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I am staring at a nice, clean '97 965 with 69,000 miles and the usual goodies. Asking price is $13,800. Haven't had it fully inspected yet, but I will.
I currently drive a '93 945 with 105K, having started at 65K. I put a fair amount of money...about $3K on top of the $13K I paid for it...into it over the past few years, including brakes, rotors (to deal with warpage), expensive A/C components, power window mechanism, heated seat wiring, horns, engine shield, and exhaust sections, and of course routine (book) maintenance. I fix the "easy" stuff, but avoid work involving tiny springs, relays and welding!
My question to you...assuming the new car "checks out," is it worth "trading up" now? Of course the 940 has no "go" on the freeway, so it would be good to get a little passing power. Other than that, can't think of features I'd be gaining other than another power seat, CD changer and a luggage rack. I'd probably sell the 945 privately...think I could get, say, $6K for it?
My wife refuses to run around in a minivan and we need three rows of seats, and we think SUVs are stupid, so that means we'll be driving a Volvo wagon for a long time. Forget the 850; bigger interior volume? No one's ever proven it to me, at least not where I need it: The load deck on a 900 series is clearly larger. In spite of living in Chicagoland, the rear drive has only marooned us in a snow bank, like, two or three times. I'm good with a shovel. (Hey, I grew up in Connecticut and we threw our cars in ditches weekly.)
I am hearing that Volvo went into a "dark period" on quality around 97-00, until new ownership got hold of some problems and fixed them. In fact, Consumer Reports gives the '97 960 an "avoid" grade and black circles for A/C, brakes and hardware (so tell a Volvo owner something he doesn't know!)
Your thoughts appreciated.
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