Went to a used dealership today where they are offering a 1990 volvo dl sedan for 4k, "117,000" miles on it 2 years ago before the odometer went out. Paint is perfect, the trimming is faded. They wouldn't even budge the price to 3500$. Telling me it wasn't worth their time to fix the odometer when they got it, even though they have a mechanic. I offered to trade in my 97 f150 single cab long bed with 117,000 miles on it (working odometer) and a brand new transmission with less then 1000 miles. The truck is near perfect condition besides the paint, the interior is flawless. Told me, I wouldn't buy that truck for maybe a 1000$ after offering a 2700$ price on the volvo from 4k. Making my truck only 1000$. Should I wait for the call back tomorrow and tell him Ill buy the volvo for 2700$ and keep the truck? I understand these cars are "tanks" but is it worth the risk? Sad part is, its extremely hard to find volvo 240s in Arizona with decent condition.

 

Always hard to judge without seeing the cars but a 1990 240 with decent miles and in GREAT condition is worth about that. Tired of the "tank" comparison, they weigh less than 3,000lbs and only feel like tanks since they had 114 horses when new...

 

I did the odometer gear fix myself a few times, got it down to an hour. If the dealer cant be bothered to fix an $8 part Id look elsewhere.

 

The opinion I was looking for. They claim to have a certified mechanic, but tells me "it just wasn't worth to do"

Yea, I was going to wait for the call tomorrow and say ill give the 2700 but keep the truck. I can sell that for 3500. Not a measly 1000$

 

they cannot for certain say the car has 117k, the odometer is broken! so true mileage unknown. they insulted you
already with $1k for your truck with a new trans. you can get more than that anywhere. i would offer them 2k for
the volvo and if they don't counteroffer you close then walk. it will still be on their lot in 2019!

 

This is a good point, with my own 240s I had records and what not to verify the mileage. While finding another 240 could be challenging you could always look into 740/940s, they're less "iconic" so theres less chance of people charging absurd prices for them.

 

Miles are not as important as the condition... The speedo may be more problematic than $8 gear... Many current mechanics don't know about the $8 "fix" anyway, and dealerships don't work that way--they price a new speedo and forget about the repair. Again, hard to offer an "intelligent" opinion without seeing the cars in person!

 

lev you're quite right about not being able to give an accurate opinion however this 'dealer' needs to sell cars they have
in inventory. no matter what we may think about them here, the hard truth is there are not a lot of cash buyers out there
looking for 28 year old volvo 240's ! having said that if all else checks out reasonably on the vehicle and the OP wants to
go after it and get a good price, he probably will have to wait that dealer out. right now the dealer is playing hardball from an inferior
position in the market. they are just playing a game ...seeing if the OP will cave. two can play that game.

 

this has got to be the car in question. there is a link to the carfax, showing 117k on the odo way back in 2014! also looks
like they recharge the a/c every year... clearly it's leaking. got sold at auction to this dealer.


https://www.cars.com/vehicledetail/d...mp2&CMP=stemp2

 

used car dealers are snakes. if that car was a private party sale, it would be half that price.

 

Here on the west coast 240 especially are achieving cult status especially with low miles and good overall bones, quite sought after. Where do you find them? Dealers are in business, they average $1500 per car to stay in business, very different from private party, which is logical. I buy my cars privately for that reason but just because a dealer is asking something for a car doesn't mean he is a "snake". Everybody is in some kind of business and the same logic applies...

 

bricks do have cult cache, but it is not new .. ever since the world according to garp! the snake or not used car dealers may have an unfair advantage
having access to auctions that the general public do not. i don't blame a guy for trying to make a fair living but he should work for that.. and not gouge.
bottom line is they can ask what they want for it, but in the end it will go for what the market will bear, even if that means the dealer loses...

 

used car dealers are notorious for polishing turds and lying through their teeth. they *are* really good at detailing, so the cars *look* pretty.

 

hey pierce this one looks interesting - a 2 door! and just up the road from you right?

https://sfbay.craigslist.org/scz/cto...758800901.html

 

"Polishing turds" is what American business is all about, it's also known as marketing. Private sellers do it just as much and lie just as much, at least with a dealer you can go complain to DMV... I have much bigger problems and complaints with mechanic shops.

 

hey lev do you think the guy i posted with the 2 door is lying? he doesn't say too much does he? i know if that
car was on this coast we would be all over it..

 

That car does seem pretty nice, and I'm sure it will be snapped up. Looks good in the pics...
Look at this:https://portland.craigslist.org/wsc/...755348250.html

 

well, if someone is serious, I guess I could go take a closer look, that is about 10 minutes from me. it looks like a BW 3-speed automatic as I don't see the button on the side of the shifter, and I think a 1980 is a B21F KE-Jet/CIS-E setup.


ahh, the address is Hayes European, who's supposed to be a decent Volvo/VW/Audi/etc indie...


edit: OH. "Posted 22 days ago". I seriously doubt that car is still available unless its got something seriously wrong.

 

wow, a beauty.. that one makes the 240 in phoenix look WAY overpriced..

 

I agree. I am surprised that it's still up, may be it's gone? Posters sometimes leave ads up forever... But 740/940 don't bring the money 240 do, silly but the public thinks what it thinks!