850 T5 CD Estate Auto

[convergent]

1995 (N) 850 T5 CD Estate Auto

The time has come to sell the car which has exceeded the requirements I set when looking for a car two years ago following my redundancy. A new job and company car (boring) means that the T5 (fun) must go.

In the 2 years I have owned the car, it has covered just under 33,000 miles and the odometer currently stands at 114,000. When I bought the car it had a full main volvo dealer service history (minus one visit to Halfords). Since then I have only taken it to a main dealer to be serviced, the last being a few days ago for a Cam Belt Service / MOT.

In the last two years, I have had the car maintained regardless of cost and list below the work carried out:

January 2003 - Winter Check - New Engine Top Torque Arm Bushing / New Oil Filler Cap Sealing Ring
April 2003 - New Alternator / New Battery
August 2003 - 90,000 Mile Service - New Rear Pads / New Rear Discs
August 2003 - Reconditioned Automatic Gearbox Fitted (Hardy Engineering Leatherhead)
January 2004 - Winter Check - Coolant and Brake Fluid change / MOT
June 2004 - 100,000 Mile Service - New Front Discs and Pads / New Temp Thermostat / New O/S/F Anti Roll Bar Link Rod
June 2004 - New Aircon Evaporator (Vacs Addlestone)
December 2004 - New Outer CV Gaitors / Rear Brake Pads / New Master Brake Cylinder / New ABS ECU
January 2004 - 110,000 Mile Service - Cam Belt replaced

Front black (now greyed with age) plastic bumper shows some wear/rubs from minor misjudgements of turning circles, the front nearside T5 alloy shows some wear from curb grinding and the boot lid hydraulic arms don't have the same lift they used to, but otherwise it's clean and mechanically sound for it's age. It had 4 new Pirelli 6000's about 2 months ago and currently has 12 months road tax and a new MOT.

I would like to sell the car for £4,500 but will listen to sensible offers. I am in no real rush to sell the car as the purchase of the new one doesn't require the prior sales of the old one.

It's hard to value these cars so constructive comments would be appreciated.

Pictures of the car: http://www.convergentdesign.co.uk/volvo/

[Murphy]

Seems a nice car indeed. I am sure it won't hand about :)

Only 1 question though. You had a recent cambelt service, is this the 2nd one the car has had or the 1st !?!?

[convergent]

This is the second one with the first being changed in the normal 60,000 miles service. The cars now at 114,000 miles and theoretically I could have waited, but wanted to get it done before I sold it to avoid being unneccessarily chipped on the price when I came to sell. I also feel safer knowing that it has been done. It's a whole lot less than the implications of it breaking.

I'm still confused as to how to price it as sales values across Autotrader vary so dramatically for similar cars. My gut feel is that a £4250 ticket getting out at £4000 is probably more realistic.

Any thoughts?

[convergent]

:) Now on Autotrader at £4295.

http://atsearch.autotrader.co.uk/www/cars_search.asp?modelexact=1&lid=search_used_cars_full&make=VOLVO&model=850&variant=&keywords=t5+cd+estate&min_pr=75&max_pr=7000&mileage=&agerange=&postcode=kt13+8tj&miles=1&max_records=50&source=0&photo=1&sort=3&ukcarsearch_full=SEARCH

[Wobbly Dave]

I think £3500 is more realistic I am afraid. Nice car though.

[convergent]

Thanks Dave,

As standard T5 CD's go, it's a superb car. Front bumper shows some rubs and the boot doesn't go up as positively as it used to as the lifters(?) have lost some pressure, but apart from that mechanically I've always had her checked by a main dealer and replaced whatever needed replacing. Now the cambelts been done for the second time and she has had a new gearbox, she'd be a perfect platform to start playing with and upgrading ECU etc.

£3500 would be a bit of a pill after forking out for recent cambelt service, new ABS ECU, discs, pads, 4 new Pirelli 6000's and 12 months tax.

I would come below £4K but not far.

If the phone doesn't ring from the Autotrader advert, either via internet now, or via mag next Thuisday, I might look for offers around £3750.

Thanks for the advice, I do appreciate it a lot as base levels on E Bay and autotrader levels for traders vary so dramatically (ie £1.5K to £5.5K for seemingly similar cars) that it's hard to gauge where to pitch it.

Thanks again.


If it all gets sad, I'll keep the car and take a trip with £500 up to West Bromwich.

[Kent Canary]

Prices do vary im afraid, from the sublime, to the ridiculous to coin a phrase. I paid £4200 for my P plate S70 T5 SE (which was a fantastic price, considering it still books at that a year later). Hold out for what you can but unfortunately its a bit of a buyers market so I wouldnt be too suprised if you have to drop the numbers a bt.

Having said that, hope you get the best price you can for it, best of luck!

[convergent]

Thanks for your comment Kent Canary, I've just had a call from someone whose coming round tomorrow to see the car at £4295.

[Justin]

Good man, stick to your guns and dont accept less than 4k ;)

[convergent]

Too right! I have half the brazilian rain forest here in A4 format detailing dealer charges and general maintenance costs that resemble four digit area codes. Wish I had found this site before paying for a new ABS ECU!!

If I didn't already own this car, I would buy it, move the horns, get the ECU upgraded and with luck enjoy another 60K miles of hair-on-fire enjoyment knowing that someone else had paid to replace the lumpy bits that generally fall over. (When it welded itself to the floor and I had the auto box replaced at 85K miles, it was the 3rd T5 between 80K and 100K that they had had in that week.)

Say £4200 for the car, half a Saturday for the horns, then a trip to Bromsgrove for say £500. Result Leather and walnut clad 300 bhp bliss, safe enough for the kiddies car seat and enough room for the garden rubbish dump runs on a Sunday!!

Thinking about it, my thrice yearly booze runs to Calais are going to be a hellavolot harder in a Beemer 5 series.

I'm starting to well up now.....gotta go......

[convergent]

Sold this morning on Autotrader Web Site for £4,200.

[convergent]

Sold within 4 hours of being on Autotrader Web site for £4,200. Had 16 more calls for the car after it had sold.

[Mrsmopp]

Now she has gone what replaces her?

x

[Murphy]

Result Leather and walnut clad 300 bhp bliss, safe enough for the kiddies car seat and enough room for the garden rubbish dump runs on a Sunday!!

Ah bliss..........I know what that feels like :D ;)

[convergent]

Had a devil of a job finding it at the right price, year and spec. but have now bought something that'll do a few more miles to the gallon:

03 53 BMW 530D Sport Saloon 3 litre speedy fishing boat (sounds like). Leather, toys, tv, sat nav. Last of the old shape before the new 'marmite' shape.

Goes well, very smooth but not as brutal as the T5.

I still love motorway entry ramps though !! :)