Hey guys,
I was looking at an 850 volvo 200k 94.

need some buying advise.
went over to tlook at the car, guy says car hasnt been turned on in 5 months. Turned the 850 on, turned with the 1st key, but smoked like crazy. Car was shaking as it was running. I went to look at the oil, and smoke started coming out of the dipstick like a fast burning chimney. Dude didnt have plates, so I didnt take a test drive. Interior was pretty dirty, but that can be fixed with a detailing. He wanted 1400, said it would need a tune up, should be $200??
Service light and SRS light were on for a while, but then went away
Reading the buyers guide I think the PCV System is going.


Will I probably be better off looking at something else? THe chimney smoke thing really put me off. Note: I would have to take the car to an indie, as I wouldnt be doing any work myself. If I end up spending $2k -$2500 total, I'd rather look at a car thats been loved a little more, though if I dont have to put in too much $$$, I could deal with the minroe broken things.


Thanks for reading

 

Is it a turbo? If not definitely find another one. If it is a turbo, I would offer him at the most $800. You will probably have to put at least another $1,000 into it from what you have said. With that many miles and it not being taken care of, it's a risky buy. But then again you can't hardly buy anything for less than $2,000. Depends quite a bit on how much work it needs and how good you are at doing as much of the work as possible yourself. If you are the type to pay somebody else to do the work, definitely find a car in better shape. The smoke out of the dipstick is a sign of the PCV being bad, that is correct. It's probably leaking quite a bit of oil too.

You can find 850 Turbo's with less miles than that for under $3,000 that have good maintenance history. That's what you really want.

 

Thanks, Ill be looking for another volvo then. (preferably turbo )

 

I think that is a very smart move on your part. Keep looking, the right one is out there.

 

I wouldn't take that car home for $1.

 

+1.

Any car as old as the 850 would need at least $300-$500 & up for initial maintenance, and that's just for parts, unless owned by a person who knows modern cars.


JPN

 

Run Forrest...Run!