We need to figure out what it cost to keep a Volvo on the road and post it in the sticky's for each model car. These threads are full of people that get a good deal on an older Volvo, mostly cars that are 8+ years old, and they simply have no idea that the cars have maintenance cost that it seems they are not prepared to deal with.

I sold one of my cousins a '95 960 for $1. It had new rotors, new tires, new front brakes, newer timing belt, etc. About 18 months later the car was trashed. I think the radiator sprung a leak and he drove the thing around, topping off the fluid with water until he missed it enough to destroy the thing. When I spoke with his family about it they acted as if THE CAR WAS GIVNG HIM TROUBLE. It was the other way around. If you can't afford to install some brake pads and replace a radiator in a 15 year old car, you SIMPLY CAN NOT AFFORD TO DRIVE. That would amount to about $31 per month if he had a regular shop fix those 2 things. Dang, what a waste.

Anyway, my thoughts are to figure out what someone would have to do to a 8 year old car, that would keep it for 5 years. All of the Volvo recommended maintenance and the stuff that we know should be done on a Volvo that is between 8 and 13 years old. Lets assume they put 18,000 miles per year on them, that will be 90,000. It will go something like this:

Volvo 850 Cost of Ownership every 90,000 (or 100,000 miles).
Item ----------- = Parts ------- + Independant Mechanic ------- + Dealership Service
Timing Belt ------- $325 --------------- $650 ------------------------ $1,050
Oil Changes x18 -- $380 --------------- $720 ------------------------- $810
Brake Pads ------- $60 ---------------- $320 ------------------------- $640
Front Rotors ------ $95 ---------------- $320 ------------------------- $680
PCV System ------ $115 --------------- $800 ------------------------ $1,100
Air Filters x3 ------ $45 ---------------- $105 ------------------------- $225
Spark Plugs x2 ---- $60 ---------------- $420 ------------------------- $560
Tune Up Kit x1 --- $105 ---------------- $250 ------------------------- $465
Fuel Filter -------- $15 ----------------- $90 -------------------------- $155
Totals: ----------$1,200 -------------- $3,675 ----------------------- $5,685
Monthly 5 yrs ----- $20 ---------------- $61.25 ---------------------- $94.75

We should certainly add things that we all know break more than 40% of the time on all of these cars like if a fuel pump failure is eminant or the power seat recliner, wiper blades, tires, etc.

I just think it would be nice for people to be able to glance at these figures so they know that they can have a good running reliable car if they take care of NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR things and what the average cost would be.

Do you think we can put together something like this to add to the sticky of each model, especially the older ones?

 

While I applaud your enthusiasm to help others out with information, maintenance work is necessary for any vehicle. Price is completely subjective to region and owners ability to not only purchase parts, but to either do the work or sub it out. Your break down of parts + work most likely will not reflect another owner's cost.

 

I don't see any point to this. People have been brainwashed by auto manufacturers to buy a new car every 3-5 years on credit and not spend a cent on maintenence between purchase and eventual sale.
They don't care about maintenence costs, they spend minimum book cost and let warranty deal with it. When warranty will not cover their negligence, they come along and whine about the car.
It's rampant consumerism at it's worst. The manufacturers love it becaus ethey don't have to build a car to last more than 5 years any more.
So, cars are disposable now, anyone buying a cheap car now it prepared to throw it away after 12 months.
That's how it is and it won't change.

Regards, Andrew.

 

After I get my V10, I am definitely (and want) to get my '88 760 back as my daily driver. The only reason it isn't running and is sitting now is a seal behind the rotor. But I am redoing everything (new gaskets, hoses, belts, the works) to get it back as my daily driver. 210,000 and I feel totally comfortable with it. Like mkc70, every body's car would be totally different.

 

i think if we're gonna do this for every kind of older volvo, we have to consider dealer problems/unreliability of 98-01 models, unless this is only gonna be a pre-99 kinda deal.