2001 V70 T5 vs 2004 V70 2.5T

[rntaboy]

I'm in the market for a nice turbo P2 V70, and am torn between two I'm looking at:

• 2001 V70 T5, ~$4500, 80,000 miles, salvage title after a driver's side collision that looks to have been fully repaired, cosmetically looks very clean
• 2004 V70 2.5T, ~$6500, 101,000 miles, clean title/1 previous owner, extremely clean

Obviously the salvage title on the 2001 T5 isn't ideal, but if everything has been repaired and it's been titled should this be a major concern? Also, I've read about the 2001 V70 automatic transmission issue, but I figured the $2000 price difference would largely cover that if it needs rebuilt/replaced in the future.
Is there anything I should be looking out for on either vehicle?
And assuming everything comes back normal on inspections, which one sounds like the better option for the long-term?

[jonesg]

Both are overdue for timing belt if it hasn't been done.
You want 2 keys.

[abscate]

Ditto on two keys. Fobs are $500 for these cars.

You have me right on the fence with those price points but I would fallonthe 2004 side if you forced me to choose.

[Faust]

Considering the age of the T5, it would probably "total" for rather short money. Very possibly just cosmetic. Think of it this way, just a paint job can easily run $3,000. If you have the VIN, I believe that there are sites on the web which will give you a little of the story. I'm looking pretty seriously at one of those myself (an '01 T5) but waiting to hear on an extremely low mileage Caddy STS. That speaks to me in a way I find difficult to understand (some will say it is speaking in the Klingon language)

[br0dy519]

I would never buy a car with a rebuilt title. And I wouldn't be okay with myself if I paid that much for a 2004 V70. Where's the neither option?

If I had to do it, it would be the 2004 though. It is considered the first year of acceptable P2's by many. I own two 2004, and although they are both constantly needing something, I haven't had to pull an engine or transmission yet. Knock on wood.

[abscate]

You can get a great DD with a salvage title car. Flippers won’t touch them due to the adverse market response ( this is also regionally dependent)

If you crunch a fender on one of my 1999s, it would be a total loss , and many states would then assign a salvage title.

It would take me one hour of labor to repair that

[Faust]

You can get a great DD with a salvage title car. Flippers won’t touch them due to the adverse market response ( this is also regionally dependent)

If you crunch a fender on one of my 1999s, it would be a total loss , and many states would then assign a salvage title.

It would take me one hour of labor to repair that

I would agree and note that it is unlikely that someone undertook work to repair a severely damaged '01. Repairs are not free, and the profit small. Still, expect an adverse response when you want to sell it. Assuming it was body damage, a close inspection of the paintwork should reveal the area damaged/repaired.