Opinion on a Craigslist find

Post by **benpineapple** » 19 Apr 2018, 06:11

Hello! So, I am currently in the market for a new Volvo. My beloved V70 of 4 years died this week (can't go into details, pending insurance claim plus other pending things), I haven't processed it all, but I definitely need to start car shopping.

https://grandrapids.craigslist.org/cto/ ... 91220.html

Spotted this on CL, was hoping to get your take on it? I don't know a ton about the XC90s. The hard shifting in corners issue is odd, especially if owner says they don't know how to check the fluid level. But I have heard that sometimes a software update can fix hard/long shift issues in this generation.

Thanks for the help!

Post by **oragex** » 19 Apr 2018, 07:02

"may be Low on fluid not sure how to check it"
"Selling this for a friend"

Never heard of a transmission shifting hard around the corners, so the issue can be harder to find than it may appear. Electrical? Speed sensor? Yaw sensor? Maybe a wiring problem to the valve body.

But just by the description lines I would forget about it. Just the 'selling it for a friend' it's an instant red flag. Bet the 'friend' just left the country and has no maintenance papers for it.

These V8 may have been abused by a second-third owner. What's more, this larger engines can be quite expensive to maintain (such as replacing a pulley on the belt, because the space is tight).

As for purchasing an XC90 I'd try to read on various Volvo forums about the various issues and expenses on these vehicles, so as to get a realistic picture of what to expect. Nothing is better than reading through posts with problems.

Mattbchillin · Post by **Mattbchillin** » 19 Apr 2018, 09:08

Don't make the mistake I made and get it checked out by Volvo before purchase IF you can. I know its money upfront but to be assured your vehicle is safe and has a clean bill of health is worth the hassle.

Post by **tryingbe** » 19 Apr 2018, 09:22

oragex wrote: ↑19 Apr 2018, 07:02 "may be Low on fluid not sure how to check it"
"Selling this for a friend"

Never heard of a transmission shifting hard around the corners, so the issue can be harder to find than it may appear. Electrical? Speed sensor? Yaw sensor? Maybe a wiring problem to the valve body.

But just by the description lines I would forget about it. Just the 'selling it for a friend' it's an instant red flag. Bet the 'friend' just left the country and has no maintenance papers for it.

These V8 may have been abused by a second-third owner. What's more, this larger engines can be quite expensive to maintain (such as replacing a pulley on the belt, because the space is tight).

As for purchasing an XC90 I'd try to read on various Volvo forums about the various issues and expenses on these vehicles, so as to get a realistic picture of what to expect. Nothing is better than reading through posts with problems.

This.

may be Low on fluid not sure how to check it on

It needs a transmission change because the transmission fluid was never changed in the last 172k.

Selling this for a friend .

No documentation, no maintenance, title sign by someone else, if they have title at all, could be a fake title, zero accountability on the seller part, and etc.

Walk away.

Post by **kallekula** » 19 Apr 2018, 13:07

Nice Looking car but the tranny issue... I would also walk away.

Post by **benpineapple** » 20 Apr 2018, 14:32

Thanks all for the input, you were right, pretty sketchy situation all around. Walking away!

Post by **FLXC90** » 26 Apr 2018, 02:29

Sorry to hear about the partial Viking Burial (off to Valhalla) If you are going to look at XC90s, the 2.5Ts seem to have been very robust. First Year V8s like this one had an issue with water intrusion on a bearing in the front of the motor. 3.2s like 2.5s. Early T-6s everyone knows about! The 40 series AWD sounds Good.

Good Luck

Post by **abscate** » 09 May 2018, 12:36

Selling for friend is also code for a flip - title is in someone else's name so they don't have to pay tax and retitling and just mark it up.