it's the second owner, had spent all it's life in CT with regular 10K service at volvo dealer until a year ago. has new tires and timing belt and everything works except heated seats. the guy wants $5,000 and i'm having a mechanic look at it.

anyway, it seems to be what i've been looking for but i've got a couple questions. I'm in michigan, the car's in new york. no problem coming out in two weeks to get it but how to work the cash/title exchange? it's a private owner, soo... have any of you been in my place, buying a car from out of state? did you just send like, 10% deposit and give the rest at pickup or what? i don't want to send full payment if he still has the title...

suggestions?

i'm trying to track down an old friend in NYC to see if they can be my 'bag man.' if that doesn't work i need to find another way.

and any thoughts about the deal, itself? w/ the low miles and turbo, it's under edmunds blue book, but i see the "93 has slightly lower consumer ratings than later 940's.

thanks for your thoughts!
byron

Might be a good idea to have a contract drawn up that specifies the following:

1. the car is in good working order and condition
2. is free and clear of all liens, loans, encumbrances
3. has not been damaged in an accident or flood
4. the odomoter reading is accurate
5. there are no outstanding traffic violations
6. it is certified - some states and provinces make all cars meet standards for sale and licensing - a good rough idea of condition
7. whether it coomes with any kind of warranty
8. that the purchase price in full is X$

Re the exchange of cash, I would under no circumstances offer a deposit sight unseen. It send a bad signal to the seller. If it is the right vehicle, get a mechanic of your choosing to look at it and provide you with a report. If it's ok, then go and look at it, with a traceable money order in the correct amount. Get the contract signed. Then get the ownership signed over, probably on the back of it. Then give him the money order.

Better still, because you live in Michigan, why not go to Canada and get one? Your dollar gets you 50% off, and in Ontario, they have certification standards. so have the seller there certify it. There might be some duty and tax, but the 50% off should make that up easily. Ther free trade allows no duty or tax on some cars 10 years or older. As they say in Rome, caveat Emptor (buyer beware)Hope this helps! Good luck!

wow, this sounds like a good idea. hadn't even thought of it. any suggestions about web sites to locate ads in ontario or should i just pickup a windsor paper? also,was the 940 available in stick in canada,instead of just auto like here?

i have a volvo mechanic looking at the 940 in new york tomorrow and based on the report i'll either buy or keep looking. but would like more advice on where to look in in your neck of the woods.

thanks!

Hi, the windsor paper would be a good start, and maybe sarnia or London. Although they are in Canada they are a lot closer than NY! I'm not sure about the stick, I suspect they are auto. You might want to get a used one from a dealer. The dealer in London is extremely thoroough at the refurbs. There are a few private sales too.

One good thing about buying in Ontario is the government is sticky about rust heaps on the road. There are laws that any car that is licensed here has to meet standards for brakes, emissions, power steering, exhaust, tires etc. The Canadian approach is that we limit the rights of the individual (to drive an unsafe car), and make the roads safer for everyone. Makes it a good place to buy used. Leave me an e-mail address and I'll send you a text list of some places to have a look. No matter where you buy, get the contract signed, and have it thoroughly inspected. - Let me know & good luck! - Canadian Volvo guy

all sounds good, canadian volvo guy. though like i said, depending on what the mechanic tells me tomorrow i may commit to this one in NY. nonetheless, please send me any ideas of where to look for volvos by you! if not now i may follow up w/ my next one.

thanks,
itsbyron@hotmail.com

cant comment on plates (dont live in the US) but as to the deal....

if its under book he could just be an idiot...or bricks maybe majourly unsexy where he is....or he knows something you dont...

see the faq...

I would suggest you pay particular attention to the turbo & hoses and the cat & seals...

any of which are fair expensive...

my betting at those miles would be turbo or rear seal (posibly clutch)...any of which are either high labour or high parts items...

remember people rarely sell for less than somethings worth...having said that, provided the less than book is enough to sort the problems...who cares (as long as you have budgeted to have the problems sorted...)

I would suggest askign how much oil it uses ...do this on the telephone with no warning.....if he says NONE instantly he probably lies, if he says almost none or 'a splash between services' qualify more...if he says about normal or some sort of indeterminate answer its probably quite a bit... if he says an amount that sounds high hes probably tellingthe truth...oil might indicate problems with the turbo or seals....

Deja vu, all over again. I bought a 93 940T wagon in Rochester NY last summer, and I'm going to Pennsylvania next week to pick up a 740T,M46 (and then on to NY and Mass), both from eBay. Where in NY is your(?) 945? If you want to send your phone, we can talk this weekend - jwsocw@earthlink.net
I drive back to Chicago thru Buffalo, Ontario, Detroit (Ann Arbor) faster and less expensive. Good luck.

Jim Weiss
83 245T, 90 760TI, 90 740TI/M46 (soon!), 93 940TI wagon, want more . . .

do a VIN search. Actually I can do a search till the middle of April, so if you give me your VIN and email I can forward you the report.

yeah i did a carfax and it came back clean as a whistle and confirmed what the guy said.

as for the NY state 'in-transit' plates, how does that work? the car's in NY right now. i actually do have a 240 i could take the plate off of to use driving back. ...

All I can suggest is that you wait to see what the mechanic says before you travel unless you're going there anyway.
I think a 10% deposit is fair. Certainly it should secure your interest in the car and satisfy the seller that you're serious. The rest, I believe should be in cash or a bank check. How are you planning to return the car to Michigan?
That may be a problem.
The best way, I think, is to use the seller's plates, and FEDEX them back as soon as you arrive home. An additional deposit is appropriate for this. I wouldn't let you take it for free, for instance, but if you gave me a sufficient deposit I suppose I could trust you. IF not, it will be rather difficult to legally drive the car back. CT doesn't have the "in-transit" plates that NY does... I doubt you could obtain any legal Michigan registration unless you could get the title ahead of time for some kind of temporary registration. If you have a good friend who works at a car dealer, you maybe could finagle a dealer plate for a day or two-- but that's really asking a lot.
Maybe a ground transportation company is the answer- have the car shipped. Should be $600 or so, depending on actual mileage and the current price of diesel fuel.
(Of course, if you have another Volvo wagon, and you borrow the plate from that, probably no one would be the wiser... I thought about doing that with my 3 grey 244's, but thought better of it!)
Good luck whatever way you go!
--
Rob Bareiss, New London CT ::: 'Roterande Fläkt Och Drivremmar!'

Dont worry about the plates. Personal experience says the odds are pretty good that you wont get pulled over. I drove a bronco home (IN) from NJ without a plate, and my 93 944T from Birmingham AL. As long as you have a bill of sale dated when you pick up the car even if you're pulled over the police will be very cooperative. Just make sure you have the car insured prior to picking the car up.

Have a mechanic check it out. That price is pretty low for the year and miles.