How to read an engine on Craigslist...

[theWIFES_S70]

Here's another engine... V70 N/A, 174K, salvage title, third row seats... but with the highly desired velour/plush seating inside... seller wants $1400

Better condition in some ways than the S70 up there...

- Significantly less dust and leaves.
- New(ish) battery
- oil seepage looks like the oil cap gasket
- cabin air filter sticker (why can't Mann provide one???)
- poly bushing, if you like crap like that...

but...
- non-OE cap, rotor, wires... (probably plugs, too!)
- that MAF sticker... never seen it before... is it OE?
- seller says there was some accident... you can see the repair that was done in the lower left-hand corner...
- missing the drain hose near the fuse box... WTH? that means water is draining onto the steering linkage, transmission, brake lines, ABS module... probably not too, good

The fact that someone would do a tuneup with those parts makes me wonder, is there DOT4 brake fluid in there?, is the coolant legit... How much URO is there on the car???

I think it's overpriced. But that being said, when you come to spend so much on your car (as the seller mentions)... I can see why you'd value the car so high. (KBB is saying $900, and that's not taking into consideration the salvage title!).

For example, I love our little car. But it's dinged all over the place. (And the next door neighbors who skipped out on the rent and moved out one night really did a number on one side of it...) The hood is a mess, too. But you know, for all the time, money, and effort I've put into it... If you wanted to buy it off me, my instinct would be to say, "I'll take $3000..." But even I know that's sooo unreasonable.

Note:
I don't feel comfortable posting anyone's ads. I hope that's alright. (Matt, am I violating a TOS here?) I understand that the owners of these vehicles might be on here. (Though, I doubt it...) And that they're trying to let their cars go... I don't mean this to be an a** about this, I'm really just trying to "read" these engines a little bit better.

Hope everyone is enjoying their Sundays!

[rspi]

Assume all Volvo's for sale are dramatically neglected. Build from there.

[abscate]

Sage advice from Robert. Asking how a car was used and comparing it to the car fax mikes ( one of the few things that is accurate on those things)

For instance my 1999 would show a standard 12k per year for 11 years, then light use for 2,then 15k for 4 years which fit my story. When you see the sitting period, that's when the maintenance gets neglected ...sludge/PCV , fluid changes etc.

The P2 I bought from Jim still smells of Sweden , or at least Brussels sprouts

[wizechatmgr]

The car fax was one of the reasons I bought mine. I knew the radiator had been replaced within the 2 years prior to my owning it and it looked for the most part like Volvo was servicing it and another small shop I knew of locally. I assumed basically everything except those in the Car Fax needed to be replaced.

I wasn't disappointed as I knew what I was getting into. While I have the ability to do all of my own repairs where I live does not allow any auto repair so I count on co-workers and friends to be able to put it up on jack stands at their houses.

I think Volvo as a brand is an excellent car for most years. Like most things, they will need to be maintained. The better you treat it, the better it will treat you... The better it was maintained before you bought it, the less it is likely to cost you in non-maintenance repairs.

Would I buy my used Volvo again? In a heart beat!

[theWIFES_S70]

I don't know about Carfax... Ours showed that the car was clean. But from how some stuff is bent and "off" in the front and underneath, it's clear to me that it had been in a fender bender. My brother says that the hood was replaced or painted (I can't see it...) but it would make sense since I've had problems with the hood.

"Reading" an engine is only one small part. There are so many other things that will quickly add up! But a bunch of non-OE stuff on top probably indicates a whole lot of Uro and Proparts stuff hiding beneath the surface...

I like Robert's golden rule: Always assume it's been neglected.

I've learned a lot about these cars. And I love how they feel on those long rides. And I've become so much more adept at this. But in hindsight, I probably should've waited a little more for something in better condition or offered a few hundred less. I certainly should have come on here before buying a car! (I went into this Volvo game blind!)

One thing is certain, there are no "deals" to be had with these cars. (And by deal, I mean a sub-$1K bargain of the century!) You will pay.

[abscate]

When I look at what I put into the 1999 to rejuvenate it at 135k, I probably had 5k into it at dealer prices. That's still only 10 cpm for the next 50k. I'll confess it was a less-economic decision than the emotional factor of the last kids driving the car they came home from hospital in!

You definitely can NOT trust car fax to catch all incidents, especially accidents.

[theWIFES_S70]

W I'll confess it was a less-economic decision than the emotional factor of the last kids driving the car they came home from hospital in!

This is such a sweet story! I'm trying to make sure at least one of my brother's kids gets to drive his V70! I was driving that Altima when my boy was born. (And he should not be driving that thing...) I'm trying to find him a P80 for him to really stretch out his legs in!