Faults:

- Webasto heater has broken down on me 2 times in 2 winters. First time it was my own error as I for a week routinely had to move the car at work only for a couple of meters every day. Which made the heater start up and shut down in too short a time each time, hence blocking it with unburnt deposits.

- Front stabilizer links are prone to wear. The OEM ones start clunking after 35.000KM. I then tried some cheapo ones which only lasted one oil change (15.000km). This time I will be trying reinforced ones from IPDusa; hope they'll do the trick. However, we DO have really bad roads in Norway.

- Turbo rubber hose has blown twice, costing $200 to replace each time. Expensive rubber!!!

- Steering fluid reservoir started leaking at 250.000km. Had to replace the reservoir at $180 (brand new OEM).

- Headlamp wipers stopped working at 250.000km.

- A/C stopped working due to bad A/C condenser at 240.000km.

- Driver's seat heating not working for as long as I've had the car.

General Comments:

I sure have spent a lot of money on this car. The cost for EVERYTHING I have spent on this car (including all oil changes, tires, servicing etc.) will soon be passing $18.000. But heck! I've also had 100'000KM of very comfortable, reliable quality motoring on bumpy and twisty Norwegian roads.

The Volvo OEM parts are not the cheapest, but FAR cheaper than Audi, VW, and BMW parts.

I have had 13 cars in total, ranging from a 1991 Honda Civic to 2004 BMW 5-series. But this car is by far my favorite.

Sure, I could have spent a lot less on the car and still have it humming down the road, but I am very meticulous about keeping my car in the absolutely best possible shape. At the same time I am paid through my work for driving to different locations, so all in all it's not as bad as it sounds.

Diesel consumption is 5.6l/100km mixed driving, 4.2l/100km road trip on a summer day. I find it very satisfying for being a 2.4L 5 cylinder engine, and also considering the size of the car.

The car's suspension is very soft. The car rolls more than desired on twisty roads. This is the price you have to pay for the great comfort. However, if you REALLY turn the steering wheel (like in an emergency) the response is sharp, precise and safe.

Mechanically, I trust the engine and transmission. It is still "good as new" after 13 years and 300.000km. There is also no rust on the car. For the 100.000KM I've driven the car, it has never let me down by not starting or left me stranded on the roadside (knock on wood).

It starts fine on the first attempt in -20 degrees Celsius.

As long as the car is well maintained, I would not hesitate to buy one of these. Even if it has 300.000KM on the odometer!

Faults:

Nothing has broken so far.

I got the 4 wheel alignment done as I felt it was a little off. I have low profile tyres and the big Alamtheus alloys (225 x 45 x 17), so it's easy to knock the alignment out (apparently!!).

My car was parked up for a while before I bought it, so the disks are pretty rusty/corroded... Brakes work perfectly still.. but I worry a small bit. Again I think this is a common Volvo problem... whatever metal they use in the disks tends to corrode worse than other cars. (I live by the sea as well so maybe that's significant)

General Comments:

Great looker, SE model.. so top spec. Metallic paint, big alloys. Beautiful interior... nicest I have ever seen in any car. Black leather everywhere even on the doors. The black dash plastic is 'soft touch' so even looks a bit 'leathery'. It all blends in very naturally. Seats are very big and comfortable, steering wheel is big and chunky with lots of buttons on.

Standard stereo is really superb.

Diesel engine is outrageously powerful in the mid range. Nothing special from take off... (but I guess I was used to driving a Toyota MR2!!).. but get it in 2nd/3rd gear with the revs at 2000 and its just frighteningly fast!! (in a good way!!).. its easily as fast as the MR2.

Only downside is that the steering/suspension needs good roads... you need to slow down pretty seriously on the bumpy stuff.. or it would wobble and bounce all over the place.