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Good point from Craig, don't underestimate the importance of judging the seller as much as the car.
Not an easy choice, the Saab will be far more economical but a £500 saving on fuel costs can easily be written off if the Diesel starts to play up.
Of the two i'd probably go for the Volvo, but the second i got it home would remove the rear brake disc/drums and carefully examine the parking brake shoes, they fall apart easily, any doubt replace them, but you will need some new hold down springs that keep the shoes in place, the old ones will be probably be doing nothing other than sitting there rattling.
Might be worth keeping your eyes open for an S60 Diesel instead, my sons 185hp version absolutely flies, feels more like a 220/240 the way it pulls, and even the way he drives it averages 45mpg on his work commute.
My little secret in used car buying is to look at the tyres wheels and brakes and be prepared to walk on this alone, decent set of reasonable quality (not necessarily premium make) tyres in good condition, straight undamaged clean wheels, decent brake discs showing and calipers with some paint still on them...there's a fair chance the car has been looked after properly.
Conversely, mismatched scabby ditchfinder tyres worn down at the edges with battered sidewalls, kerbstriked wheels with the dirt from thousands of miles ingrained permanently, scabby pitted worn out discs and calipers with years of untouched rust and gunge built up...it's a dead cert that the bits you can't see have been even more neglected.
Edited by gordonbennet on 28/12/2014 at 20:07
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