I've been considering a 700/900 series for the past year as something a little more comfortable for highway travel to visit family. I haven't been too serious as I have too many 240 and need to sell one first.

Recently I posted one of my 240 that I don't drive or need and I had an interesting offer from someone on craigslist that has a 960 wagon and says they would like to do a straight trade. The 240 I'm selling was posted for $650 and has issues that need to be addressed like paint, tires, suspension and exhaust. It's no prize winner for sure.

The 960 that is being offered in trade looks considerably better on the exterior than my 240, but has some interior flaws. I'm wondering if this is a sign that the 960 is going to be more work than worth. The owner was up-front about shot nivomats in the rear, and I can see that would probably be an expensive fix from reading. I have yet to look at it in person, but am told that it runs fine and shifts smooth. That should eliminate the possibility of a snapped t-belt (making the vehicle worth little, as I have seen so many others on craigslist with a snapped t-belt for cheap). I'm hoping to take a look this weekend.

I've been a long time 240 owner and am confident and comfortable working on them myself. I read up on the 700/900 FQA and the phrase 'complicated systems' kept popping up in the FQA for 900 series. My main question is how needy and money hungry are the 960s if you DIY. I love the 240 because it is simple and parts can be found fairly cheap, especially with so many in the parts yards now. If the 960 is going to be a money pit, I'd like to just avoid that for now.

One last specific 965 question. I read in the FQA that the 940SE wagon had nivomat option but they could be replaced with springs from a 740 wagon. Does this hold true for the 960 wagosn also?
--
'82 245 'worktruk', '83 244 Turbo, '86 244 'traktor', 83' 242 'volcamino'