maybe if it was a near mint wagon,but $3500 is too much for what you described.you can get a '92 940 for that price.I bought a '90 240 sedan with 183k,no rust,one owner,service records for $500.
--
philvo

i bought my first Volvo, a 88 240 Wagon with 155K a few months back for $3000 in San Antonio. Since then, I've found I probably paid too much. It is very clean, new paint, runs smooth, and is a 5 speed. Downsides...I did not check under the tailgate for rust, and its rotted out, as is the area under the tailgate, but hidden by the rear bumper (used to be a West Virginia car, I found out), but no rust anywhere else. Heater core was bad, but I didn't check heater operation during test drive in 100 degree heat..should have...the replacement was its own adventure! Water pump went out 3,000 miles later, but that's to be expected on any used car...not much to get a Beru pump, belt, idler and seals..about $60.00 all together, I recall. If I had found the rust, I would have walked on it at any price. I have had a lot of cars, and am continually impressed with how well made these cars are. They really are little tanks, and parts just are not expensive. I'd say if its tight, straight, rust free, smoothand quiet, and EVERTHING works (Volvos with electrical problems should be avoided) go for it...but test every single thing...wipers, back up lights, interior light, central door locks, emergency brake, glove box hinges, etc. It should be a little piece of cherry pie for $3,000. If not, eBay has tons of 'em.

That is way too much IMHO. I payed 1000$ for an 86 240 w/142K.

For that car, it sure sounds like the asking price is out of line. However, for a nice 90s 240, a nicely maintained turbo, or even something that was truely mint (even if it was an 88) that wouldn't be such an awful price.

My friend picked up an 85 245 for $2500. Fresh paint job (nice job too), IPD SS brake lines, Bilsteins on all four corners, Nissens radiator, fresh bushings, Moog overload springs in the rear, working cruise control, cold A/C (R12), a rather large box of spare parts (all manner of electrical stuff, Bentley and Haynes manuals, tail light assms, fuel pump, grille, etc), an engine that had been fed Mobil 1 for the past 6(?) years, and a well used but clean interior that even had a few 52mm gauges.

In contrast, I've never paid more than $1k for a car (the sedan, worth it for the interior alone). The guy selling the sedan wanted about $1700 originally (and was "not willing" to negotiate). He bought it at auction, and usually sold Toyotas and Hondas. Always be willing to walk away.

The Audi and the wagon were $250 beater cars. I got a nice set of IPD bars, turbo hoses, driveshaft w/ joints and bearing, intercooler, and a few good months of service off the wagon. Well worth $250 to me. And well... never buy an old Audi for $250 :D

- alex

'85 244 Turbo

Formerly:

'84 Volvo 245 Turbo
'85 Audi 5000S
'89 Ford Taurus L

I bought an '88 240 about 18 months ago for $3000 from my neighbor. It had 102,000 miles, service records, a new clutch and t-belt. The interior was clean , no rust anywhere, good tires, one small dent in driver's fender (didn't break the paint). I live in Eugene, OR where 240's are pretty popular and I think I got a good car for the price. This is one of the best years for the 240.

Since I bought the car, used car prices have dropped somewhat. With that mileage and interior condition, the price should be lower.

Good comments so far that I agree with on the value of a 240, but nobody has mentioned the overall market conditions. This is a horrible time to be selling a used car. Any used car. The dealers are fighting to sell cars below cost in some cases just to keep production lines operating until better times ahead. There are always plenty of 240s available in most areas.

I just picked up a '91 240 in VA with 118 k miles on it for my daughter. Paint is perfect, no rust, well maintained, and only needed a windshield to pass inspection. The owner started out at $3900, then came down 2 weeks later to $3700. I called him and asked about the car. It sounded nice but I told him I wouldn't bother coming out to look at the price range he was in. He admitted over the phone he was optimistic and would be willing to take $3000. After looking at the car and driving it, we agreed on $2700. I think I still paid more than I should have, but he had really maintained the car well and there were very low miles and very good records. BTW, I'm not a hard bargainer.

Bottom line is that there are too many cars on the used market for dealers to be that firm. If they have a cream puff, they should try to get whatever they can. The car in question doesn't sound like anybody would call it a cream puff. Therefore it is just a used 240 with a dealer trying to squeeze as much as he can out of it. Shop around and look for someone with a more realistic outlook on what they can expect to get out of a 15 year old car.

someguyfromMaryland

Volvos are very geographic in terms of value. I agree that it may well be a bargain at that price depending on all the variables mentioned above. I am about to sell an 88 with a 5-speed, 123K, but its been a southern car all its life and is very straight w/good paint for $3K. My son is about to sell his 85 w/ 122K for $1750 and its also a very nice car (he's in Memphis). As mentioned above, with re: to your car, "It depends". Sometimes folks may pass on a nice 240 because it is a few hundred dollars too expensive only to put a few thousand into the cheaper car to sort out the issues. Good Luck, Chris

I'll add my two cents from the perspective of a "frequent" 240 buyer. Somewhat frequent- I'm cut off now after eight.

The price is way over what I'd pay in this area, even if the interior was cared for, but you've already heard that in the other replies. What I want to add is, my experience checking out cars for sale at volvo and foreign, European repair shops. Not much experience, but in each case the price was high even for used car lot standards. It is supposed to represent a premium for the car having been maintained by the Volvo Specialists. Fact is, the owner determines the maintenance, regardless of who actually performs it.

The uncared-for interior might not be a red flag. I've bought two, with records, showing Volvo owners can be attentive to mechanicals while completely trashing the interior environment. Not meticulous - just attentive, as in signing up for most of the service the mechanic recommends.

Now, I've never sold a Volvo. But if I did, I'd fix the broken plastic, holed seats and make sure it sparkled inside and out. Wouldn't you?
--
Art Benstein near Baltimore

Hi-3500 for a 15 yr old volvo that is not in mint condition and doesnt have a warranty of sorts is way way too much to ask for. In fact--the thought of them even asking that price tells me that they are probably shysters. Id say--you would be better off--taking your time--look around--find a fairly priced car--and have it checked out by a mechanic if you arent up to the task. Im in NJ--can tell you that an 88 240 with the miles and condition you describe--is at MOST a 1500-2000 dollar car and that would be if it had maint records and good inspection ticker on it . Good luck--wanted to comment on this as I hate used car dealers that prey on the uninformed --they make the rest of them look bad-and there are some goo used car dealers around here.

i think P.T. BARNUM summed this one up with his famous line "there is a sucker born every minute." we have an 84 242 with 202,000 on it. we bought it in 1998 for $600!!!!!! we just bought a 1995 850GLT 126,000 for $5000. now you need to rethink this....unless that 88 volvo is under 100,000, perfect interior, near perfect paint exterior, 60-80% tread on the tires and...and with a full set of maintenance records.....then yes $3500 is good....anything less....and your lookin at a $1000-2000 at best.

If it was a cherry example, I'd pay that much. Anything but a cherry example, though, and I wouldn't say that would be worth the cost. Just my opinion (somewhat well versed in wholesale/retail).

Chris
--
a Brickboard.com Expat

Too high. It sounds like they're waiting for someone with volvo goggles on to pay that much for something with that many miles, and that much wrong with it.
--
-------Robert, '93 940t, '90 240 wagon, '84 240 diesel (she's sick) , '80 245 diesel

A lot depends on where you are.

If it is a rust-free car in the rust belt, the price is not out of line.

Prices in the PNW tend to run on the high side.

OTOH, if you are in Port Arthur, TX, $3500 is absurd.

That seems high, check out "www.traderonline.com" for average prices on 240's.
To me, only a one-owner, low mileage, mint 88 could draw that price, even then 3K would be high. Also check out Ebay for comparable prices.

Jay
84 245 GLTi 226k