bidding/buying xc90

[mumblin]

Hi folks,

Am currently looking to buy an XC90 and have viewed a few examples from trade.
I just thought I should warn anyone bidding on these cars without having viewed them, that the photos are almost never representative, and some unscrupulous sellers don't care enough that you took the time to travel and have a look.

I'm not sure if its against posting policy to name and shame so to speak, however the 2 cars that have been absolutely shocking were both from trade:

1. 06 Mauve/purple on Fleabay - selling from Windsor - auction ending today 20th June.
This car is incredibly tatty - and it does not come through in the photos.
The leather is in poor condition, with some sections just outright torn.
The exterior has many "age related" marks... more than you'd expect

2. 55 black on autotrader - Selling from Surrey
Interior is mostly clean, with some items need attention (gaiter etc...)
He doesnt tell you its a Cat C, the repair work is shoddy with the ns wing ready to fall off if you pull at it..
he also doesnt tell you the airbag warning light is on....
Engine was far too smokey for a 49k car...
The list goes on..

Anyway my advice would be to not get carried away with an apparent steal, because if it's too good to be true, it often is.

[Piotrus]

Hi,

Thanks a lot for the warning. I am myself looking for xc90 and there are very cunning adds.
I have checked one form gumtree and it has got outstanding finance on the car.

Sometimes I think, to give up and get one from main dealer.

What do you think about the D5 Active manual?

[mumblin]

tbh the stealers arent a bad idea if you're looking at the newer cars, especially as the 2012 XCs are super cheap.. atm.

I'm a pauper however and am budgeting this side of 10k

and sadly missus won't drive a manual

[keithC70]

I bought mine from auction a few months ago.

In doing so I realise that there are likely to be things needing attention but what impressed me was that it had one owner and full Volvo service history. Of course the price was right as well!

It was supplied and serviced by Harratts in Sheffield.

At 104k when I bought it, I discovered it hadn't had the cambelt changed, and the brakes were binding, despite the owner having spent £1250 with them only one month before selling, to get the brakes right to pass the MOT. I had to rebuild one of the rear calipers.

So much for main dealer care!

So I think you need to be careful wherever you buy. I once sold a car on which the purchaser had an Rac inspection done and they were very thorough. So if you feel at all uncertain about a car, that might be a good check.

If the purple one is where I think, he used to trade under neil687 or something like that and his feedback score grew very low and so now he's trading under fairdeal.

[mumblin]

oh aye, if you're prepared for it, you can get a decent example....

yep its the same one - it just ended at 7.4...
Once the winner sees the car...I suspect it will be "relisted due to timewaster..." - I love that !!