I'm an ardent Toyota loyalist who bought a 94 854T a year or so after it came out. I don't regret my decision. I wasn't expecting Toyota reliability from a Volvo. I got what I expected--a delightful quirkiness, unbelievable braking power, enviable acceleration, and of course, the security of driving around in a car whose designers assumed it'd get into an accident.

I did my homework on the car, and it was ultimately Consumer Reports' prediction that the car would be the most reliable in its class that compelled me to buy it. I believe CR's prediction was correct. The car is the most reliable car--in its class. I have had far fewer problems with it than my friends have had with their cars: M-B's, BMW's, Saab's, etc. One of my friends who purchased a [derisive snicker] Cadillac Catera dumped it after eighteen months.

But compare it with a Toyota, and the car falls woefully short. Nothing major has ever gone out on my Volvo, but the little stuff that has is unusually expensive. Regular maintenance is an absolute must, and it can cost more than you expect. If you know how to work on cars, buy a used 850. If you're like me, and you don't, marry a Volvo mechanic.