Consumer Reports has the 960 and SV90 listed on it's "Used Cars to Avoid" list and actually recommends the '99 and '00 S70s.

So no, I wouldn't buy a 960 or a SV90.

After 159,000 plus miles my v70's AC is acting up yet again today.

My evaporator was replaced under warranty and basically the whole dash needs to come out of the car. I was looking at a used 300E for my daughter (some things you can't put a price on!) and I researched the cars extensively. On a 300E the evaporator replacement costs almost exactly double the replacement cost for a SV70 Volvo! The 300E I was looking at for her seemed clean and nice enough but also seemed to have just about every known 300E problem from a leaky AC evaporator to a blown head gasket.

As Eurocars go, Volvo isn't bad, but there is an absolutely huge quality gap between Europe and the Japanese makes. So if you want something relatively maintenance free, or more like a 740, look at a Camry.

If it's for your wife, look at a Lexus. :)

My Volvo is fun to drive and the seats are like nothing else but it's been an awfully maintenance-intensive car and Volvos are't nearly as safe as people think.

-BTC

'98 V70 T5 5-speed, 159k mi, front IPD stabilizer bar, rear factory HD bar, Bilstein HD, Volvo strut tower brace and skidplate, e-codes, V-1, Mobil-1 since new