1997 Volvo 960 Sedan review from North America

I have only owned this 960 for a short period of time, but in that, I have had to replace a few exterior light bulbs, a flat tire, and a few trim pieces. Beyond that, the car has a very, very slow oil leak (common on the 2.9L 6-cylinder units) and can get lagged when the air-con system is at its highest setting (which is an understandable issue with any car)

I absolutely love this car. I am, and always will be, a huge fan of the rear-wheel drive, blocky Volvo's (ie. the 700 and 900 series)

This car lives up to every expectation one might put to it, and even surpasses some. The 960 is not the type of car to throw into corners at high speed, nor is it good to dart through traffic in, however given its small turning radius, good road feel, and well modulated brake and accelerator pedals, the car is easy to drive around town, and an absolute pleasure on the highway.

I have read some bad reviews on post 1990 Volvo products, and in the end it all comes down to the condition of the vehicle at the time of purchase. Volvo's, like any other kind of European car tend to be finicky when they are left unmaintained, and driven hard. However, if you take good care of these boxes by cleaning them regularly, and ensuring that all the fluids are topped up and in good shape, and you'll be driving for many many kilometers.

Luckily I purchased this 960 from my independent Volvo mechanic, and the last (and only previous) owner of the car took great care of it.

So far I have been averaging a fuel consumption rate of under 10 Litres/100KM or roughly 24 to 25 Miles per gallon (on a mixed commute)

I would recommend Volvo's to anyone. As a teenager, we are often the ones known for planting Civics into oak trees, but for me safety is key above go fast performance, and you can't get any safer than the last generation Volvo 900 Series.