S80 D5 auto 2003/53 132k miles
 

For sale is my late brother's S80 D5 auto, registered October 2003. 132k miles. It's a very light metallic green (looks silver to me) with a cream leather interior. MOT January 2024 no advisories. My brother's car since 2019, Fourteen service stamps (mainly MD and specialist up to 105k in 2017. Two keys, towbar not used by my brother. My brother liked to buy older bomb proof cars and then keep them as long as he could; he did service his cars but I have not been able to find his records or receipts. I know that he changed the cambelt and w/pump in 2021 but I have no proof. Very good tyres, rears Michelin, fronts are brand new Falken. It's in pretty good condition for 20 years old but far from perfect. I have driven it over 100 miles to my house (in Gloucestershire) and it drives well and everything seems to work inc the a/c. There is a scuff on the osf bumper, small dent on the rear passenger door at the bottom, the driver door arm rest has come adrift slightly but still functions ok. What is it worth? £1,650?

No interest in the car so far; is there anyone with knowledge of the used car market able to give guidance of what a sensible value to sell this car? I need to get the best price I can for my sister in law but at the same time being sensible about the time to sell it.
It is not a "desparate" sale but given the circumstances it does need to be sold rather than sit on my driveway; I know from experience that not using cars is not good for them.

Firstly, I'm sorry to hear about your loss. Trying to sell a car under these circumstances is not much fun.

As for the S80, it's a tricky one. The thing is that on here everyone already owns an older Volvo, so the market is limited.

From the recent experience of selling my (even older) S90 - with a similar mileage and provenance - I found that it sold for a reasonably good price via Gumtree.

I did a clear and honest advert, washed the car and cleaned out the interior, picked a sunny day and took some good photos, and put a sensible asking price, roughly the same as you're thinking. At that level, a car is worth what someone will pay, but I think somewhere between £1500 and £1800 isn't crazy, especially as it has an MOT.

Arguably a full 12-month ticket would up the price, but then you'd have the hassle of what to do if it should not pass a new MOT for any reason, and it could then be effectively worthless.

As for my old S90, over the course of a week I got a few enquiries, and the car sold to the first chap who came to see it. He actually ended up paying slightly more than the asking price because I didn't have a £5 note in change!

I was strongly advised by a friendly motor trader against using Ebay, so I can't say whether or not that'd be a good route, but I can say that Gumtree worked for me - and it's free, whereas Ebay isn't.

The alternative is something like WeBuyAnyCar or similar, but they will offer you absolute peanuts.

A trader is unlikely to want it because of its age, but a private buyer in need of a car at a low price would definitely be interested.

I'd say it's definitely worth a go on Gumtree.

Good luck

Jack

Thank you Jack. Indeed not much fun especially as he was only 62.
I have listed it on ebay already but will give gumtree a go as well.

Well it has to go, now reduced to £1,400. Will keep reducing it every few days until it goes.

Heck, 62 is no age. My condolences.

But do try Gumtree, and give it a week. I found that once it got noticed the views started to mount, and in the end I got several serious enquiries. But it did take a week to gain some traction and start producing enquiries.

Good luck.

Jack

Just reduced to £1,275; seems like a lot of car for the money. The four newish tyres came to more than £400. Oh well.

Somewhat off topic but I do struggle to grasp why in this day and age people can apparently find money for a Barista (coffee) machine for the home at a £1000.00 and a new Dyson vacuum cleaner at £700.00 (Currys), but what appears to be a sound, well made example of a means of transport in the form of a complex machine is practically a throw away item of little end value.

I guess if it could make coffee and clean the floor, it might be worth £1700.00 ? Or perhaps it's because you can't offer credit ?

I would much prefer to arrive home to a clean floor and a nice cup of coffee after stepping off the bus and walking through our balmy, precipitous UK winter weather, than step out and onto my doorstep without such joys.

Must be something to do with the cost of living crisis and everyone allegedly moaning about the cost of everything and being short of money ???:icon_smile_lachuh:

PS, good luck with the sale !!

Edit; I have now seen your ebay listing. Yes it has some cosmetic issues but that's the best 163 engine with a lovely light interior. These days though I guess it just doesn't stack up against a £1275.00 e-scooter:regular_smile:

Indeed. It does look good value to me and if I did not already have a low mileage Mercedes and BMW estates of the same "unburstable" early 2000s generation then I would be keeping it.

And just to add...there was always a bit of banter with my brother about cars; he liked his Volvos and I have had mercedes and bmws for ages - I have to say looking around the Volvo it looks like they were designed with maintenance in mind much more than the German cars are. And the other impressive thing is the lack of any corrosion.