Your question is a common one from new owners after they run across
this site. Most people do not have major problems and the web sites
(this and others) will draw mostly complaints (why post if there are
no problems?). You can go to google.com and click on groups. Search on
"toyota is junk" and you get 11,500 hits. So, its not just Volvo
owners that gripe on the web. Pick any make and model and you will
find owners with problems if you look hard enough.

I've speant about $500 in repairs on my 98 S70 T5M since new (purchased
in 97). It did have some early probelms but they were fixed under
warranty. Did your car include repair records? Check to see what has
been spent and if there are re-occuring problems. A failed lock and
rattle on a car with 107K is not all that bad. One thing, Volvos should
be maintained by the book -- don't skip maintenance.

I have also spent $4000 in insurance, $3000 in annual registration,
and $4000 in fuel in the past 5 years on my 98 S70 T5M (and the
finance costs would be a few thousand more if financed). You might
also have paid sales tax on the car, count that, too.

Many people focus on the cost of repairs but they are not really
a big part of the cost of ownership. Depreciation is another biggie
I didn't include (probably $20K since I purchased new -- you mostly dodged
that bullet). Depreciation is hard to gauge since I did have use
of the car (which has value) and I was willing to pay for the new
car smell.

Drive the car and enjoy it. Even if you spend some money in repairs
keep it in perspective compared to what a car really costs to own
(at least 30 cents a mile to drive a car and very little of it
is for repairs).