Need your opinion on a used volvo...

I wanted to get an opinion from both the frugalites and the volvoites on an
opportunity that is being presented to me.

My buddy has a 1987 volvo 760 turbo wagon that is in pristine shape. Hardly
a nick on the body. No rust. It has 212,000 miles on it and pretty much
everything but the engine has been replaced or rebuilt (shocks, struts,
exhaust, tires, alternator, transmission, cooling system, etc.) within the
last four years. In fact, probably the only original part in the car is the
engine. My buddy loves this car, but is selling it. He has treated it like
his own child (obsessively taking care of it).

He has been saying that he would sell it for a couple years now, and I've
been patiently holding out for it. Finally, he has made it available to me.
I have driven it and it drives like a dream. It doesn't seem almost 20
years old. I will get it checked out by a mechanic familiar with volvos.
The big sticking point might be air conditioning (I need it--a dealbreaker
if it doesn't work). He has it on the car, but never used it, and it is
currently not working. Apparently, there is refrigerant in the A/C, but
needs a new intake fan for it to work (help me out here volvo guys--does
this make sense? will this be expensive?). I will be getting it checked
out this weekend by an auto A/C specialist and a good auto mechanic.

He is asking $2000 for it. My dad, who is a car expert, frets about the age
and the miles on the vehicle. Obviously, the MPG will be poor, but the car
will not be driven very far or very often. I just need it for occasional
transportation.

I guess I want the opinion of the experts out there. I think this car may
be a great deal, since it has been cared for so well and has served it's
previous owner well. But, every time I tell somone about the age and
milage, their eyes get big and freak out. My dad is especially concerned.
I trust his instincts, yet my gut says that this may be a great way to enjoy
a luxury vehicle at a yugo price. Just FYI, my buddy is my best friend and
was the best man at my wedding. He has been very thorough, telling me all
its faults (few and minor) in painstaking detail.

Any opinions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Mike

 

Ok, speaking as a long-time Volvo owner and the wife of a former Volvo
Master tech:
This car is not a super great deal at $2000.00, if you need to spend money
to get the AC going. If the AC is not working, it will cost about $600.00
to get it going. That includes a compressor, an accumulator, and a 134
conversion kit and possibly a front condenser fan. See if he will come down
to $1500.00 and that will give you the leeway to get the AC fixed.

Age and miles are really not an issue with Volvos. I'm currently driving an
'89 760 turbo sedan with 218K miles on it , and it doesn't miss a beat. Our
last one was a 740 wagon (standard shift) that had 200k+ miles on the
odometer when we sold it and the buyer didn't even blink an eye. The Volvo
interiors (seats, carpets, etc) hold up well and if this car has been babied
as you say, these should be quite nice.
I'd much rather drive a used Volvo than any new car out there. The mpg might
not be as poor as you think. I average 16-18mpg for mine (6 cyl turbo), as
long as I don't stomp on the gas and engage the turbo a lot.
If you have any questions please feel free to email high261 at comcast dot
net.
Good luck!

 

Thank you very much for your reply! The $2000 is the initial asking price,
and he said he would consider the costs for A/C or other repairs in
negotiating a final price. I need the A/C, because my health isn't that
great and a hot car will make me very ill. We shall see what the costs for
the A/C is. The A/C expert (they do much of the dealer work in this area--I
know 'cos the dealerships have taken my cars there) place said that
conversion isn't recommended, and R-12 freon is currently running at $60 a
pound (which is surprisingly reasonable--actually rather suspicious if you
ask me). Maybe their using Freezone--an R12 compatible non-CFC refrigerant.
I'll find out what the estimate will be. If it is only the condenser fan
like he says, it might not be too bad. $600 is actually much lower than I
expected for such a refit. That shouldn't be a dealbreaker if it would be
that low.

The only interior parts that are showing any age are the front seats. There
is visible cracking in the leather. Is there anything I can do to
repair/replace/or hide (color the white cracks black?) the cracks in the
leather?

Thanks again,

Mike

 

The only interior parts that are showing any age are the front seats. There

http://www.leatherique.com/dyeinst.htm

There's plenty about on the net on leather restoration. It's amazing to
think that wet and dry paper and sanding down your seats is the way
forward.

I've used the Leatherique oil and cleaner and I like it.

David.

 

The only interior parts that are showing any age are the front seats. There

I have had the very same experience. That is the reason I will never
buy another Volvo with leather seats. When you sell the car the seats
are the only thing in the car that looks bad. Also, they are hot to sit
on in the summer and cold in the winter. Cloth seats are much better.
I would subtract from the value of a car with leather seats. One trick
to make the seats look better is to switch the left and right seats
since most of the wear is on the outside of the drivers seat.

 

It would be a pleasure to drive this car since it's that clean. And
considering the low usage it might work out. My concern would be the
cost of repairs. Where does your friend take it for repairs and what
do they charge? It might be helpful to inquire about the cost of some
of those prior repairs. You say almost everything has been replaced in
the last four years. I think you're going to replace the rest. I bet
Volvo parts are expensive and may be hard to get.

 

That is one of the nice things about the car as well. I would also
inherit my friend's mechanic. He is very happy with the mechanic, and
the guy is both reasonable and knowledgable. He's one of those
mechanics that you keep for life, and is worth more than a good spouse
(just like that Seinfeld episode).

Thanks,

Mike

 

Get it. You only live once. Volvos have a lot of character and
personality, like a Saab or Peugeot. Parts will be higher than a
domestic car but worth it to drive an interesting car. If the seats are
shot, just go to a fabric store and pick out some cool fabric to make
seat covers out of: like with aliens or UFO's on it and have someone in
your family with a sewing machine make 'em for ya. That's what I did to
my '84 Peugeot 505 wagon. You'll love all the extra room you have in a
big, boxy wagon.

 

It's not a wonderful price, especially if you're going to have to pump
money into that AC system. Volvo parts and repairs are not cheap, and
at its age, it will need fairly regular work to keep it running well.

The Volvo intercooled turbos can be a blast to drive, even with a
wagon body. Gas mileage may be as good as the mid-20s if you're
light-footed, but of course that takes away the fun of shutting down
the kiddies in their rice-burners.

 

:> The only interior parts that are showing any age are the front seats. There
:> is visible cracking in the leather. Is there anything I can do to
:> repair/replace/or hide (color the white cracks black?) the cracks in the
:> leather?
:
:I have had the very same experience. That is the reason I will never
:buy another Volvo with leather seats. When you sell the car the seats
:are the only thing in the car that looks bad. Also, they are hot to sit
n in the summer and cold in the winter. Cloth seats are much better.
:I would subtract from the value of a car with leather seats. One trick
:to make the seats look better is to switch the left and right seats
:since most of the wear is on the outside of the drivers seat.
:
:--

i always put sheepskin covers on the front seats of my volvos. they
are cool in the summer, warm in the winter, < $200 per seat last i
recall, and well worth it in comfort. never liked the feel of the
leather as a seating material. the plastic which preceded it in the
140s was even worse. if it were possible i would do the same on the
rear seats.

 

Sheepskin. Always comfy and look and feel nice.

 

You should try the Volvo cloth seats. They are free with every car.
They are very comfortable and look like new after 200,000 miles.

 

I fixed the AC in my '87 700 series for under $200, I'd hardly call it a
deal breaker, even a shop should be able to do it for under $500.

My opinion would be buy the car, I'd buy it myself if I had space for a 3rd
Volvo.

 

700 series uses a GM AC system that works quite well, R134 conversion works
great, it's the only way to go IMO, cheap, universally supported, and
environmentally friendly. Just make sure you get the kit from Volvo to do
the conversion.

 

Can't do this in a 700 (and it looks shitty in a 200 for that matter)
because the 700 has the seatbelt buckle attached to the seat and a
compartment on the side which houses the power seat switches on a 760.

 

I'd love to know how to get cloth seats free with every car when buying a 16
year old used car...

 

Well, I just got a quote from the A/C specialist for $580. I think that's
high. Apparently, the vacuum line was worn through and the freon leaked
out. He said it looked aftermarket. He wants to replace the accumulator,
craft the line by hand (since it's not standard), and replace the freon. I
think I can get it cheaper somewhere else.

Thanks,

Mike

 

You need to buy the next car I sell.