Wanted Volvo 480 wanted

[squid]

Now don't all shout up at once
Our daughter is desperate for one as her first car, so only interested if a solid clean example.
She refuses point blank to have anything modern and sensible.
The wife blames me

 

[squid]

Manual to make it a little harder!

 

[Vern]

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/28687186...qcOso1Gdsdi+G12bPVeQ7j1e0=|tkp:Bk9SR6iW8MK_Zg

Maybe worth a look. Not many about these days

 

[squid]

Thanks Vern,
Yes seen that one. No mot and 150+ miles away complicates it. Looking a bit tatty but if closer I'd have taken a look at the price.
I am expecting to have to do some sorting on any to be happy for my daughter to drive but would prefer one a bit closer or road ready.
As you say, not many about.

 

[Santa-2512]

Before you commit, See if there is an owners club or forum, and ask about relaiability or spares issues

Nothing worse than buying an older car only to find they had horror stories

I looked at the 480 whn i wanted a cheap runabout , what i got in the end was a 360, rather unique for a volvo,

It the booted version, and has the gearbox on the rear diff

No power steering if i recall but solid and reliable


The other option is the Skoda Felicia 1.3 Chain driven so no cambelt to worry about

They are propper old school, no aircon , PAS , power windows or central locking ,

My eldest had his best years running around in one we bought him for £250

 

[squid]

My ma had a 480 for a number of years which I used to service for her so quite familiar with them. Not totally without gremlins but as older cars go safer than many.
I saw a 360 with just 14k miles and PAS up for auction not long ago but the ins was high. Ins is very hit and miss on older cars.
Some 480s are coming up as £3k. Yet others (later ones) only £1700 which is about as low as it goes now for a new driver.
There are other semi modern classics she likes but she is a very hard one to please. She knows what she likes and doesn't. For us it needs to be solid and preferable with side impact bars at least.

 

[autogs]

As a tech at a volvo main dealer when these were new,don't, they all have pas,check very carefully the clutch action and the bulkhead where the cable goes through they crack/split very badly, it will have a hundred different rattles and squeaks inside, electrics will not always work, head lamps like to go up and down in sequence.so many things to go wrong, Renault engine usually ok mind and clutch replacement on the turbo version long winded.Also likes to leak water anywhere around the rear end. There's more but Don't want to be too negative!!!

 

[oblertone]

I ran one as a second car for a number of years, while it never let me down it always seemed to be on the brink. It rattled like a Salvation Army tin, leaked a bit from the sunroof and was apparently a test bed for electrics later applied (or not) to other models. i.e. select reverse and the rear window wiper activated, sometimes The 340/360 of the same era were much more reliable platforms, albeit normally driven by men in trilbys.

 

[Santa-2512]

I had a 360 (booted version)

bit like a baby 240, but very stripped down luxury wise no PAS no power steering

But easy to work on , I found for cam belt, a front end off, bumper & rad but 10 mins to align lock and fit remove old / new belt

 

[MMC]

Ran a 480 as a daily back in the early 2000s. I'd wanted one for years - ever since I saw that the keyholes lit up when you lifted the door handle. I'm easily influenced. I put about 25k on it over two years and it only let me down once when the distributor went west. Worth checking the rear light cluster seals as they can perish and fill the boot with water (also ends up in the footwells). Definitely creaky inside, but silicone spray sorts most of that.

Managed my quickest ever run up from some of the family in Falmouth to Oxfordshire one early June morning in it, dodging the speed cameras. Handled beautifully.

I'd love another.

 

[autogs]

I had a 360 (booted version)

bit like a baby 240, but very stripped down luxury wise no PAS no power steering

But easy to work on , I found for cam belt, a front end off, bumper & rad but 10 mins to align lock and fit remove old / new belt

360 isn't a booted version of a 480?

 

[Smartbazza]

Tv programme featuring one ‘flipping bangers’. Ironically I watched it an hour a go.

Barry

 

[Littledumptruck]

No chance of getting her to consider a C30??

 

[squid]

No chance of getting her to consider a C30??

I tried that, would be much more practical but she's a stubborn one
Admire her persistence on what she likes but it's muggins here that will be fixing an old car and attending the breakdowns.
She also likes Citroën BXs, Which is fair enough. A Gandini design but with plenty of fluid leaks

The chances of finding a decent 480 are slim although we missed one recently with 48k
I have and will keep trying to get her interested in other options.

Don't want to pour water on her fun but at the same time she needs safe transport.

 

[Steve398]

I had a 360 GLT, and loved it… but I’ve always been a Volvo fan from the 144 onwards.
Had the 240GLT’s as Traffic cars alongside Rover SD1’s and found the Volvo’s far more reliable and comfortable.
Best of luck in your search.

 

[squid]

I had a 144 some years back. Had some go, especially when dropping it out of overdrive. Also fancied a 240 GLT but the right one never came my way. Would be fun to drive one to the arctic circle
Had a 940 turbo i got off ebay for £350 still with 11 month tax on it and fsh @ 74k
Bought for the wife when she took her test (late starter!)
Had it as the family / tow car for 4 years until the turbo went. Scrapped it for more than it owed. Shame but wasn't worth repairing back then

 

[Jurassic Mark]

I like her eye for good design. The 480 and the BX are both great looking cars.

 

[Santa-2512]

I had a 240 GLE auto built like a tank but very nice to drive & the 360 manual both had the 2.0 engine

 

[sherpatensing]

Have a look on the Volvo 480 Club Europe forum, specifically the ‘1994 Volvo 480 Turbo Diary’. This is my old work colleague’s 480 restoration story. This vehicle is now winning shows but has cost probably 4 times what it’s worth.
They are suffering from extensive rot, plastic trim etc is prone to breaking, rear lamps turn white and spare parts difficult to find.

 

[squid]

Have a look on the Volvo 480 Club Europe forum, specifically the ‘1994 Volvo 480 Turbo Diary’. This is my old work colleague’s 480 restoration story. This vehicle is now winning shows but has cost probably 4 times what it’s worth.
They are suffering from extensive rot, plastic trim etc is prone to breaking, rear lamps turn white and spare parts difficult to find.

Eeks, that's old cars for you. Can you have a word with her for me because she ain't listening
I sent her a link to a 2004 fiesta yesterday with just 25k miles. I got the usual response, its ugly.
She is only going to change her mind after being stood by the side of the road in freezing rain a few times.
The wife blames me, I have owned something like 250 cars. Mostly older cars. She has got used to travelling in something interesting.
My lad bought a Porsche 944 at 19 which he still has and his daily is a E36 bmw.
I daily a 996 with other recent ones being an XJS, Caterham, a 360 etc.