Hello, I am new here. Iam a big fan of Mercedes (I have a 76 300d and a 91 300e), but am looking for a replacement for my 300e (winter car and occasional summer use.) Recently I have been driving my friend's 98 V70 for her while she is in Germany for a few months and have been impressed with the handling and style of Volvo, not to mention the better gas mileage and response.

To make a short story even shorter, I am hoping to look at two Volvo's tommorow (Saturday) and would like to know if there is anything I should shy away from or jump towards.

The first car is a 04' s40 1.9T with 62,000 miles, they are asking $11,000 and the vin is yvivs27534f072417. A car lot is selling the car and I don't anything about the history, but there may be some receipts of work done.

The second car is a 97' 850 GLT wagon with 96,000 miles and they are asking $6500. The timing belt has been recently replaced and it seems that the seller is the prior owner. The vin is yvilw5645v2317443.

Any input would be appreciated. I feel that they are both good prices for the cars, however which is the best deal, in your opinion?

I alsostarted this thread in the S40 section.

Thanks, Brian

 

Don't know anything at all about the S40, other than it's the lower end of the Volvo line, but seem like a very good car and compares well to the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.

A 97 Volvo 850 GLT wagon is bascially the same car as my 98 V70 GLT. It's a Low Pressure Turbo model and mine has been very reliable and drives nice. I actually like the 850 a little better than the V70, but again basically the same car. 96K miels is pretty low. Pull a carfax report and try to verify the miles are correct. To me $6,500 for a 97 850 GLT seems a little high, but if the mileage is right maybe not so bad of a price. Go tio kbb.com and get a feel for the blue book value of the car. At least that will give you a feel for what it's worth.

You can read through to fine other things to look for, but having the timing belt changed is the main thing.

Good luck.

 

^Agree with Jim.

Don't know much about the s40 but 60k miles in 3 years is a lot. 20k miles/year...

6500 is also a lot for the 850. It's not turboed (at least to my knowledge, the GLT's aren't, but maybe...), and maintenance (timing belt) should just allow the car to hold it's price, not increase the price. As reference, I got my Turbo sedan w/ 124k miles for $3500.

 

I'm not sure where your from, but I am putting my 1995 Volvo 850 Turbo sedan on ebay soon, I'm in upstate NY. It was always garaged, and not driven winters (it does have the winter package though), driven 8k miles a year since it arrived here from Maryland, it's white with dark grey leather, car is in amazing shape. It has 120k on it now, and I'll be putting a new timing belt on soon, reserve will be $3500.

 

Somebody ****** that car up now. I will talk to my son, he may be interested in the car for $3500. His wife kind of snatched up the V70 R he bought.

 

Thank you for your replies, the s40 crowd didn't leave any responses. I didn't go shopping today though.

ESTS, where in upstate are you? I live an hour south of Buffalo and may be interested in your car. Let me know.

And thanks again for your replies.

 

Ooh, I smell competition. LOL.

 

I just sent you an e-mail about the 850 you are selling.

 

The car is in Syracuse, and it is on eBay, Thanks.

 

^Post the Ebay link..

 

I don't expect it to last long at that price, Here is the link: Volvo 850 on eBay