15 replies to this topic

[Blueleezard]

sanfelice, on Nov 29 2010, 12:00 PM, said:

I'm looking at a 2004 (MT) with.. wait for it... 175k miles on the clock! Price is an issue but the test drive was fun :-) and got me hooked. Now, I can't stop thinking about it.

However, I smelled something funny when I exited the car and now I'm thinking it may be the bevel gear or clutch slave leaking, given what I have read on this board. The smell was a bit funky but not really like burning oil, more like something rubbing, maybe even rubber.

I'm torn over what to do. I can probably get the car for about $8500 but don't want to sink $3000 into it to replace this item.

Sanfelice: it's great that you've been bitten by the bug -- but those are high miles. Up here in Canada, we tend to think in kilometers (KM) -- and what you're looking at works out to have 280,000KM!! In all seriousness, that is quite a bit -- even if it is the case that some happy Volvo owners have (older) and very dependable rigs with very high miles!

Personally, I would seriously ask myself if an R that has been driven on average at least 30,000 miles (50,000KM) per year (which is about 2X the national average in the US as well as Canada, as I understand it) could really be all right. Granted, the previous owner could have been a little old lady who only drove it to church on Sundays (but she must have lived a long way from church, or else she got lost a lot! Does this R have navigation? ).

Seriously, see if the rational side of your brain can keep the "passion of 'R'" held off to the side for just a little while. Then, after some serious second thought, if you still want to drop your hard-earned money on what you've found, I recommend that you have an independent mechanical inspection done immediately by somebody who really knows what they're doing, and who you can trust -- honest, reputable, experienced, etc. The dollar cost will be well worth it. That should tell you right away whether there is something wrong that needs serious attention. And you will find out about the smell.

But the most important thing is: don't forget that even if they don't turn up every day, there are other fish in the sea. For example, after searching for a good number of years (and learning as much as I could about the R), just about three weeks ago I finally found and bought a 2004 V70R 6-speed manual (with much lower mileage), and at a great price. It was well worth waiting for. It's beautiful, and of course I fell in love with this particular R right away -- but I would not have purchased it if the independent mechanical inspection had found anything that was a serious problem. In my case, the inspection came back clear, 100% positive (except for one potential cautionary flag, something to monitor, not yet serious).

I don't mean to sound too paternalistic, but ... maybe it's worth your $8500 to wait for a bit, and keep on looking? Those are my two bits' worth ...

Cheers / Blueleezard

[glenn]

I wouldn't touch a high mileage R unless you can do much of your own repairs. There is no good manual for the car, they aren't that common, and the parts are overpriced. If you have space and $, do what I did: buy a real sports car as a toy/project and keep a daily driver.

[Rrated]

My 06 VR had 108 on the clock trade in @ Audi dealer in Mendham New Jersey I bought it for wholesale . The book was stamped from the car having 7K all the way to 105K from a Volvo dealer in New Jersey RED BANK VOLVO . So farI have done tbelt water pump rollers etc and CBV and charge hose. Car runs great and it has suprised most of my friends with the performance this car has and they own BUILT S4's M3's etc. I am a Volvo tech so the part prices I can live with. If I have the chance to buy another higher mileage R @ wholesale I would do it in a minute!!

Edited by Rrated, 08 December 2010 - 01:50 AM.

[PHOTON]

I just bought a 04R with 96k, the interior is mint and the body is extremely clean with only a couple of small door dings. Mech. it needs struts and front pads but I knew this at purchase time, of course I wanted to pay less than I did but I really needed a car and wanted the R. It really is a beautiful car, rides and handles to my liking. I am sure it will be expensive to maintain but am used to it as I owned a 97 850R. I try to do as much work myself to try and supplement the cost of expensive parts, of course when I have the time to work on her. Over all I am happy with her, I think any used car is a big risk especially if you are dropping 10k. My appoligies for the poor spelling.

Mike

[marshcat]

Perspective is everything...I consider 100k to be low mileage. My '98 V70 has 210,000 on it right now and still feels tight. If you do your own work your probably better off taking the discount that a higher mileage car brings.

A t-belt kit is only ~$100 @fcpgroton, for example.

[Pyrat]

First, the pay to play axiom is in place here - somewhat. I've got a '07GT with 119K on it - of course have done the timing belt, brakes, and had an odd run with the wheel bearings (lost 3 in the space of 2 months, and the parts I have had to purchase were a bit more than a toyota celica...but:

1) You wouldn't know my car from new - interior is perfect, exterior (exception of lower front end) is awesome.. This car rocks!

2) I just gave up my '91 940 turbo - with 330K miles on it. Never had a service call over $1K, the car never let me down. Same car that drove my kids home from the hospital took them to HS graduation. I don't hear many Audi owners claiming that.

3) So far, so good with the new (07) one. No service calls over $1K, it's never let me down. Tires are expensive, but everything has held together well, and it is as fun to drive as the very first day.

4) Anyone that wants to drop off their 100K R around here - I'm interested.