Faults:

Drivers power window motor - 300.00.

Fuel pump - 400.00.

Fuel pump relay - 75.00.

Muffler/exhaust pipes - 300.00.

Front suspension repairs & alignment - 750.00.

Body work - 1200.00.

Satisfied owner - priceless!

General Comments:

What can I say? I test drove the car 3 times, then had it checked out by an experienced mechanic twice. I knew what I was getting into and haven't regretted it for a minute.

Yes Matilda, there are things to be fixed, repaired, and definite maintenance to follow. Yes, it cost money, perhaps more than others are willing to shell out. But for me - there is not a family member, neighbor, co-worker, or colleague who does not get a smile on their face after sitting in it.

The car handles so well it gives you a real feeling of security, some serious peace of mind, even motoring around in a large city - it's beyond words.

Yes Matilda, it has its quirks. I would think that anyone who drives would take time to locate the buttons, switches, do-dads. Ya gotta ask yourself, "Can I live with this?". It's not an American car. It's a Volvo and damn, it's feels so good.

I have friends & family who have begun scheduling a massive number of road trips in my wagon. Who knew?

Faults:

Cruise control did not work - replaced vacuum line to fix.

Bad oil leaks - replaced front crank and cam seals, need to replace rear main seal.

Heated seats don't work - never bothered looking into it.

Thermostat went bad.

Replaced all shocks and struts - normal wear item.

Rear caliper seized.

Bad window regulator.

Somethings up with the sunroof causing it to sit crooked when closed - have not fixed yet.

Odometer gear - common to fail on these cars.

A.B.S. does not work - still need to look into it.

General Comments:

I needed a car and wanted a manual trans, but really did not want to go with a Honda or Toyota because everyone has one. I came across this high mileage Volvo and at first was kinda worried about the mileage, but after I took it for a test drive and heard it run, I could tell it was a good car with lots of life left in it. It needed normal stuff like the suspension replaced, brake work, and some steering components.

The biggest problem I have with it is a massive rear main seal leak. The transmission needs to be removed to replace it and I am not looking forward to doing it. I kinda hope I can drag it out till the clutch needs replaced so I can do both at once. Other than that, there has been no major problems other than stuff that you would expect from a car of this age.

Many people complain about how expensive these cars are to fix, which they are if you take it to a shop. If you can do the work yourself, you will save tons of money. Parts are cheap if you know where to look and you can still get factory parts at a good price. These cars really are not hard to work on, and if you need help, there are plenty of forums where people can help you out.

Overall, I am a pretty big fan of the car. The 5 speed makes it really fun to drive, and it even has decent power for a non-turbo. Gets almost 30 mpg with out babying it. When I tell people what I drive, they ask why I got that? Once they get in the car and take a drive with me, they admit that they like the car. It is also great for keeping cops from harassing you, they don't even notice the car.

I am hoping I can hit 400,000 miles without any major engine/trans failure. With how much I am driving for work, it shouldn't take long.