1992 Volvo 960 Wagon review from North America
"Old faithful!"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Entire AC system replaced about 3 years ago with a "freon free" type.
Replaced alloy wheels with steel ones in 1993 or 1994. NY pot holes dented them too easily.
Engine replaced at 52K miles (1995). The block cracked and was replaced free of charge by Volvo Cars.
Car was broad-sided after 2 weeks of ownership. Was repaired and have never had any problems.
In 1997 was hit by a pickup truck. Had the entire car repainted to avoid fading problems from the Arizona sun.
Replaced radiator in 1998.
Car lacks the power it had when new. This started showing up at about 150k miles. It appears that the transmission is failing, but don't seem to be able to get a Volvo replacement tranny. Dealership has been of no help here.
Brakes are expensive to replace, but they always work flawlessly, so worth the extra bucks.
General comments?
After 10 years of ownership, and over 180k miles, I am amazed at how well the car has held up. Both the exterior and interior are beautiful.
If you can find a good 960 with reasonable mileage, go for it! Overall, the car holds up quite well. It is comfortable, reliable and safe.
Still has the smallest turning radius of any car I've ever seen. Nothing today, in this regard, can compete.
The trick to owning a Volvo is to find a reliable mechanic. Our dealer in NY was great, but our AZ dealer was unsatisfactory. And I'm not sure that Ford is helping in this regard.
Overall the car has met our needs quite well. Am hard pressed to find a suitable replacement. Am not convinced that the XC is going to be as reliable as the 960. Am considering leasing the XC as a lemon hedge, but have not decided. I shouldn't have to think about this at all.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1992 |
| First year of ownership | 1992 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2002 |
| Engine and transmission | V6 Automatic |
| Performance marks | 9 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 10 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 6 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 5 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 181000 miles |
| Previous car | Volvo 240 |
| Date of Entry | 9th May, 2002 |