Does anyone know this T5?

**Hallsy** · Sunday 15th March 2009, 22:05

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1996-VOLVO-850...3A1|240%3A1318

I'm tempted by it, although it is a bit of a drive from me. Wondered if anyone on here recognises it?

Looks reasonably tidy with good service records. Possible the sunroof and central locking could be easy DIY fixes also.

Does it look like it's been lowered though? It does to my untrained eye?

**Saaamon** · Sunday 15th March 2009, 22:14

Looks very clean.

**marky 76** · Sunday 15th March 2009, 22:22

i agree looks like a nice motor, well looked after and i would say it deffo has been lowered

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 08:44

I contacted the seller and he confirmed that it had been lowered by previous owner. He said he thought it was one Apexi springs, although I'd have thought Apex would be more likely, Apexi generally specialise in Japanese cars if I'm not mistaken.

One silly niggle for me, is that it has manual rear windows - it does suprise me that a car of this spec would have had electric rear windows as an option, lol!! Only a little thing, but often when my dog is riding in the back, I like to be able to open the window a touch if he looks like he needs it.

Also, it is quite a distance from me (~150 miles). It's a tough one.

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 08:50

This one is closer, but doesn't look quite as nice as the other one. Higher milegae, and less mention of service history.

Plus it has cloth interior

May well finish very cheaply though. I've sent an email to the seller to ask about service history, etc.

**Jon K** · Monday 16th March 2009, 09:09

Hi there,

you can retro fit rear electric windows quite easily.

I did mine and fitted cruise also. The parts were £70 (windows and cruise control parts) delivered which I thought was a bit of a bargain.

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 09:42

Hi Jon, yeah, I just had a little search and it does sound like it's quite easy. Would also need new rear door cards wouldn't you?

**Mrsmopp** · Monday 16th March 2009, 09:59

My niggle would be the half leather - sorry to those with half leather but it always smells a little musty and its just nothing like the full leather.

**Jon K** · Monday 16th March 2009, 10:06

You do not need new door cards.

I just made the round hole for the winder into a square hole for the switch.

I have not checked what they should look like but it worked perfectly!!

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 11:01

Good idea

**PaulZX** · Monday 16th March 2009, 11:11

I AM NOT INTERESTED IN SWAPPING FOR A CORSA WITH AN MDF SPOILER AND FRONT SPLITTER MADE OF RED LEICESTER, ONLY SWAPS IM INTERESTED IN ARE FOR THAT OF THE MONETRY KIND!

I ALSO WILL NOT BE SENDING IT TOO NIGERIA, OUTER MONGOLIA, NEPTUNE OR THE PLANET FRIGGING KRYPTON, SO GO LAUNDER YOUR FILTHY CASH SOME OTHER PLACE! NOT INTERESTED

lmao he clarified that well....!

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 12:15

Originally Posted by Mrsmopp

My niggle would be the half leather - sorry to those with half leather but it always smells a little musty and its just nothing like the full leather.

That is one of my niggles, but is it the best of both worlds? They used half leather/alcantara in the T5R didn't they?

Leather is nice, but slippery and burns your bum in the summer. Cloth is grippy, but gets dirty easilly, although it doesn't crack.

Main gripe for me is the distance, the more I look at the car I do like it, as it has a few things on it that I would be looking for, or retro fitting. Tints, looks better imo and keeps prying eyes out to a certain degree. It's been lowered, although if it's not a matched shock/spring setup I'd be tempted to swap them out. Rear spoiler. Reasonable mileage, service history, etc.

Does anyone know of any common problems with remote central locking? He said he took it to a Volvo garage and they changed the battery in the keyfob, but no joy. Perhaps he didn't want to spend too much.

Maybe needs re-coding?

**Mrsmopp** · Monday 16th March 2009, 14:07

Originally Posted by Hallsy

That is one of my niggles, but is it the best of both worlds? They used half leather/alcantara in the T5R didn't they?

Leather is nice, but slippery and burns your bum in the summer. Cloth is grippy, but gets dirty easilly, although it doesn't crack.

Best of both worlds? IMO no its not (I've had various T5's in various guises over the years) if there were more leather and less cloth then it maybe different but but there just isn't the luxury with the half leather and it really does smell like old men lol!

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 14:46

Haha, I'm sure a good shampoo could sort the smell!!

There does seem to be less leather than usual half-leather seats though. Strange.

There is a bright red T5 wagon on another Volvo forum, very cheap, pretty close, but it's 200k, out of tax & MOT. Plus, I'm not sure if I really like them in bright red, I like red, but not convinced it suits the estates lines that well.

**Mrsmopp** · Monday 16th March 2009, 15:57

Originally Posted by Hallsy

Haha, I'm sure a good shampoo could sort the smell!!

There does seem to be less leather than usual half-leather seats though. Strange.

There is a bright red T5 wagon on another Volvo forum, very cheap, pretty close, but it's 200k, out of tax & MOT. Plus, I'm not sure if I really like them in bright red, I like red, but not convinced it suits the estates lines that well.

Dooooon't buy a red one lol! The paint can looks wonderful after a good valet but 24 hours later your driving around in a big pink box (oh er Missus!)

I'm not being much help am I?!

I guess what I am getting at is that in the current climate try and get the absolute best spec that you can - you will always be a little bit disappointed that you didn't hold out for the full leather or the right colour or the heated seats etc.

Whats your budget and your location I'll see whta I can find

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 16:24

If you have the right products you can keep a red car red, as long as it's single stage paint, and not base & lacquer

My S13 is red

You are right though, when I get something in my head, I want it straight away. But really I should just wait for the right one to come up.

For me that would be minimum of half-leather/leather, manual, electric windows f/r, sunroof, climate, electric/heated seats and in a nice colour

Also history (garage or DIY) would be ideal.

I think my favourite colour is the dark grey, but also fond of dark green, dark metallic red, black, blue & silver.

I'm based in Sudbury, Suffolk (East Anglia) and with the way car prices have dropped I think a budget of ~£800 for an 850, and a bit more for a P1 V70 should be about right.

**Rob S** · Monday 16th March 2009, 21:38

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1995-VOLVO-850...1%7C240%3A1318

This one's a little closer to home!
It's not got the best of specs, but it might be worth a cheeky look!

**Hallsy** · Monday 16th March 2009, 21:47

The first one went for £720, well worth imo, from what the seller had told me about the car, as long as he was honest - which is how he sounded.

In the end though, it was a bit too far considering the few niggles I had with it, so will just hold out for the right car, or something closer.

Rob - I enquired about that one, but the spec is pretty low, and the service history quite patchy, with no real history since 1999.

Something will come up soon I'm sure.