Purchasing a 1996 850 GLT N/A with 279,500 Miles?

[xHeart]

If you increase the budget to $2000-$3000, Des Moines and Omaha have some good 850 and S/V70 with 140K miles or so.

Personally, I'd not buy anything above > 200K miles. Although I can handle virtually any car repair, I just don't have the appetite for those labor-intensive repairs (steering racks, valve stem seals etc.).
Spend a little more money and go for cars with fewer miles, chances are you spend less time under the car. Unless you love to be under the car ha!

Yes, especially in my carport when its 13* outside and the ground is not level :lol:

thanks for your honest opinion. (first poster saying "I wouldn't do it) cant argue with what you wrote. Its true. Looking at other cars, the selection:price ratio is far from what I am used to in Socal :twisted:

At the same time, every hundred dollars north of 1400$ is money that does not exist. (first real job, no extra money, how does that happen?). I am handy with my v70 and has not needed much professional attention. Keep your fingers crossed, I will see what happens this weekend.

Prudent!
Don't rush.
Iowa can be brutal in winter.

[mecheng]

I agree with the above, the car looks like it has been hacked with non OEM parts but even if it wasn't a little more money goes a long way. What is an extra $1000 when buying a car? Its peantus when you can get a car with half the mileage. In my area, cars are dumped when they reach over 200,000km for dirt cheap (except Japanese cars which hold their value), especially European cars like Volvos. 279,000 miles is a lot; and I mean a lot of headaches: everything is suspect at that mileage. You could blow through that extra grand even if you do your own work in parts; and you are still left with more unknowns and a car with high mileage.

[erikv11]

Just two comments, I know this first one will stir the pot but:

(1) Some of you guys have not actually owned high mileage Volvos, so you think the low mileage ones are the only way to go. In fact, they cost basically the same to maintain unless the high mileage car is a mess when you get it. This one isn't.

(2)

... What is an extra $1000 when buying a car? Its peantus ...

I suspect you've not read the thread very well ... $1,000 is a lot of peanuts, especially when you don't have the $ to spend anyway.

[dosbricks]

I agree with erik. I'm replacing some major components on our 223k S70 because when I'm done it will be a better car than the vast majority of newer $5,000 <100k cars out there that were not well cared for and need much of the same work done.

The OP is only needing a car to start and run a few miles per day to and from work. The insurance settlement for the Honda Fit was probably closer to trade-in value than what a like model could be bought for at retail. I admire this young couple for deciding against taking on debt until they are more established.

[mecheng]

Ok forget about spending an extra $1000, I'm sure you can find another car with less miles for roughly the same price. Ask me how I know

Its one thing to keep a car for that many miles which you've maintained yourself for sometime. It is a complete other thing to buy some car which has clearly suspect parts with high mileage already racked up on it. Even if it was well maintained, the wear on the rings, seals at 450,000km will be present to a medium degree at best but it could be a large degree.

But if your really that strapped for cash, a small loan may help with a better investment. Thats my two cents, ultimately do what you think is right: the internet is full of opinions and in the end yours is what matters. And just to be clear what my opinion is: I think it is completely insane to buy a car with that mileage; end stop: especially at that price and age.

Best of luck

[matthew1]

Alternatives in the Volvo P80 universe:

http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4771175851.html
http://denver.craigslist.org/cto/4771269465.html

Vastly fewer miles on both. Both under $3k.

Yea, Denver is ~800 miles away, these are examples.

[northernlights]

(1) Some of you guys have not actually owned high mileage Volvos, so you think the low mileage ones are the only way to go. In fact, they cost basically the same to maintain unless the high mileage car is a mess when you get it. This one isn't.

Bingo!

[tryingbe]

LOL. Funny how some guys wants everything to be right for a $1400 car. If it drive, working a/c, good tires, no leaks, that's a $1400 car right here.

Are you looking for a car with matching wheels, vin matching engine, vin matching transmission, factory tires, OEM plug wires, OEM plugs, etc...

Or are you looking for a solid car that drives and stops right and that someone actaully took the time to changed parts and maintained?

That 850 GLT is a solid running from what OP says. It is off Craigslist now and hopefully it will go another 100k for its new owner.

[cn90]

I have to agree with "mecheng", even though $1000 is a lot of peanuts but the $1400 car could be the "booby cash trap". In the world of used cars, things are measured by the thousands...
$1000 car, $2000 car, $3000 car, $10,000 car etc. etc. and blah blah blah.

Consumers Reports has a story of a frugal person who kept cars for some 15-20 years. The story was about a Lexus, the guy fixed everything himself, but even he said after some 260K miles, time to say good bye to his Lexus b/c so many expensive items showed up: trans, steering system, engine oil leak etc. etc.

My advice to the O.P.: be patient, wait for a car that the P.O. spent so much money that he is fed up and just wants to get rid of! These cars are hard to find.

I bought my 1998 S70 GLT with 145K for $2000. The P.O. spent close to $6000 in repair at dealer during the previous 3 years, so he ditched the car and I brought it. I brought the car back to stage 0. All is good now.

Now, you can see that even if you buy a $2K car that is well maintained, you still have to put in some hard-earned cash and labor. There is no easy way out, unless you take the bus, metro, and in the case of rural Iowa: ride the horses. Even horses require maintenance lol.

[dosbricks]

The listing is deleted off craigslist??? Did someone from nearby Omaha fly in and scoop up this car? We wait for news....