Looking to sell my t5M down the line.

[huzzsaba]

I will be selling my s70 t5m at the end of summer and looking to see what is a fair asking price for it as I see these go for a lot more than the normal t5 automatics.

So a little bit about the car : 98 T5SE Manual (5 speed) with 180k miles (Never abused or raced)

Black on black leather suede combo, Engine and transmission function flawlessly with lots of power. All vaccum lines replaced along with the PCV cleaned less a 1k ago. A lot of other little things done here and there.

Interior is in 8/10 condition (no ripped seats and no bubbling door panels) and exterior paint is in 8/10 condition, small spot of bubbling rust size of a quarter in trunk lid.

AC works and is ice cold, as does the sunroof moonroof. Engine has no fluid leaks and timing belt was done around 40k ago. Suspension and brakes are solid.

The only downside to this car is the small rust spot and small spot in the headliner where it show glue from a previous fix of the headliner. Besides this, the passenger side doorlock does not unlock unless you do it manually, and the driver window goes down slowly. Driver seat does not move forward with the forward button but can move forward with the use of the memory buttons.

Basically this is the best driving Volvo I have ever owned. It passed local safety testing and emission testing with flying colors.

What would you pay for it? What is a reasonable asking price for something like this? I was thinking of $3500 with safety certification and emission test certificate included.

[JimBee]

Just wondering: Do you have compression numbers and does it pass the "glove" test for sump pressure?

[JRL]

When was the suspension rebuilt?
Is it 100% stock?
When was the (last) evaporator installed?
Do you have all the service records?
These and many other questions will be asked and the answers need to be posted before anyone can even get close to giving you some sort of an estimate.
The rust spot is not good. These cars, in general, do NOT rust, so either is was repainted poorly or a chip happened and you did not touch it up allowing the area to rust!

[huzzsaba]

No compression numbers and I will have to check with the "glove test" but I am sure it will pass. The engine is in very good shape from my knowledge of Volvos. This is my 8th Volvo and I have worked on every single one of them so I know these cars pretty well. This one drives very well.

I am unsure of the evaporator but based on the previous owners service record (over $10,000) worth, I would say it must have been changed but cannot confirm.

I am not sure how it rusted in that spot because it was there when I bought the car. I would never allow my car to rust and know very well that Volvos don't rust.

The car is %100 percent stock, with no mods. Suspension is tight so I'm guessing with the mileage it must have been done sometime ago. I did not need to do anything except change a axle boot.

[JRL]

And you bought it with how many miles and how long ago?

[abscate]

I think your 3500 USD number is about right as a sale price, so listing it at 3800 or so would be my plan.

One of my kids is contemplating college at a large Institute in Cambridge, so I might be unloading one of mine - if its the 1999 T5 I would price it about the same.

[huzzsaba]

I think your 3500 USD number is about right as a sale price, so listing it at 3800 or so would be my plan.

One of my kids is contemplating college at a large Institute in Cambridge, so I might be unloading one of mine - if its the 1999 T5 I would price it about the same.

Thanks abscate. That's the answer I was looking for although $3500 US is quite higher than Canadian pricing because of the exchange rate. I was thinking around $3500 Canadian dollars which comes out to around $2900 USD

I bought the car last year and it had some issues which are %90 fixed. I picked it up to enjoy for a bit being rare and 5 speed I have always wanted one (Who doesn't!). Unfortunately due to high insurance rates, its tough to keep 2 cars on the road which is why my xc90 is off insurance right now while I enjoy the t5m. The wife does not drive manual, so once she gives the order to sell, it must sell lol.

[erikv11]

I agree, 3500 is a good starting point. I just did a quick look at Craigslist and saw three turbo S70s with manual transmission for sale right now in the midwest US. The nicest one was listed the highest at 3500, but was not an SE; yours sounds a little nicer.

[j-dawg]

One thing to remember is that us dummies on car forums are typically willing to pay more for a car that's got a good history and feature set, because we know how uncommon and important those things are, respectively. Your average Craigslist tire-kicker will see your car with 180k miles and other T5s selling for less. He won't be aware that the manual versions are uncommon and fancy Volvos without service histories can be money pits, or that the PCV is important to service, or that on most of these the door panels bubble and the evaporators leak, etc.

A lot comes down to the fact that we, as people with a thing for a particular model, are willing to overpay. I get a lot of sad shaking heads when I tell people I paid 3500+ for a car with nearly 230,000 miles on the clock. They're right - it's not really a good value proposition. But I knew what I wanted and I got it. The Craigslist goons won't be wrong when they tell you a 17-year-old car with nearly 200k isn't worth 3500, but to them a T5M is a cool but quirky and old piece of transportation. Besides, cruise through Craigslist looking for well-kept older cars and you'll feel the same way. You want how much for your old Prelude? You really think your 9-3 is worth that much?

I guess what I'm saying is, if you sell it on a Volvo forum, you'll probably get a better price and have fewer people trying to hustle you. You'll have to be more patient, and maybe waiting for a sale isn't an option. But it sounds like you've got a desirable car and someone will probably buy it if you've got the time.

EDIT: Rant aside, 2900 sounds right to me. I'd pay that, sure.

[huzzsaba]

One thing to remember is that us dummies on car forums are typically willing to pay more for a car that's got a good history and feature set, because we know how uncommon and important those things are, respectively. Your average Craigslist tire-kicker will see your car with 180k miles and other T5s selling for less. He won't be aware that the manual versions are uncommon and fancy Volvos without service histories can be money pits, or that the PCV is important to service, or that on most of these the door panels bubble and the evaporators leak, etc.

A lot comes down to the fact that we, as people with a thing for a particular model, are willing to overpay. I get a lot of sad shaking heads when I tell people I paid 3500+ for a car with nearly 230,000 miles on the clock. They're right - it's not really a good value proposition. But I knew what I wanted and I got it. The Craigslist goons won't be wrong when they tell you a 17-year-old car with nearly 200k isn't worth 3500, but to them a T5M is a cool but quirky and old piece of transportation. Besides, cruise through Craigslist looking for well-kept older cars and you'll feel the same way. You want how much for your old Prelude? You really think your 9-3 is worth that much?

I guess what I'm saying is, if you sell it on a Volvo forum, you'll probably get a better price and have fewer people trying to hustle you. You'll have to be more patient, and maybe waiting for a sale isn't an option. But it sounds like you've got a desirable car and someone will probably buy it if you've got the time.

EDIT: Rant aside, 2900 sounds right to me. I'd pay that, sure.

Totally Agree!

I already had 2 passers by ask about the car because they like the way it looks. They asked if I was selling it and I told them eventually I will but once I told them the price followed by the mileage, they weren't as interested anymore lol. Its safe to say they weren't Volvo enthusiast.