I have a 1989 volvo 780. I was thinking of getting a 940se instead. What would be the differences other than the obvious sunroof vs moonroof difference. ALso the wagon doesnt have the independent suspension..but the dash seems more modern to me..do they have tilt steering? Thanks..Jeffry

My parents have a 92 960 and I had a 89 780T. This is the only car I have ever owned that I never got tired of driving. The sound deadening, the power, the leather, the stereo, the handeling from the IRS, the quick steering and the obvious unique looks of the car still make me regret selling it. My parents 960 should be very similar, with the obvious engine difference, I beleive has a completely different feel. The 96o doesn't handel near as well as the 780 although the dash layout looks a bit more modern. If you ever plan on running into anything, stay away from the 780 as mechanical parts are similar to the other 700 series cars the exterior parts are considerably more expensive. Just make sure you have collision insurance is all that means. The other poster also made a good comment; if you want to put your mother in the back go with the four door. If I could do it over, I would get the 780 Turbo, not the six cyclinder, again without question. Also, body parts do exist out there that are reasonnably priced, you just have to look closely for them, as I found out after I accidently dented my baby.

Jesse Studer
88 744t 5spd 238k

Well thanks for the responses..I have the turbo by the way..but I never noticed all that sound deadening insulation you are mentioning..where is it located..it certaintly isn't in the doors or bedhind the rear seat side panels..thanks Jeffry

Well thanks for the responses..I have the turbo by the way..but I never noticed all that sound deadening insulation you are mentioning..where is it located..it certaintly isn't in the doors or bedhind the rear seat side panels..thanks Jeffry

Indeed the 940SE is special at least mine is to me. The body style(hood goes all the way up to the windshield)is identical to the 92 960 and it has a tilt steering wheel. The dash is identical steup to the 960 and that means the fuse panel is located on the drivers side of the dash and the relays are accessed through the left side of the center console(take off the under panel in the passenger side of the compartment. The 940 SE is the only 940 that has IRS at least mine has a limited slip differential. Just got mine 5 months ago with 93K.

Actually, the 940se is a true luxury car -- as Volvos go -- and it would have more modern features than the 780. Of course, the 780 is in a class all itself, which can be good or bad. Good in that it is just "too cool," bad in that finding parts might be at times challenging, and the 780 engine is not all that common, should you have problems there. Me, I would like the 780 as a "toy," but the more practical side would go with the 940. 940's in general are great cars; and the SE is extra special.

If I understand US specs, the 940 SE is a top level Volvo will all the extras and the turbo engine. If your 780 is a turbo too, then the engine will be the same. I suspect the 940 is heavier so will be slower but i doubt you will notice it much. Surely, the main differences are obvious. The 940 is a boring looking 4 door sedan or quite an attractive looking 5 door wagon whereas the 780 is a gorgeous 2 door coupe. The 940 will have a simpler feel to it, factory made as it will have been, perhaps in Halifax whereas the 780 is partially handmade in Italy. Fewer heads will turn, and less envy at those Volvo meets. On the other hand, your mother-in-law won't break her back when she gets in the rear and I suspect you can fit more luggage, certainly if you are talking about the wagon. Technically, the two cars will be identical apart from the IRS which post 1988 780 had, but are you sure that the 940 SE does not have IRS, I have seen postings here claiming that it does. Over here in Europe, no 940's had IRS but I think the US spec SE was different. The dash is different, this is a funny mixture of the old 700 series dash and the later 760 dash, found in the 740 Mk II. It has speakers in the dash as well as in the doors but I do not think it has tilt steering, but I could be wrong. Personally, if I had a 780 I would NEVER replace it unless I needed the extra space, which I do which is why I never bought a 780 but a 740 wagon.

George
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1987 745 GLE Turbodiesel Intercooler (D24TIC)/1988 745 Turbo Intercooler (B230FT/M46)

I have never driven (or even riden in ) a 900 series car, but I have driven my 87 780 which is the quietest, smoothest Volvo I've ever had--and I've owned about 14. The combination of the B280 V6 and about eight hundred pounds of sound deadening insulation in the Bertone make it seem like I am driving a cloud...doubt if you'll get the same feeling in the 900.