A friend of mine just had Volvo (in Brooklyn) tell him that the rack and pinion seal on his 1985 240DL has a leak and it will cost $1200 to fix. The car is a beautiful blue 1985 with - really - 85K miles on it, all one owner. My buddy is about to junk the car! It is his extra car these days - he was going to give it to his kid at college, and he doesn't want to spend the money Volvo says it takes. I am begging him to get another estimate. I would just take it off his hands but keeping an extra car around here is a real pain.

Any idea what this car is worth, even with a leak? I need some ammo to argue with him to hold on to the thing.

Thanks.

JD