Cheap T5's

Hello Dave,
All this must be getting you down.
Here's some good news.
I bought a 1995 T5 from a nissan(aaaagh!!!)main dealer who had taken it in trade.It's done 180,000 with full history!!.It's an ex company car,hence the mileage,but I have found in the past company cars are usually serviced to scedule.
The body is solid with not a spot of rot.There are a few very small dents but nothing major.It has suffered from stone chips quite badly but colour fast has taken care of most of these.The interior,full leather is faded but there are no rips or tears.The only major fault at purchase was the alarm would not work! But thanks to these forums that was sorted at zero cost!!!
I have done 10K in the car now and all I have had to spend on it is bulbs and tyres.

What did I pay for it.....£2500.00.....

The bargains are out there...
All the best in your search.
Robbo
Happy 850 T5 owner(with cash still in the bank)

2k is very cheap... My little sister is looking a for Fiat Punto and an 1.2 only start at about 2k...

Remember that theres a lot of things that go wrong on theese cars... Turbo units/Gear boxes and suspension are the main worry over 100k miles.


I've owned 2 t5's now and they tend to fail in the same places.

1 = 850 T5 125k miles cost me £5k the other year
2 = S70 T5 95k miles cost me 6.4k last year

Both cars have needed bushes and brakes and some type of work on the suspension.

Use your 2k as a deposit on a better car as it will cost less in the future.....I've driven some real ropey t5's in my time on testdrives and they were all really slow...

Dont let people scare you about insurance.. I'm 23 years old and pay 890 quid TPFT..

Keep looking and you will find your beast :)

Gareth

[davebslater(uk)]

If you are looking for a T5 estate metallic red , serviced always by a specialist dealer , just had the gearbox fixed , and is now being sold to finance the repair . its 95 M (i think) less than 100k , i think 92K , Its being sold because of divorce and running costs cannot be afforded- its a genuine sale .

i can put you in touch if you want - the price is somewhere 3.5-4.5k
in my estimation and the car is in lincoln.

davebslater@hotmail.com

Thanks for the more positive replies!! I've had expensive cars before (just sold my MR2 Turbo last year) but my wife is about to give birth so we decided to get a bigger car. I've found one locally, 199k miles but a full history including an engine rebuild and new turbo etc at 160k. Price is about right too and it's an auto. Just need to sell my civic first, so if anyone wants an original model civic VTEC (160bhp and 8500rpm!!) then get in touch. I just hope it sells before the T5.

Stick the Civic in Revs or fast car..

You're have no problems shifting that as it's high spec model.

Good luck...You're prefer the T5...My mate own a Civic and he too loves the T5..

G

Going back a Bit...

These are not negative views but people just putting their previous experience in.

These cars are pricey and have to be more than just services by a local garage. They require a lot of TLC and in return they will offer a liftime on smiles on your face.

My T5 really does shift but I'm getting to point where I'm going to sell mine and myself a BMW m3 convertible.
I will miss the T5 greatly and may even buy another one in a few months a project track car...

G

The Civic sold tonight, so tomorrow I can go shopping!!! Lets see what I come back with.

An alternative POV....

2 years ago I bought a '93 T-5 Saloon with 125,000 miles on the clock for about 5K. I chose it because although it is a relatively steep group 16 insurance it was the lowest of the other cars I was looking at (group 17's and 18's) and it had more power (although I am aware that this is not the only measure of performance). It came with a full volvo service history, and as it was a local car I could go to the dealer where it had been serviced and confirm the mileage. It wasn't in perfect cosmetic condition, a few scratches and scrapes here and there but mechanically it was sound.

The only problems I have had with it (other than stuff which naturally wears out, brake pads, discs, tyres etc.) are a failed clutch m/cylinder which was replaced under the warranty I bought with the car, a split vacuum pipe which caused the check engine light to come on, diagnosed and fixed by main volvo dealer for £30 and a worn steering rack which I replaced myself, the various bits and bobs needed cost about £125.

I think as long as you do your homework and get a genuine car, and from a dealer as well because then you have a little comeback, and follow the manufacturers service schedule these cars are built to a very high standard and last well. If stuff goes wrong it *is* expensive but there are many specialist companies where you can get the parts for much less than the price from a Volvo main dealer, many of them listed on this fine website.

Mines just gone over 155,000 miles and it continues to be a delight to own and drive.

Just my 2 eurocents

Jim

Dave

I spent a month or two looking around, and have just spent £6400 on a t5 estate. This has every option including t5r alloys, has 100k, leather, cruise etc etc with fsh a years warranty and was from a Volvo main dealer. The only way to find one seriously cheaper was to have a saloon, something in white, an ex-cop car or something with mega milage with no real warranty. There is some seriously manky ##### around, good luck !

Rich S

I've just been to see a M plate T5 estate. Full leather, cruise, working climate control, heated seats, centre child seat, 199K miles with an excellent history. I've got a couple of checks to do tomorrow, but if it all checks out ok then it looks like I'll buy it. Thanks for the replies, both good and bad.

Dave