850/70 - car shopping - advice/opinions

[combatkarl]

If this post isn't MVS approved, feel free to delete.
I'm shopping for a car for my daughter who is living on her own about 80 miles from me. A max budget of $2000 (her money). Aside from the Asian cars with rusted bodies (Honda, Mazda), I've decided to include a couple of Volvos in the search. I haven't seen either but some quick opinions on them please.
850 GLT - No mileage listed. Runs and drives. Classified describes:

I have a running and driving car for sale. Over drive is acting up, but the other gears work fine. The car also have a throttle problem. You cant push the throttle over half way. The car does drive highway speed. I drove the car 40 minutes last time I drove it. Lots of features and some new parts. Clean car too and only one small spot of rust on the trunk. Very good tires. New fuel filter, tail light bulbs and new brakes (ceramic pads cross drilled and slotted brake rotors).

2000 V70

170,000 miles, NEW front brake calipers, rotors, and pads. New rear pads rotors and e brake. not even a year on the timing belt water pump seals and all. little over a year old on a life time rack and pinion. both sway bar links 6 months old. thin is a one oner car with all records. there is not one bit of rust on it. only issue is track control light stuck on flashing. I was told its the computer. ebay they are not bad in price.

Any thoughts on the overdrive that is acting up on the GLT? Throttle issue?

V70- what are common causes of the track control light flashing?
Thank you

[alschnertz]

The 850 sounds like a potential money pit. For a car that's only worth $1500 in decent condition, I wouldn't pay more than $100 and only if I was willing to do all the labor myself. Throttle only goes 1/2 way? Huh?

The V70 sounds like a wiser choice. To me, traction control is not a necessity.

[matthew1]

If this post isn't MVS approved, feel free to delete.

Don't be silly, that's what we're here for.

Volvo Buyer's Guide, if you haven't seen it, covers so many bases.

The 40 series Volvos aren't bad, and are newer than any P80. Cheap too.

[JRL]

C'mon man, you know traction control does not flash on a 2000, he means the up arrow and that can be a BIG potential problem/ Now if it's the ABS light, yes that's cheap to rebuild

[erikv11]

I sent you a PM.

[cn90]

For kids' car, I'd go for the 2000 V70, one owner car.
- Fix the ETM issue.
- Flashing light could be ? ABS Module, a $85 fix at bba-reman dot com. Or just leave it alone but you lose ABS and traction control.

[cn90]

Another issue when looking for ancient car is: always budget money for repair. These 15-20-year-old-150K-200K-mile cars can be (and will be) money pit, unless the P.O. poured it tons of effort and money already.

So, if the budget is $3000, then buy a $2000 car, leaving $1000 for repair.
Don't buy a $3000 car and have no money left for repair.
Just my 2 pennies...

[rspi]

C'mon man, you know traction control does not flash on a 2000, he means the up arrow and that can be a BIG potential problem/ Now if it's the ABS light, yes that's cheap to rebuild

^^^ This. The 2000+ cars have known transmission issues. Have the codes read before proceeding.

I'd look south. However, if you don't like wrenching, stay clear of these Volvo's.

[erikv11]

The V70 is listed for $800 and has been for sale for two weeks.

[cn90]

With the current dollars value, I am realizing that these "2000-dollar cars" are just a PITA to deal with, tons of issues that require money, time and effort to keep it running.

I understand different people have different budgets, but the $2K range is definitely in "poor-man land", no offense.

If you can magically raise the budget to $5K, you are in much better land (the 2004 and 2005 2.5T models with 90K miles). On the long run, you save money buying a $5K car.