This is a serious question, not an advertisement. I know where to advertise if I decide to, but I wanted to get honest input from people who drive similar cars. It's kind of a dilemma.

I'm thinking I should sell my 91 245 because I am really looking to get a 700 or 900 series wagon for a bunch of reasons. I want a sunroof, automatic, and other things that aren't found in a (my) 240.

My wagon is really sweet, though, and this is why I want the input. I'll list the positives, like the ton of work and money I've put into it. New trans, clutch, main seal, etc in October. Recent T-belt, pump, tensioner, seals. Pads & rotors two weeks ago--all four. And that's just the beginning. It has cold r134 A/C. In fact, it has working everything. And a lot of features--ABS, cruise, etc. For a 240, it's really loaded up except for leather. And it's NEVER been short changed on service.

One caveat: The car is an ex-salvage, which seems to cause a lot of angst when people look at it. Never be the same, blah blah blah. Very easy to envision cars cut in half on the sly and sold to unsuspecting victims. I can't blame them, with Carfax further polluting the waters (hail damage for example, is considered a "serious accident"). THe alignment shop never says anything about it, and they're the first to know. Anyway, it was rebuilt especially for me after a minor but expensive accident. In 60k miles, never a problem, so I figure the bugs must be--you know--worked out by now. It was salvaged in 99 from the original, North Suburban Chicagoland owner who bought it on a Diplomat/Tourist sales program. The car only spent 3 mos between salvage and me driving it, so it didn't sit in a holding area for a year before I got a hold of it. In other words, it didn't sit and rot somewhere. No flood damage, no rollovers, etc.

Having said that, I buy ex-salvage cars at around $-1000 of book, then negotiated price. That's the typical value for a used ex-salvage car in good condition. I always figure that into the selling price anyway. Still, it's hard to even get a word in edgewise when people find that out. It's kind of a stigma.

Besides that, I have no hangups about the car, about work not done. I won't lose any sleep thinking "what if they had a problem with..."

And I wrench in a Volvo specialty shop--I have not only my own expertise, but the collective expertise of others, as well as this board, invested in the care of the car.

Now, my question is, am I totally out of my mind to sell a car that hasn't given me any trouble? I would hang on to the thing, but I'm getting short on space. I do have my eyes set on a serious creampuff of a 740 wagon (another ex-salvage originally from Dave Ostrem Imports in Des Moines), but would I be short changing myself by getting rid of a car that I've really taken care of? I'd hate to sell the 240 and find out I should've kept it.

Ideas? Suggestions? Help!

Thanks a million.





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Chris Herbst, near Chicago, IL. 93 940, 91 240, 90 240, 88 740, 87 240