Volvo Problems

With your budget you would be looking at a 2010/2011 VW Beetle, which had a regular automatic transmission and not the troublesome DSG that was fitted in later models. That’s a big tick for the Beetle. The Citroen C3 is a decent car, but an orphan in the sense that there weren’t many sold and you won’t find a dealer on every corner. As for the BMW, they’re too expensive to service and repair if you use a dealer, and they have too many niggling issues that spoil the great driving experience. The Subaru Impreza is well worth looking at, but my pick of that bunch would be the Volvo C30.

The X3 would be fine but you should also - perhaps surprisingly - consider a Volvo XC60 which I rate as slightly better than the BMW as a secondhand choice.

The first port of call after your mechanic diagnosed the problem should have been to a Volvo dealer to have them inspect and diagnose the problem. That way they could experience the problem first hand and not through your complaints and the mechanic’s report. There are times when you can’t help thinking that Australian customers are being treated very poorly by car companies that don’t follow up on recalls overseas here. On top of that the cost of parts compared to overseas is something that needs to be addressed, possibly by authorities. There’s no doubt in my mind that Australian motorists are being ripped off.

It’s a sign of the times, carmakers are not supporting their products the way they once did and more and more owners are finding themselves stuck as you are. It seems we’re now meant to sell our cars before they get to the point of needing major surgery. You could try sourcing the bearings from overseas via the Internet, or you could also try and find a second hand diff that has serviceable bearings and for that as a unit.

Both are 5-star rated by ANCAP, both have similar levels of tech features, but the Volvo S60 diesel is marginally better on fuel. As for look, that's in the eye of the beholder.

John Duggan of Volvo Australia says: "It is normal in the XC60 for the rear brakes to wear quicker than the fronts. There is no issue with the braking system and the brake force distribution is even, front and rear."

Our information is that the 2010 XC60 diesel is a solid and reliable car, but you should consider the wisdom of buying a diesel. If you're regularly driving reasonable distances on the highway a diesel can be a good way to go, but if you're mainly driving short distances locally then it would probably not be a good purchase. As for the cost of parts the Volvo is comparable with other rival makes and models. The best course of action should you buy one is to pal up with an independent mechanic with Volvo experience. Volvo specialists have the diagnostic tools needed, and are usually able to buy parts at a more affordable price. Often they will be factory parts imported from places like America, and landed here at a much lower price than you be charged by a dealer.

Model years are complicated and differ from brand to brand, as they are usually tagged to spring in the home country of the company. Greg Bosnich of Volvo says: “Anything from April is model 2016 until April 2017”. But remember, the car will be judged at second-hand time on the actual date it was built, not any MY designation by the maker.