Faults:

Only normal wear and tear parts (2 x exhaust, 2 x starter motor, 1x alternator, 2 x water pump, 1 x clutch)

Interior is beginning to be a bit tired and lights on instrument panel have failed, makes checking speed for speed cameras a bit difficult.

General Comments:

Bought as a family car when my children were small and I still have it 14 years later when they have grown up.

Engine appears bomb proof, it just keeps going.

Paid £6295 in 1992, best spend ever on a vehicle. This car has been so good. Still regularly used for long distance trips taking son to university with all his stuff. Irreplaceable, but probably not worth anything on the second-hand market now.

Faults:

The roof lining is sagging at the rear of the car.

Drivers side electric window is sticking slightly.

Sunroof won't open.

General Comments:

I am so happy with this car, I wish that I had bought one of these years ago.

The car is in brilliant condition considering that it's 18 years old and has done 180,000 miles.

My car has a Full Volvo service history, but the these car are generally bomb proof anyway.

It is built like a tank, but is very easy to drive.

I would not call the car fast, but it does cater for most peoples needs.

The inside is huge, I have the estate version and the boot is massive (you could sleep in there if you wanted).

Best of all, I only paid £140 for mine through eBay. There are bargains out there, you just have to go and find them.

If you are thinking of buying one of these cars, with my experience I would say GO FOR IT!!

Faults:

Fuel pump would cut out regularily... nobody could find the cause... this is why I got rid of the car.

General Comments:

Despite a bizarr technical fault which was the demise of my car, the Volvo 740 is the best car ever. The man responsible for the design of this car should have been instantly promoted, and given everything he asked for.

Faults:

Head gasket needed replacing because of slight water leak down the side of the engine block.

Water pump needed replacing due to slight water leak.

Noisy fuel pump.

General Comments:

Although I was surprised that the head gasket went, the quality of the car is amazing. It is 15 years old and there is hardly a spot of rust anywhere. It looks like it should last for years to come. I thought I was mad paying £2400 for it 4 years ago, but it is the best value car I have ever bought. Using a good back-street Volvo mechanic has helped in keeping the cost of repairs low.

Faults:

Oil leaks due to blocked breather.

Tailgate struts renewed.

Rear shocks renewed.

Injector seals renewed.

General Comments:

This is one solid comfortable motor.

Very roomy and has the best seats I have ever known in a car.

The downsides are, mediocre performance and a great liking for petrol.

Faults:

A couple of minor things that I didn't notice when I bought it. These included drivers side heated seat and rear window wiper. I have since fixed the rear wiper (the motor just needed lubricating - I used motorbike chain lube).

The 'in gear' engine safety switch blew once which prevented the engine from starting even though not in drive. This cost 150 quid to fix.

The fuel pump also makes a lot of noise, but still works.

General Comments:

I bought this car (1,300GBP), with the intention of keeping it 6 months as I had just opted out of a company car scheme and was waiting for a new car on order. I was doing a lot of Do It Yourself also, so needed a big car.

It's been absolutely fantastic, very comfortable and extremely well made (more comfortable than my Merc SLK!). Even after 15 years there are no squeeks and rattles. I've done 31,000 miles and serviced it once myself. It does 500 miles a week at the moment and still cruises well at 85. I've been trying to run it into the ground for the last 18 months, but it just won't give up.

The only downside that goes with a car like this is the fuel economy, but then when you drive a 2 tonne brick at motorway speeds, it's not really surprising that it avg 25-28mpg.

The fuel tank is also a bit small for a car of this size