Would you buy it?

[ZER0]

Seen an XC90 for sale.

Looks like it's in pretty decent condition. D5, 05 reg, 113k, 9 stamps in service book. Advertised at £6850 by a Volvo 'specialist' who have just done a full service including new cam belt & tensioners, oil, air & fuel filters and front discs & pads.

There are 60 photos of it on line, so it appears they're not trying to hide anything. I've asked about the AWD and been told it's working as it should.

It doesn't have any paper work though from any previous work done or money spent on it.

Would that put you off?

[EdmundIJones]

Wouldn't put me off at all, it's common for cars which go through auctions or through the trade to loose their paperwork.

Anyway, what good is a service history if you drive it for a week and find there is a problem, you're paying for a little piece of mind by having a service history. Use it in bargaining to get some money off and then use the money to get either a vehicle check done by an independent or keep it for if anything does go wrong. If nothing goes wrong then you have saved money, if it does then you saves some money to get it fixed.

It's like having a warranty, it will always cover things that go wrong apart from the one thing that does go wrong.

[Tannaton]

I buy cars without paperwork often. You need to either buy from a reputable dealer with a good warranty OR be able to properly assess the condition of the car yourself.

I've bought some absolute gems with little/no history and I've bought some snotters that had partial/full history. Just because the main dealer changed the oil doesn't mean the owner had all of the additional, recommended work done. What I find are good signs are things like four premium brand matching tyres, that all parts fitted are manufacturer originals (filters, battery, brake pads etc.)

In your case I would suggest asking the dealer to pay for a inspection by the local Volvo dealer or AA - if he's got nothing to hide then he's probably going to sell the car or have the report to show other purchasers.

[ZER0]

Thanks for the replies.

Another querie...I've been looking at some 05/55 reg ones with just over 100k miles for between £6k and £7k.

But just seen there is a 54 reg executive advertised at £7945 (I'll obviously knock them down as much as I could, especially as there's only one key!) but it's got 158,000 miles. It does have 12 months mot, full service, 2 owners, lovely interior including dvd, fridge, sub woofer etc and this is cut from the advert...

Car is fully running, drives and starts perfect, brakes are good (All rear Brakes new incl discs, pads and shoes), All Suspension is Good no knocks or Bangs (All Front Bushes New from Lemforder), Brand New (Not rebuilted but NEW) Automatic Gearbox and Angle Drive fitted in 2013, Cambelt changed on 100842 Miles, New Turbo fitted in 2011 year, All Brand NEW (Not rebuilted but NEW) fuel injectors are fitted in 2013 year!

Is it silly to spend more money one a car with 50000 more miles on it, even with those plus points? I've never owned a Volvo before, and always tried to buy a car with as little miles on it as I can. Normally around 75k.

[cheshired5]

The 54 plate executive sounds more like £5000 to me and even then, that kind of money for a 10 year old 150000 mile car makes me shudder.
Great, so it's had a new gearbox and turbo and injectors but the majority at that age haven't......nor have they needed to so it does make you wonder how it's been driven.
It was also 4000 miles late for it's cambelt and they've scrimped on wishbone bushes.
I guess they're hoping someone's going to be blinded by a couple of fitted extras because the asking price is a joke.

[Tannaton]

Originally Posted by ZER0

Thanks for the replies.

Another querie...I've been looking at some 05/55 reg ones with just over 100k miles for between £6k and £7k.

But just seen there is a 54 reg executive advertised at £7945 (I'll obviously knock them down as much as I could, especially as there's only one key!) but it's got 158,000 miles. It does have 12 months mot, full service, 2 owners, lovely interior including dvd, fridge, sub woofer etc and this is cut from the advert...

Car is fully running, drives and starts perfect, brakes are good (All rear Brakes new incl discs, pads and shoes), All Suspension is Good no knocks or Bangs (All Front Bushes New from Lemforder), Brand New (Not rebuilted but NEW) Automatic Gearbox and Angle Drive fitted in 2013, Cambelt changed on 100842 Miles, New Turbo fitted in 2011 year, All Brand NEW (Not rebuilted but NEW) fuel injectors are fitted in 2013 year!

Is it silly to spend more money one a car with 50000 more miles on it, even with those plus points? I've never owned a Volvo before, and always tried to buy a car with as little miles on it as I can. Normally around 75k.

It's good that it has had a new box and injectors and lots of money spent on it but I doubt that makes any real difference to it's value - it's still a 10 year old car with 160k on it. As t'other bloke said they can be common problems but to have all three go? What have they been doing with it? It's easy to spend a lot of money on a car, especially like an XC90, but it is very hard to increase it's trade value.

Or to put it another way - if you were 20 again would you prefer to go out with another 20 year old or a 35 year old who has had a nip and tuck, botox, boob job and new teeth?

[bobdabuilda]

Originally Posted by Tannaton

Or to put it another way - if you were 20 again would you prefer to go out with another 20 year old or a 35 year old who has had a nip and tuck, botox, boob job and new teeth?

Love it! The 30 yr old would win on experience alone though..... not sure what shes been doing to get all that work done unless shes Katie Price!

[A lex]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

they've scrimped on wishbone bushes.

Just to point out; Lemforder are OE (or even OE+) quality, and are certainly not 'scrimped' items.

[cheshired5]

Originally Posted by A lex

Just to point out; Lemforder are OE (or even OE+) quality, and are certainly not 'scrimped' items.

Lemforder is a quality brand and I have a few bits on my S60 which I'm very pleased with but fitting anything other than genuine wishbone components on something as heavy as an XC90 is scrimping in my opinion.

[A lex]

Originally Posted by cheshired5

Lemforder is a quality brand and I have a few bits on my S60 which I'm very pleased with but fitting anything other than genuine wishbone components on something as heavy as an XC90 is scrimping in my opinion.

Agree in principle, with the exception of a few brands such as Lemforder, IPD or Meyle HD.

They are as good (or better, Meyle HD for droplinks for example) than OE equipment.

Im not sure who Volvo buy from for the original wishbones, but I wouldnt be surprised if it was Lemforder.

Bearings for example (another item which must not be scrimped) are supplied by SKF to Volvo at the factory.