I am looking at a '95 960 with 147,000 miles that they want $3K for.

Body is good, no sign of wreck. Starts and runs good. Very quiet. Interior is in very good shape.

I have a '88 745 and a '91 244(daughter's car). I am considering this for my other daughter, who is a brand new driver.

I do almost all of my own Volvo work, and have been extremely successful thanks to the Brickboard.

What are the weak points of this vehicle? What specific items should I look closely at before purchase?

I appreciate the assistance, as usual.

All good advice in this thread, including several "warnings" not to give it to a new driver. We own two 960's and a 940. My daughter drives the last and loves it. The 960 is a surprisingly torquey RWD which most young drivers are not used to. It's not necessarily "fast", but they get into trouble kicking the rear end out on slippery roads. If you're gonna give it to her -- (a)be sure to put 150 lbs. or more of cement blocks or sand in the trunk (I fit 2 75 lb. blocks up on the 'shelf' under the stereo speakers and box them in), (b) be sure to use siped snow tires liberally for Fall/Winter, and (c)take her out and let her drive in an empty industrial park or vacant area and play with kicking the rear end out and recovering by steering into the skid.

I'd advise against it. The 960 has too much power, almost 60% more HP and 50% more torque than the NA red blocks. We had driven NA red blocks (I have a 245 that will soon be my son's, my wife drives a 944 and we just recently gave our 745 away) until this past Jan when I adopted my 965. What a difference! The acceleration can be addictive after driving the 114HP/132lb torque NA red blocks.

If you are sold on the 960, recommend that you drive it and give her your 745 if it's NA.

Good luck!

Dave

Just give her the 745 and keep the 960 for youself.
--
97 S90 with 184K miles still going strong

First of all, I don't expect a problem with the extra "power" in her hands.

Second, I have considered the option of giving her the 740, but the car has been a great commuter car (90 miles each day) I hate to give that up, and would worry about the miles per gallon I will get with the 960.
I also enjoy having the 740 because it is a wagon which I use to haul stuff. It often performs as my truck, and does a great job at that.

I'd advise against it. The 960 has too much power, almost 60% more HP and 50% more torque than the NA red blocks. We had driven NA red blocks (I have a 245 that will soon be my son's, my wife drives a 944 and we just recently gave our 745 away) until this past Jan when I adopted my 965. What a difference! The acceleration can be addictive after driving the 114HP/132lb torque NA red blocks.

If you are sold on the 960, recommend that you drive it and give her your 745 if it's NA.

Good luck!

Dave

Main thing to make sure of is that the timing belt has been changed. Normal service on this part is every 70k miles. The belt should have been changed 7k miles ago, along with the tensioner and waterpump.
Hope that helps
Poolman

Sticker on Timing Belt Cover shows a change since 100K, but I can't remember the mileage it said.
I guess this is an "interference" engine, is that what you are telling me?
I am very familiar with changing the timing belt and tensioner on the 240 and 740, and am comfortable doing that myself. What degree of difficulty is the change of the timing belt on the 960?
I will look to see if water pump appears new.
Anything else?

I haven't really done one on a 4 cylinder but the 960's change is an easy one short evening job. I'm judging this based on actual experience on my 960 and reading the manual for the other.
--
'96 965, 16' wheels, Michelin Pilot Sports, rear 18mm bar + Koni, 204HP cams, 126K. Put 200K on '85 745 TD.

Hello again--The timing belt change is a breeze, even I could do it after the good help from the people here, check the archives and disregard all the posts I had on questions from around Oct of last year.
Dewfpo posted a full how to on making the change and it really went well.
The main thing is yes these are interference engines, the tensioner can go out a the engine goes with it, FCP Groten has the best prices on original Volvo parts, Water pump should last 140k.
After you have made sure of the above I would check the post JBowers had a couple of days ago on flushing out the tranny with new synthetic Mobil 1 fluid.
You will like it, syn fluid for motor oil is also the way to go, Mobil 1 5w40.
If the previous owner ran dino oil, switch to syn ,and replace the filter at about 500 miles, to make sure you aren't dislodging a lot of juck into the oiling system.
Hope that helps
Poolman