Hi-

I've got my eye on a 94 945 w/ 154K. It's for sale at a shop that specializes in Volvo and Saab repairs and sales. The seller claims to have purchased it wholesale from a Volvo dealer in the next state. Car runs very well, AC is cold, drives straight etc. He (sller, mechanic) did a new timing belt, new brakes all around, new tires and new exhaust from the catalytic conv. back. All of the windows and wipers and lights work...

I read the 700/900 FAQ section but would like to hear from anyone who owns this car and has raves or rants about it. The car seems really solid but I generally keep cars until 200K when I buy them new and don't have much experience with a car that's been "broken in" by someone else.

Thanks,

Jeff

99 S70M

Many here (and elsewhere) consider the '94 & '95 940s to be the best car Volvo ever made -- bar none. I can tell you I have a '93 945 Turbo and I love it. My wife is the primary driver, and she wouldn't trade it for anything. In fact, her best friend just bought a 2000 V-70 T-5 (in case you're not familiar with it -- it is one spicy brick!). I thought for sure my wife would fall in love with the car. After riding in it, she came back and said, "It's OK, but I don't like it as much as my 940."

Jeff Pierce
--
'92 Mercedes 190E (my daily driver), '93 945 Turbo (a kickass family car), '53 Willys-Overland Pickup (my snow-plow truck/conversation piece)

The car is as reliable as they come, inexpensive to insure and maintain, very comfortable and steady the highway, and it doubles as a minivan, a truck, and with the third seat, a minivan.

Around town it's not quick, but parks in places you wouldn't think it could and U-turns inside a Civic.

Ball joints and inner tie rod ends don't last well but are cheap. The front brake caliper pins need frequent service or you will have front brake trouble.

Make sure you get an alignment - new tires can hide toe-in or out and be wrecked quickly if you have either - and that both front calipers float freely on thir pins.

As for power: I gets through Montreal's fast traffic just fine and happily cruises at 140 kmh, but uphill loaded on the TCH in New Brunswick (posted 110 and looooong hills) or into a headwind with a roof-top box, turbo would be nice.

other than the stuff in the FAQ...

if its a turbo have the turbo pipes of and check for oil in them (excesive amounts = new turbo soon), also I would check the oil cooler for signs of corrosion, check to radiator end date stamp to see its comming up..also make sure the AC works...

I trust you are aware that turbo's get about 20 mpg...and that tire wear can be noticable (if you have a heavy right foot!)..also double check to Over drive...genrally cheap to fix but sometimes not (certainly a very good barganing point!)

I own the same vehicle type you are looking at (turbo) and I wouldn't trade it for a newer one. It has 175k+, has been well maintained, and runs as strong as when it was new. Everything mentioned in the previous post is agreed with with this added; It is easy to do your own maintenance, this forum is as good or better a resource as any other I have ever seen, esp. for this model. The drivetrain is tough & reliable. Any potential problems are, IMHO, negligible when placed against all the positive features. I won't give mine up and would buy another if I needed one. As far as safety goes, I had an earlier wagon (760) which is essentially the same body and got rearended by a guy doing over 50MPH, I was standing still behind a school bus. The car was a total but I walked away unscathed, enough said.
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Bob Kraushaar '94 945T, '91 940T(back from retirement), '88 240, '84 242T, '94 F-150, '89 560 SL, '68 Shelby GT-500 KR

We own a 1993 945, and it is the BEST Volvo I have ever owned (of 10), in terms of reliability. The only serious complaint is that the car is very underpowered unless you are looking at a turbo. The 945 is quiet, comfortable, and very stable on the highway, and it handles quite well in general driving. The cargo area is huge and cannot be matched by the newer Volvo wagons. We have had very few serious mechanical problems with this car. I would suggest having an independent shop look at the car before you buy, but in general I believe a 945 is a great choice.

Any comments on HOW the 945 is underpowered? I mean in what situations?

Here in Minnesota, my non-turbo 745 does what *I* need it to do.

But in a recent visit to Los Angeles, for instance, I soon found that people expect you to FLOOR IT on the freeway entry ramp... When in doubt: go fast!

I think that I would feel underpowered there. Anyone have experience in that madhouse? :-)

OTOH, my sweetie has plenty of power to pull a 120/Amazon from Texas to Minnesota, etc. Smooch!
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Gregg in MN