Hi Paul,

A few things to look for – check the diesel particulate filter warning light goes out right after the engine starts up; on lower-mile diesels, these can clog up and it’s a pricey repair if they do. The Volvo you’re looking at isn’t exactly a high miler for its age. Other faults to check for include a wobbly ignition key in the dash-mounted slot (another expensive fix if it is), creaking seats (indicating their internals have failed and it’s not cost-effective to replace them) and the anti-lock brake warning light also extinguishing soon after start-up – if it doesn’t, the control unit might have failed. Guess what? This is also not a cheap fix. Also watch for damp carpets if it has a sunroof, a slack clutch if it’s a manual model and any lean shown when sitting still/during driving in a straight line, as one of the suspension springs might be cracked if so.