Hello,
My '96 850 has 150K miles on it and needs a radiator. I'm looking at a 2010 V50 but it has 45K miles on it. The carfax says it was a 'commercial vehicle' (and it has a big dog-cage thing in the back). The price seems reasonable and it has ~5k left on the original warranty.

My questions: Should I care about all the miles on it? In general, are V50s good, reliable cars?

Thank you!

I would have it 'inspected' by a Volvo dealership (around $100) and then ask them about an extended warranty. The V50 is a nice small wagon, but the engine compartment is a bit cramped to work on the engine. And, you probably have no maintenance history which means you can reduce the price a lot.

45K miles in 2 years is quite high, even for a rental car. But that usually means that the car spent a lot of time on the highway and not commuting.

The dog cage can be easily removed and stored for when you sell it on Craigslist.

Of course, the 850T radiator can be 'easily' replaced. With the $180 cost of the radiator, new hoses and antifreeze bring the cost up to just over $200, is a little cheaper than a new car.

Klaus
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There is no present time, just the past and future

Thanks Klaus. Good points. I agree for now: I'll have the radiator replaced.