What could I get/what would you pay? 2000 V70XC needs work.

[unfortunately]

I'm not sure this is the place to post this, or if there is even a place for this to go, but it's worth a shot....

I got a good deal on this car a little while ago. I haven't had it long but I really like it, but I'm kind of stuck right now.

Started smoking on me one day (white smoke, coolant) while driving home. Had a crack in one of the plastic radiator tanks. After swapping the radiator I tried adding coolant and noticed another leak. Unfortunately it is coming from the head area -- probably the gasket, or maybe the head warped. I'm not going to bring it to a shop to get it done, don't have the money. It's an involved task but totally doable for someone who knows how to do it and has the time. It turns over but doesn't want to start.

The interior and exterior are good, all electronics work, drove great, brakes good, tires still have life in them. 137xxx miles -- I don't know the car's full history, but I know the last couple who owned it live in a nice part of town and owned it for the last 10 years. It looks like it was taken care of well, but it's hard to say.

I really don't want to get rid of this car, but I've gotten myself into a bit of a hole and need a car that runs ASAP so I can get back on the road. If this car was driving I could try to sell it for $3500 or so.

But I'm looking at selling it just because it will get me driving again faster than fixing it. If I end up keeping it I'll likely end up driving it for years to come -- once it's running again.

So, my questions are: What, realistically, can I get for this car with the work it's going to need to get it driving again? What's the most you would pay, and what would you more realistically like to pay? What's the lowest I should take for it, and what should I be trying to get?

Thanks for all answers! Trying to figure this whole mess out.

[JRL]

A head gasket by a mechanic is a $1500 job (plus or minus), mostly plus!
The XC right now is worth about $500 as a parts car if the rest of it is decent.

...and this IS realistic, I buy and sell these cars.
If you look at a sale post in the parts section, I have a 2000 XCSE I'm parting out because of a bad engine
Way less miles and everything else was perfect.
Go onto http://www.edmunds.com, used cars, then enter the info on your car under "what's my car worth".
Look under private party sale, then deduct at least $1500 off that price and you will have under $1000.


Never mind I did it... here:
$2,270 $2,912 $3,982
Optional Equipment $111 $144 $222
AM/FM/Cassette/CD Audio System $24 $32 $49
Garage Door Opener $6 $8 $12
Power Front Passenger Seat $23 $29 $45
Leather Seating $54 $70 $108
Leather Shift Knob Trim $4 $5 $8
Color Adjustment - Silver $3 $3 $5
Regional Adjustment - for Zip Code 19355 $-12 $-15 $-20
Mileage Adjustment - 130,000 miles $43 $43 $43
Condition Adjustment - Average $-575 $-724 $-967
Total $1,840 $2,363 $3,265

$2563 MINUS at least $1500. You get the idea

[unfortunately]

Edmunds' prices vary by location. For me it says a private sale is $2400-3200 depending on whether I mark it as clean or average. KBB prices are considerably higher. They're all only suggestions of course....

If I can get $1500 it sounds like that's on the high side of what I could expect, right? Realistically expect $1000 or maybe less? If I can't get that I think I'll keep it and fix it when I can. I have a bike after all.

[JRL]

That's all it's worth, trust me needing a head or a head gasket.
You can't mark it "clean" needing a head gasket, read the criteria
This is very labor intensive plus $400 or so for a new head, (if needed).
It's a 10-11 hour job for a head or a head gasket so again...

$1000 if it's VERY clean
$500-$600 if average

KBB is bull crap, their prices are always way off
Edmunds is closer to real world prices