Volvo Problems

I'm a fan of the XC60, which still gets The Tick, but you should also consider the Skoda wagon lineup and test drive both the Octavia and Superb as they are from the Volkswagen family but better value.

It sounds like a good choice and I've no bad news. Always check that the services have been done correctly and it's worth getting a full report from a motoring club before committing to a car.

The XC90 is a very old design and one at that price might be a bit doubtful. Your best choice would be a Kia or Hyundai, which are far better than you might think and may even have some factory warranty at your budget.

The CX-5 is best in class but the Volvo is a class above, in the prestige category. Both get The Tick from me, but if price is not a problem I'd go for the XC60.

The engine cannot have been running without coolant for a month. I think you're going to have some difficulty in proving your claim that there was a problem with the car when you bought it.

We have been reporting the long-overdue new XC90 since Volvo first began the trickle feed of information, including in our February 20 edition. We also highlighted it as a potential Car of the Year contender in last week's edition. As for words like "benchmark", "standout" and "quality", we are waiting for a verdict when we drive it locally in early August. Watch out for our review.

First, the XC60 is a very good car. Second, a diesel engine only makes economic sense if you travel more than 30,000km a year, but it would give you better torque for those boat runs.

The Kia Carnival gets The Tick, every time, in that price range. And with four kids you will find that a proper people-mover gives far more flexibility than an SUV or even a converted van.