This is my craigslist post, copied and pasted here:
Hi!
I'm helping my neighbors sell their 1998 v70xc. It has 161,000 miles, and they have always done regular oil changes, and could probably get their regular shop to produce the records. They bought it used in 2000, so they've been the primary owners.
I've looked it over in depth, at a shop, and am outlining it in full. Through 2000 are some of the better wagons volvo made: awd, but, not yet as overengineered and overpriced as 2001+ became. 1998 still had a reliable mechanical throttle body, for example... the electronic ones are an inevitable, eventual $800 repair.
It is cosmetically in great shape. There are a couple small dimples on the hood from acorns, but no dents, and no cracks in any glass.
The leather is in good shape. No rips or tears or stains in any of the seats. Slight lightening of the driver's seat leather, on the back. There actually are a couple small cracks in the leather covering the center console storage.
Pictures in a couple days, or come see for yourself.
It has a brand new battery.
It has brand new front pads & rotors.
The timing belt was done 16,000 miles ago (145,xxx). I believe factory interval was 75k, so this won't be needed again for a while. I looked at the belt; it looks new, too. A snapped belt means a new engine, and this is a $1000 job, so consider that if looking at other v70s where maybe this was neglected.
no steering play
no check engine light (and no, I did not just erase it last week or any such shenanigans)
engine runs well, transmission shifts smoothly
awd transfer case/ viscous coupling works fine, has not been burned up (severely uneven tire tread front:back could do that to these awd systems; this one is not damaged).
Now, for what it does need.
4 tires and an alignment. Outer edge wear on all four, so definitely an alignment too. Non-negotiable to pass inspection, or even your safety in the rain.
Left headlight has a crack in it. Frankly it's minor and I wouldn't care: but state inspection does. lamps and lenses.com has a replacement for $100 shipped that's just fine; I know because a friend got one for his s70 (same car, just sedan and not wagon)
both front cv axles have torn outer boots. There is still grease there in the joint, but I'd advise replacing the axles-- I have no idea how long my neighbors have been driving on them with the boots ruptured. Axles are $60 apiece from napa, rebuilt.
upper torque mount has a tear in it. Easy to replace; cost is around $80 I think.
radio wants the security code; changing out the battery triggered its anti-theft security. Dealership can provide.
Have both keys-- and more keys are just $6/apiece at the dealer-- but both remotes were lost. Remotes are $67 apiece if you need 'em. Unsure of programming charges.
Rear pads have maybe 5mm left. 2mm is when you have to change them. So actually some thousands of miles from necessary, but, they're not brand new and you'd need to think about rear pads in a couple oil changes.
Some oil leaks in back, primarily around the turbo. Volvo shop foreman assured me that this was frankly normal for these, and not much you can do about it. These are not major oil leaks, and no, you won't have to top off your oil every month.
Saw just a couple drops of green antifreeze, so there's tiny seepage around the lower radiator hose. Maybe just retighten the hose clamp. Or maybe just not care-- the reservoir level is staying full, so it's very minor. Not a state inspection issue either.
All power windows, locks work, however, the RF window seems to get stiffer going down. Was advised that scissor-type window regulator might need new plastic slides or just grease. Either way, refrain from forcing the RF window all the way down, lest you turn a plastic slide replacement job into a regulator replacement job.
that's... it. Nothing else I can think of, and I've tried to include even the nonissues (what 14 year old car does not have minor oil leaks?). I figure it'd be $1000 to fix up and pass state inspection, so you'd get a $3000 luxury volvo, clean, and well maintained.
Or offer me $3000 and I'll get it fixed up and inspected for you.
Let me know if you would like to see it.
Still has valid plates, so you can test-drive too.
Text four one zero, eight zero two, nine zero one four.
Hi!
I'm helping my neighbors sell their 1998 v70xc. It has 161,000 miles, and they have always done regular oil changes, and could probably get their regular shop to produce the records. They bought it used in 2000, so they've been the primary owners.
I've looked it over in depth, at a shop, and am outlining it in full. Through 2000 are some of the better wagons volvo made: awd, but, not yet as overengineered and overpriced as 2001+ became. 1998 still had a reliable mechanical throttle body, for example... the electronic ones are an inevitable, eventual $800 repair.
It is cosmetically in great shape. There are a couple small dimples on the hood from acorns, but no dents, and no cracks in any glass.
The leather is in good shape. No rips or tears or stains in any of the seats. Slight lightening of the driver's seat leather, on the back. There actually are a couple small cracks in the leather covering the center console storage.
Pictures in a couple days, or come see for yourself.
It has a brand new battery.
It has brand new front pads & rotors.
The timing belt was done 16,000 miles ago (145,xxx). I believe factory interval was 75k, so this won't be needed again for a while. I looked at the belt; it looks new, too. A snapped belt means a new engine, and this is a $1000 job, so consider that if looking at other v70s where maybe this was neglected.
no steering play
no check engine light (and no, I did not just erase it last week or any such shenanigans)
engine runs well, transmission shifts smoothly
awd transfer case/ viscous coupling works fine, has not been burned up (severely uneven tire tread front:back could do that to these awd systems; this one is not damaged).
Now, for what it does need.
4 tires and an alignment. Outer edge wear on all four, so definitely an alignment too. Non-negotiable to pass inspection, or even your safety in the rain.
Left headlight has a crack in it. Frankly it's minor and I wouldn't care: but state inspection does. lamps and lenses.com has a replacement for $100 shipped that's just fine; I know because a friend got one for his s70 (same car, just sedan and not wagon)
both front cv axles have torn outer boots. There is still grease there in the joint, but I'd advise replacing the axles-- I have no idea how long my neighbors have been driving on them with the boots ruptured. Axles are $60 apiece from napa, rebuilt.
upper torque mount has a tear in it. Easy to replace; cost is around $80 I think.
radio wants the security code; changing out the battery triggered its anti-theft security. Dealership can provide.
Have both keys-- and more keys are just $6/apiece at the dealer-- but both remotes were lost. Remotes are $67 apiece if you need 'em. Unsure of programming charges.
Rear pads have maybe 5mm left. 2mm is when you have to change them. So actually some thousands of miles from necessary, but, they're not brand new and you'd need to think about rear pads in a couple oil changes.
Some oil leaks in back, primarily around the turbo. Volvo shop foreman assured me that this was frankly normal for these, and not much you can do about it. These are not major oil leaks, and no, you won't have to top off your oil every month.
Saw just a couple drops of green antifreeze, so there's tiny seepage around the lower radiator hose. Maybe just retighten the hose clamp. Or maybe just not care-- the reservoir level is staying full, so it's very minor. Not a state inspection issue either.
All power windows, locks work, however, the RF window seems to get stiffer going down. Was advised that scissor-type window regulator might need new plastic slides or just grease. Either way, refrain from forcing the RF window all the way down, lest you turn a plastic slide replacement job into a regulator replacement job.
that's... it. Nothing else I can think of, and I've tried to include even the nonissues (what 14 year old car does not have minor oil leaks?). I figure it'd be $1000 to fix up and pass state inspection, so you'd get a $3000 luxury volvo, clean, and well maintained.
Or offer me $3000 and I'll get it fixed up and inspected for you.
Let me know if you would like to see it.
Still has valid plates, so you can test-drive too.
Text four one zero, eight zero two, nine zero one four.