1998 S70 T5 SE: Price my car for me please

TrstnBrtt · Post by **TrstnBrtt** » 25 Aug 2015, 12:15

I think the time has come for me to finally let go of my 1998 Volvo S70 T5 SE... The problem is I really don't think that anyone else other than an enthusiast would really know what it is or what it is really worth, and I don't think anyone that really knows Volvos would want this car... I have found a new car that I want to buy and I don't want to be that joker who prices his car way too high and has to pay for insurance and parking for two cars while I wait for months to sell it (I live in downtown Vancouver). I'll list the good and the bad on this car and attach some pictures and you can let me know if you think I'm out to lunch on the price and hopefully I can get some suggestions for selling this car.
1998 Volvo S70 T5 SE - September 1997 build, Halifax car. 292,000 KMS
Fully loaded, ECC, Power Moonroof, Heated Seats, Trip Computer, SC-901 (I've added an iPod cable through the FM Antenna port as well, you turn it on or off to have FM radio or iPod music, charges device and it's been wired in.. completely hidden, if you've heard the 901 you know how amazing the sound system is in this car). It has the leather/alcantara seat combo, stitched door panels (I know things like this won't matter to non-P80 people), headlight wash/wipe, front and side airbags, fog lights and I'll be selling the car with the OEM Roof Racks etc...
-PCV Breather System was done in September 2014 as well as new Spark plugs
-New windsheild in December 2014
-Brake rotors and pads were done in April 2015 along with two used control arms which seem to be holding up well
-New heater core/thermostat/coolant flush (OEM Volvo blue) in April 2015
-New AC Delco battery in May 2015 (I can't remember the specs on it but I paid for the best one you could get with it, 9 year warranty)
-Previous owner indicated the timing belt was done at 262,000 KMs (roughly 30,000 KMs, 18,600 MIs for my southern neighbours)

But now the bad...
-The driver's seat shows quite a bit of wear (no rips... but definitely wear, the passenger seat isn't that bad, the back seats look like they've never been sat in)
-The heater core blew a few months ago and the carpet on the driver's side is quite coolant stained
-The dash creaks (I think this weekend's project might be to take that apart and sort everything out)
-The rear power locks do not work... because S70..
-ABS/TRACs doesn't work
-Camshaft seal is leaking on the passenger side (It's not a horrible leak but it's definitely there... I don't want to do a timing belt service again so I haven't bothered to fix it)
-Both the front and the rear bumpers are quite scratched up... the hood has some scratches (I think the previous owner was hood sliding on it... my friend says they might buff out but I don't think they will...) The paint is in very good shape though, and with it being a P80 there is no rust on it.
-CEL is on from cat delete (I think this might be the biggest problem... but we no longer have emissions testing here in British Columbia)
-The Volans are quite curbed on it (none are bent and they all hold air though) but I'd say the tires have like maximum 15,000-20,000 KMs left on them (9,300-12,400 MI) although they will come with H&R spacers

I was thinking to list it for $1750 and take $1500 (keep in mind the Canadian dollar is terrible right now) but now I'm starting to doubt I can get that... It's definitely not an enthusiast car, I'd say it's more of a very comfortable beater or at best a commuter car... I bought the car in Calgary when I lived there and when I moved to BC I had to have a provincial inspection done on the car, which it passed (obviously)

Thanks for reading and thanks in advance for your help!

Sommerfeldt · Post by **Sommerfeldt** » 25 Aug 2015, 12:54

Humm....

In Norway, 3500 USD. But this place is insane...

- S

Post by **erikv11** » 25 Aug 2015, 13:17

I don't know the local market in Vancouver (and local market is critical to any pricing, as Sommerfeldt pointed out!) but I actually agree with your suggested pricing, it should sell for $1700 or so. Maintenance is pretty up to date for an old car.

Bus lanes because filling up a bus is like 100x more efficient than personal cars for moving people. One idea is to make it available to everyone, not to establish or reinforce social classes.

Post by **RussB** » 25 Aug 2015, 13:26

I paid $1700 for my recent '00 S70 T5M. My interior was in very good condition, but had some mechanical issues (needed an ETM and evap hoses & purge valve. Busted trailing arm bushing, A/C doesn't work)

TrstnBrtt · Post by **TrstnBrtt** » 25 Aug 2015, 13:28

Oh yeah... AC doesn't work either, but I mean all things aside it's ready to go. It doesn't need anything done to it to drive (except gas lol) but it's been very problem free for me. The only problem I had with it was when the battery died and even then it didn't leave me stranded. It's lived with me in two different provinces (through a brutal winter, always start) it's traveled across 5 provinces, through mountains, prairies. I'm getting a little sentimental thinking about selling it haha

mika · Post by **mika** » 25 Aug 2015, 14:44

post in classifieds please. no matter how much you have done to your car, finding someone to pay top dollar is hard. If this sells for more than 1000-1500, I would be surprised. drive it till it is done, or donate it to a family member in need instead. IMO. Or throw a for sale sign on the window, someone will buy it.

TrstnBrtt · Post by **TrstnBrtt** » 25 Aug 2015, 16:16

mika wrote:post in classifieds please. no matter how much you have done to your car, finding someone to pay top dollar is hard. If this sells for more than 1000-1500, I would be surprised. drive it till it is done, or donate it to a family member in need instead. IMO. Or throw a for sale sign on the window, someone will buy it.

I'm not trying to sell it on here, I'm just looking for advice, and I know it's not worth top dollar. I don't have any family so no one to give it to, as I said I just kind of want to get rid of it and make some money off of it. I've already found a new car so I'm not interested in driving this one until the wheels fall off so to say

Post by **scot850** » 25 Aug 2015, 16:59

It is a case of put it up on Craigslist in Vancouver for what you want and the market will decide. Being from Alberta, and having your honest appraisal of the car, mileage etc, knowing what needs to be fixed, I'd be unlikely to offer more than $800, but not because I am cheap, but a lot of the seemingly minor issues are probably the ones that are most costly to fix. The rear door locks could be broken wires in the door or the lock mechanisms. The lock mechanisms are a rear pain to replace. The ABS module is not really a big issue. Get one from Mid-west. Matty will send you out the repaired one for you to fit, and then you return yours once new one is fitted as a core. I'm not sure what he is charging these days, but it was around $75 US + shipping.

The bumper scratches and hood scratches are normal wear and tear as you know in Calgary, and looking from what I can see yours are not that bad.

The dash board is a bigger issue. If you plan to remove it to fix, allow a weekend to fix at least. There is a 'How-to' on MVS for replacing the A/C evaporator which covers what you need to do to remove it. This includes the steering wheel and airbags.

The issue is usually the main mountings breaking where the 4 bolts mount into it from under the front windshield. Again there are write-ups on how to fix. I'd tend to leave this for the next owner to fix or not!

Vancouver prices for Volvos tend to be higher than Alberta so ask what you want and see what you get!

Neil.

Post by **tryingbe** » 25 Aug 2015, 17:59

Non working a/c? The car wouldn't sell for anything over $1000 here in Arizona.

Post by **abscate** » 25 Aug 2015, 18:57

I think your goal of 1500 is perfectly reasonable. Add a set of compression test values to cement test price in. A running, passing local inspection car is worth 1500 in my neck of the woods, despite any othervmechanicals