Faults:

Fan is noisy at speed one and two, but noise disappear if I turn up to three or four, seems to get nosier when vehicle is decelerating.

Leather seat is in pretty bad shape, but it's to be expected for a 85 model.

Heated seat doesn't work.

But nothing serious.

General Comments:

I just brought this car from my mechanic, the car is in exceptional condition for a 1985, it has 353000 kms and is still running strong, highly recommend.

Faults:

A/C belt or something related broke - have not repaired. There's still cold air being made, it's just not doing anything, but drifting through the vents.

Driver's window the only one that still has power.

Headliner falling apart.

Insides of doors starting to come apart.

Alternator died, $75 repair to replace something called a brush set.

Paint looks awful.

General Comments:

I bought this station wagon last year for $1100.00, and if it dies tomorrow I'll have gotten my money's worth and then some... a few months after I got it, I was going about 65 on the highway in the rain. Someone wiped out in front of me, and I had to swerve very quickly... it went up on two wheels, clunked back down and kept going. I feel like if I had been in almost any other vehicle, I would have flipped over.

The alternator quit working sometime on the way back from driving my kids from Atlanta to Disneyworld and back, but the car had the good grace not to die until we were literally 10 yards away from my driveway. The wagon is so roomy and comfortable, we had a great trip even though it's over a 7 hour drive.

I regularly haul in excess of 800 pounds (boxes of glossy cardstock) in the back for my work, and it never complains - can still accelerate fine and no shaking or uneasy braking.

I love my ugly old Volvo, and will buy another (hopefully less ugly) wagon as soon as I am able to.

Faults:

Transmission, at 180,000 miles, cost $2,300.

Starter, 3 times in 7 years.

Water pump, 3 times in 7 years.

Sunroof, 3 times in 7 years.

Voltage regulator at 230,000 miles.

Universal joint at 238,000 miles.

Fuel pump relay at 233,000 miles.

Air conditioner, nearly every summer for 7 years.

Cold start problems nearly every winter for 7 years.

Power steering rack stiff in cold weather when first started, returns to normal in 5 minutes.

Rust problems for 7 years.

Clear coat peels off hood.

General Comments:

Though the car has had very poor reliability, it has still been a pleasure to drive.

The seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat in. The head rests are positioned so that you can actually use them - novel concept.

The steering is precise and never wavers, which spares me a lot of fatigue on long drives.

The doors and other body panels still fit perfectly at 19 years old, though the interior trim rattles quite a bit.

I absolutely love the appearance of the car. (black is the only color that this model looks good in, due to the standard black bumpers, but when it looks good, it looks great) I've always gotten many complements on it, and people still seem to be too impressed to notice the numerous cosmetic blemishes that have accumulated recently.

As long as I stay away from the dealership, costs for individual repairs are low (with the exception of the transmission). Its only the frequency that gets expensive.

With what I've spent to keep it running over 7 years I could have bought a brand new entry level sedan, which wouldn't be nearly as comfortable or classy.

With what it would take to keep it in top cosmetic shape, I could buy a midrange family sedan, which still wouldn't be as much of a pleasure.

Though it's been temperamental, I fall in love with it again every time I get it back from the shop.