1982 Volvo 244 GL review from Australia and New Zealand

Just the usual wear and tear things, such as blown globes and the like, but bigger things include:

-The rear left seatbelt inertia reel failed completely. Replaced with a new one from the wrecking yard.

-Lumbar support in drivers' seat collapsed. $50 for repairs.

-End part of exhaust pipe rusted off - $80 for a replacement. I can hear another hole forming in the exhaust now.

-Didn't receive FM frequency. Replaced old radio with a new one from the wrecking yard.

-Air conditioning compressor seized after I left the key locked in the car overnight. Quoted at $700 for a replacement.

-Back brake lights failed completely. New brake switch: $100.

-Half the lights in the dash didn't work - new fuse I believe?

-New oil pressure switch needed after the car started leaking oil during the night (but not much).

-Started getting a very strong petrol smell in the car. As it turns out a hose disconnected after being knocked. Replaced the hose and has been fine since.

-Bonnet is now getting increasingly hard to open - a rusty cable is the culprit.

-The rest has been superfluous stuff like windscreen washers not working (another disconnected hose), scrapes (not so much a car fault as my fault) and topping up oil, coolant, clutch and brake fluid.

After 12 months of owning a Volvo, I am now hooked for life. Granted, it isn't the best looking or fastest car on the road, but once it gets up to speed, it stays there!

I'm surprised with how well it handles. For a big car, it's heavy kerb weight makes it stick to the road, and I've found a lack of power steering gives you a better feel for what's happening. The slightest tap of the brake slows you down; again very responsive.

It's also incredibly comfortable. After driving a Civic around for a week while I was on holiday, it was no comparison. The front seats are like a couch, and the back seats, while supportive, are also very comfortable and are the kind of seats that your kids would be zonked out on during long holidays. On that note, the boot is also incredibly large, which would make it very practical as a family car.

This isn't a plug piece for Volvo so I had better think of some faults. It's a high revver and most certainly needs a 5th gear. You can't really 'cruise' down a highway at 100 (65 for the imperialists here) because the engine in front of you does over 3000rpm (3500 if you want to do 110 - 70mph?) and this does affect fuel economy.

Being an '82 model, it also requires leaded petrol, which is sadly not available any more. To combat this, I have to purchase a lead additive replacement and octane booster every so often - otherwise the engine will ping and there is a noticeable loss in power. I use ethanol blended E10 in the Volvo and I haven't had any complaints so far. Main problem is cost, and in the booster's case, not knowing what the petrol:booster ratio is. Am I adding too much? Should I add more? You get my drift.

I'm also getting a surface rust attack on my sills; more unsightly than anything.

However, putting aside these inconspicuous faults in perspective, this Volvo would make a fantastic first car, second car, family car (a lack of trim would make it especially good for this purpose - not much for the kiddies to pull off), whatever. I don't feel safe in any other car and I know I'm a Volvo driver, as the motto says, for life.