Faults:

Transmission wore out at 230,000km. Overhauled and serviced, it lasted the life of the car.

Airconditioner ran out of gas.

Rear discs wore thin. Replaced at 240,000km.

Windscreen wipers motor burned out after switch got jammed. Easy to fix.

Engine eventually became rather smoky at 460,000km.

I stopped driving her and bought a new Volvo S40.

General Comments:

The Volvo was very powerful on the open road. It would overtake road-trains in complete safety.

This car really inspires confidence in whoever drives it. I owe my life to the powerful brakes fitted to Volvos.

The body is immensely strong. It has never, in 24 years of driving, groaned or rattled or shown any sign of fatigue. Do they even need to be that solid?

Unfortunately, the car has always felt 'dead' to drive around town. the accelerator is stiff and the ride is hard for a luxury car.

It was absolutely reliable and just kept rolling along. I love it!

Faults:

The air conditioning has run out after 30 years.

The car burns a little oil.

General Comments:

An ultra luxurious car. It feels like a Mercedes, and goes like a BMW.

An excellent highway cruiser, 3200lbs hold you to the road.

175 horsepower pushes you through the corners, and 178ft/lbs of torque pulls you up any hill without a downshift.

Faults:

Front suspension is worn. Body has rust and faded paint. air-con not working.

General Comments:

Good car. Bought for $175au. engine is one of the best ever made - smooth, lots of power and torque, and extremely reliable. Good old cast iron engineering. First of the mechanical fuel injection models. Uses a lot of fuel, but needs tune up. 3 speed BW35 auto gear box makes the car very sluggish to move, but the car flies once its built up some speed. Car is very solid, and i assume safe. Has a lot of body roll, and wind noise above 60km/h. Car is sort of luxurious, but does not feel like it. Probable one of the most reliable cars ever built (just like every other old Volvo).

Faults:

Overdrive unit required a rebuild due to crispy (old) seals, because the car was sitting for a long time.

Brake hydraulic system required an overhaul due to crispy (old) seals, because car was sitting for a long time.

General Comments:

What a marvelous Swedish barge! It's fast, it's quick, it's smooth... it's the Special Agent 007 of the motorway. Regal in appearance, stout in construction, and the 4-speed transmission with electric overdrive is a high pleasure to shift. Heater is equal to Swedish winters; unfortunately air conditioning is kinda equal to Swedish summers... there are ways of making it work better.