Advice for Selling Volvo S60 (2009, <50k)

LHRavener on 17/11/2024 - 17:55
Last edited 17/11/2024 - 21:48 by 1 other user

My friend has a Volvo S60 (2009, just under 50,000km driven) that has been garaged for 5 years in Melbourne. He is looking to sell it, but wanted to hopefully get a good price, or failing that, sell the car to someone who would appreciate it.

The car has been garaged and is in great condition. I looked it over, the interior is in excellent condition and smells good, while the exterior is dusty but in excellent condition. The only marks I could see were some small scuffs on the front and rear bumper.

It is the basic model, it has its log books, and it was last driven before covid hit in 2019. It hasn’t been started yet, and the battery is certainly flat, the tyres partially deflated. Although it received an oil change before covid, I don’t know if the owner drained it of fuel before garaging it. I had a look under the bonnet and the car has clearly been well looked after.

What do people think - how should he sell it?

Automotive Car Volvo

Comments

  • MS Paint on 17/11/2024 - 18:03
    +7

    hopefully get a good price

    Then you'll need to get the car started, serviced, new tyres, new battery, detailed and be prepared to offer a certificate of roadworthiness.

    Advertise it on carsales at a competitive price. Facebook and Gumtree would work also but you have to identify and weed out the scammers.

    • HRavener on 17/11/2024 - 18:07

      Thanks - we are not car guys so that is valuable advice because we wondered if it would be worthwhile doing that.

      So you are saying that whatever the price the car is worth now, that will be less than the car made road worthy minus the costs to make it road worthy (assuming the condition is as good as it looks)?

      • MS Paint on 17/11/2024 - 18:10

        Up to you whether it's worth the effort. I can't imagine it's worth anymore than $10k.

        Things still perish and break when they aren't driven. The cost to get it to roadworthy condition is unknown until you pay to get it inspected.

        Other option is just to flog it off as is/where is for $3k ish. Zero effort and it makes the car someone else's problem. Be prepared to be low balled though.

        • HRavener on 17/11/2024 - 18:27

          Fair enough - thanks. Ok, it looks like we need to get the car inspected to see if it is worth making roadworthy. I don't know how the owner feels about flogging it off for 3k, but if that were me, but at that price I'd much prefer to sell it someone young as a bargain than a dealer.

          • MS Paint on 17/11/2024 - 18:51

            @HRavener:

            than a dealer

            A dealer would give you $1000 on a good day in its current condition. $500 would be a fair dealer price though.

            • HRavener on 17/11/2024 - 19:04

              @MS Paint: I had no idea! That's scrap price right?

              I'm getting the sense that luxury cars (if this is one), are not great investments.
              Honestly, it hurts me to think of a fancy car like going to a dealer to be scrapped.

        • Jimothy Wongingtons on 17/11/2024 - 18:29

          Considering op states they and friend are not car guys, and the history of it id say go the latter.

          • HRavener on 17/11/2024 - 18:40

            @Jimothy Wongingtons: We are definitely not car guys. I had a look at CarSales from MS Paint's suggestion, and yeah, a little over 10k seems right for the car if it were fully serviced and road worthy. I'm started to get a sense that getting it to that state is not going to be cheap though.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 17/11/2024 - 18:19
    +3

    As it hasn't been driven since pre COVID, there are probably lots of seals that will leak when started, hydraulics involving the brakes that will be dodgy. If it's a manual clutch cylinders may be gone. Rubber hoses with most likely have just about given up the ghost.

    • MS Paint on 17/11/2024 - 18:21
      +5

      That makes expense. Cheers

    • HRavener on 17/11/2024 - 18:33

      I understand that some seals may leak after 5 years, but in my naive way, I was hoping it wouldn't be as bad as you suggested.
      Would an inspection uncover those problems? Or is that something that would only come to light after a fair amount of money has been spent already on getting it serviced?

      • DashCam AKA Rolts on 17/11/2024 - 21:09
        +2

        Each fix may lead to something else.
        Get it started-> oil & coolant leaks, vacuum, exhaust issues
        Get it running-> switch gear, electric fuel pump, sensors, wiper motor, window motors, central locking
        Get it moving-> wheel bearings, brakes, clutch, tyre, suspension bushes issues.
        This is a partial list of things that can deteriorate when a car is left for a long period without being used
        It really is how long is a piece of string?

        • HRavener on 18/11/2024 - 07:42

          Thanks - much appreciated. It looks like a full inspection by a volvo mechanic may be a path forward.

  • Ocker on 17/11/2024 - 19:17
    +4

    Check out the Volvo Car Club for potential buyers

    • HRavener on 17/11/2024 - 19:18

      Will do - thanks very much.

  • randomusername2017 on 17/11/2024 - 19:28
    +2

    Book it in

  • AndyC1 on 17/11/2024 - 20:37
    +1

    Seals are probably gone.
    Coolant has probably absorbed water.
    Petrol has definitively absorbed water.
    Oil is probably stuffed.

    Get it towed to a mechanic or get a mobile mechanic to give it a full service and check before starting it.

  • Randxyz123 on 18/11/2024 - 00:10
    +1

    First thing is first get it probably towed to a Volvo specialist. Berry Motor Group is one that I know of but there are a few others. It will need a good service and probably some things replaced like seals replaced. I would not drive it there personally, but your friend should call the chosen mechanic and ask how best to get it to them. I wouldn’t take it to a regular high street mechanic. You want someone who knows what they are doing.

    Next as already mentioned there are Volvo owners club facebook pages and forums that they can advertise the car through.

    • HRavener on 18/11/2024 - 07:28

      Thanks very much - if he goes down the route of repairing the car, this is good advice.

  • pegaxs on 18/11/2024 - 06:13
    +1

    God I love these classified ads dressed up as questions.

    • randomusername2017 on 18/11/2024 - 08:49

      Translated: Is it still available? do you take PayPal?

  • HRavener on 18/11/2024 - 07:33
    +1

    Thank you everyone! Based on the advice here:

    • The current value of the car as is could be as high as 3k.
    • If made roadworthy and serviced, it could be as high as 12k.
    • It will cost a lot to fully service the car, and potentially be difficult to find all the problems.

    We now know way more than when we started, and my friend can make a decision.
    I really appreciate the advice received here. My own take from this is to never buy an expensive car.

    • MS Paint on 18/11/2024 - 07:54
      +4

      My own take from this is to never buy an expensive car.

      Expensive cars are ok. The best advice is to never park up a European car for 5 years unless it is a classic. A 2009 Volvo is not a classic.

      • HRavener on 18/11/2024 - 08:16

        Good advice, and if it had been followed could have netted a few thousand dollars.

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