Faults:

Front lower suspension bushes failed.

Top engine mount failed

Main brake master cylinder failed (both circuits!)

Alarm played up

Door locks failed

Chewed up edges of front tyres.

General Comments:

I bought this car knowing that it had it's foibles but didn't think they would all hit me. Sure enough the door locks played up and I had to replace the lower wishbone bushes along with the upper engine mount. Neither were hugely expensive jobs, but in a car only 4 years old and from a manufacturer as Volvo I expected a little better quality.

That said, I have never driven a more comfortable car over long distances. I drove it non stop back from the Lake district to the South Coast. The car is a very nice place to be in and is very well built from a passenger point of view. The seats are amazingly comfortable and the cabin well designed although not in such a contemporary way as a BMW or Mercedes.

The worst thing about the car though was the depreciation. The spec of the car I bought was around £25k when new. I bought it 4 years later for £9k and struggled to get near £4k 2 1/2 years later on a trade in.

The fuel consumption was not great, around 28mpg generally which was the main reason we sold the car for a diesel engined car. You could get up to 35mpg on a gentle motorway run, but you had to have a light right foot. If I had the chance to re think I would have gone for the D5 model.

Unfortunately Volvo do not have the badge prestige to hold values which is a shame. The car is fundamentally vary good and I enjoyed driving it and was sad to see it go. I would consider another Volvo, but only if the depreciation issues were not so much of a factor.

Faults:

Petrol flap fell off the second day I had the car.

General Comments:

Bought as an ex lease car (one owner, immaculate, 80k and FVSH) for UKP 5800 from a dealer with warranty. It represents so much car for the money it seems illegal.

The kids love the comfort, the space, the safe feel and the B pillar mounted face cooling vents (a superb touch). I love the standard equipment, the "hewn from solid rock" build quality, and the refined warble and punch from the smooth 5 cylinder engine. It's not a stunning handler, but it's competent enough for a family car. Oh and nobody makes seats like Volvo.

The car has been cheap to run, rarely returning less than 30 mpg. It has also been utterly reliable, and has build quality that matches or even eclipses the Germans, with a more pleasant image to boot. The car has had just one silly fault which the warranty paid for. Other than that, it looks, drives, and sounds like a 20,000 mile car. Doors clunk reassuringly, there is no wind or tyre roar and the interior trim doesn't emit even a hint of a squeak.

It's a subtle, classy family car which provides an attractive mix of premium sector build quality and refinement, with Ford and Vauxhall screen prices. I'd buy another tomorrow.