Well tomorrow I'll be saying a tearful farewell to my 1999 Octy SLXtdi estate. Bought 5.5 years ago at 47000m now at 163000m it's taken me all round UK/Ireland for work and holidays. A few things have gone wrong but it's worked damned hard for its living and only really let me down once when the clutch pedal broke at traffic lights at roadworks on the A75 trunk road. Had to happen just as work stopped for Christmas too.

A few things are now needing done(poss clutch soon) but the car is still useable. I am trading it in on the scrappage scheme for a V50 2.0d which workrd out at 25% off list price. I really wanted a Scout but unfortunately after 3 lengthy testdrives still could not get comfy with the seats so couldn't risk spending £15k.

Volvo will be comfy, a bit less spacious, costlier to maintain and I'm not too sure about fuel economy only time will tell.

I've got the original brochures from 1999 for the Octavia, the owners hand book etc which I may well place on E bay as well as the estate load cover.

I calculated a year ago it had cost me 21p per mile to run including writing off the cost of purchase (£4700).

It'll be mixed emotions tomorrow.

Good luck with the new car, I'm sure you'll enjoy it.