Faults:

The only things that have gone wrong are the exhaust and the dreaded heater fan motor.

A modest amount of maintenance, timing belt, flame trap and radiator flush.

General Comments:

It's my daily driver; the doors could double as safe doors. I drive my 2 kids to and fro, and I could not put them in a safer car. I love its simplicity and dependability. Lucky to have found such a gem and for only $1600. I will never sell it as long as it keeps starting.

Faults:

Headlamp wiper not working.

Door bins are situated where they will get broken by people exiting the vehicle.

General Comments:

Bought to scratch a long held itch for one of these, I love my Volvo. I think it's staggering that they were still making these as late as 1993, as the handling is from the 70s with comical body roll on corners.

The 2.0 engine is not really man enough for such a large vehicle, I wouldn't use it for towing, but tall gearing means that 30 MPG is a realistic touring figure.

It's such a practical and useful car with masses of interior space though, that I'm happy to forgive it its minor foibles.

Hardly anything has gone wrong with it so far, and it wears its admittedly high mileage very well.

The turning circle is amazing for such a big car.

The heater is like a nuclear reactor.

The kids love riding in the jump seat in the boot.

It's the ideal family car for someone on a budget who needs to carry full size household doors in their car. I'm keeping it forever.

Faults:

Exhaust, clutch, 2 coolant tubes, the intermediate bearing and a wheel bearing over 13000km.

I broke the clutch myself trying to haul a huge trailer up a hill. My mechanic said I'm unfit to drive a car if I manage to break the truck-sized-clutch on a Volvo, but it happened anyway.

The exhaust, tubes and bearings must be considered normal maintenance for a car of this age and mileage.

Rust is coming up in the usual places: Wheel wells, back door.

General Comments:

Very powerful and tractor like engine. Start it in first without gas and it will roll. Needs little shifting. Will almost always run, even if maladjusted or mistreated.

Massive space inside. The smart solution is to fix furniture or other stuff with hooks. Very spacious "cellar" under the boot for tools, an extra pair of shoes etc.

Soft and smooth ride. Excels on cross country rides.

Nothing is easier to park than a cuboid.

Rather cheap to buy, very cheap to maintain, no loss of value anymore.

Gas consumption is okay, and overall you spend less money on maintenance than on extra gas compared with other, more fuel efficient cars of the period. Remember that the design is from the 60s.

A lot of space in the engine boot, makes it a lot easier to some work yourself. Light-signal-controlled real "on-board" OBD is very helpful.

Rust is annoying. The Volvo 700-series is much better preserved.