1994 855T Going Up for Sale after 28 Years

[rsmigel]

So this past weekend Wifey and I replaced the PVC system on our (her) two owner beige wagon and after the job decided to sell the car and finally purchase something with modern safety features. I'm writing this now to memorialize all I've recently done to the car and prepare the 'For Sale' ad. Besides two transmission rebuilds and one trip to the dealer to replace an ABS module when I was out of the country, I've done all the work myself. We're trying to figure out the best way to sell it and we're leaning towards Ebay to get the broadest audience.

We purchased the car in the summer of 1995 out of Atlanta with 17K miles. It has spent all it's life garaged in South Carolina and has never seen a salty road. I've kept all the receipts since I've owed it except for older tires and batteries that were subsequently replaced.

We made the tough decision when our transmission shop located and bought that last known OEM transmission pump in the country. Parts are obviously getting more difficult to find every year. This car is a daily driver and we can’t afford excessive downtime looking for parts.

Facts: the 'good:'

- 205K miles being driven ~5K miles/year now. Odometer reads 190K due to broken/replaced speedo gear.
- Oil changed with Mobil-1 synthetic every 5k since purchased
- No check engine lights, or any other dash warning lights (see below)
- New oil filler cap gasket (October 2023)
- New OEM Volvo spark plugs, wires, cap and rotor (October 2023)
- Four wheel alignment (October 2023)
- New PVC system, cleaned PTC & EGR (September 2023)
- Rebuilt transmission w/3yr, 36K warranty (September 2023)
- New NAPA front struts, springs (September 2023)
- Rebuilt/cleaned PNP transmission switch. (September 2023)
- New IPD front axles (Summer 2023)
- New OEM Timing belt (Summer 2023); Tensioner and water pump were replaced ~7 years ago
- New OEM Serpentine belt (Summer 2023)
- New NAPA lower control arms (Summer 2023)
- New OEM shift knob (Summer 2023)
- New OEM radiator hoses, thermostat, 2x 7mm thermostat (hex) bolts and coolant flush (Spring 2023)
- New bluetooth Kenwood receiver with Alexa and hands-free phone (Winter 2023); all speakers work fine
- New rear, lower engine mount (Fall 2022)
- Brake fluid flush (2022); front brakes 50% life, rear brakes 75% life; no issues
- Replaced knock sensors with OEM (2022)
- New Interstate gel battery (~2 years ago @ $225)
- 2x new front wiper arms and 3x hi-end Rain-ex wiper blades (~2 years ago)
- Rebuilt Horn (~5 years ago)
- Replaced Turn Signal switch (-5 years ago)
- Tires are Michelin branded with 50% tread remaining (~5 years ago)
- Replaced blower fan and controller (~5 years ago)
- New Accel coil (~5 years ago)
- New IPD TVC Turbo Controller (~5 years ago)
- Replaced fuel pump and filter (~7 years ago)
- Replaced all vacuum hoses with blue silicone hoses (~7 years ago)
- Replaced rear shocks (~7 years ago)
- Resoldered ABS contact in module at rear of engine bay (~ 10 years ago)
- Replaced both oxygen sensors (~10 years ago)
- Replaced camshaft sensor (~10 years ago)
- Windshield replaced, no cracks, just ‘sparkly.’ (~10 years ago)
- Replaced broken small white speedo gear; lost 15K miles on odometer (~10 years ago)
- Replaced coil with Accel unit due to high cost of OEM unit (~10 years ago)
- Replaced radiator (~15 years ago)
- Replaced ABS module (~15 years ago)
- Replaced turbo oil return line gasket and seal many times
- Airbags never blown
- No dents anywhere along either side of the car. (really)
- All power windows, mirrors work as they should
- All HVAC controls work as they should; cold A/C
- Turbo will push 50-75% into the turbo range looking at the dash gage.
- No oil or transmission leaks
- No curb rash on any of the turbo style rims.
- Interior in good condition. Driver's side leather seats show many cracks but no leather splits.
- Exterior has been washed and waxed regularly. Car looks excellent!
- Never replaced and still working fine: Starter, Alternator, Catalytic converter and exhaust system

Facts: the 'bad:'

- Car has a salvage title due to a parking lot accident ~5 years ago where the right rear door was crushed by someone backing out and not seeing me. The subsequent door replacement and right side paint job cost more than 75% of the book value so the state of SC automatically issues a salvage title. There was some damage to the rear of the right front door that was repaired in a very professional manner but a sharp eye can see it.
- Car was in an accident twenty years ago where the driver's mirror, front left fender, headlight and hood were hit and repaired to a high standard. I see it now only because the clear coat is flaking off the mirror in some areas.
- The rear tailgate squeaks a little even after being rebuilt with the kit commonly sold to quiet it down.
- The SRS light comes on every few months telling me that there's a short between the driver's seat belt tensioner and ground. It's been doing this now for 2-3 years but has been off for months.
- There appears to be a small leak starting in the radiator as I'll see a few drops of coolant every few days in a month. Some weeks I see no leakage. This has been ongoing for the past year and probably lost a quarter of a cup the entire time.
- I've not operated the sunroof in 10 years since the headliner on the sunroof panel has failed and binds going back. The sunroof worked fine prior. Headliner at front of vehicle under visors is failing. Most of the other headliner is intact.
- Many of the small lights illuminating the HVAC and transmission selector have burned out.
- The rubber on the Roof to bodyside seal on both sides is beginning to separate. Fortunately, the core metal is stainless steel.
- Gas tank leaks a little fuel when filled to the very top; the fuel pump sealing ring did not properly seat when I replaced the fuel pump even after many attempts to re-seat it. So I fill to one gallon under full.

What's this old car worth? How best to sell it?

[850 LPT]

Right here is the best way to sell it, because chances are that it ends up in the hands of someone who knows these cars and appreciates them.
If you can, post some high res. photos. Without them it is really hard to evaluate.

Dirk

[BlackBart]

I'll be listening, because I've had my '94 for a bit over 20 years and I don't need it anymore.

[scot850]

Yes, and I only wish I could justify the expense of moving it north!

Neil.

[rsmigel]

Top Image is from 2019 after a car wash. Since that time the only difference is a small paint scrape on the lower front bumper that you can see in a subsequent pic. All other images I took 08Oct2023.

















Very soft dent here that could be easily repaired via Paintless dent repair. This is the only dent on the car.

[rsmigel]

A few more pics posted from yesterday. To anyone interested I’m willing to drive the car half way up to 250 miles to complete a sale.

What’s it worth to you?

[FireFox31]

You could always try to post it on Cars and Bids. I think they have to accept it. People there might love it because it's well maintained with documentation, had a long time with one owner, and looks good (don't let them bug you about the seats; we know they're lovely). After fees and such, it might not get you too much, but it would likely be bought by someone who really wants it (instead of Craigslist / Facebook / eBay where it might to someone wanting to drive it into the ground).

Maybe you have a local Volvo Facebook group where, like this site, people who appreciate the car would buy it.

I'm not sure the price though with all that recent work. Since I'm doing a similar thing (dumping tons of money into an old Volvo with plans to sell it), I'll guess the rough asking price of $4000. "It's ready for the next five years and the car will run forever" could be your pitch, like it will be mine. You'll probably be lucky to get $2000 for it, but you can try for more. There are few people who appreciate how good these cars really are.

[rsmigel]

Thx for the tip. I’ll look into that auction site.

After its weekly wash:



New Kenwood Excelon DPX395MBT; hands free Bluetooth audio & phone

[rsmigel]

You could always try to post it on Cars and Bids. I think they have to accept it.

I tried Cars and Bids. They would not accept the auction because of the salvage title. I thought the condition and long maintenance record would compensate but it did not.

The car is now up for auction on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/126539073429