Faults:

When I first purchased the car, it needed a few things.

Timing belt and serpentine belt were done for around $300.

Right tie rod end around $100.

Strut barring needed replacing, that ran about $400.

Temp. gage and housing also went, $250.

Then add that to a new battery, two front tires and spark plugs.

The key also got stuck in the ignition, something that my Volvo mechanic told me was very common in these cars, that was fixed for around $50.

Other than those repairs, the car has been great. Until a few days ago. The tensioner barring snapped, which in turn messed up my timing belt and caused my valves to become stuck open and my pistons to crack.

General Comments:

The car handles great and drives very smooth. It's got decent power, not enough to race around, but enough to get the car moving.

The seats are very comfortable and made it very easy to do several twelve hour drives from NJ to South Carolina.

I really had planned on keeping this car until it fell apart, which it did. Just under a year into driving it, my entire engine is shot. I know several people who swear by Volvo, and know of cars that are still being driven every day with 275,000 miles on them.

When the car worked, it was the best car I have ever owned, I really did love this car, but now facing a $3,000 repair bill is making me sell this.

Faults:

All I've done is change the fluids and replace all 4 brake rotors and pads. It really didn't even need them, but they were cheap and easy enough to do.

General Comments:

I read all these reviews prior to buying the car, and I almost didn't get one because of all the negatives I saw. Well luckily they don't apply to my car because its been flawless and I beat the hell out of it too! I bought it strictly as a commuter for my long drive to work when gas prices spiked, but I drive it everywhere to keep the miles down on my other cars and it's a pleasure. Awesome car and I only paid $1500 for it.

Faults:

This car was a nightmare.

Battery was dead within first week.

Dash lights blew out.

Exhaust leak.

AC would not hold a charge for more than one summer.

Timing belt let go.

The small oil leak from the turbo that I was told to merely keep an eye on went supercharged, and a rod in the engine popped through, causing all the oil to leak out and the engine to seize. The car is now on its way to the junkyard.

CD player skips when you hit a pothole.

AC malfunction lights flash, even though nothing is wrong with the system.

Check engine light is constantly coming back on when there is nothing wrong with the engine... the sensor keeps letting go.

General Comments:

I loved the car at first... it was my first car. But the fact that even with careful regular maintenance and care, it only lasted a little over a year, really irritates me. I'm a college student with no way of getting to school now and I'm extremely disappointed in my Volvo.

Faults:

Concerning the brakes and rotors; I just replaced the rotors and pads at a cost of $100.00 (all OEM parts). They usually last 40,000, and it takes 20 minutes to replace both. The car has been extremely reliable, and it withstands accident damage really well.