what is she worth
 

hi everyone
I have my beloved 2003 xc90 for sale..she has 198,000 on the clock and still pulls like a train..it has a full service history..most of the recent work that I have done on her has been done by the fantastic VOLVO DIAGNOSTIC in Essex,a very reputable garage I believe on this forum
I have had done a lot of work on her over my ownership time...
new brakes and discs all around and handbrake shoes also..far good it is mind.
gearbox oil changed
recon turbo fitted
new intercooler
new front and rear engine mounts
rear, lower wishbone bushes
rear droplinks
oil and filter changed every 7000 miles
the service history is very extensive
timing belt and water pump was also done..before I bought car and Volvo diagnostic has said good for another 90000 miles..
my old girl still pulls like a proverbial train but just too big for me now
she has the fully working video screens on rear headrests ( needs headsets I'm afraid)
factory fitted working sunroof..quite unusual I am led to believe.
a/c very cold
ect ect ect
now the BIG question..what is she worth...I really don't know..
she is not without her faults
all the usual marks and blemishes and a dent in the front offside wing that I think could be pulled out..its not big at all in my opinion..I bought her this way....
I would be open to sensible offers for her or maybe there are some sensible people that could perhaps advise me as to what she would be worth if no one here interested.
all your advice or offers will be very much appreciated..thank you in advance

best regards
greg

Hi, just round the corner from you (thorpe bay) and in very much the same position. Mine is same year, same spec, (SE, D5, Geartronic, 170k), and perhaps even more parts replaced. Eg last year I needed a recon engine, turbo and associated mounts. Almost £2k all in all. Similar mileage too. Previous year, radiator AC pump and gearbox 'gibboned'! My hand break also works fine!

But this is par for the course if you are prepared to spend money on an older car and really does not really make the car worth more in the open market.

Mine has literally no issues, no codes stored, (i have Vida), and no 'dinks' on the body work. The seat covers are fine and all accessories work, the sunroof does not leak and the AWD works after new spline gear and transfer box. Even the RSE works fine with 5 sets of headphones although not been used for last couple of years. The satnav has the latest maps available but this still does not make it the best and latest technology!

Last MOT had no observations other than slightly cloudy headlamps and perhaps new front flexible break pipes at next service. I do have a slight creak on nearside front which could need new suspension parts but no clunks, knocks or wandering steering.

For me the market value is sub £1k, but the value to me is far more. I have had a 'cherished' plate for my cars for the last 20 years so only those who know xc90s really know how old she is! We all know that both petrol and diesel cars will start to be discontinued over next ten years and I know my next car will be at least hybrid if not fully electric, so I plan to try and hang on to it for the next year or so if all goes well.

Just my thoughts if it helps.


John l

thank you John..very much appreciated.

greg

As an after comment..

My £2000 expense was just over a year ago. This year then I had a service and mot but nothing else. So I have had a year motoring since and hope to be ok until next MOT . (July 2021). So I recon my car will have cost me £1200 for a year, no depreciation.

I have a friend who hires a new electric car, £320 per month. Although it is newer, less running cost.. I prefer mine and it can tow my dinghy and trailer. And is very comfortable. If it snows this winter I know will be no problem. My friend's car cost him close to £4000 per year…. A lot to pay for a newer reg...

So really at our my, if it works and i like it, then I plan to hang on to it. My kids have much more modern cars but grandkids love my xc90, even I a couple have to sit in row 3. They sit so high and youngest loves the middle seat row 2 with booster.

Newer car needs depreciation factored into the annual running cost. A car of our age has literally no depreciation.

If you are selling many cars of 'our age' will be advertised usually with known problems and owners take a gamble on true problems. People may bid more and you may be lucky with a purchaser but at 18 years old it remains a chance. The only thing you can be sure of is that it looks good internally and externally and has a reasonable service record.

Hope this helps...

I had a 2003 SE - one of the very first sold in the UK. Part service history, 184k miles, I owned it 6 years, the longest I've ever kept a car.

To be honest - it was fair. Whilst I now understand these cars front to back and top to bottom, it was at a point in its life where age is overtaking mileage as the problem. The engine and gearbox were superb, faultless and totally reliable but things like the back near side door didn't always lock, the power steering was stiff when cold, CD number 4 didn't work and just made grinding noises.

So I put it on ebay in May at £1,800 will a full 12 month MOT. Was honest about a slight front suspension knock and propshaft joint worn. Whilst I'd loved it, it had been a working vehicle and the bodywork showed it was 17 years old and the interior was undamaged but shabby.

Sold for the asking price in 4 days - much to my astonishment.

My 35,000 miles a year are now shared between a 2015 XC60 (which is lovely) and a 2013 Ford Ranger (which is well designed but build quality is utter ****e). If I had the time to maintain one myself I would go back to a XC90 tomorrow, probably a 2012 with the 200BHP engine or a late 2005 - last of the 163's. It wasn't just a car it was part of the family. Whilst it was demanding towards the end, the modest monthly depreciation I now pay indirectly was way more than the repair costs of keeping it going and going well.

I have a late 2005 163hp, 185,000 miles. It is a great car, at a sweet spot in the model lineup. I will only change it when it becomes uneconomic to fix it.

I'm with you. I have an early 2003 but with only 117000 miles. It pulls caravan great, comfy on long journeys. Not too thirsty when driven carefully.
No chance that I will replace this until I'm forced to.
MOT last month needed two new drop links and handbrake adjusting....An afternoon's work and less than £50. Not bad.

Hi john, i havent been on here for ages but think the last time i was on i had been buying a new exhaust for my xc90 and you had helped about what/where to buy. anyhow, my 2003 D5 se 163bhp is on 180k now, still pulls the caravan ok, fairly tidy but starting to slowly shows its age, I'm at the point now where i can afford to upgrade and i would like a R design around 2010 but a bit of me stays i shouldn't as i know my current xc90 well (ive done the engine mounts/all the brakes/ABS rings/exhaust etc) its also got the screens in the back for the kids to watch when we go away so it ticks the right boxes and is still fairly nice to drive, ive had a few people mention to me at track days about how better the 163bhp is better than the 185bhp engine, I'm just thinking that bit of extra power may make towing the caravan a bit easier! i did/have considered "tarting" it up with the R design wheels but cant find any for love or money!

The 163 was the best engine, smooth, reliable, economical... but the least powerful and mated to the most primitive gearbox.

If you want to upgrade hold out for a 2012 MY onwards 200 BHP model.