Is a P80 "overvaluation" a good thing?

[theWIFES_S70]

I scour the local New York City Craigslist ads in the hopes of finding the deal of the century. (I overspent for our S70 by at least $200, so I hope to recover that money on a deal that simply can't be passed up!) I have still to have any luck. From what I can gather, from both the personal experience buying parts and from reading about what goes wrong on our cars, I don't think you should spend more than $500-$1500 on most 20-yr-old cars. In particular because you have to budget at least a $1K of repair/maintenance items over the course of that first year Of course, there are the collector's items, the Platinums, T5s, RS, Turbos, and other beautifully maintained P80s. So yes, there are exceptions to this rule, but if you're willing to spend the extra money, chances are you'll be OK with the incidentals. And I would imagine that any owner of those P80s would know better than to stick a $5 Karyln inner tie rod in their car....

In regards to the various N/As in the 850 series, does a vehicle that is priced high represent a better value than one that is priced more reasonably? How do you go about judging the owner's perceived value of his/her car? Or does that higher price simply reflect an owner trying to make back the money invested in the car? (Here in NYC, a rear brakes and an axle job will run you $1000...Maybe $1200.) What has been your experience?

Here are two examples:

1996 850 with 115K on the clock, priced at a whopping $2995. (Owner just reduced the price to much more reasonable $1995!) It's in great shape. And from the pictures, looks like the owner spent "dearly" at a shop for the repairs listed.
https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/cto/6072762013.html

1996 850 with 180k on the clock, priced at a more reasonable $1350. Owner seems to know about Volvos. Wording makes me trust him... Though, I'd still be curious about the timing belt. It's far too tempting to throw in a $60 timing belt kit in there if you're selling the car...
https://newyork.craigslist.org/stn/cto/6049413259.html

[abscate]

I almost unloaded my 99 for $1500 a few years back but the buyer blew it. He really wanted a stick and I had no clue how rare they are. In between his last offer and no sale my LocalVolvo guy offered me $4000, so I sent him a " no thanks" That's precipitated a feeble legal attempt to force me to sell at my ask, which was amusing.

I'm pounding it this summer and then she goes back to college for two more years ...after that it might be time...

[theWIFES_S70]

I need to hear this story about this "legal attempt."

The only 99 stick around here on CL is that mint condition one that broke a timing belt about a month ago...

[abscate]

He was a young guy who wanted my car but blew the negotiation with his tells. If he handed me 1500 in cash he would have had it, but wanted to chisel off $50 for wipers, $100 seat leather tear, etc.....and early on told me if he went back to the ask I had to sell by law. Whatever. At that point, all the buying signs were like billboards so I dropped the kids at school, drove to a local Volvo place, and had a huge offer from the guy, and cancelled the deal. I got a registered letter from the poor schmuck about ' intent to sue' but ignored it of course, and his number was on my ignore list.

I decided to refurb and here I am at 200,000 miles