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Saw a 95 GL wagon briefly today (before it got dark). Only 110,000 miles, interior fairly clean. Handbrake doesn't work, rear wiper doesn't work, fan only works on high. Car drives ok (tranny doesn't slip, no pulling) but it feels like it has more miles on it than it has, perhaps it just hasn't been well maintained in the past. Owner bought it a year ago for $1300 from used car lot, had to put $2000 in repairs (all new brakes, tie rod and wheel bearing), and is selling it because his son has moved and he doesn't have yard space. Body is ok, no dents, mild rust here and there. Needs an oil change, and the tranny fluid is dirty so needs a flush. No idea about AC. Engine looks to be the 20 valve kind (dual overhead cam), are they more trouble?
He's taking it to the garage Monday for the safety inspection, and will adjust price if needed. I can't see it passing with bad handbrake and rear wiper. He's asking about $1500 for it, with safety certificate. No maintenance records, so I have no way of knowing when timing belt was replaced for example. Fan would be a hassle in the winter.
Is this worth a second look? Thanks for your thoughts, as usual.
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posted by
someone claiming to be fixit2002
on
Sun Nov 20 17:05 CST 2011 [ RELATED]
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I'd stay away from ANY '95 especially if driven by a teenage boy. You can bet he did ALL his driving in the tranny "sport" mode. The "dirty" read burned tranny fluid is not a good sign. What you REALLY need to do is drive the car some distance at freeway speeds so the tranny fluid is good and hot and then pull off and come to a stop. You want to pay attention to how it downshifts slowing down and try to detect if it's clunky or smooth. Then see if it slips when you start back up. The '95's are noted for developing this problem and there's no cheap solution. It will only get worse but if you can baby it it can go years, as mine has.
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Klaus is right. Offer $1000.00 cash if tires are good, brakes are good, tranny shifts good and the mileage turns out to be correct. I've seen wagons go for higher with similiar or worse issues. Other than possible A/C evaporator issue, nothing mentioned was a deal breaker.
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Actual mileage can be retrieved from the computer. The sun will make the seat leather hard.
There should be a timing sticker in the engine bay, replacement at 70K or less, and yes, it needs another one because of age.
If the tranny fluid is very dark, it might be a bad sign. The rear wiper is probably frozen, that can be fixed.
The blower working on high only is probably due to a bad rehostat, about $100, or one from a junk yard. If the car has electronic climate control, blower speed does not have numbers, then there are codes to check what is wrong.
Do not expect the AC to work, it has probably leaked all of its r134a. A charge might make it work for a while.
ALL fluids need to be changed.
The parking brake probably has the linkage rusted inside the drum. Easy fix or replace with new.
Safety probably won't care about the rear wiper, but they sure want the Ebrake to work.
Offer $1,000.
Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?
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Thanks to both of you!
I didn't see a timing sticker but it was getting dark, and as you say it likely needs one due to age alone.
Tranny fluid wasn't exactly dark, just more brownish than reddish, so has likely never been replaced. Didn't smell burnt, for what that's worth. Mind you, I wasn't expecting that color on a 110k car...
No ECC, it had manual fan speed switch.
When his mechanic fixed the brakes last year, he asked owner if he wanted handbrake fixed, that it would cost another $500 and owner said he was ok without it. As you say, it likely won't pass safety (if it does, I'm not sure what that says about the mechanic...)
This one looks like it sat for a long time at some point. The rear vertical light bezels are sun-whitened and opaque. Sounds like it might take a fair amount of time/money to bring this car up to snuff.
It's getting a bit late in the Fall for me to acquire a fixer-upper, and I'm pretty well prepared to drive my 82 diesel Benz this winter, but if the right Volvo wagon comes along...
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Thanks to both of you!
I didn't see a timing sticker but it was getting dark, and as you say it likely needs one due to age alone.
Tranny fluid wasn't exactly dark, just more brownish than reddish, so has likely never been replaced. Didn't smell burnt, for what that's worth. Mind you, I wasn't expecting that color on a 110k car...
No ECC, it had manual fan speed switch.
When his mechanic fixed the brakes last year, he asked owner if he wanted handbrake fixed, that it would cost another $500 and owner said he was ok without it. As you say, it likely won't pass safety (if it does, I'm not sure what that says about the mechanic...)
This one looks like it sat for a long time at some point. The rear vertical light bezels are sun-whitened and opaque. Sounds like it would take a fair amount of time/money to bring up to snuff.
It's getting a bit late in the Fall for me to acquire a fixer-upper, and I'm pretty well prepared to drive my 82 diesel Benz this winter, but if the right Volvo wagon comes along...
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$500 to fix the Ebrake? That is laughable, even if both cables were broken and all of the hardware needed replacing. Deduct from the asking price!
The vertical rear lights can be had at junk yards 1994-1998 (V70).
Klaus
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Did you do your Random Act of Kindness today?
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Yeah, if you are here in STL, I can confirm the presence of several 850s out at Speedway self-serve.
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$1500 isn't that bad for one without records.
When my fan only worked on high or nothing (regardless of where the slider was) it was the ECC that had gone bad. Its easy to fix (pull out radio then push out climate module). IF its the fan or the relay on it, replacing either (or both) isn't that bad of a job, just source your parts from the junkyard instead of buying new.
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If you're not driving it "like its stolen," are you really driving?
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Gee, I think I`d pass on that one. I sold my wife`s 95 850 turbo wagon last Spring for $500, it had lots more mileage but well maintained with no issues but the AC. Brand new brake pads, strong drivetrain, excellent body & interior. Maybe I let it go a little too cheap... the guy who bought it was a BMW mechanic & he peeled off 5 crisp ones immediately.
Rich
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Just to give some pricing perspective. My son totaled my 95 850 and an independant shop bought the wreck for $600. If you can get a good independant shop and check some numbers of the required repairs and then make a offer. $1000 doesnt sound outrageous in the Northeast but pricing may be less in your area.
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