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Considering Buying 850R Long Distance - Any Advice For Smooth Transaction?

JaredR1

By JaredR1
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JaredR1 Rookie

JaredR1

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I'm sure a lot of you know the story about my 850R that was hit by a front end loader by now, and my search for a replacement hasn't yet and isn't likely to turn up any options with the potential of a face-to-face transaction any time soon (I bought the first one that I could buy face to face after searching for 8 months, and I definitely can't wait that long this time). A few of the caRs I've found have been owned by forum members or other Volvo enthusiasts who I would feel perfectly comfortable dealing with in a long distance deal, but the current leader is definitely not owned by a Volvo enthusiast.

So I'm curious, have any of you guys done long distance transactions with non-forum members? If so, how did you arrange the transaction to make sure that you didn't get ripped off?

I'd like to try to make something happen with this caR if it continues to look as good as it has so far, especially since it's at high risk of being lost if someone doesn't make a deal on it soon (the current owner is short on space and seriously considering parting it out due to blown head gasket and subsequent frozen water in engine). I need to get some higher quality pictures, but, from what I've seen so far, it appears to be in almost perfect shape in and out....aside from the engine, obviously. Heck, working engine or not, it's not often that a red 850R with a good body comes up for sale....not to mention that I wouldn't have to pay for another engine that I don't need and would get to use the loss of my 850R to save another thereby having no net loss of 850Rs as a result of my front-end loader incident.

But at the same time, I want even more to make sure this transaction goes smoothly should I decide to go for this caR, so any input would be much appreciated.

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gdog Contributor

gdog

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Best thing is (if you can swing this) take some time off work and go there yourself. Do you usual carfax stuff (take w/grain of salt of course) and if you end up buying it, go with seller to the DMV (or whatever they call that in MA) to make sure the paperwork/title is in order.

How far away are we talking? Very hard to buy something that's not running; have no idea what condition the running gear is in; but I guess you mainly need a straight body so..

Good luck! When I look at used cars, a clean body is my first priority too; i can fix most of the mechanical stuff myself.

and next time keep it in the garage, or at least farther off the street.. ^_^

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JaredR1 Rookie

JaredR1

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Yep, a straight body is exactly what I need. The car we're talking about is nearly 1000 miles from me, so I can't really go with the seller to the DMV. I might be about to luck out to some extent as my aunt has some in-laws who might live close enough to help me out with taking a look at it and possibly with a transaction should it get that far, but, even if that all works out, I'd still have to have it shipped here. I know I've seen forum members ship cars before; does anyone have any recommendations on that?

Not sure if it's acceptable here to admit that I don't have a garage that's usable for cars (flood risk + has a milling machine and lathe in it + would have to pave entire yard to get to it), but my R was 100% in my yard and about 15 feet away from where the street had been plowed previously. That should have been plenty far off the street, and had I gone any further off the street, it would have been in a lower area of our yard that was at risk of being flooded. We're contemplating going after the operator for reckless operation of a MV given that he also demolished 15 foot tall tree that was clearly visible directly above the R. Only problem is we'd have to go after the cops for falsification of a police report to do that. It's kind of complicated. Also irritating that the private contractor's insurance company seems to be on vacation. We're also really hoping we're not living in this house by next winter.

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winterhalo Newbie

winterhalo

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if the police did indeed falsify a report (probably so they would decrease their paper work) and

you have pictures to back it up, definetly file a report. Cops are not gods. They are employees

of the municipality and should be held accountable for bad actions. Sue the town. That will get

their attention.

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7 VII 7 Newbie

7 VII 7

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I'm sure a lot of you know the story about my 850R that was hit by a front end loader by now, and my search for a replacement hasn't yet and isn't likely to turn up any options with the potential of a face-to-face transaction any time soon (I bought the first one that I could buy face to face after searching for 8 months, and I definitely can't wait that long this time). A few of the caRs I've found have been owned by forum members or other Volvo enthusiasts who I would feel perfectly comfortable dealing with in a long distance deal, but the current leader is definitely not owned by a Volvo enthusiast.

So I'm curious, have any of you guys done long distance transactions with non-forum members? If so, how did you arrange the transaction to make sure that you didn't get ripped off?

I'd like to try to make something happen with this caR if it continues to look as good as it has so far, especially since it's at high risk of being lost if someone doesn't make a deal on it soon (the current owner is short on space and seriously considering parting it out due to blown head gasket and subsequent frozen water in engine). I need to get some higher quality pictures, but, from what I've seen so far, it appears to be in almost perfect shape in and out....aside from the engine, obviously. Heck, working engine or not, it's not often that a red 850R with a good body comes up for sale....not to mention that I wouldn't have to pay for another engine that I don't need and would get to use the loss of my 850R to save another thereby having no net loss of 850Rs as a result of my front-end loader incident.

But at the same time, I want even more to make sure this transaction goes smoothly should I decide to go for this caR, so any input would be much appreciated.

lol, want to buy mine?

need motivation to put it up for sale.

edit: Northern VA

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Fudge_Brownie Newbie

Fudge_Brownie

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You can post up a request for the area asking if someone around that area can take a look at it. Someone really local might do it just to be friendly, but offering a fee will surely help.

Or, tell the seller that you need quality pics before you fly out. You could try to pay a mechanic in the area to go look at it, or maybe a detail shop. If you're planning on buying a broken car over 1000 miles away, it's hard to imagine that's financially worth it. Have you estimated what it will cost to ship it home?

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JaredR1 Rookie

JaredR1

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We've been seriously considering suing the town given the joke that this insurance company has been so far. If the insurance settlement turns out to be a joke (I'm expecting it will be), then that will be a very real option. As much as I'd love to do something about sloppy cops and negligent drivers, I only have so much time to sink into this mess...just focusing on getting a good settlement for right now.

I have looked into shipping. I've heard uship isn't the way to go, but I put the info in there just to get some numbers to chew on and they came back at $750 for a non-op car. Some people have said they tend to be high and others low, so I'm figuring on $1k absolute worst case. I'm figuring I can pick this car up for $1.5-2k including shipping. I like to think I'm pretty good at nationwide CL searches, and the cheapest fully functional R estates I've been finding are around $4k, so if I can save this one from being scrapped and save $2-3k in the process, I personally think that's a huge win. I picked mine up for $1.5k last summer and the days of getting a decent R for that seem to be over from the trends I've seen in the market over the past 6 months.

7 VII 7, are you talking about the one in your sig? Probably will take a pass in that case as I'm looking for an estate (preferably another red one) unless that's not the car you're talking about...

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7 VII 7 Newbie

7 VII 7

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7 VII 7, are you talking about the one in your sig? Probably will take a pass in that case as I'm looking for an estate (preferably another red one) unless that's not the car you're talking about...

Tis the one I am speaking about, no worries :)

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JaredR1 Rookie

JaredR1

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There was that one s60r for sale in pdx for only $5k.

I have been seeing some fantastic deals on P2 Rs recently as well (and local ones, too), but I'm looking to stay on the P80 platform for now. I've been in my mom's P2 V70 more than enough to know that I don't like it nearly as much as the P80 cars. The P2 seats and armrests just don't fit my body right like they do in the P80, and there's just something about the overall experience in the P80 that I like better than the P2, although I can't seem to figure out what exactly it is.

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