In 1998, I offered $5000 to a used car salesman for a gold '90 240 DL sedan. He laffed at me and said he'd rather keep the car on the lot than sell it that cheap. Guess what. That darn car is *still* on the lot! I've watched it for the last 4 or 5 years...it's stayed right there. Anyhoo...I pulled up on the lot today and asked him about the car (he didn't remember me at first). He said he was asking $4300. I said "you should have taken the five thousand that I offered five years ago! Then he said he remembered me (hee hee). He seemed more "approachable" now. He said that he had to replace the fuel pump on the car and asked me to make an offer. Shucks...I dunno...the darn thing has been sitting on the car lot for five years. I told him I would be in touch with him in the next couple of days....I didn't even get out of my van to look at the car...so I don't know how many miles it has on it now...shouldn't be much more...I drive by the lot everyday to work.

I mentioned that soldering the fuel pump relay board was common on these cars...and he gave me the "well..we do it the right way by replacing the fuel pump" speech.

Any pointers on what to look for when I go by there tomorrow or the next day? The body looks in good shape...interior has some spots. I'll drive it and see...but what is it worth????????

Cabbie2169
Owner of '86 and '89 240's..looking at a '90

shoot, a '90 doesn't even have the good stuff like the better AC, air bag and ABS.

Without knowing how many miles on the beast, if it's in good shape - I would show up on his lot with $2000 CASH in my pocket. Drive it - IF it starts. I'm not as skittish as the others are about a car that's sit for 5 years, especially a Brick. Assuming no bent frame, huge rust, etc., offer him maybe $1500 to take it off his lot TODAY. He'll balk. Then up the ante maybe $100 or $200. If he still won't move, give him your business card with your home phone on it and your max price for the car, then LEAVE. Bet you'll get a call within 48 hours - but be firm. This is clearly a car you can walk away from!

After sitting for 5 years you could have issues with everythin mentioned, plus...
every peiceof rubber has dried/decayed in much the same position, as have all electric actuators(windows,door locks, IAC, blower motor!), all the moving interior parts may suffer. Unless there is a very comprehensive warranty that covers loaner cars, I would beat scrap value @ $2.65/ton -transportation costs.
My experience is that sitting for an extended period is jst as damaging as driving average miles, but in a different way.

If you wind up buying it, you could do a lot of damage very quickly by just casually cranking it up.

If the body and interior are really great, I'd offer him $1500 or even less and explain why so little:

Because I'd have to tow it (on a carrier truck, with all wheels off the ground) to a Volvo shop and have every fluid in it flushed and changed before I even thought about starting it.

There have been posts recently in other threads about flushing out old gas from the tank and the lines and the fuel rail and the pressure regulator (*and the pump--suppose gas has gelled in the pump?*). Got to have a shop that knows how to go about untangling all this on a 240.

Engine oil (a little oil in the cylinders, crank it w/o fuel, get the oil pressure up...see other threads on this)
Brake fluid (caliper seals and master cylinder may croak pretty soon)
power steering
coolant
transmission
Belts and hoses (including the heater hoses at the rear of the block)
repack wheel bearings (including the rear axle bearings)
inject fresh grease in the ball joint and tie rod end boots
Lube the u-joints if they have fittings
Timing belt and front seal (and rear seal unless you're real lucky, and maybe axle seals and pinion seal too)

The cassette drive may be dead. The speakers may be rotted. The ECU and ICU may have issues from corrosion. Rusted gas tank from condensation. Mice nesting in the engine compartment chewing on the wiring?

All the suspension bushings and the motor mounts will probably cave in pretty soon. Shock absorber/strut piston seals.

This car has been sitting in one spot for five years, right? Don't even try to drive it on those tires. They might bang in the first five miles.

You won't know until you start troubleshooting how many bad electrical connections it's developed--but there are going to be some.

So many things to deal with. Sitting in the rain for years is death to a car. Pull back the carpet at the rockers, pop the inspection caps--if it's been parked near trees, lots of junk could have washed into the cowl vent and anything big winds up in the rockers where it holds water and rots them out from the inside.

The price has to be worth it or it's not worth it, see?

Good luck (really)

Doug Harvey

I would approach buying this car for what it is--a car that has sat for 5 yrs.Its a sure bet the the fuel tank has foul gas inside which could have gelled and could be a problem in a short period of time after you add gas and free the goop up. Id be looking at the brakes too-frozen calipers and or rusty brake lines. I would point these things out to the saleman and offer him 2000 for it and act as if-you are taking a chance even at that price. Being a volvo--with a good battery--it will probably fire right up and start-but--if it doesnt--use that in your strategy also and act as if that may blow the deal--and offer less if it doesnt start.Im being tough--as I dont like fast talking used car salesmen --especially when they start off with--let me walk you around this unit. Be firm--set your price and stick with it--draw to his attention the negatives about the car--ask him if he still has the tilte--did he missplace after 5 yrs--and keep him on the defensive. Sounds hard-but-remember-he is there to make a buck and doesnt really care about repeat business. I also bet its the only volvo on the entire lot and he doesnt know a thing about the car. Also-if there is no service records with the car--play on that too. Remember-its also a 14 yr old car

they dont' want to see it on the lot anymore, it's been there Way Way too long. offer him $3000 if you think it is in very good shape, then go up from there if you feel like it. They just probably want to get rid of it, but keep in mind that they also know if YOU don't buy it for their price, someone else will probably come along in another 3 years to do so...

After every up offer in price (by $50 mind you) I would say "I'll take that off the lot for you and free up some space!"

Well.....that is what "I" would do!

chuck
--
'88 244 171K, '87 BMW 325e 173K (used to feed a '84 245, '84 244, '85 744)

I'd offer at most $2500 cash knowing what I know from your post and my guess is that a car that sat for 5 or more years will have some issues further eroding the price. But that is just me, I'm cheap and I've walked away from far more than I have bought.
--
1985 244GL - St. Joseph, Missouri