Try to keep one thing in mind when you read a BB such as this. It is full of people who have problems, mix in some are glorified parts swappers, and add a large portion of people who love Volvos.

There are plenty of people who just drive their bricks, get them serviced at a dealer, and go their merry way. After the warranty is up, many change to a local indie and keep on truckin.

Subarus have their own warts, like poor gas mileage and blown head gaskets... I could get a list - my son-in-law is a Subaru mechanic, and he keeps real busy.

As a career firefighter I can say this - Volvos do quite well in real-life accidents and I get a good laugh whenever the guys cut a Volvo up at a drill with the jaws of life.
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'96 855R,'64 PV544 driver, '67 P1800 basket case, '95 855, '95 854, the first three are mine, heh, heh, 435,000 miles put on 9 bricks