2000 V70 XC SE want to purchase, but has problems?

[Bazinga]

We, wife and I, are considering purchasing a used 2000 V70 XC AWD SE. The owner has extensive service records and personal notes about services done, since she purchased from used volvo dealer in 2005 (at 79,000 miles). Most work has been done at Volvo dealerships. Car now has 137,000 miles. The work she has had done is as follows. Please bear with me, this is long, but no need to comment on everything, just any major issues or patterns you may see? :

4/2005 Time of Purchase
130 point inspection
60,000 mile maintenance service
4 wheel alignment
Replaced both front ball joint and control arm assemblies
Replaced right side axle with used axle

9/2005
Replaced left front hub/bearing assembly
82,500 mile maintenance
License plate lights

2/2006
Replaced switch assembly for drivers seat
Replaced right front wheel bearing
License plate lights

4/2006
Replaced rear drive shaft assembly
License plate bulb

8/2006
90,000 mile maintenance
Clean and lube seat track for driver seat
Sun roof leak, drains cleaned, problem resolved

4/2007
Electronic Throttle System software upgrade
Replaced wiring harness for tailgate handle assembly, not whole assembly
Replaced both right side cv boots

7/2007
Replaced ABS control module

12/2007
97,500 mile maintenance
Replaced both brake light bulbs
Replaced thermostat

6/2008
Replaced switch assembly for driver side window
Replaced lens assembly for left front reflector
Replace battery

9/2008
Replace alternator

10/2008
105,000 mile maintenance
Replace timing belt, tensioner, and aux drive belt
Replace intake hose
Replace rear brake rotors, pads, e brake cables and shoes
Replace cracked front brake hoses
Replace torque tube bushing (related to AWD?)
Front 02 sensor not sending correct signals, recommend replace soon, but not done

4/2009
Buy new tires
Replace left headlight bulb
Rear 02 sensor concern, not replaced at this time

3/2010
Radiator replaced

10/2010
Replace front brakes, rotors, and calipers (119,000 miles)

4/2011
Replace split j hose
Replaced rear exhaust
AC complaint, but nothing done

8/2011
Continued AC problems, some service done (not specified in records), cost $160
Replace tie rods
New tires
PCV kit, rear seal, motor mount

1/2012
Replaced both front upper spring seats
Air guide broken off, discarded, not replaced?
Replace leaking heater core assembly
Replaced mass air flow sensor

4/2012
Replace two burnt front park lamp bulbs

9/2012
Replaced ETS module/throttle unit
Cleaned PCV oriface
Replaced B+ cable from battery to main fuse block
Replaced upper engine mount due to broken bushing

4/2013
Replace headlight bulbs
Replace front 02 sensor (did not replace rear, believe rear was off due to front sensors being bad)
Replace sump seals (had to drop oil pan, technician commented how there was no sludge to be seen anywhere)

So... we are wondering if this car is a bit of a lemon, or if this type of extensive work could be considered normal for this car? Also, at this point is all the big stuff done so we should have less to worry about going wrong? Or is it a bad track record of needing repairs that we should stay away from?

We've test driven, and the only thing we notice is that the AC is not working, we're not sure if it was ever satisfactorily repaired from owner complaints previously, so we'll call her and check on that. The AC blows air that is barely cool, certainly not cold in any way, and we don't know if this is a simple fix, but I'm doubting it...
Love to get some feedback from those with more experience and more mechanical know-how.

Wife adds: THANK YOU IN ADVANCE!!

[mfagus]

You are lucky that the previous owner kept all those detailed records. I have owned 5 Volvo's and the list does not seem out of the ordinary to me.
the only thing that is concerning is non working a/c. that can be something relatively cheap or something very costly.
See if the owner is willing to take it in to find out exactly what the issue is. if she wont, then i would bake in $1000 and tell her you want her to reduce the price by that much.

good luck.

Mark

PS A pre purchase inspection on any older used car purchase is the best $100 you will ever spent!

[Bazinga]

Thanks for your feedback. The amount of paperwork she has on the car is incredible. She has highlighted everything (color-coded), wrote notes to herself at the time of every repair/maintenance, put sticky notes ON the notes with updated information... it's almost 50 pages of paperwork and comments. I have never bought a used car before, so I have no idea what to look for when buying one, and find the information she provided overwhelming (but DEFINITELY helpful, just a lot to digest at once). She has let us drive it for a couple of days so we can try it out. We will be bringing it to our mechanic (he works on Volvos, but not exclusively) and he doesn't charge us to do a pre-purchase inspection, even puts it on the lift, etc. He has saved our butts already with another car. I am sure he will be thrilled with her paper trail!

She is asking $3500 USD for the car (137k miles). It is in nearly perfect cosmetic condition (just imagine how anal she is with paperwork, and apply that to the interior/exterior of the car!). Only blemishes we found were a couple of scrapes on the passenger side door handles, probably from a shopping cart.

What do you guys think of the price? She seems very anxious to sell it (says she is tired of being nickled-and-dimed by it) and I think she would be very open to lower offers, especially if the a/c is not an easy fix. How low is too low for this type of car?

Thanks again!!

[mfagus]

Price does not seem too bad if everything works.
Location does matter, where do you live?

Have your guy take a look. I would start with the $3500 price and begin deducting the repair costs for the mechanic.

Someone as anal as the prior owner might not like it but should understand the logic.

Mark

[Bazinga]

I think she will understand. She already has another car, so doesn't need the money to buy a new one, and she has said to make an offer. Plus, she understands that a lot of money has gone in to it, and a lot of money may still need to go into it, so I don't think she will be holding out for her full asking price, as she doesn't seem to expect anyone to enjoy shelling out money any more than she does. We live in Maine.

[Bazinga]

We drove two Volvos today. The first one the seller had the attitude of "Look at all the work *I* have done, so it is great now, pay me for the required maintenance $$ I have spent." The V70's seller seems more ashamed of all the work that has had to go into it (though, I don't think it is a lot of work for that age/mileage) and isn't looking to make her money back, or even close. We found this car through Craigslist, and she is definitely not your average CL seller (she is trusting, honest, thorough). It must be a Maine thing or something.

[JRL]

All this is normal repairs for these cars at these miles
Sounds as if it needs a new AC evaporator $1100-$1500

[abscate]

Use the NADA guides to price the vehicle and options.

A dealer would want to get clean retail price, buyer wants to buy at wholesale , and a fair private sale price is in between.

With a major repair like AC being a large fraction of the purchase price, you can't just subtract full value of the repair from the price guidance above....20-30% max deduction for stuff which Doesn't keep the car off the road, perhaps.

Wasn't the 1999-2001 XC the problematic AWD years??

[kahl]

Yes, get the bezel gear and drive shaft inspected. rear shocks and struts should be due soon.

This model and year is a wonderful car, but it can and will be expensive to maintain. You really have to be proactive with maintenance.

[Bazinga]

Are the things that go wrong with this type of car easy to DIY? Could I teach myself how to do things that don't require a lift? I have no mechanical experience whatsoever, but I am a very fast and enthusiastic learner, so feel confident I could teach myself. I wouldn't touch major items, but things like bulbs, etc. I would think should be easy?

P.S. I am already aware of IPD