Here's what I know about the car:

This is a one owner car that has never been wrecked or smoked in. It has
less than 66.5K of very carefully driven miles on it. The motor and
automatic transmission do not leak and have never had a problem. The
leather seating is almost like new. It is loaded with power front seats,
steering, anti lock brakes, windows, moon roof, traction control,
premium sound system, cold weather package, alloy wheels and more. New
tires, front brakes and rotors @ 62K. New timing belt @ 58K. New battery
in 2007. Always well maintained (records from 1996 to present). Runs and
looks great. Gets good gas mileage on regular fuel.

Owner says he's bought it when he retired so just doesn't drive it much. Cars like this (if i can believe the low miles) are extremely rare in my area! The down side; he's asking $5500; yes that's premium.

Here's the VIN (anyone got unlimited carfaxes?)
VIN # YV1LS5553T1335223
If you can run it, PM me the records; would be very grateful!!

Also is this the low pressure turbo model? What's the compression ratio?

Thanks guys!!!

 

Rare things always carry some premium and some people dont mind paying some extra premiums to buy something that will give them no headaches. The car for sure looks very decently maintained but wait for others views on it.

 

Sounds like a really good car. Check the value on NADA Guides and see what they say the value is. It was registered in OH then OR. Last recorded milage was 10/9/2003 @ 50,900.

Do not know how to PM you the AutoCheck but if you walk me through it I'll send it to you right away.

I recently purchased a '97, 960 that had 53,000 on it and it was like new as well. Had a few minor dings like headlight cracked but I had another 960 that I was parting with so I took the few parts I needed from it.

Not sure if it is turbo but you can check the vin at www.VolvoUSA.com and go the owners information, resources, etc.

I look at it like buying a $30,000 for a few thousand. If you need a car and can afford it, jump on it.

 

Well, I can tell you average retail for a car that clean that little miles is about $4,500. Wholesale on that car (average book) is about 2k. IMO, because of the low miles and the incredible condition of it (and the owner sure knows it) plus documented service history. He might be able to get $4,500 all day long. $5,500 seems a little high. You can get a used R for about $4,500 but you might have to drop another grand in maintenance. I would make sure to see if all of the services are upto date. Timing belt, date of last tune up, etc.... Because if those aren't upto date then you will have to drop even more money on having that done. I think for $5,500 you can find an S70 in similar condition, but that's just me.

 

price too high for a n/a IMO.looks really clean though.

 

Yes, the GLT models in 97 had the Low pressure turbo. I forget its 8 or 9 psi. I have a 97 GLT myself.

 

oops guess it is a turbo...disregard my last post .

 

Thanks all for the great input! Especially rspi who ran the VIN. Considering the car spent half its life in Ohio (where they salt the roads heavily in the winter), the AC doesn't work (i found out), and he wants top $$, think i will pass. If it were $1000 less and w/o the two issues cited above, i would seriously consider it though...

So how can i determine what engine and options are on a car based on the VIN? This should be straight forward but the only sites i found are here, here, and here; all either had errors and/or were incomplete.

For instance this car (VIN is in my first post of this thread); the owner swears it's NOT a turbo, but i thought all 850 GLTs were low pressure turbo? Is there a definitive site for decomposing the VIN?

Thanks tons to all!

 

YV1LS5553T1335223

that place in the vin is the engine type

you have the B5254FSengine meaning NOT TURBO!!!...

so disregard my last post once again and regard my 1st.

 

Ok, MY BAD! I thought for some reason it was a 97. I now opened my eyes and see its a 96. Yes! you are correct, but only but for 97. That was the last year of the 850, before the big change to the S70 and ALL 850s had the horsepower increase to 190 bhp via a low pressure turbo. Most people that own a 850 GLT usually have no idea the turbo is there since it's super quiet and doesn't provide the ammount of torque the R models put out (plus no turbo gauge on the dash). If you open the hood, there should be a black tube go over the head of the motor towards the back fire wall. Thats the "tell tale" sign of it being there since it is mounted on the under BACK side. However in 1996 the GLT didn't necessarily have it. It had all the toys with the exception of the turbo. The trim models for that year were the na 850, GLT, TURBO and then R. That car is clean but def. NOT worth asking price!

 

Here is the link that I use to ref all of the official Volvo data that I can.
http://www.volvocars.com/us/tools/Ow...lvoOwners.aspx

As for this car, as I do with all cars that I consider purchasing, I would go from the book value and subtract all of my concerns, make the seller the offer and walk if they don't take it. Example, if the book says it is worth $4,500, and I know that ac repair can cost me $950, and everything else if fine, I would offer $3,600 and tell them why. If they want to sell and can live with the price we have a deal. If not, I walk. Simple as that. I made offers on 4 cars before I purchased my daughters S70. Looked up the value, subtracted the concerns and made the offer. I rarely walk away without making an offer.

I offered one person $1,600 for their fake R. It had a bad transmission and some concerns with the motor. Other than that it had about $4,500 worth of new performance parts on it. They turned me down but they are also still trying to sell it. I bet they would like to have that offer again.