The engine is good and the car has just 103,000 miles but I need to put a good amount of work into the car (new fuel pump, new radiator, brake job and more). How long should the car last me if I do all this and is it worth making this kind of investment in a 14-year-old car?

 

Volvos can last well over 200,000 miles - with proper upkeep. But this includes frequent repair/replace and assumes timely oil changes, fluid changes, etc.

It seems to me that you have let the car go a bit, but maybe I'm wrong. If it has had proper lubricant changes then your major components are likely OK. You are due for a timing belt, turbo hoses, water pump about now. Heater core should be ready to leak if it hasn't already, too. And you will never again have a car that will run for a year with no 'issues'. Old Volvos are not new Hondas. Budget maybe 2500 for this year (less depending on how much you do yourself), that's the price of letting it go. Then about a 1000 a year.

Is it worth it? What else can you get for that kinda money? What is the "sentimental" value, if any, to you?

 

Try not to get sentimental with cars, simply isn't worth it. If you can afford to replace the car, replace it and give the one you have away to some needy person like a college student. Point them to this site so they can fix it up and keep it running.

If you really can't afford to spend the $$$ on another car, fix it up. You will save a ton fixing it yourself and have a decent car that can last a while. I would agree to the monthly cost to maintain a 850, about $75 per month.

 

If a turbo more likely to say yes. Good-luck.

 

I had a 97 960 wagon with 248,000 on it and it was still running strong, the only thing I had to replace with the exception of your normal routine maintaince in the 6 years I owned the car was a new starter and a coil pack.....in addition I put new shocks on the car...they car developed an oil leak, had crack windshield, and needed new tires which would have all together cost me around $1,800 for everything! with that having been said with the high mileage I decided to use this money to upgrade to a newer 03 s60 and sold my old volvo for $1,000 which in essence gave me $2,800 towards my new s60 so it really is a toss up, your car has such low mileage that it might be worth spending a few bucks....or if you want to upgrade I would do as rspi suggested and sell your car, check kbb value and go from there...people are always looking for volvo's sold mine on craigslist I had so many people calling it was unbelievable! so it your choice to make I hope everyone has help you to reach a decision!

 

With a refurbished car, you cannot get any particular settlement about the car running. Just maintain the parts. You will get a good run.

 

Not sure what the alternative is? If it's buy another used car with a fair number of miles, and you know the car you have and exactly what's wrong with it, I'd say stick with that you have.

These cars will go 200,000+ miles as far as the structure, engine and transmission, but they do need fixing, which isn't cheap. Stay away from the dealer and either try to do some things yourself or to find an independent garage who is competent to work on it.

NADA reports that the average new car sold in 2009 was sold for $28,400, which buys a lot of repairs though :-). It's almost always cheaper to fix what you have, barring a real lemon or a big catastrophe, than to buy new.