Buying / owning a classic estate

[andij]

Hi everyone 👋

I'm looking to buy a classic estate, (probably mid to late 90's) with a budget of about £2500.

I've been searching in the South and have seen a few online (I'm in Woking, Surrey.)

I have a basic knowledge of maintenance / servicing / upkeep etc. and I'm happy to crawl under the car with a spanner.

My preference is for a dark colour with black leather with a high trim spec. (But not too precious really.)

I'd really like to find a car that has no surprises waiting for me in the first few thousand miles.

If I may, I'd like to share some details related to the cars I find to see if there are any red-flags or things to looks out for.

There is lots of great information in this forum and I've tried to acquire some knowledge online (e.g. Volvo club buyers guide) to help guide my decision but would appreciate input from the experts and enthusiasts here.

There's already some great advice I've found in this thread: https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=327371