1996 Volvo 850 SE saloon review from UK and Ireland

Air conditioning unit leaked.

Brake pipe severed - never found out how - but Volvo's dual reservoir for brake fluid saved the day.

Driver's side door mirror started to vibrate.

Lock fell out of boot.

Squeaking set belt mountings - just like my previous Volvo 740.

Paint work started to wear badly; the clear layer flaking off all along the mountings for roof rails.

Windscreen wipers failed.

This was the precursor to the S70 and as such stands between Volvo's 'tank' models, the 700 and 900 series cars, and today's S60 and S80 range.

It was a great improvement on my previous car, a 740, in terms of ride and refinement of build, but it really doesn't cut the mustard in today's terms. Internal trim was fairly sophisticated, with half-walnut dash and half-leather seats, but let down by the external paintwork quality and tendency for wear to show.

Having said that, it went like the clappers and I had endless fun vanishing to a dot on the horizon on the open road in front of cars driven by boy racers who thought they were going to overtake me.

I paid for it in fuel consumption, though; I never got more than 26 miles to the gallon round town.