hey there
this is my first time on a volvo forum
my friend's neighbour is selling an one owner 98 s70 t5 automatic .66000 miles.the price is $5000. car was purchased in sweden by the owner as new from the factory and sent to usa. the guy past away and the wife is selling the car.the car is in pristine condition. no kids. no pets. and the lady thinks nobody sat in the back seat ever. 95% highway driven.dealer serviced always. all records available. the car is in dealer for probably a day for an oxygen sensor and air conditioner. she will spent close to $700 just to make sure everything works on the car before I buy it. should I pay $5000? the car is in excelent condition in and out but still is a 98...

 

I would. The car will likely outlast anything under $10,000. If you don't get it please tell me where it is and I will.

 

I'd ask far more for the car if we sold it. Low mileage, however, means nothing. We just replaced a transmission in a 2002 Lincoln LS that had the same mileage.

 

you guys have to understand the car is absolutely awesome shape . trying to get it for $4000. but $5000 is still ok?

 

You think that it is in "awesome" shape. However, low miles is also a sign of a lack of maintenance and proper use. I've replaced a lot of transmissions, AC compressors, brake boosters, oil pan leaks, radiators, etc. on "low mileage" vehicles that do more sitting than driving.

You should be buying the condition of the vehicle, not the miles.

 

the car was driven 5 days a week until last year and after just once or twice a week for couple miles every time and once or twice a month on the highway for 40-50 miles. ac was not working in the last 2 years and the oxygen sensor is bad for about 6000 miles.

 

we have a deal for $4000. I think is a great price for the car

 

Congradulations! I think you'll be happy with it. I don't like it when a car has been sitting for more than 6 months, especially an older car. I think the Maxima I got has had the same motor oil in the engine for 6,000 miles & 4 years. That's pretty bad but not the worse thing that could happen to a car. I drove my 740 about 20,000 miles once between oil changes LOL.

 

Now keep us informed of the slurry of repairs...

However, since it is a northern vehicle, I'd say that $4,000 is on the high side. Down here, no one would want it for anything above $1,200.

Oh well, better luck next time.

 

Tony, quit trippin'! You are reminding me of the thread in the GENERAL CHAT about how southerners don't like imports & think they are worthless when they are more than 10 years old. That car will out last every truck you own with gas and oil only.

Don't worry about repairs to that car. Just do the recommended maintenance and you'll be driving that car until it's smashed or you get TIRED OF LOOKING AT IT.

 

Great deal -

post some pics! I agree with previous post - you got a deal.

 

I sell primarily Volvo so I am partial to the brand. I've seen too many customers bring me their "low mileage find" only to be faced with $3,500 in repairs to get the thing road worthy again.

 

Yes how the car is driven is important. I've rented cars with 20k on them that were in worse shape than my old car with over 100k. And the transmission on a Lincoln says nothing about volvo reliability. I hear Ferraris are expensive to maintain too...not related, just saying

Sounds like the previous owner was on top of maintenance and responsible. Probably a smart purchase. Double check if the timing belt was ever done though, it will probably be due soon if it wasn't already done.

 

Who says you can't trust a used car salesman?

 

I think you got a great deal. If you look at used S70s, average mileage is probably 175,000 these days, and they aren't making any more of them.

With an average new car going for north of 25 grand, getting a solid car like this for $4000 is fantastic.

Have fun, and post some pics!

 

I think you found a good deal, i mean every volvo i see for sale that is that year has a ton more miles than that going for around 3000 and are said to run good and all. I dont know about volvo reliability yet. I own a 98 s70 glt with 170,000 when i got it (FOR FREE) i put new control arms tie rod ends tires and an alignment of course i now hae 199,000 miles on it a little over a year later mostly city driving. let me list my "current: doen repairs:
Passenger Axle
Rear Trailing Arm links
PCV Trap
New Control arms after 20,000
upper spring seats
rear shocks
exhaust
new sunroof

Stuff i still need:
new turbo
door lock actuator driver and driver side passenger
driver switchpack
e brake cable

I beat the hell out of my car on city streets all the pot holes, and driving it like a race car *shakes head at himself* so that would probably accommodate most of the problems. But i think if you drove it normal there should be no reason why that car shouldnt last you to 200,000 miles!

 

Once you know what to look for and how to fix them, you will love them.

I've had great experiences with my Volvos. They take and tolerate lots of abuse and neglect - but I recommend taking care of them! Mine have between 140 and 210 thousand miles.

eEuroparts and FCP are my regular suppliers of parts with 2-3 day delivery service.

And rest assured that the unibody won't rust like the Japanese cars and undermine the safety of the car.

 

I would have asked more for it until I realized that it was another rusty northern car.

Now, I'm not interested at any price. Too hard to sell.

 

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Funny you should say that. My S70 doesn't have a spot of rust anywhere on it, not even the undercarriage. Neither does my 850, which is 16 years old with 250,000 miles on it. I suppose the fact that they're made in a country that is practically at the North Pole might have something to do with it. Rust is a difficult thing to hide. Let me make my point AGAIN about something being a factor to CONSIDER, and not something to outright stop you from buying a car, as you seem to think I feel about the ETM issue. When someone up here looks at a used car, they will look carefully underneath it. If they see lots of rust, or lots of poorly applied fresh undercoating, they will walk away. If it's rust- free but obviously factory, it's fine. I see lots of cars over 10 years old up here with not a spot of rust on them. I also see lots of cars up here with huge holes in the rocker panels that aren't yer 5 years old. The difference is in maintenance.

Show me 2 identical S70s, with all the same features and the same mileage, for the same price, with complete maintenance records, the only difference being that one is a '98 and one is a '99, I would go with the '98 every time, because I KNOW the 99 will eventually need one particular expensive repair that the '98 will NEVER need. However, if the price of the '99 reflects this fact, I'll consider them equal, and I might even choose the '99 over the '98. Again- I consider the issue to be something to keep in mind- which is different from your apparent thought that I think they should be avoided at all costs.

Here's a challenge for you. Search this forum and find ANYWHERE where I EVER said that someone should stay away from a '99-01 Volvo because of the ETM issue. You won't find it. You'll see that I consider the '98s to be BETTER, and that I believe the issue to be something to think about and keep in mind, but I would never tell someone to dismiss a well- kept, nice car simply for that fact. Remember, I recommended that my dad buy a 2000 S70 last year- I saw the car and told him about it, and after looking it over for him, gave him the green light. Now please, stop bugging me about it.

 

I really don't understand your hostility. However, you may wish to see a physician who can prescribe a solution for you.

I'll stick to southern rides, though. Thanks anyway.