what's it WORTH?

[Kit Vexed]

not sure how many responses or ppl are still here but.. it's been some years since the 'hey day' of the Volvo 850.. in the last 10yrs i've notice a DRAMATIC decline in the number i see on the road, still going..

we all know the 1995 850 T-5R was the golden goose of the 850 (and well, Volvo, in general - as there's a yellow wagon in the Volvo museum in Sweden) and single-handedly brought Volvo back to racing and back in the spotlight. this car was, essentially, a homologation special.

how many do you think are still on the road. OF THOSE, how many do you think are wagons? OF THOSE, how many do you think are YELLOW wagons?

i recently re-read an old Car and Driver article that states, "this is a short-run, limited-edition machine: Volvo expects to build a total of 1000 T-5Rs, in both four-door sedan and wagon variants (the latter style will account for about 10% of the mix). prices are $36,350 for the sedan and $38,056 for the wagon - about five grand more than the 850 turbos.."  with inflation, a T-5R wagon today would be about $78,700

so logically, if only 10% of T-5Rs were wagons, and OF THOSE, let's say half were black and half were YELLOW.. then T-gul wagons would be only 5% of the total made?

NOW, to the point of this post - what would you pay for a clean, decently low mileage YELLOW wagon today?

bear in mind, you can look up past bring a trailer sales/prices and base them upon mileage and condition, or if you can find one for sale currently.. or just the fact you haven't seen one in person for years..

i recently purchased a yellow wagon out of Canada as a Japanese import (so RHD), with 188km (roughly 117k mi) that is almost museum quality.. some quirks are that there's no headlight wipers? like, there's no holes for them under the headlights, nor motors - just closed out totally from factory; which would lead you to believe there's no 'winter package' but there's still seat heaters and heated mirrors?  there's no passenger airbag. SERIOUSLY. even BASE MODEL U.S. 850s had passenger airbags. all warning labels throughout are in Japanese (to be expected) and the headlights are factory E-code and the sidemarkers are amber. 

since this is my 1st wagon, i'd looked up some factory optional equipment that came with this car starting with the OEM front strut bar. roof rails. it also has the rear cargo curtain. automatic transmission (which U.S. *only got, but was an extra cost in other markets).

 

what would you pay, or think this is worth now?

 

[RobT5M]

It's really going to come down to what would someone pay for it. 
If its minty, I wouldn't entertain anything under 10k personally.   
You will have a better chance listing it on BAT honestly. 

It's become more of a niche market than it was 10 years ago, while I am sure someone would likely jump at the opportunity to shove 10k in your face, I'm not sure you'd have more offers in that range than you could count on one hand.   Though with that said, I've been seeing p80 x70s in good condition going routinely for over 5-10k. 

You also have to take into account the market today vs the covid market, 850s x70s were hitting 10k no problem, now most are lucky to fetch 5k. 
Then again I know a couple new flvc members that jumped at the opportunity to pay over 3-4k for some clapped out 850s and now they are playing the "where can I find parts and body panels" game. 

 

Personally, while I love the idea of a yellow wagon, id likely never be a buyer simply because i've had an 850 or two now and personally I don't want to try and deal with the hassle of finding parts and fixing old broken plastic pieces anymore.   But that goes for all 850s, not just yellows.   I would be more apt for an x70 but honestly im about to let my s70 go with the offers I keep getting. 

Post some pics. 

[Kit Vexed]

i mean, if you want to play the, "anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it" game - than sure..

i dont want to pay $1.9M for a bugatti veyron.. does that mean a bugatti veyron is no longer worth $1.9M? dont be stupid.

some research would indicate some flaws in your claims though.. as since covid (2021-2024) - NOT A SINGLE T5R wagon has sold for under $19k:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-volvo-850-t-5r/  this one went for $19,250 w/ 267k mi at the beginning of THIS month.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-volvo-t5-r-6/      this one went for $21,250 w/140k mi back in 2022

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-volvo-t5-r-4/      this one went for $25,250 w/155k mi back in 2021

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-volvo-t5-r-3/      this one went for $26,000 w/137k mi also in 2021

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1995-volvo-t5-r-2/      this one went for $19,900 w/122k mi also in 2021

 

dude.. i can't make these prices up - you're just DEAD WRONG. these are all post covid auctions and the reason the 1st link up there is from 2022 is because that's literally the last time a yellow wagon was on auction.. and we're a month out of 2025 here lol

 

some more links for you regarding the rarity of T5R:

   bear in  mind, this was 2 years ago and the UK got a lot more 850s than we did.. so how many are left NOW?

 

and our favorite volvo 850 youtube officianado ROBERT DIY clearly states in this next video, "i have NEVER SEEN a YELLOW WAGON.."

and he been in the game forever and THIS VIDEO WAS POSTED 8 YEARS AGO.. so how many are left NOW:

 

i'd say the market is pretty darn strong - the problem is, THERE ARE NONE.

i'd likely never be a buyer for any 70 series cars because i'd always thought of them as the turning point for Volvo, and as just cheap, watered down versions of the 850s (just with the worst door panel glue in automotive history).. there were no special 70 cars - the only good thing about them were, in fact, that they're just facelifted 850s lol

 

argue all you want - but BRING FACTS, as i just have. easy to throw stones if you aint got one lol.  show me a T5R wagon for under $10k (if you can find one).

 

this is all just an exercise to see the value.

[Kit Vexed]

sorry, correction - up until this month, the LAST T5R wagon listed was over 2yrs ago..

[RobT5M]

😂

Man you went off the deep end, all I said was I wouldn't entertain anything under 10k, and then told you what the market for non yellow/R p80s is. 
Those BAT listings are also exactly why I said you'd have a better chance listing it on BAT. 

If a non R/Yellow P80 is hitting 10k, why would you consider anything under 10k for a R/Yellow?  

 

You also edited the hell out of your original post after I commented. 
If you were looking for an argument, just say that in the beginning, I would have skipped your post. 

[Kit Vexed]

i actually never edited my original post whatsoever.. why would I? tell me what i allegedly changed?

and im not looking for any arguments, I'm simply disagreeing with you and i backed it up with proof.. that's allowed, right?

i was sensing a bit of hating in your response, attempting to minimize something you didn't have, so i checked you with facts.. now you're some sort of victim huh?

alright 👍 

[phunktified]

sounds like you already knew the answer to the question!  

[TIZIO AKA 1 HND MEC]

On 11/23/2024 at 2:16 AM, Kit Vexed said:

sorry, correction - up until this month, the LAST T5R wagon listed was over 2yrs ago..

plenty more in europe

 

 

[Kit Vexed]

plenty of skylines in Japan..

does that diminish their value here?

[Kit Vexed]

i just wanted to point out another variable to this T-5R thing that i hadn't considered before..

i was on marketplace over a month ago and saw a yellow T-5R sedan here in CT pop up.. it was listed as a 'parts car' and was in very rough shape.

i was intrigued, so i contacted the guy about selling it as a whole and he said he had a bunch of T-5R parts he could help out with.

i went to his home and it was a bit of a salvage yard. i showed up before he was out of work and looked the car over and it was ROUGH; to the point where it would cost more to put it back on the road (correctly) than it would be to just find another T-5R.  he actually bought the car for parts for his existing, complete, yellow t-5R sedan. i became interested in his complete sedan and asked if he'd be willing to sell it.  he said he'd have to have $8,000 for it. this car had over 230k mi and wasn't close to perfect. hood was discolored and had some rust spots. front bumper had some cracking. rear passenger door was dented in, an odd dent above the 'T-5R' badge, etc.. it was manual swapped and had a k24 though.

as we're talking, he shares that he's bought entire cars 'for the wheels' or 'for the bumper' and even for a superficial walnut interior piece!  he has a hard-on for T-5Rs, specifically, and bragged about all the parts he has for them, including like 3 sets of titan wheels, gold emblem floor mats, entire interiors and so on.

i came to the realization that this dude is basically gatekeeping and i'd later looked into his marketplace account, and he's gutted T-5Rs to their chassis!

it showed his history of selling 3 T-5R parts cars without titans, R bumpers, mats, etc.. this dude is single handedly buying every T-5R he can, so he can strip it for its one year only model year parts, and then try to sell the parts he took, for an outrageous price, to the person he is selling the parts car to, from the very same car he took the parts off of lol!!

you would think i'd be happy (technically), as every T-5R he basically destroys, leaves one less complete example out there - making my car that much rarer.. but in fact, this is a terrible thing he is doing and it ruins the enthusiast community.  he's not bringing these cars back, like Robert DIY on youtube - he's attempting to create a scenario where he's the only guy to have T-5R specific parts that he's the gatekeeper of, because he's smug and it makes him feel good to have some sort of power over the community.. i could see it as he spoke; i could see it as i looked around the property.. all these junk volvos

 

needless to say, he never contacted me back about selling the 230k mi yellow sedan - which had inspired my search of the yellow wagon, i ultimately ended up purchasing. i did contact him, in spite, in all honesty, to low-key rub it in his face that i'd found something better, that he'd never get his grubby little hands on and he pretended to be happy for me for about 5 min before he stopped responding via text and marketplace lol.  i played it off like i wanted an extra set of titan wheels for my purchase of the car as a 'just in case' and some other wear parts.. but he was no longer interested in the convo because he couldn't gatekeep a T-5R (or its parts) out there.

 

the point of the story is this - there are ppl out there that are killing these cars as complete examples, calling themselves 'enthusiasts' when in reality what's going to happen is THIS:

there wont be any cars left to demand the parts you took!

you destroyed the hobby!  now what?

[phunktified]

speechless in CT

[Kit Vexed]

what do you think bro..

you're basically right down the street from me off rt44..

do you know the guy I'm talking about?

[phunktified]

On 1/3/2025 at 5:08 PM, Kit Vexed said:

what do you think bro..

you're basically right down the street from me off rt44..

do you know the guy I'm talking about?

I think I came across him on marketplace.  Younger guy?  I have never been by his place, pretty sure he came here and bought a few things one time though ...   I mean nothing illegal about what he is doing but I can see how it would rub you the wrong way ...   I parted out a few VR's in my day but didn't hoard all the stuff for myself and only one of them was really save-able but it was on the rough side . . . Sounds like ya may be a little late now if you want to try and beat him at his own game or at least throw a stick in his spokes.

speaking of late to the game that would be me if I ever want to possess an actual P80R  .. prices are jacked up and I'm too cheap and don't drive very much anymore so my current wagon will likely last forever! 

[Kit Vexed]

4 hours ago, phunktified said:

I think I came across him on marketplace.  Younger guy?  I have never been by his place, pretty sure he came here and bought a few things one time though ...   I mean nothing illegal about what he is doing but I can see how it would rub you the wrong way ...   I parted out a few VR's in my day but didn't hoard all the stuff for myself and only one of them was really save-able but it was on the rough side . . . Sounds like ya may be a little late now if you want to try and beat him at his own game or at least throw a stick in his spokes.

speaking of late to the game that would be me if I ever want to possess an actual P80R  .. prices are jacked up and I'm too cheap and don't drive very much anymore so my current wagon will likely last forever! 

YEP. that's the guy.. and he's actually pretty well known as a bit of a "T-5R poacher" lol..

RIGHT NOW, there's a 278k mi yellow sedan out of NY on marketplace and i'd messaged the owner to inquire about some things done to the car and we'd got to talking..

he'd already been approached by this kid in the past and he knew who he was before i'd even mentioned his name and felt exactly as i did - that he strips salvageable examples and ruins T-5Rs and had no interest in selling him the car, nor providing him with any spare parts he'd had (another set of titans).

he actually referred to him as an "A-hole" that doesn't know any better.  this kid actually has a buddy who does something similar, but with less of a hard on for T-5Rs (in particular, but any P80R) and told me that they actually made a fake R and tried to sell it on marketplace. these dudes dont know anything other than stripping and i wouldn't trust either of them to put a car back together that would be road worthy for purchase.  if any of you want to know their names or FB marketplace profiles, just DM me so i can save you the trouble from buying anything they've taken or created.

i know this is a free country, but damn dude, who are these guys to be doing this and killing these cars or gatekeeping over anybody trying to put one back together in the name of preservation..  f-UUU- k these guys!