posted by
someone claiming to be mathmom
on
Wed May 14 11:37 CST 2014 [ RELATED]
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I am looking at buying a 1990 240 with 181000 miles. It is in absolutely pristine condition with a long list of maintenance records. The owner wants 3300, which seems a little high compared to KBB, etc. Is this a good deal?
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posted by
someone claiming to be mathmom
on
Fri May 16 10:39 CST 2014 [ RELATED]
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Thanks to everyone who provided input. I am always cautious about buying older cars, and am looking for something safe for my teenager who will be 16 this summer. I live near Portland, OR where these are very popular cars and I think this may be why the owner can ask 3300 for it. Sometimes it is better to have something older that was made well and take care of it than to have something new that was slapped together and has a shiny facade.
Cheers!
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Your theory might work with living room furniture, but it doesn't work with cars. If you need safe buy as new as you can, and for 3300 there are other brands that will be safer. The 240 was great in its day but the world of safe car design has moved on.
You could get a late 90's Toyota Camry for that kind of money.
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Late 90's Toyota Camry's are very reliable cars, but here in the N. E. they rust out and then they are both unsafe and worthless. This happened to a neighbor of mine when he bought a Camry for his daughter.
You might consider a mid to late 90's Volvo. The 95-97 850's and 98 S70/V70's are universally recognized as some of the best Volvo's ever built. And they don't rust! The 99 and 2000 models are pretty good cars too but a little more electronically complex. They are also safer than either a 240 or a Toyota Camry. They all come with front and side airbags and SIPS (side impact protection system). The later models have side curtain airbags. Personally, my 95 855 has been a better car than my 90 244DL. Downside they are usually more expensive to fix than a 240...
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Price seems to vary considerably by region.
If you're going to spend anything like that, put it up on a rack. A friend bought a 91 Sedan a few years ago w/ ~90K actual 1-owner miles. He paid around $3K (against my advice).
Body was awesome; owner and local dealer had myriad service records .... he spent a fortune making salt-corrosion -related repairs: calipers, brake lines, rotors, bearings, A-arms, ....
Another friend bought a Subaru from Buffalo w/ 50K miles .... same story. et al.
Low-miles is only a small part of the story for me. Get underneath it.
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio
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Yes, by all means get a pre purchase inspection. Well worth the $60.00 or so to have someone familiar with the breed take a look around.
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Mileage may not be accurate, these odometers frequently fail, get a car fax it might tell you more about the car and mileage.
Dan
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First off, there's just no such thing as a "pristine" 24 year old car, even a 240.
That said, if the car really has been taken car of and has records going back to day one... Then yes, it might just be worth $3300. ???
Is it a wagon? $3300 for a wagon, maybe. $3300 for a sedan, nope.
Is it ABS? Might be. I think ABS started in late 90. ???
As others have said, do a thorough inspection and find out what's wrong with the car. Every car has something wrong with it, so try to find what it is.
At 181k miles there are some major parts that should have been or will need to be replaced: all suspension bushings, shocks/struts (including upper front strut mounts), motor mounts, probably tranny mount, etc...
BTW: The later 90-93 240's I think are better. Better wiring harness, better motor block, ABS, LH2.4 injection, and so on.
Good luck.
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I say its very likely to be worth that or more under some following conditions.
Pristine is a special word reserved for cars that appear or are well maintained (records almost a must) and cared for.
Cared for means, not exposed to the elements of sun, dirt or water damage. Interior seats not beat up and in general a feel of clean!
IF, the Owners were of the soft types. They wore soft clothes, show being organized and were mature in their mannerisms. You need to feel that out!
These types of people deserve numbers above any stupid KBB. You have to remember that the KBB is insurance company "owned/driven" and from both sides of the market highway, at the same time.
Think about insurance interests and all those leased cars out there! Leasers are losers anyway unless they are "like or are" the corporate one percent with government kickback loopholes! Of which, we know is all about packing fudge or green into a balance sheet or pocketbook.
The word "depreciation" starts with bankers and ends up with the thinking "used" is bad so anyone playing the game can gain profits by it! It's far more than any one percent!
Used, is a mind set to feel that "stealing" is OK.
Junkyards, by the piece, is stealing too! A Johnny Cash lunchbox song?
Every once and a while, some cars, beat the game and rise up in level to not have been the worst investment a man or woman can make in their lifetimes.
IMHO, this price is very in-line for it and if its the right color thats in fad, it will maintain that value later on.
I bought my '91 ten years ago for $3,000 with 182,000 that met the above criteria. I have been offered the amount I paid for it recently for two reasons. It still looks nice and the person knows I have owned it even though it now has 254,000. I have used it and I feel if that even if it did not go up its an asset that put me out in front of the above "crap" for ten years!
Example, the "Smart Car" marketing name. Really that much money for the gas mileage only. I do not know about being able to reach around your luggage to wipe your tail lights. Motorcycle costs more for even less. A Segway maybe the only way out! Not on KBB!
If you feel good about it, you fitting inside it and with the sellers, then, you are buying a bargain with the things underneath in the background.
If its as good as you say, it will not last long!
Having "Buyers Regret" hurts in both directions!
Phil
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I think I would like to add on a little bit about new and used relevancy.
The car we are talking about probably sold new above $20,000. 24 years later $3300 with what appears to be still an attractiveness. Not bad now adjust for what today's money is worth what is really being paid. So money bought better quality then...maybe?
I will tell you. I will use an example the Smart Car or the "googled" cheapest car offered, the Nissan Versa at $11,000 to $18,000. The brain car....duh is higher and for an urban, in-town runabout vehicle. All electric $25,000?
Just to get to another snafu out about things "underneath" besides the new/used thing, I just found this out.
In Europe the Smart car is more popular due to the lifestyle of Europe.
Stateside the car is getting found out.
Apparently, the car uses two different sets of tires each different from front to rear.
It does not carry a spare for either set as I surmise there is no room for them!
If you have a flat you end up "having" to get a tow!
The source of this information ended up paying about $500 for the tow. I do not know the particulars of why that much but apparently you do not want to take it out of town or be in the Southern California!
Wonder what the resale on these are going to be like? Forget 24 years!
30 years ago $4000 bought the import Yugo! Remember those?
$3300 is chump change in today's scope of reasoning and you work on things yourself. IMHO
Phil
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Yes!
No!
Maybe!
Really need more specifics. Many will say no. My thought is that if all is as represented, you'd be covered for many years of safe reliable transpo for small bucks. 180k is not much for these cars. But,things do happen so try to verify.
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