I've got a 1985 760T and a 1989 740T both sticks. The 760 has metallic trim and climate control and the previous owner 5 years ago redid the rear shocks. It rides great. Please add the IPD anti-sway bars. The 740 is a bit stiffer with KYB shocks allround and the Hydra Mags. The 16" Hydras look great but the ride is a little rougher. I like some cushioned rebound on the mid speed ride I have discovered. Stiff is nice above 60, not so nice below 45mph. I have replaced both turbos w/post '90 Mitsubishi's and the round style exhaust manifold for quickness to 5000rpm's. I thought the climate control was funky but I removed my squeaky fan motor and lubed it really good and reinstalled it and it works great and the weird climate control symptoms vanished. Do not fear the 760T. It is undervalued. Sometimes there are sleepers out there that are relatively ignored by those in the 740T rush. I saw a beautiful 1989 760T in silver with perfect black leather for $1800 with 165,000 miles. It was the newer body style and dash with IRS a plus (IRS is only on 740SE's I hear). That car would have made a great platform for a beautiful classic rear drive turbo. Silver with the Hydras a great match. Don't let the Nivormats scare you. They are robust. I scrounged a set off a junker for $50. They are around. All in all, if the car is nicely maintained, low mileage and very clean by all means go 760T. Usually the more mature types owned them since they were a little more pricey. Yes power seats can be a nuisance, but I see them in the yard often. 740 and 760 Turbos in ace condition are rare. Most of the cars are at 150 to 250K now and average 15 years old. Buy the nicest 740/760 you can find at the best price and take some money and renew and modify to your liking. You will not regret it. Tell me you don't feel a little pride when you pull up next to a newer FWD Volvo, and your 740/760T - the precursor and heritage maker- is running fine and looking good!

I'm quite happy with my '90 765T; I assume your narrowing-down of the year involves the instrument panel.
The biggest pain in these cars is the ignition lock; they use "high security" locks which have a finite lifetime and can/will jam up so you have to go through some major gyrations to get the car operating again.
Many electrical, interior, and body parts are unique; some are one year only.
Fortunately, there seem to be a fair number passing through our local pick-n-pulls.
Nivomats are another concern, but I like 'em well enough to put new ones on mine. On the wagons, it's easy enough to replace them with normal shocks and springs; on the sedans, it's somewhat trickier. At 133K there's probably 50-60K left.
Wiring is OK in the '90, don't know about '88-'89.

I've got an '84 760 Turbo that has been in my family since new. It's been a great car overall. The engine wiring harness is prone to failure on the early cars ( just like on the early 240's and 740's).I'm getting ready to replace mine. The rear shocks on mine went bad at about 100K and the car started sagging. I went with IPD's rear shock update kit ( use stiffer rear springs and Boge turbo gas shocks). Depending on the price of the car you found, it sounds like a good car. Personally I think the 700's drive a little smoother than the 240's. I've owned several of both series.

Good luck,

Dave

Just a couple of things to think about. I have an '87 760 and it has the dang power seat. Mine mostly works but one of the adjutments doesn't. I've heard that there are a lot of broken power seats out there. Also check for the dreaded Nivomat self-leveling rear suspension. I think all 760s got it. It's fine if it works but if the shocks go bad, the rear end sags and they're $200 each to replace.

I don't think boost levels are different in a 760, I think the main difference between 760T and 740T is in the trim level. My '87 has all the goodies, foglights, cruise, sunroff, ABS, power seats, Nivomats, leather, and the ACC climate control. The Wife's '91 740T has cloth seats, no ABS, no foglights, no cruise, etc.

--
Volvo Farmer:

21 Volvos '58-'91

445-544-122-144-1800-240-740

sorry, no FWD