Sorry this is long but you asked...

Way back in 1984 I owned a 1976 Porche 914 2.0lt with about 40,000 miles on it. That model was a joint effort between Volkswagon(engine) and Porche(transaxle). What a piece of junk! Yeah it handled great, and girls loved it, but in one years time I amassed over $3000 in repairs. I had enough.

I went to a Volvo dealership, and bought a new 1985 240dl, with an Automatic trans, as I was sick of shifting when I was tired from work and longed to just "drive". I now have 350,000 miles on that car. It has left me standed ONCE, the rotor button, cracked. Which should have been replaced at service but was missed. I have the ORIGINAL, engine, alternator, etc. I did replace the trans at 150,000 with a factory rebuilt one, due to the breather box clogged and blowing the seals.

I have been in three accidents two of which caused almost no damaged to my car until the last one which was in the same spot as the one before, crumped the rear fender a bit, but torn up the japanese car that hit me. The one before that really tore up the GM car that hit me but did almost no damaged to my car save the motor mounts, and the one before that crushed the entire rear tailgate, glass and on the chevy blazer that I hit, but only folded my hood a bit.

Not long ago I finally decided that my 240's days might be numbered, and bought a 1998 V90, with 60,000 on it, which is now 87,000 and my 240dl goes on at 350,000. If the 240 dies I may get another Volvo, or may try a Mercedes. My brother swears by, and has had 4 or 5 of them over the years, and cranked up about 120,000 miles on each one with little trouble. My main reason for even entertaining the switch is style, the new Volvo's have a Ford Taurus look to me and I liked the box.
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~William~ 1985 240 DL - 342,000 & 1998 V90 - 75,000