Wanted: 940/960/etc 1992-1997-ish $3-$5K

[Chai]

Greetings,

I'm looking for a used Volvo, a good safe reliable car that not too complicated or expensive to maintain. I like 940's, 960's, maybe 850's in the early to mid 1990's. My budget is $3000 to $5000 for the right car.

This is for my son to drive. He has a two hour commute round trip and he drives at night. Air bags are a must in my view. A wagon would be great. Good gas mileage a plus.

I live in Santa Cruz CA, which is south of San Francisco, north of Big Sur, and somewhat close to Silicon Valley / San Jose.

Thanks!

[abscate]

How long is he going to be doing this commute ? 750 miles a week on a 20 year old car is pretty hard for the second half of life.

[Chai]

According to Google maps this is a round trip of 65 miles, so for 5 days a week, that would be 325 miles per week plus whatever driving he does on his days off. He just got this job and he likes it a lot! So I would guess he'll work there as long as he can.

(This is from Santa Cruz to Pescadero on Highway 1, the California Coast Highway).

[Chai]

Plus.... I was letting him drive my 1994 940 wagon. He's a new driver, and he over-corrected on a turn about a month ago -- hitting a fence and getting hit by another car. Thankfully, no one was hurt. But my 940 is now toast.

(I was hoping to fix my 940. According to my insurance company, it would cost too much to fix it -- over $6500. Even if we did nothing cosmetic, both airbags deployed and the windshield is broken.)

So, I'd like my son to be in a safe car that will protect him, but I don't want to spend a lot of money on a car he might just bang up (although I hope he won't be in another accident). I was in a roll-over last year (not a Volvo, and I was a passenger), and I can tell you that car crashes are no fun.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

[abscate]

I forgot about traffic out there. 2 hours for 65 miles sounds about right..

I think you want to look for the 850 series 1996-1998 in that price range.
A V70/S70 in the 1999-2002 might fit in that budget too, but...

the 99+ cars use Electronic Throttle Body and more up-to-date ignition system which is more reliable, but more expensive to fix. You want to see a 'yellow label' on it if you look at one of these.

The 2001 V70 automatic transmission is an orphan and to be avoided.

[Chai]

I'm thinking about this one:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4509074600.html

Volvos are very popular here, and I'm not seeing any with "low miles".

There is also this: http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/cto/4510462163.html

Cars with over 200K miles scare me a bit, although if the owner has replaced the timing belt, that is a good thing (http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/cto/4499753108.html).

Of course, then one needs to consider the transmission, right?

Thanks!

[JRL]

There is a GORGEOUS 98 S90 for sale here but you will have to pay me 6K (maybe $5500 if I don't have to spend too much) to own it
Has 100K miles, no paintwork
If interested I can buy it today if you send me a deposit
If you email me (below in signature) I can send you a bunch of pictures.
Here is one:

[Chai]

Thanks, JRL. I have emailed you.

Thank you for the suggestions, Abscate. I think I need to make a chart. I'm getting confused about which models changed names and when

[abscate]

I followed a nice looking "For sale" v70xc for 35 minutes in a traffic jam on highway 101 at 0100 this morning.... ...but when I tried to take a picture of it CHIPS yelled at me....I told them I was a NYer and they laughed.

Where in civilization is there a traffic jam at 0100?

[Chai]

Rock concerts?