Hi everyone,
I love this site. Everything you could possibly need is here to keep your Volvo running.
So my beloved second Volvo, 1989 245, needs way too much. The guy before me let his kid beat it up a bit (rich kids, sigh...) radiator, trans, drive shaft, rear suspension, some vacuum leaks, front suspension etc. I'm also guilty since I let her slide a bit too, running a small business can do that to you.

Anyway, since getting married my wife has more say in the second car. We have an 2001 Accord that we got a great price on, and that's the first car. To make her happy, working AC, a smoother ride, a not so chewed up interior, a quieter ride, and something "more reliable" are now the requirements for my workhorse car.
(although my 240's never left us stranded) By workhorse I don't mean hauling loads of cinderblocks, it'll haul me around town, several hundred miles to go meet clients/make sales (I'm a glassblower), and haul stuff to craft shows.

Looking at a 1995 Volvo 960 Wagon w/ 163k. Asking price $2500 obo. Interior and exterioir pics are nice and clean, haven't seen engine or underneath yet. The women who is selling it is moving to Europe in a month so it's up for sale. It was PA inspected at a indie volvo shop (good place) in Sept 08. I actually called the mechanic, he looked up her records, and said there's no footnotes for the car or any major repairs needed. Since she bought the car from her ex's parents in Sept 07 it's had.
new thermostat 4/08
New brake pads/rotors front.
New Batt.
AC recharged last year.
2 oil changes.
New rear left caliper last 8/08.

There are records back to 3/04, over the phone it seems that (non-mechanic talking to sort-of backyard 240 mechanic)
-timing belt 127k
-new radiator/coolant 05
-tune up 05
-something transmissiony in 04 for $430.

I also ran the vin through carfax. It shows the current owner as only the second owner and not the third as claimed.
-1996 volvo recall on microswitch s4605 (that's gotta be fixed by now)
-3/99 63k vehicle serviced
-9/99 timing belt, manufacturer service performed
-12/99 73k man. service performed
-5/00 man. service performed
-7/00 serviced, maintanence inspct. performed
passes inspection every year then
-8/03 109k serviced
-3/04 112k probably sold to new owner (this is where records seem to begin)
(these are all listed as "service facility")
-3/04 112k fails emissions
-4/04 114k serviced, passes inspct.
-12/04 130k serviced (oil change at CARS INC)
-3/05 134k serviced, man. service performed (CARS INC)
-4/30/07 153k fails inspct.
-5/02/07 passes inspection
-9/07 sold to current owner, odo listed as 150k I feel it's a clerical error.


So... general opinions?
I've been going through the buying/faq guides and trying to learn as much as I can about the 960's. My brain hurts. I've got a lot to prepare for to go take a look at this car, and of course it's 125 miles away...

Thanks to anyone who actually reads all this post(or any of it), I've always appreciated the help and opinions that come from this site.

I can fix most minor things, with instructions.

Cheers.