1997 850 T5 Wagon - $4000 - Does this Sound Fair?

[coodoo99]

Hi All,

I am looking strongly at the following 1997 850 T5 Wagon with 119K on the odo.

- It's having the head remilled, and valves inspected. A certified volvo shop is doing the work.
- no rips in leather
- the last 7-years maintenance records (lost of small fixes including, routine oil changes, brakes, outside CV boots, forward O2 sensor)
- The head rebuild will put a new h20 pump, timing belt, pulley, and oil collection canister.
- tires are newer
- third row seat
- roof rack + 1.25" hitch (used for bike rack)
- brakes in good shape
- clean title and body and glass is a 8/10 and 9/10 (respectively) state.

I see the head milling and fresh parts a huge bonus and the T5 is tough to find used in the area. The shop doing the work is a volvo-only shop and I'm going to ask for a 10K mile warranty on the head work components.

What's your thoughts on the price for the car? Should I be looking at a V70 model that is a few years newer?

I'm plan to drive the car prior to purchase when they have the vehicle re-assembled next week.

Thanks in advance. PR

[rspi]

I don't think it would be a bad buy. Are they going to replace the valve stem seals in the head?

These cars have a lot of issues due to age. Make sure you check it over. I just did a head on a car 2 weeks ago and the motor failed a week later so I had to replace the motor since.

[abscate]

There is enough sales data in the Cars for sale forum to give you some idea on the price.

It is a lot for a car that up you can evaluate with a test drive right now, so make any offer contingent on that.

PCV should be new, timing belt tensioner and idler new as part of water pump job. Assume nothing!

[timmybdaddyof3]

in my mind that is top dollar...(that does not mean bad)

With the work you described I would expect all of the "soft parts" under the hood to have been replaced, but I would confirm this.

If it is being sold by an individual, and the shop doing the head work has maintained it, get their opinion on "what future maintenance it might need" (not "whats wrong with it" - a good shop won't bash a current clients car, but will usually be honest about possible future sales opportunities)
If its being sold by the shop, 1. their assessment will probably be a little biased, and 2. unless it belonged to the shop owner, there is probably room to move on the price (think mechanics lien - and if thats the case try to find out the back story).

Side note- why is it in for the head work? 119k seems a little young with 7 years of good maintenance history short of a catastrophic failure (massive overheat, etc)