Salvage 1997 850 GLT Wagon Advice

Longest road · Post by **Longest road** » 19 Jan 2012, 14:12

Hey folks, I was hoping you could share some of your knowledge and steer me in the right direction on this wagon i'm looking to buy. I've no prior experience with salvaged or R-title cars but a simple google search tells me to walk from the deal no matter how good the price looks. In this case, the price doesn't even look so hot at $3,700, but is a lot less than i was willing to spend. I figure I'd be dumping some cash on mechanical fixes anyways. Ok, I'll get to the point (sorry if this is a long obnoxious post). The mileage on this thing is about 104k. I test drove it and loved it, nothing out of the ordinary, then again i'm not exactly mechanically inclined. The car has a clean PA title but the private seller was straight up in telling me in was in a minor accident and had replaced the hood and headlight. Looked in to it by searching google for the VIN and saw it was a salvaged vehicle sold out of VA. Of course i then did a AutoCheck Report (which i'll include with pics) and that's when it started to look bad. Please leave your opinions/advice/questions and let me know if i'm a fool to even consider. I'm in the market for a reliable wagon, and yes i'm aware and ready to put some money into getting it shipshape. (Sorry, if there's a better way to post this autocheck please let me know) : Title and ProblemCheck

A problem has been found with this vehicle. Problem Reported! AutoCheck's database for this 1997 Volvo 850 GLT (YV1LW5648V2313256) shows a negative title(s) or other problems. When reported to AutoCheck, these events can indicate serious past damage or other significant problems, and disqualifies the vehicle for AutoCheck Buyback Protection. Check the Vehicle Use and EventCheck for reported accidents.

2 Problem(s) Reported: 15 Title/Problem areas checked:
image No abandoned title record
image No damaged title or major damage incident record
image No fire damaged title record
image No grey market title record
image No hail damage title record
image Insurance loss title or probable total loss record(s)
image No junk or scrapped title record
image No manufacturer buyback/lemon title record
image Odometer problem title record(s)
image No rebuilt/rebuildable title record
image No salvage title or salvage auction record
image No water damaged title record
image No NHTSA crash test record
image No frame/unibody damage record
image No recycling facility record
OdometerCheck

checks_out Your vehicle checks out! AutoCheck examined the reported odometer readings reported to AutoCheck for this 1997 Volvo 850 GLT (YV1LW5648V2313256) and no indication of an odometer rollback or tampering was found. AutoCheck uses business rules to determine if reported odometer readings are significantly less than previously reported values. Not all reported odometer readings are used. Title and auction events also report odometer tampering or breakage.
0 Problem(s) Reported: Mileage Date Reported
image 22,154 06/30/2000
image 36,640 04/15/2003
image 73,937 06/08/2006
image 74,320 06/12/2006
image 88,107 06/28/2007
image 89,970 08/13/2007
image 99,215 04/23/2008
image 102,570 05/03/2010
image 102,579 07/02/2010
image 103,593 09/22/2010
image 103,593 02/17/2011
Vehicle Use and EventCheck

0 Event(s) Reported: 6 Vehicle uses checked:
image No fleet, rental and/or lease use record
image No taxi use record
image No police use record
image No government use record
image No livery use record
image No driver education record
3 Event(s) Reported: 9 Vehicle events checked:
image No accident record reported through accident data sources
image No corrected title record
image Duplicate title record(s)
image Emission/safety inspection record(s)
image Loan/Lien record(s)
image No fire damage incident record
image No repossessed record
image No theft record
image No storm area registration/title record
Full History

Below are the historical events for this vehicle listed in chronological order. Any discrepancies will be in bold text.

Report Run Date: 2012-01-14 12:53:53.582 EST

Vehicle: 1997 Volvo 850 GLT (YV1LW5648V2313256)
Event Date Event Location Odometer Reading Data Source Event Detail
10/25/1996 MD

Independent Source VEHICLE MANUFACTURED AND SHIPPED TO DEALER
03/24/1997 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:K199826)
03/28/1997 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
03/28/1998 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
03/28/2000 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/30/2000 WASHINGTON, DC
22,154
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:K472757)
03/28/2001 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
03/28/2001 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
04/15/2003 WASHINGTON, DC
36,640
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:K1061873)
04/15/2003 WASHINGTON, DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. DUPLICATE TITLE
04/15/2003 WASHINGTON, DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
04/15/2003 WASHINGTON, DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. EXCLUDED/EXEMPT
04/15/2003 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
05/05/2003 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
03/27/2004 WASHINGTON, DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
05/26/2005 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
03/23/2006 WASHINGTON, DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
06/08/2006 WASHINGTON, DC
73,937
Dealer Service ENGINE SERVICED
VEHICLE BODY SERVICED
VEHICLE SERVICED
06/12/2006 WASHINGTON, DC
74,320
Dealer Service ENGINE SERVICED
VEHICLE SERVICED
06/28/2007 WASHINGTON, DC
88,107
Dealer Service TIRES/WHEELS SERVICE PERFORMED
VEHICLE SERVICED
08/13/2007 WASHINGTON, DC
89,970
Dealer Service FUEL SYSTEM SERVICED
VEHICLE SERVICED
08/16/2007 DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
04/23/2008 WASHINGTON, DC
99,215
Dealer Service STEERING SYSTEM SERVICED
BRAKES SERVICED
VEHICLE SERVICED
05/02/2008 WASHINGTON, DC

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
05/03/2010 AMISSVILLE, VA
102,570
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE
07/02/2010 LEESBURG, VA
102,579
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Lien Reported)
REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS
09/22/2010 LEESBURG, VA

Motor Vehicle Dept. REGISTRATION EVENT/RENEWAL
09/22/2010 LEESBURG, VA
103,593
Independent Emission Source PASSED EMISSION INSPECTION
02/17/2011 ALEXANDRIA, VA
103,593
Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE
EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS
INSURANCE LOSS
POSSIBLE TOTAL LOSS - VEHICLE TITLED/REGISTERED TO AN INSURANCE COMPANY
10/31/2011 BOALSBURG, PA

Motor Vehicle Dept. TITLE (Title #:70178491)
EXCEEDS MECHANICAL LIMITS

I requested pics of the car before the body work:

Longest road · Post by **Longest road** » 19 Jan 2012, 14:25

Current Condition:

Post by **E Showell** » 19 Jan 2012, 14:51

I previously owned a '96 850 wagon with about 150K miles. It was totalled after a hit and run impact over the driver's side rear wheel arch. Car drove fine, but was a total loss due to cost to repair. I bought the wreck back from the insurance co. for $75.00 and sold it to a neighbor who was hard up for a car for $900. I probably could have gotten $1,100 to $1,300 for it if I'd taken my time. Salvage title is not necessarily a big deal and can bring the price down. Use it as a negotiating point if you like the car.

kcjones · Post by **kcjones** » 19 Jan 2012, 18:32

Welcome to MVS!

The only thing that I can see concerning from the reports would be the "idle" months, where the car had two odometer readings that were the same mileage, but months apart. Although, one of them appears to be the accident.

I do know this: I hate the previous owner of my volvo. The front end has a multitude of bent/broken/missing parts even though it "looks" decent. I inherited my car, and love it to death, but every time I work near the front end, I find evidence of an unworthy car owner and hack-job repairs.

Personally, I would have the frame and alignment checked by a professional.

I think you would be happy with 104k. You're ahead of the game for most 97's.

Longest road · Post by **Longest road** » 19 Jan 2012, 20:56

Thanks for the quick replies guys, I appreciate it. I was wondering if it's a bit shady that it's a salvaged title in one state but clean in another? The AutoCheck reports multiple titles but that's about it. I'm suspicious of how this guy got the title clean as opposed to an r-title. Regardless,I will certainly be using that to negotiate the price, as i feel it's steep at close to $4,000, no? I was thinking closer to $2,000 considering the future work it may need for simply being over that 100,000mi mark alone(fuel pump, timing belt, ??, ect). Not to mention any hidden problems from the wreck. I just don't wanna lowball the guy too much haha. I wasn't so concerned with the mileage but thanks for pointing that out, I figure it was in the wreck and then sat...but was thrown off by the amount of times the report says "Exceeds mechanical limits"? Definitely taking it to a body shop to have a good look though. So you guys don't think that AutoCheck is too bad? It's just littered with terms I'm unfamiliar with that happen to sound horrible haha. That and it got a score of 31(average being between 34-65) but hell, i know that doesn't mean everything. Any further questions I should ask the guy or specifically have a mechanic look into?? Any advice is greatly appreciated! At this point if it checks out at the bodyshop/mechanic I'm thinking I'll go for it.

Post by **rspi** » 19 Jan 2012, 21:25

The auto check is a good report. You need to know that an insurance company totaled the car out and you may not be able to get the car fully insured. Insurance companies are funny now days so check with your insurance company before you move forward.

It doesn't take much to total a 10+ year old car. I got full replacement value from 2 different 960's. Both were fixed and driven after the accident with no problems. I'd also get an alignment checked if you spend more than $1,500 for it. The car looks nice and maybe someone fixed it right, that's why they want so much for it. I have a repair guy that could have fixed that car for about $1,500. So $1,500 and the $300 they paid for it, they are likely into it for $1,800.

It's not un-common for one state to overlook a salvage title issue if the car is registered quick enough. Some states do not search the country for title issues. It's a low down dirty trick and some people even pay the DMV to issue a clean title. We had a DMV guy jailed in our area for doing so (it was a ring).

I'd check the value in www.NADAGuides.com and see what the value is there, then pay them clean trade in at best. Not sure it really matters what the value is when you have NO plans on ever selling the car. Drive it 2 years and it's worth $1,000. I just checked and clean trade-in is $3,000, average trade in is $2,500. It's hard to find a nice wagon without the seats torn. I'd offer them $2,700 and see what they say. Just cry about the dirty auto check and do find out when the timing belt was done. If not done since 2006, it's due.

norcals95 · Post by **norcals95** » 20 Jan 2012, 07:17

I wouldnt read to deep into the clean title in your state. Seller most likely would have hidden the previous wreck thing if they were being deceitful. The car looks very clean and low miles however I would check the miles on the ECM as it seems every 850 I've come across has had a busted odometer at some point or another. Though I know somewhere in that time frame they went to digital but I think that was 98. Like stated above it doesn't take much to total out a 15 year old car especially if it had even slight quarter panel damage. If I was in the market for another wagon I would say anywhere less than 3k is a good price.

Post by **fazool** » 20 Jan 2012, 10:53

Sorry its a bad deal.

I just ran a quick KBB price check on a 1997 850GLT with 104000 miles. If in excellent shape (almost like new) its worth $4200.

If yours is totalled by the insurance company and has expensive damages its probably closer to $2500 value.

For that price you could get the same car without the damage.

Walk away.

Longest road · Post by **Longest road** » 21 Jan 2012, 17:54

Plenty of great advice rspi, thank you! I'll definitely look into the insurance situation. It's quite understandable if they wouldn't fully insure it and I could live with that. I was also thinking the guy probably paid roughly $500 at most but was clueless as to how much he put into repairs, so that was helpful. I'm thinking the offer of $2,700 is fair and still lets him profit, I'm gonna do the timing belt right off the bat just for safe measure. The leather seats are in really decent shape for the age, I'm in love with the whole interior of this car. Very well kept, wish i could say the same of the rest.

I will certainly confirm the mileage when I take it to a mechanic and bodyshop, I saw that it was rolling when I test drove but I understand that doesn't necessarily mean it's not broken or tampered with. If it were I think I'd draw the line there haha

I really don't think in my area (PA) I could find a decent wagon with low mileage for the same price? Then again that's strictly talking Volvo though. Another car I had in mind was a 98' Subaru Impreza wagon with only 56,000mi, but I'm not getting that for $2,500. Perhaps if i looked about long enough, but I'm in need of a vehicle and don't like driving 50+ miles to check them out, while this one happens to be extremely close. I do appreciate your input and definitely won't pay anymore than $3,000 for it...

Thanks again everyone, the guy was supposed to call today after getting some o-rings to stop a small radiator leak but never did. Gonna show him $2,500 in cash this week and see if he'll come down.

Post by **erikv11** » 21 Jan 2012, 20:29

I just got done with searching 96-97 850 wagons nationwide for a little over 2 months. Looked at a bajillion Craigslist ads, made a lot of calls. I can tell you KBB is ridiculously high, their numbers are way over what things actually sell for in the market. Edmonds.com is a lot closer to market values. I would agree with OP, this car is worth like $2500-2700 if well cared for, and that means you will have to do some repairs right off the bat.