To purchase, or not to purchase?

Apr 16th, 2006, 21:50

My husband and I are looking at a 1985 wagon. The seller is asking $2400. for it, and it has a little over 520,000 miles on it. I really love the car, it has obviously been well taken care of cosmetically. The engine also looks nice and clean, but I know they can be cleaned up very easily. The owner purchased it at 87,000 miles and drove it to work ~180 miles round trip, up to this current mileage. He says he changed the oil every 3,000 miles and that it does not burn oil. Since we are not mechanically inclined we didn't ask many technical questions, and those are the comments he made.

We really don't want to get into a huge amount of repair bills. We both drove it, and the only thing we noticed was a little bit of a pumping feeling when braking.

We think the price is too high for a car with this many miles.

Does anyone have any advice?

logicaltuning · Apr 16th, 2006, 22:45

i would say the price is rediculous for a half a million mile car!

i paid equivelant of around $700 for my 86 wagon, with 165k on the clocks and one owner from new

no matter how much a car has been looked after in this country it would never fetch approx £1500!!!!

but, if the cars been looked after, then it could possibly do the same mileage again!

1stRaven · Apr 16th, 2006, 23:21

Need to bear in mind that volvos go for a lot more money in the states. A lot more money!

On turbobricks, they can sell for $4000+ so it all depends on how the car is.

My suggestion, if you like the car, is to get a friend who has some mechanical skill to take a look at the car and see what they think.

Apr 16th, 2006, 23:24

Thanks to both of you. I have a friend who owns a garage, we'll see if he will take a look.

Iain_M · Apr 16th, 2006, 23:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by whycoyote

Thanks to both of you. I have a friend who owns a garage, we'll see if he will take a look.

Getting to that many miles, it might well be a good car, but unless you know what your getting, probably best to get it looked over by your friend

Mike_Brace · Apr 17th, 2006, 13:07

A few years ago we were maintaining a 740 estate which had reached the 500,000 mark. It had the auto box replaced at about 200k other than that It had been more or less just normal maintenance although we did find the front calipers were nearing the end of their lives. This car had also done many motorway miles which are kinder to the car than a lot of short journeys. You should be ok but get it checked out.
Best wishes!

Mike

Apr 16th, 2006, 21:50	#1
whycoyote Guest Location:	To purchase, or not to purchase? My husband and I are looking at a 1985 wagon. The seller is asking $2400. for it, and it has a little over 520,000 miles on it. I really love the car, it has obviously been well taken care of cosmetically. The engine also looks nice and clean, but I know they can be cleaned up very easily. The owner purchased it at 87,000 miles and drove it to work ~180 miles round trip, up to this current mileage. He says he changed the oil every 3,000 miles and that it does not burn oil. Since we are not mechanically inclined we didn't ask many technical questions, and those are the comments he made. We really don't want to get into a huge amount of repair bills. We both drove it, and the only thing we noticed was a little bit of a pumping feeling when braking. We think the price is too high for a car with this many miles. Does anyone have any advice?

Apr 17th, 2006, 13:07	#6
Mike_Brace Former contributor Last Online: Jul 2nd, 2022 07:54 Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Rhosgoch, Anglesey	A few years ago we were maintaining a 740 estate which had reached the 500,000 mark. It had the auto box replaced at about 200k other than that It had been more or less just normal maintenance although we did find the front calipers were nearing the end of their lives. This car had also done many motorway miles which are kinder to the car than a lot of short journeys. You should be ok but get it checked out. Best wishes! Mike __________________ A Volvo is for life not just for Christmas!

Apr 16th, 2006, 22:45	#2
logicaltuning Member Last Online: Oct 27th, 2010 11:00 Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: wolverhampton	i would say the price is rediculous for a half a million mile car! i paid equivelant of around $700 for my 86 wagon, with 165k on the clocks and one owner from new no matter how much a car has been looked after in this country it would never fetch approx £1500!!!! but, if the cars been looked after, then it could possibly do the same mileage again!

Apr 16th, 2006, 23:21	#3
1stRaven Forum Support Team Last Online: Mar 14th, 2018 13:07 Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Lincoln View Photos By: 1stRaven	Need to bear in mind that volvos go for a lot more money in the states. A lot more money! On turbobricks, they can sell for $4000+ so it all depends on how the car is. My suggestion, if you like the car, is to get a friend who has some mechanical skill to take a look at the car and see what they think.

Apr 16th, 2006, 23:24	#4
whycoyote Guest Location:	Thanks to both of you. I have a friend who owns a garage, we'll see if he will take a look.

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