Faults:

Nothing has gone wrong with the car thus far engine wise.

The vent on the sunroof cover was loose.

A couple globes went out, one on the side and the other a brake light.

Back right-hand speaker has a problem with bass and high volume (due to me playing music to loud)

General Comments:

This car is a solid all round package. The interior is well laid out and comfortable with a touch of class. However for larger sized rear passengers it can be a bit of a squeeze.

I have Grey leather interior with wood trim that I have found are of good quality and really suit the limited edition pearl silver color of the car.

It is a classic shape and the 1998 model had the best of them, after the 1998 model the squashed it inward on both the sides and the back which I found as a young drive takes away from the sports sedan appeal that the 1998 model has.

The stock sound system if fantastic although I caused the back right-hand speaker to go due to playing loud music.

Engine wise it can have problems with picking up speed when you plant your foot to the floor. The acceleration can be patchy and can feel sluggish at times. Generally the car takes off easier when in 'sports' mode. However for general traffic driving it is pleasant and certainly enough power.

However the turbo model would result in better all-round performance and allow more power to the wheels, and if I were to get this car again the turbo option would definatly be included.

But if you are a fan of Volvo's and need a nice compact and elegant sedan then this is a good option, but don't expect a sports sedan unless you are willing to go for the turbo option, and even then there are better Volvo options available.

I also have a 1998 C70 and I can honestly say that the C70 is the best Volvo ever made. With 176Kw and nine speaker Dolby digital surround sound standard it's the ultimate Volvo where sports meets luxury. It is also capable of going from 0 - 100 kilometers and hour in seven seconds flat (and that's for automatic). If you want a sports car that isn't going to cost a mountain of cash then I suggest you take the c70 for a test drive.

Faults:

Rattle at tailgate when just got the car, but fixed by dealer after a couple of visits.

Driver window rattle, it is still being looked into by the dealer.

General Comments:

The shape of the car is classy, modern, but not really sporty, even with the rear spoiler. The plastic moldings are not painted on my model, so they look a bit bland. Apart from that, the car looks good.

The interior is comfortable with beige leather seats, arm rest, and door trims. The SE pack I got also added woodgrain trim on the doors and the gearbox surround. The seats are very very comfortable, especially on long trips. However, the cabin is a bit cramped to fit people in. The rear passenger has limited knee room and leg room, while the driver and front passenger gets all the comfy stuff.

Performance-wise, it's no fire breather. It's only adequate to commute around town, with only 100kw (about 140hp) and 190nm, it's hardly powerful. The gearbox is also a bit weird. Sometimes keen on kick-downs, but when you go around the same corner at other times, it gets lazy and sluggish.

The manual is much better with a better shift feel and ease to shift, however I am the only one in the family who can drive a manual... and it's the family car.

When cornering, the turn-in is satisfactory, the response is good. But when you really push on, there is a bit of under-steer, but not bad enough to spoil the drive. The front-end does not grip as well as the '94 Accord I used to have, but the rear end is much more predictable. And with a timed jab on the brakes, you can get over-steer!!

Overall, the car is good for those who are just commuting around town, and sometimes want to go around corner a bit quicker. It's better as the driver's own car, than a family car.