We currently own a 1999 V70 GLT FWD. We previously owned a 1995 850 GLT. In the past (since 1990)we have owned a Honda Accord, a Subaru legacy, a VW Passat (both a wagon and a sedan). My inlaws own a Mercedes, and a friend at work owns an Audi. This is to set the stage.

We have had a number of the typical Volvo problems various people have written about, but neither Volvo has ever left us stranded. One of the Passats and the Subaru have left us stranded, as have the Mercedes and Audi for the others.

In my opinion the only one that matches the Volvo for interior "feel" is the Audi. All others feel cheaper, even the Mercedes. The Honda and the Subaru did much better than any of the others for reliability. The Accord NEVER had a problem of ANY kind in the four years we owned it. Wish I still had it today, as a second car. The Passats, Mercedes amd Audi were all atleast as bad with reliability as the Volvo, and I think cost more in general than the Volvo to deal with.

That said, the best car I have ever driven is either the Volvo, Mercedes or a BMW 5 series. From what I have read and with my exoeriences with Volvos (including my buddy who owns pre 1992 Volvos) the 1999 "feels" the best. Of course the pre-1992s are much more reliable.

I will probably always own a Volvo. Dispite the problems, I think it is fantastic. The only car I think is better is the 5-series BMW (though reliability is about the same), but it is rear wheel drive. I have the same love/hate, but would have it no other way.