Hello all. New guy here in need of advice. I'm semi-retired and work from home. If I am really pushed I might drive 50 miles a week, often less. I'm disabled and mobility is an issue, so having a car large enough to get in and out of easily is important, as is a good-sized trunk, because sometimes a wheelchair has to tag along in the trunk. I live in South Florida, so I do not deal with snow and ice. About once a year I like to drive back home to Virginia, which puts about 2,500 miles on the vehicle round trip.

I currently own a 1997 Volvo 960, which I have had for about three years. It came to me as a one-owner car with all service done at the dealership and service records. Aside from a set of tires, it has cost me nothing to speak of in repairs, and has made the Virginia run twice with no problems. Generally, i like the car very much. It has about 135,000 miles on the odometer.

It's got a few issues now. The A/C suddenly stopped working, and one of the front seats is going to need the relatively common repair of seat cable replacement one one motor. The car does have a persistent check engine light, but it's had it for two years now with no ill effects I can discern. I had a long period when I could not drive due to health, but an employees drove it almost every day rather than let it sit. The interior is generally good, but door panels where arms touch them are showing their age. Nothing on the car leaks that we can tell, including the sun roof or the trunk. Paint is getting a bit faded in the Florida sun and could use attention.

So, here is my question for the group. I've done well on an unexpected project and have about $5,000 to $7,500 or so that I am comfortable throwing into a car project. I can either buy something newer, probably another Volvo, or put money into fixing anything and everything my 960 needs. In terms of slightly newer replacements, I have been seeing a lot of mid-2000's S60's at attractive prices.

Would anyone care to offer some advice on which way to go? Or, if there are other good values in used Volvos I have not considered, please advise on that as well. I need a car with a back seat for the occasional but not regular passengers, and am not at all adverse to a station wagon either. Do I need something a bit newer, or am I better advised to hang onto the 960?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can give me! I want good, reliable transportation and want to spend my money wisely. P.S., my employee would like to buy the 960 from me should I decide to replace it.

 

It's really a case of the devil you know and the devil you don't.

Just depends on how attractive those S60's are and how well you've taken care of the 960 and if you're still in love or getting tired of the old girl.

 

Thanks. Just bought a really clean Silver 2005 S60 Turbo from a local dealer who gave me a fair price and a warranty. But, I'm keeping the old 960 for now. I might make it a project car, or sell it to my employee. Just felt like I needed a bit of a refresh, and the S60 seems like a really classy car with its black leather interior. The back seat is a bit small, but I almost never carry passengers.