Volvo Repair: purchase used Volvo, exterior rust, engine wiring harness

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Followup To

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Hello Roger!I currently iwn an old['81]240 that has been fairly reliable.I've looked @ an '87 740 wagon recently,asking price $1000.Not running,owner says "fuel system problem".It will need tires and battery at least immediately,plus whatever it needs to get running again.Is a 740 as reliable as a 240?Is her asking price reasonable?Also,will 240 wheels fit a 740,same year?Thanks

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Gerald, yes the 740 has pretty much the same drivetrain as your old 240 but to me there is nothing better than a 240. 1000 bucks is reasonable but you probably have a few hundred bucks in repairs.  Worse case it may be a fuel pump.  I would offer 750. The wheels should fit.  Roger          Hi! Thanks for your quick response.I took a closer look and talked the owner again.She said the reason it's not being used is because of a "funny fuel smell" coming from the exhaust.She had had a non-Volvo mechanic replace numerous fuel line components but the engine performance kept getting worse, & it finally stopped running,and has been sitting for about a year and a half.I checked the engine wiring harness and the plastic wrapping is broken where it bends near the engine block below the intake manifold and where it goes thru the manifold.She said it has "all new brakes"-not sure if that meens just pads.Some exterior rust on tailgate and elsewhere.Interior is very well worn,rough almost, radio is missing.She is looking for the folder that has maintainance records-she says the original owner kept up with repairs -she's the 3rd owner.I know these people only slightly,the car is from this area-SW Ohio.So how do I  tactfully give my counter-offer if I'm hesitant in buying this car?If it can be resurrected it could be a handy vehicle to have.


Answer
Geraldine, Well now that I know that the car has been sitting all this time, now you have more of a reason to say well, now I have to have the fuel tank drained because of the stale gas that has been in there.  I would just come out and say, since there are a few issues that need to be addressed, how does 750 sound?  Hope this helped.  Roger