I think it’s time for me to ditch the Volvo:(

"AestheticsInMotion" (aestheticsinmotion) 05/22/2019 at 16:26 • Filed to: None

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The shop said it needs a new battery and alternator, neither of which surprises me. Parts and labor for the alternator (can’t remember if the battery was included) is over $700. Cylinder misfire issue is still an unknown. Various other problems as expected with an old Volvo. I need to be super careful with money right now and as such I think I need to admit it. Time to let this one go.

So... Right now I’m planning on having it towed to my grandmother’s, where I’ll put it up for sale. Complicating matters is the fact that I never got the title transfered to my name as I couldn’t get the car running for an emmisions test. I’ve got the title and bill of sale, aand the previous owner submitted a release of interest, but yeah. Couldn’t get that title transfered. The irony is that Washington State is getting rid of emmisions requirements next January.

So what do I ask for this? It’s a very rare color, rare manual transmission T5 turbo wagon with jump-seats, and service history going back to the beginning. California car for all but the last 4 months. It’s got the original window sticker (over $50,000 in today’s money!). It’s got every fill-up recorded from the initial one to my own. I’m the third owner. Title is clean, body is straight, springs and shocks are brand new, OEM. Those are the pros.

The cons.... Well. The title issue. The battery and alternator. The cylinder one misfire (I still think that’s a simple fix since it was running perfectly for 1600 miles but who knows). Electric locks are finicky. Clearcoat is bad on the roof and hood. Some interior trim pieces are in rough shape.

Where do I price this? If it ran and was titled appropriately, I’d have no problem getting $4k in the PNW from one of the Volvo forums. As is.... I really have no idea. $1000?

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:32

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I’ll give you $500 for it.

:-D

Discerning > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:33

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I was about to say that an alternator should be an easy DIY, but they really buried that thing, huh....

That stinks

Sovande > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:35

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It will sell quick for $1000. I would buy it today if it wasn’t on the opposite side of the country.

List it for $2000 of you don't need to sell it right now. That's such a fun car that is so easy to mod and so cheap to insure and drive. 

MonkeePuzzle > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:36

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you should be able to get it tit;es in your name without the emissions test. Titled, but not registered. 

AestheticsInMotion > MonkeePuzzle 05/22/2019 at 16:39

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Oh? That definitely sounds reasonable. I’ll stop by the licensing office and chat with them

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:40

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Ran when owned by previous owner

MonkeePuzzle > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:41

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and by “tit;es” I do of course mean “titled” :D

anyway, yes, I have done this for a few cars that needed work. I always do the title first so there can be no dispute later on a car I have invested time/money  

Sovande > Discerning 05/22/2019 at 16:43

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It should still be a fairly easy diy. There is nothing complicated about working on these cars. 

vicali > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 05/22/2019 at 16:48

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Ha!

All those CP/ CL posts are coming to haunt us now..

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:50

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If as the other person states, you can get a title without registering, then I think the value is quite a bit higher. As is with dead battery and alternator and weird title ; you are probably right that getting $1,000-1,500 is probably what you would get. If you get the title cleared up I’d say more like $2,000. 

AestheticsInMotion > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 05/22/2019 at 16:51

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You and Ash can write the ad

Highlander-Datsuns are Forever > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:54

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If you really like the car just park it at grandmas until you can afford to fix it. At least do the alternator and battery so you can drive it there and avoid towing costs. I have had one car previously that I considered a lemon, it took me several thousand dollars to decide it was no good.

Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 05/22/2019 at 16:55

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Also, sorry to hear

2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 16:55

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You thought you couldn’t title it without passing emissions? That would be ridiculous, that’s like the government saying “you can’t own  this unless it's road legal"

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 17:01

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Sell it for 1000, take 500.

CompactLuxuryFan > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 17:12

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I would * really* try to figure out the misfire, as that’s the only uncertain at this point. If you can easily get $4,000 for it, you will have a guaranteed return on any money you put in that is less than  ($4,000 - $sale price). Current sale price is looking like $1,000.

Getting it titled sounds pretty much free an adds $500 to the sale price, so definitely do that.

Alternator & battery cost $700 and could save you a tow. Would they add $700 to the sale price? Seems likely considering how much tows run these days.

Spending $200 to diagnose a misfire that could add thousands to the sale price sounds more like “being super careful with money” to me than just fire-selling what could have some upside.

just-a-scratch > MonkeePuzzle 05/22/2019 at 17:14

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Here i was thinking a  car bra  was needed to support those tit;es.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Neil drives a beetle and a fancy beetle 05/22/2019 at 17:23

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Nope , not here you can’t. I actually couldn’t get my title until I passed emissions first when I bought my car in 2017. Luckily for me there was a testing center 6 blocks down, but yeah the title office turned me away.

AestheticsInMotion > CompactLuxuryFan 05/22/2019 at 17:49

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This is all smart. At the very I’ll be getting the title transfered to my name, and trying a few other ways to fix the misfire 

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 17:56

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Our 850 T5 had an electrical issue. Neither the local Volvo specialist or dealer could figure it out. Dump it. 

Steve in Manhattan > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 17:59

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Possible to do the alternator yourself? Can you even get to it?

MM54 > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 18:00

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Unfortunately you’re on the other side of the country so it isn’t practical to offer to trade a broken crown vic for it, or even trade monies for it.

My suggestion would be try and clear up either the title or misfire, I think having both of those is going to kill resale whereas only one of the two might not break the deal for everyone who actually reads the ad before they call you .

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/22/2019 at 18:00

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Oh man. That's frustrating. I'm going to give it another shot and hope that we both got bad customer service reps

AestheticsInMotion > 2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered 05/22/2019 at 18:01

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Government processes are often rediculous. I'm going to attempt to get the title in my name again tomorrow. I was turned away last time, but I'm hoping that's because they just assumed I needed to get it registered 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 18:01

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My lady was actually super nice -- that’s how you know it’s the law :(

AestheticsInMotion > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/22/2019 at 18:02

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Ugh. Mine was too

Future Heap Owner > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 18:06

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 Sorry to hear this

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 18:08

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I think you need to get rid of that thing, not even worth trying to fix the title at this point . Trust me. Three Tercels.

Future Heap Owner > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/22/2019 at 18:10

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You need three decals of a Tercel with the hood open  for the side of your Lexus

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > AestheticsInMotion 05/22/2019 at 18:52

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You should just do the battery and alternator, it cant be that hard to DIY fix that. Then it will at least run okay, assuming the misfire isnt constant. If you could somehow solve that problem though, then you get full price for the car. But then you might also want to just keep it since its then a reliable vehicle. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > 2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered 05/22/2019 at 18:59

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I mean in California, you cant register a car to a new owner without a smog check being completed within the last 90 days, period. Technically it is the seller’s responsibility to do so but there are plenty of dumb buyers who skip this step and end up on the hook for it and then subsequently become sellers who still think that is the process. Its not illegal to buy a car without smog so its a system that takes advantage of stupid people. But anyways, I imagine its a similar setup in Washington. You just dont buy cars unless they pass emissions, unless you are buying junk cars to fix and flip for a profit or something.

Titling and registering should be the same. I know you can register a car as “non-op” meaning it would not be street legal. But idk if you can do that with a newly purchased car.  

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Future Heap Owner 05/22/2019 at 19:55

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I should have ChariotofLove modify his Z day so the hood is open and make a decal out of it

NojustNo > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 05/23/2019 at 17:57

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You can get title without emissions juat not plates and tabs. I’ve done 3 this year like that where the check engine is on and can’t pass.

Now now that it’s been over the two week mandatory title transfer time, the next person that title this is going to have to pay the penalties which is a maximum of 200 bucks

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > NojustNo 05/24/2019 at 00:31

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We'll see if AiM goes back and tries again