ICEDVOVO
Sorry. Cut myself off mid paragraph.
Volvo engineers their cars for a long lifetime but that lifetime is highly dependant on servicing. Most people don't service their cars as much once it's out of warranty. Many have fallen out of love with their car by then and eye off the next new shiny thing . The car is either traded in or sold or falls into a pattern of neglect ending with a drive it till it dies mentality; if it wasn't for the annual rego check even the brakes or tyres wouldn't get changed. Some of these cars miraculously linger on for years changing in ownership several times until they go to god. Some might get lucky and get picked up by an OZ Volvo guy who feels sorry for them and lavishes them with TLC. But those cars are far and few between. Most people have no idea how to maintain a car and have a "new is better " mantra. It's a completely logical way of looking at cars. And it wasn't for them we wouldn't be able to find such fantastic cars at half or even a quarter of their original value at the end of the lease. But to find one that is still Ok after being in the hands of several random owners for the past 20 years or 500000km is nothing short of a miracle.
Max
I've just purchased a 2002 S40 with 300,100kms on clock.
My other one is a 1997 with 106,000 on clock. It is a genuine one owner from new but a lady (dec.) who only drove it around the Peninsula (Woy Woy) all of it's life. It's slow (non turdo) and scuffed and the usual tatty drivers seat.
The 300k Kms one is like new. I have all the service history and receipts since new and it's always had synthetic oil and things like timing belt changed at 240K kms and again at 280K kms.
Accordingly I now have a '97 model to dispose of.
It goes to show what a good quality product Volvo make when it's been looked after. Ta 67, I figger the 2002 S40 will see me out.