manual or automatic?

 

Posting a link to the car in question will give us a better understanding of what you are looking at and we will be able to give you more precise numbers.

 

Hopefully there'd be a local member who can check it out for you. I've done it and that seems to help.

 

Sorry guys, its actually Passion Red with Gobi interior. I had another car on my mind when I was writing the post. And it's Auto.

It's on eBay if you search 2005 S60 R. I'll get a link up when I'm back on my laptop, not sure I can copy a link from the eBay app.

It's in Nebraska, do we have any Nebraska members here?

 

Sorry guys, its actually Passion Red with Gobi interior. I had another car on my mind when I was writing the post. And it's Auto.

It's on eBay if you search 2005 S60 R. I'll get a link up when I'm back on my laptop, not sure I can copy a link from the eBay app.

It's in Nebraska, do we have any Nebraska members here?

I've messaged my friend thesternowl in Omaha but he may be busy. I would drive over for you but I'm out of town on business. That thing looks amazingly clean. Honestly if the Carfax looks good and I were looking for one I'd pull the trigger in a heartbeat. I've seen similar prices for much less of a car. But that's just me. Good luck.

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This one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-Volvo-S60-R-Sedan-4-Door-/152527124271?hash=item238353372f:g:AEMAAOSwXYtYwLbS&vxp=mtr

 

Thanks for the responses guys, yes that's the one. The carfax is clean.

If I could see it in person then it would be bought already, it's not seeing it that's still kinda keeping me back a bit.

 

That's why I like the fly and buy. You can inspect it before you drive it home. Not happy? Walk away and you are out $500(plus travel). But if you do proper homework you have a great chance of being happy. Then you can drive it home and avoid potential damage from shippers. Call and ask 25 super specific questions. His feedback is 100%. I've done similar deals many times and I've never been burned because I'm very thorough (and I guess a little lucky). Food for thought.


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Ive done fly and buy as well, cheaper than shipping when its cross country usually. Flew to philly to pick up the XC90 a couple years ago. Definitely get it inspected, preferably by a forum member as mentioned but in lieu of that I'd look for a volvo specialist local to the car or at least a reputable indie.

For reference I paid $7900 for a 1 owner 65k mile 2005 VR M66, but it was NOT as clean as the car in the pics (and still isn't--but working on it).

The car in those pics looks good enough to make me rethink my loose plan to get a CL55 or S55 this summer, and add an SR...

 

^What they said.

That car looks very, very clean - as it should with that mileage. $12k seems a bit high for its age. However, a clean, low-mileage example with good service record is rare. Winglets in that good of condition is rather rare also. If you're paying cash - not sure how much a bank would loan on a 12-year old car - and it's in your budget, it could very well be worth it, particularly if it is the color combination you're looking for. Gobi and automatic are not particularly popular on the forum, but that is entirely preference.

Where are you located? I did the one-way plane ticket to Seattle to buy my R. My story in my signature. I also flew one way to buy my Passat in Little Rock, AR.

 

$12k seems like REALLY strong money for an 05GT. Like, REALLY strong. Alas, it's worth what people will pay for it.

 

I am in Providence, RI. I'm contemplating doing the fly and buy, I think I would need to mentally prepare for the drive back tho. I've never driven more than 5 hours away lol.

My DREAM SR is Sonic Blue w/ Atacama with everything else this one has and in this condition with this mileage. But the odds of finding that are slim, so this will have to do. But the red is my second favorite, and the Gobi isn't bad, so I'm not settling at all.

What price would you guys pay for this assuming everything checks out?

 

I am in Providence, RI. I'm contemplating doing the fly and buy, I think I would need to mentally prepare for the drive back tho. I've never driven more than 5 hours away lol.

My DREAM SR is Sonic Blue w/ Atacama with everything else this one has and in this condition with this mileage. But the odds of finding that are slim, so this will have to do. But the red is my second favorite, and the Gobi isn't bad, so I'm not settling at all.

What price would you guys pay for this assuming everything checks out?

From someone who has driven 18 hours straight solo (Not Recommended), stop often, and once you get that "Heavy Eye Nod", its time to pull over.....Shake up the drive a bit if you are adventurous. Stop and see some sites along the way.

 

FWIW I sold my R, same year, color combo, GT, 85k miles, for 9k two years ago. Only difference is it didn't have winglets. Mine was about as clean as that one.


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Dude, that's an amazing car it looks like. It's a jewel. Holy crap yeah it's worth what someone will pay. Supply and demand. Supply very low, but 12 grand is close to double its market value in good condition, in my opinion - without the, to be seen, demand offset.

The thing is if you really want the car you know you won't find one for a while so how much is that worth to you? A couple grand more be able to call it yours?

One fact is it will/should need 4c by 100k and its cost value is about 2 grand to have done at a shop at normal shop prices. About 4 grand at a Volvo dealer so... I wouldn't go over 10 grand thats for sure... But it's an auction the person that wants it the most pays the most. Or it's not in your driveway.

Bad thing is seeing it in person is going to be really hard to walk away from an R that nice when you have the passion for it.

 

I'd say $12k is a bit much for an SR, if that was an m66 VR it would be a little bit easier to justify the price. I'd offer $9k cash and see what the seller has to offer. Fly and buy is definitely the way to go. I asked a bunch of questions prior to that as well as detailed pictures of all service receipts and every dent and scratch, the plane ticket from laguardia ny to Chicago only cost me $68, and I paid another $120 or so in gas and tolls to bring it back. Overall I think it was a 14 hour drive with couple of breaks.


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How much you're willing to pay is dependent upon how much you get emotionally attached to the car. Let's face it, most of us buy these cars because we love them not because we look at them as an investment. The market is not huge for such a limited car so when you come by a clean one that's nice to see... and can help justify the asking price.

Personally, I wouldn't get an auto but that's just me. I think the price would be close to spot on for a manual based on condition and mileage. I think $9-10k is a reasonable offer and then it just comes down to how much you want it if they counter higher.

I've flown to see a few cars in the past. Bought two of them and walked away from one. Usually went with a round trip ticket just to be safe, although one car that I was dead set on and knew plenty about.... I just went with a one way ticket to save a couple hundred bucks. I've only ever once bought a car without test driving or seeing in person and that was a magazine car down in Louisiana. Paid a lot of money to have it shipped up in a covered trailer and it was everything I expected and then some. Just trust your gut any way you go about it. Mine has never lied to me...

You should ask for timing belt/water pump service history. Ask for angle gear or other AWD service history. Also ask if the struts have been replaced. Ask if fluids have been changed (trans and diff). That covers the big ticket items. Then expect to shell out some $$ to maintain it. They are great cars though - have had mine for over 10 years and wouldn't sell it.

Also get yourself a copy of VIDA and DICE tool. Will be some of the best money spent for the R.

 

Nice specimen for sure.

Me personally I would not pay more than 10K simply because it's an '05 GT/Gobi SR. It also doesn't have heated seats. Not that that means much but if I'm going to pay that much of a premium for a used car it better have as many options as possible.

I will need the timing belt changed if it has not already been done.

That Passion Red though.

Good luck! If you do pick it up I hope to see it at Swedish Car Day in August.

 

Make sure they changed the timing belt... Also the 04-05 Auto isn't very desirable... At 12 years old it's gonna need a suspension overahaul. These cars cost 2k a year in parts and consumables @20k miles a year so be aware.

 

Based on what I am seeing for flight costs to Omaha, it doesn't look like I will do a fly and buy. Flights are dumb high, just doesn't make sense.

Need4Svede - Did your friend get back to you about maybe checking the car out? That would GREATLY appreciated.



Why would the suspension need a complete overhaul at 65k? Is there something about the 4C I am unaware of?

He seems to have a very good hookup with maintenance on the car so maybe I'll ask if he can price out these items with his connection.

I'll be honest, I love this car (and other Euro cars) but what has kept me away from Euros my entire driving life is the maintenance money. I have always had Japanese cars and have never spent a DIME on anything other than routine maintenance (oil, brakes, plugs, etc) which I do myself anyway. I'm hoping this is not too much of an eye opener.

 

22 hour drive. Ugh!
You should have it shipped until you know what it's really like. Fly and buy, ship. Otherwise, bring a cc and some tools, and take a well populated route. Maybe even sign up for AAA Plus, which will give 100 miles towing.
You may find out really quickly what it needs on a drive that long...

It's a gorgeous car, but as others have said seems really high for a GT of that year. No climate package in NE is going to be a bummer. The seats are the best part about sitting in these cars, and heated ones make it even better in frigid temps. This is NOT a Japanese car, and while I like many of those, you'll LOVE this.
GLWTP

 

I wouldn't make lack of heated seats my primary turn off point. My VR didn't either, and I came up with a relatively elegant solution for it, that only cost me $70.

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Rubber gets old dude... And there is a lot of rubber in Volvo suspension... And 4C shocks are pretty cheaply made... Dude if the timing belt wasn't done 2 years ago then he's a moron who knows nothing... 10 years OR 120k miles.

 

First of all, auto transmissions in general always had that sticky valve body issue, which is solved or improved by frequent fluid flush, as well as software update (if it hasn't been done yet). Another one that I've experienced along with many others, is a power steering rack failure, happens suddenly from what I read, mine went at 150k. Angle gear was replaced on mine at 115ish k, by previous owner. These cars do have so known issues that happen regardless of whether you are abusing it or not.
With that's said, this is no reason not to love them, it's just something to keep in mind when buying one. It can give you a $2000 surprise some day.


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My front 4C struts made it all the way to 160K miles and my rears are on their way to 200K, so don't believe all the wives tales from people who blame their suspension for being faulty because they frequently drive their caRs through giant potholes.

Its like saying our pegs are badly made because some people manage to bend and crack them, lol.

 

Agreed, my 4c shocks and struts were finally replaced at 125k

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No struts go 160k and preform like the first 100k, they are let go... Any car would benifit greatly with new struts by 100-120k. Some cars handle worn struts better than others. A point was made that they aren't that bad, and I do agree. You don't have to change them right away at 100k, but it's so much better with a refresh...*With that said my rears are original at 150k and well blown out, just flopping back there, probably been like that the last 30k, or the previous two owners.

Either way whether it's the struts, control arms, timing belt, brakes, haldex service, ect. It's gonna need work. The best thing I can tell you is it's like a high maintenance woman. Great but not without sacrifice. Some are worth it some aren't. We tend to think this Volvo is.

Nothing like a Volvo... I'd say maintenance wise much similar to a Subaru in the tinkering category.

 

Thanks for the insight, guys. Definitely some stuff to think about.

Are there no Do-It-Yourselfers on here? You guys talk about prices at a local shop or the dealer... I can't remember the last time I paid for labor. Granted, my previous cars were fairly easy to work on, but I feel like the mechanical stuff shouldn't be too hard to do (belt, struts, etc). I'm not one to touch anything electrical.

 

I do most of my own work but with 5 cars in the garage to keep up with I sometimes take it to my local indie. These cars are pretty easy to work on IMHO.

 

I diy everything. Still spend 2k a year on parts and consumables.