Even trade? Volvo wagon content

On one side: my 73 Volvo 145. 4 speed stick with good mechanicals, rough paint and a very small amount of rust around the windows.

On the other side: 92 740 wagon. N/A and auto, with solid paint, body, and mechanicals. 120k miles.

Not really asking for advice about why dumping the 145 for a 740 is a bad idea - I already know the 145 has character and cool the 740 can never have. But the 740 would be a superb road trip vehicle with AC and the possibility of adding a turbo or V8 down the road.

Just wondering if I'm way off on value between the two. Neither is particularly valuable, so I'm thinking even up at this point.

I happen to have a 145E in my shop just now... Your answer is based on whether you want a semi cool, old, noisy, leaky but drivable car that's getting hard to find parts for, or a mostly modern quiet and reliable older car that could very easily be used to circumnavigate the globe tomorrow.

What is your desire?

If you are considering that I would offer my pair of 94 945 n/a auto and 90 745 Turbo manual as an even trade for your 145. Mix and match for awesome.

As far as an even trade I would say no. 145 would be $2-3000 probably. You can get a very nice 745 for $1500.

My desire is to know whether the hive mind thinks one or the other is obviously more valuable.

EvanB: Are your cars mechanically sorted, with clean bodies, interior, and paint? I'm obviously up for a trade. Or the Mini of course.

The 940 is fairly clean interior and exterior, some small rust spots on the bottom of the doors. The 740 is very rough but has a solid drivetrain and runs well.

I would feel slightly bad doing an even trade since I think the 145 is worth more.

Even without seeing your 145, I would say it's not an even trade. 745's are really not worth much today. I sold my 745T for $300 and an Ipod even after advertising it here. It was cosmetically rough-ish, but zero rust, enthusiast owned and well maintained.

On the other hand, old Volvo's are getting hot. I'm on the West Coast now, and I could see any driveable 145 going to the right buyer here for at least $2-3k. The hitch is that out here people are used to very little rust, so there's no saying what the rust would do the resale.

There are not many 740 wagons recently on ebay. The only two recently sold were this base model for $2500, and inexplicably this one for $4600.

Meanwhile this is the only 145 sold recently, for $2000. That one is a fair bit crustier than mine, but also includes some nice extras like the OD transmission and Rally gauges.

My gut tells me the 140 is and should be worth more, but maybe the clean 745 market is better than I thought.

Put another way - would I be absolutely nuts to pay $2500 for a perfectly clean low-mile base 92+ 740 Wagon?

For an N/A Auto. I say yes. If it were a stick and/or turbo then maybe not but that is the least desirable version IMO.

Well, I pulled the trigger on the trade. The 92 is in my driveway, and there's some extra cash in my pocket. I'm sad to see the 145 go, but it's going to a very good owner.

My wife is happy with the trade, so that's all that matters.

If you got cash, then I support your decision. This thread has me wanting another 960/v90 to play with.