Considering buying a 1998 V90

[Wildcat]

Hello all, I am considering purchasing a 1998 V70 wagon from a private
owner to replace my aging "War Horse" 1990 740 GL with 180,000 miles. I
am regrettably retiring the 740 due to multiple problems that among
other things include a winshield washer resevoir that is cracked and
wil not hold fluid, failing brake hoses and rotors, heater that squeals
and chirps loudly (bum heater blower motor I assume).
Anyway, the V90 I am looking at is in Good to Excellent shape and
priced at 7,000 USD. The problem is that this car already has 146,000
miles on it! Now I know our bricks can run for a good long time but
isnt that mileage a tad high for a 1998. This really concerns me as in
my job I drive app. 500 miles per week so it wouldnt take me long at
all to start really piling on the miles. Needless to say I know next to
nothing about the V70/90 series of cars so I would appreciate any input
from the group on what to look for during pre purchase. Any problems
specific to this series that I should know about? And finally is 7
grand a decent price for this car.
Thanks in advance for your help.
Cheers!

 

[Rob Guenther]

A V90 and V70 are two totally different cars. The V70 derives from the 850,
while the V90 is actually the familiar 960!... which is a decendant of the
760/740... so it will be like your car, with a way nicer interior, better
suspension, bigger and much smoother 6 cylinder (Inline, not Vee) engine,
electronic climate control (12 years and no problems with ours in our 960 -
and it's a Canadian car (ie - more abused by our massive temperature swings
summer to winter)...

Our 93 960's been great, only age related parts replacements. No breakdowns,
no letdowns - fantastic cars... We've just dumped several thousand into it
to bring it back up to its former glory, no small feat when the car is only
worth maybe $1000-2000 more then we put into it in this year alone.... Don't
get me wrong they aren't money pits, it's been a cheaper car to run then our
VW Golf TDI (seriously). We just felt the need to replace certain big ticket
items (all new suspension, all new brakes, transmission gear selector, new
rad, new line for the A/C system) - meaning the car is worth it!

 

[Wildcat]

Thanks Rob, I realize I was unclear in my initial post. The car I am
looking to purchase is a 1998 V90.
thanks again!

 

[jd]

Thanks Rob, I realize I was unclear in my initial post. The car I am
looking to purchase is a 1998 V90.
thanks again!

OMG!!!

 

[Wildcat]

Rob,
Thanks for the response. What I meant to say was that I was unclear in
my initial post because the topic says looking to buy V90 and then the
first sentence of my post says considering buying a V70.
Any other advice from the group?

 

[Bev A. Kupf]

Rob,
Thanks for the response. What I meant to say was that I was unclear in
my initial post because the topic says looking to buy V90 and then the
first sentence of my post says considering buying a V70.
Any other advice from the group?

The S90/V90 are two of the last RWD cars made by Volvo. As Rob pointed
out, they're very luxurious. The inline-6 used in them was the basis
of the inline-6 used in the S80. It is an interference engine, but should
be fine with routine maintenance. At 140,000 miles, I think you should
consider replacing the water-pump, tensioner and timing belt - if the
owner has not done so recently.

Beverly

 

[Wildcat]

Thanks Bev,
Do you guys think that 7,000 USD is a fair price for this car or can I
do better?
Thanks

 

[Rob Guenther]

Would be a good price here, our 93 is still worth $4000-5000CND

 

[Bev A. Kupf]

Thanks Bev,
Do you guys think that 7,000 USD is a fair price for this car or can I
do better?
Thanks

If the owner has replaced the timing belt at 100,000 and the tensioner
and waterpump at the same time, I would call that a fair price. If
he hasn't, I would drop your offer to around $6500, as it will cost
you between $500 and $600 to get that done, and I cannot over-emphasize
the importance of making sure that you don't have an old waterpump
can be unexpectedly seize, or a tensioner that fails.

Beverly

 

[Timothy J. Lee]

Anyway, the V90 I am looking at is in Good to Excellent shape and
priced at 7,000 USD. The problem is that this car already has 146,000
miles on it!

With full service records? Or not?

Now I know our bricks can run for a good long time but
isnt that mileage a tad high for a 1998.

About 20,000 miles per year, which is on the high side. Still not
a lot compared to Irv Gordon's 1966 P1800 with 2 million miles (over
50,000 miles per year, not including the miles he "didn't get credit
for" when the odometer broke).

Needless to say I know next to
nothing about the V70/90 series of cars

V70 = 850. V90 = 960, which is a descendent of the 700-series.