Test drove a S70 T-5 1998 5 Speed, looking for your thoughts

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 03 Feb 2010, 12:30

Search for Vickie (Vivienne's sister) continues.......Just got a voicemail, offer of $1700 was accepted for the S70 T5 5 Speed. Still on the fence, I need a car that will run for a while and not break my heart. I might take a second look, we'll see. After consideration I think I'd need to be in $1500 territory for this one.

Looking at an S70 auto with 165K today. He's got some maintenance receipts so thats encouraging.

Post by **wheelsup** » 03 Feb 2010, 16:54

225k is a lot of miles. That being said with it being a 5 speed the tranny isn't much of an issue (clutch kits tend to be fairly cheap). I would do a compression test on the engine to see what the results are. If the engine is in good health I would consider buying it. $200 really isn't much in the long run to be splitting hairs.

That being said I would be cautious paying that much for the car personally what with all that is wrong with it. I just bought a non-running '95 for $250 + cost to tow and title, which added around $250 onto that. And it had 150k miles (75k less than yours) and was overall in decent shape. Fixing EVERYTHING that is wrong with it including another engine will put me in the $1500 range and that is just where you are starting from...

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 03 Feb 2010, 17:08

Yea, it was the top-end tick noise that developed after I drove it that really put me off. It was really loud.

Basically the car was fixed up after the previous owner drove it until the balljoints broke

. The guy I've been speaking with has been very forthcoming. He's worked out a deal to fix it up and sell it for the previous owner who's strapped for cash and make a little for himself. Problem is that it's evident that it hasn't been cared for by the last owner. I need something that's gonna hold together without major for work at least three months, I'm not sure this is the right car. Much as I like the 5speed+T5 combo. I may take a second look at it if I don't find something else.

On the other hand, a '96 850 Sport GLX Wagon (Is this a T5?) has popped up for $1800. Timing belt and other stuff done, 185K miles. Might be a runner if its in good condition.

Post by **wheelsup** » 03 Feb 2010, 17:51

I don't know what the GLX trim level dictates, I have GLT Wagon though. GLT IIRC has stuff like leather, heated seats, wood trim dash, etc.

A '96 GLT won't be a turbo.

Mine ticks quite a bit when it has been driven for hours, not sure why. I don't worry about it.

Actually I just realized my parts car is a GLT and it doesn't have a wood dash. OK I really don't know what GLT stands for except to say on the 96's I don't believe it was a turbo.

Post by **wheelsup** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:02

Oh and get rid of that VW ASAP! They are such POS!! Plus you have the 1.8T too. Man I feel for you. 104k miles and it's a project car...

You might consider an older Toyota they tend to be really good (better actually in terms of reliability and parts breakage) as well, and are easy enough to work on. Although not sure about rust issues. I know my Volvo spent 8 of its first 15 years driven daily in the snow of NH and doesn't have a single speck of rust on the frame that I can see. Contrast that with a Toyota or Honda....

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:16

GLX? There is no such thing. At least in the US. I'm guessing the poster meant GLT? In that case, a '96 model is just a loaded N/A engine model. Worth a look though if it's in good shape!

Hondas are crap in snow, I've spent the last 2 months driving a 2007 Accord through the snow we keep getting dumped on us here, and it struggles to even get out of a parking space, let alone uphill. It's a good car, but the blasted engine weighs about 3 pounds and there is NO traction. I miss my Volvo

However, http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/c ... 49118.html if you're still set on a Turbo, that one's nice-looking at least.

Post by **jblackburn** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:29

Toyotas do this if kept up north

Which is a shame, because the little Tacomas & older models are darn good trucks.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:31

Booo to N/A! Toyota's are sturdy and all, but a bit bland. I'm not averse to wrenching, I just need to be able to avoid any major or ongoing work for a couple of months. On the wagon for sale, maybe with GLX he was thinking VW trim?!?. Sport is N/A then? Meh, thats a shame.

I have that black S70 on my shortlist for the weekend if I dont get something before then. Its a bit of a distance from where I live.

On the VW 1.8T, IME they are sturdy, but they need to be cared for. I bought this neglected example three years ago as a fixerupper and I've been playing catchup ever since. Head is now cracked in two places (Extremely uncommon). It needs other stuff too so I decided to take it off the road, give it the attention it needs and sell it in springtime. Admittedly VW's quality hasnt been the same since accountants called the shots rather than engineers.

Post by **wheelsup** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:36

jablackburn wrote:GLX? There is no such thing. At least in the US. I'm guessing the poster meant GLT? In that case, a '96 model is just a loaded N/A engine model. Worth a look though if it's in good shape!

Hondas are crap in snow, I've spent the last 2 months driving a 2007 Accord through the snow we keep getting dumped on us here, and it struggles to even get out of a parking space, let alone uphill. It's a good car, but the blasted engine weighs about 3 pounds and there is NO traction. I miss my Volvo

However, http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/csw/c ... 49118.html if you're still set on a Turbo, that one's nice-looking at least.

I drove my wife's Jetta in the snow we got here and then drove my 850. Both are FWD cars, both have ABS. I felt like the VW was literally on ice skates where as my Volvo was rock solid in all aspects. I know VW's /= Hondas but Volvos are excellent in the snow and ice, that I agree with.

Post by **boosted5cyl** » 03 Feb 2010, 18:47

To be honest, the Taurus we had completely owns the Volvo in the snow. That car was amazing, it would regularly leave 4x4s standing at the lights in the snow. Its all about the tires though. Taurus had some pretty skinny, high profile tire, plus I would pump them up to 50PSI in snow. Just put a set of 205/55/16 Firestone Firehawks on the V70 but you can tell by looking at the tread pattern they are at a disadvantage in the snow.