Possible purchase advice needed please!
 

Hi all. I am looking at buying this :
https://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/Lis...?id=1540071040

I am from the UK originally and would like to know honest opinions as to long term ownership / running costs. I am fully aware that the parts here in NZ will be expensive /hard to find but if I buy the right car to begin with then hopefully it will only need general servicing and maintenance which I am happy to do myself. Also in the pictures taken with the passengers side door open you can see some rippling on the dash (near the glove box). Is this a common problem? If anyone has had this issue and knows an easy fix then please let me know (I will be using the fault to haggle on the price). All I am after is things to look out for when test driving / viewing. Thanks for any help and advice that can be provided.

Hi!
Not too familiar with 2.4 but all in all its the same 5 pot engine from T5 just without turbo, so pretty much bulletproof and with really nice growl, its just components on it that ocassionally fails (Ford's parts like alternator etc).
Probably someone with 2.4 and someone with AT can provide you more insight, but all in all car from the pic looks very nice and well specced (NAV), The only concern I would have is that it says "import" so would that mean its Jap import? If so, make sure it had been properly reprogrammed/converted as jap cars have radio and settings for asian market and lots of Aus/NZ owners had problems with it. Those cars are VERY software/electornic related so any interference with car usually means dealership visit and pay for software reprogramming, part coding to car etc...
Never heard/seen the dash wrinkling like that, to be honest...

Thanks for the reply. Yep it is a Jap import (lots of cars here in NZ are !). I have contacted my local Volvo dealer and been quoted $585 to convert the radio to NZ frequencies and all the dash messages to english. They have said though that the Nav is aftermarket and they won't be able to help.

Are you / they sure GPS is aftermarket? It looks and is positioned exactly like OEM Volvo units, but pics are not clear enough to be sure.
"converting" fee is a bit steep, but its normal for dealership to ripoff on such things. IMHO you should leave it to the dealer you are buying the car from, he will surely pay less (trade price) and also you should not be responsible for it, I think.

I don't think you'll have any problems with the car. The Japanese are usually fanatical about oil services and their 'shakken' type of MOT is extremely thorough, as a result keeping cars in 1st class condition is a high priority.

All I would recommend is getting the automatic transmission fluid changed or at least inspected for evidence that is has already been changed, and make sure the cambelt and auxillary belts have been changed.

Don't expect the car to be a sparkling performer on the road, instead it should be quiet, smooth and refined although it should have a satisfying amount of power from the engine.

The 2.4 was always a bit of a loaner in the UK because the T5 is so much different in performance yet returns similar or better MPG.