Car Value? 1998 V70

[CountryGal]

I'm looking to sell my car (located in Roanoke, Virginia), but I'd like some help determining the value/what I should sell it for. Here's the info:

Volvo V70 1998 wagon, automatic. 219k miles. Gets 28 mpg average combination of city/highway. It has a wear hole in the driver seat (see pic), but otherwise is in great shape. I'm the 2nd owner; my car has either been stored in a garage or been in the South since '98. I've kept it well maintained and repaired.

Other history info:

1) I've owned my car for 6 years, prior to that it was owned by the government in DC but kept in a garage. It wasn't used a ton in the 10 years they owned it. (117,000 miles) Someone hit a deer on the passenger side, busting the light and crunching it up a bit. (You can still see the ripples on the car from that if the sunlight catches it just right, but you'd never notice it if I didn't point it out.) Instead of fixing it, it was sold to a dealer south of Lynchburg, VA. That's where I got it from & have had all my repairs done since then. An honest shop, good work, cheapest around. I'm just sick of driving over an hour to have the simplest repairs done - all the shops around here who take care of Volvos I don't like.

2) I haven't done anything major, but I could pull the service records if anyone is interested in my car. I've dumped thousands into it for smaller repairs just to keep the maintenance up and everything in good repair. I know I repaired the original bars in the tailgate - that was $700. The tailgate wouldn't hold itself up before I fixed it. I got new headlights a couple months back, I've replaced the license plate light on the back a couple times, I've replaced the brakes and tires a number of times. I've got Amsoil in it and Dad just changed the oil. I fixed the passenger door at one point because it wasn't latching right or something. I also vaguely remember fixing a seat belt a good while back. There are a few cosmetic things wrong with it - worn buttons for the windows, minor scratches on the back bumper, etc.

3) Nothing else about the car I can think of right off the bat. I kind of just told you all the history I know of it, without pulling the repair record. Oh, a guy rear-ended me last fall, but just barely tapped me at a light - no damage except scratching the bumper so I didn't get it repaired. I got 2 people to check the car to make sure the bumper was OK internally and structurally. It was fine - both a repair shop and a car insurance adjuster checked it.

Oh, the check engine and service light are both on on the dash - the check engine light is on because my car no longer meets SOME states' EPA guidelines for fuel emissions. This doesn't effect the car in any way, plus it meets Virginia law, and to fix it is like $500. Since it doesn't hurt the car and I meet state law, I don't want to spend $500 to turn a light off. The service light is on because Volvos are pre-programmed to turn on the light every X miles to remind you to change the oil, check fluids, etc. We do this ourselves, but can't turn the light off as only dealers can. I forgot to have it turned off last time I was at the dealer/shop.

Thoughts on what my car is worth? A fair price to sell it for?

Here are pics (I couldn't get them added via the uploader on the forum): http://s278.photobucket.com/user/gov...o%20V70%201998

[SteveSarre]

Hi CountryGal

This forum's members are mostly UK based. Not sure where to go for US pricing.

Best wishes,
Steve

[brickman]

the UK and US used markets are very different beasts, even by state it fluctuates wildly due to the way licensing and registering works.

Tip, you can turn the service light off yourself, there is a trick of holding down buttons and turning the ignition on S/V/C70's to turn it off.
the check engine light just means there are fault codes which you are aware of.

In the UK, that car, normally aspirated low spec automatic model are not desirable, yes people will buy them as they are painfully reliable. But with nothing wrong with it, you'd be in the £3-750 region (multiple by 1.6x for USD).

In the US, you'd likely be in the $500-2000 range depending on state etc. Though I don't know much about your market!

What I do know about your market is used car parts are sky high.
For 80s/90s volvo parts, in the UK, you pay almost nothing. A working low mileage gearbox, £50-80, in the US same part, more like $5-800 (or more).
For a while I exported rare volvo gearboxs from the UK to the US such was the difference in value for a 15+ year old rusty gearbox!

[CountryGal]

Thanks for the input, y'all and all the advice/suggestions - much appreciated!