what should I do...

[VICIII]

I have a 2001 xc70 with 150,000+ miles. Trans still is fine and have flushed it properly.
Timing belt, throttle body cleaning, trans flush, and new tires are all due.
I have done all maintance on time and all oil changes are accounted for.
Front end has all new bushings, engine mounts are all good and have been for over 80,000 miles. Our family is orginal owner.
it is worth roughly 4-5 thousand.
It needs about $1500 worth of work.
Should I keep it or sell it and get something else?
We are a familiy of 7. This is our secondary car.
What say you?
I am worried about putting money in it and could just sell it because it will not be worth less with out doing the work.

[Jorge-789995]

I just went through the same thought process. Mine is an 02 127K. It's been good to me, so I'm going to keep it. If you price out new cars, even the transaction costs of tax/title/lic will be more than the $1500 in work that it needs.

I vote keep it.

Keith

[JRL]

it's worth that AFTER the 1-1500 worth of work
(Why do you think you need a timing belt? T belts are a 105K mile change so you shouldn't need one for 50K miles)!
If it's a decent car, just do what it needs and keep it until it dies or the tranny gives out

[VICIII]

it's worth that AFTER the 1-1500 worth of work
(Why do you think you need a timing belt? T belts are a 105K mile change so you shouldn't need one for 50K miles)!
If it's a decent car, just do what it needs and keep it until it dies or the tranny gives out

Can't tell when the timeing belts were changed... No recoreds but might be missing some from a time for about a year. Dealer and independent both said it was changed and looked good but that is one thing you do not want to go...
Just saw that the corner yellow position light went out. Love that.

[Astro14]

Look - it's not worth that much as is, as JRL says....but it's paid for. The largest cost of car ownership is depreciation. Seriously...but it's buried in the payments. As an example: my T5 sold for $42,000 new. I bought it with 70K on it for $13K six years later. Tops, the dealer gave 1st owner $10K on the trade. Tops. So that guy paid $32,000 for 5-6 years of driving the car....over $5K per year! And it still needed insurance, gas, oil changes, tires, brakes, everything that your car needs...only he was eating a $5K loss every year.

A loss that you and I are not experiencing

If everything else on the car is good, then $1500 isn't much to have a safe, practical car back in service.

Do the work.

[JRL]

You're correct
If you have no real proof of a T belt, change it out ASAP
It's not worth blowing up your engine for 3-$400

[jda2000]

remove the cover and look at the t-belt itself for any markings.

If label says volvo and faded, change it ASAP as is the original. If label says continental or other brand, with good markings, then it has been changed and you are good for another 50k miles.

[BIGGUYNE]

I'm a firm believer in Click & Clack's advice-- the cheapest car to own is the car you own. If you let economics be your guide, you'll drive it until the tranny shells, or you need $2500+ repairs. BUT...most people get tired of their older rides and get new car fever. We just keep passing them around our family.

[Volvos rock]

Ill go along, Keep it, still cheaper in the long run (and still a nice car to boot)

[VICIII]

keeping it....
Thanks guys...