave you with virtually no damage. Favourable outcome.

Nice drift handling. Would have loved to try my 4-speeder on gravel...