Faults:

Bought with difficult starting due to low compression.

Needed rebore and new cylinder head. Since then the engine has behaved perfectly.

Recently needed new front caliper for annual test.

Aircon has never worked - heater is fine.

General Comments:

Another cheap, well maintained, well used car (see my Lexus review) which has been perfect for my family and dogs for eight years. Regularly serviced, but nothing else needed in all that time!

Paint is faded and peeling, but only rust is under battery tray.

Leather interior is comfortable but worn.

It seems ideal to have a family car whose appearance doesn't matter, but the inbuilt quality and comfort are still there.

Performance is much better than the spec would suggest - diesel plus auto should be sluggish, but in fact it pulls like a train, and is a good tow car.

Economy is no better than the equivalent petrol engine, 30 to 33 mpg.

Engine is noisy at idle, from outside, but inside is quiet and smooth - six cylinders!

Virtually no electronics means that I can keep this going indefinitely, and this I intend to do.

Faults:

Electrical issues once in a while. Sometimes the power seat wouldn't work for a couple of minutes, or sometimes there would be no power to the stereo, but simply restarting the car would fix that.

Seats have worn moderately.

Needed a new alternator at a around 230,000 miles.

Oil leaked.

Some issues with power steering after sitting for half a year.

General Comments:

This car is fast! Especially for a 4 cyl. station wagon. Speedometer goes up to 120 mph, and so does the car.

Accelerates great too!

Exceptionally smooth ride for an older car.

Loved all the options! Power windows, power locks, power steering, power sunroof, power mirrors, heated seats, cruise control.

Loved the capacity. Fits seven people, or you could fold down all the back seats and have a large cargo area.

Seats had adjustable lumbar support.

Faults:

In my ownership: water-pump needed replacement, and the odd bulb or electrical switch.

General Comments:

Comfortable interior, luxurious feel, power everything, plenty of horsepower, and excellent handling aside; this car saved my life. I was in an accident last week, and would not be writing this if I were in any other car. Car went off the bank of a mountain road, fell off a 15m embankment and hit several huge trees before coming to a stop. Both my passenger and I walked away unharmed, closed the door behind us and plan on buying another Volvo. Volvo's superiour focus to safety engineering saved both of our lives, and I never feel as safe in any non Volvo car now.

Faults:

The relay of the warning lights broke down.

General Comments:

This a great car, a real pleasure to drive. With its 2.8 liter motor and 170 hp it's seriously quick. Watch the GTi guys in astonishment when you easily can keep up with them.

I have the 760 estate and the space is enormous.

After 16 years the car is still almost without rust.