RE: SOTW: Volvo 480 Turbo

RE: SOTW: Volvo 480 Turbo

Friday 27th April 2012

SOTW: Volvo 480 Turbo

Ratty? Yes. But it is the 'car of the future'...



You may recall us blithering on last week about how a decent advert can turn your head. Well, Shed has fallen for it again. This time the key to our metaphorical hearts has been humour, and the star of the show - and thus today's SOTW - an admittedly moderately baggy but ever-so-cheap Volvo 480 Turbo.


"Car of the future -today!!!!" proclaims the advert headline, tongue firmly in cheek, before going on to state that "whilst it was originally registered in 1996, it is clear to see that the rest of the car manufacturing world is yet to catch up."

The seller cites, among the car's good points, "pop-up headlights - officially the coolest feature ever to be installed on any car," and the fact that it's "Just completed its 155,000-mile running-in period, so engine is ready to go". On the downside, says our seller, "only three other people can enjoy the experience of it as well as you at any one time."

But among the jokey stuff is some genuinely useful info - this car has had a recent suspension and brake refresh, tax and test, and a relatively new head gasket and water pump. All of which is good stuff and, along with the price, mitigates against the fact that there are a few issues - the worrying-sounding random engine revving and rust spots being just two of them.


The point is, though, that the ad gets across some good reasons why you might want to buy this car - its turbocharged 110hp gives it reasonable poke, the styling lends it a curious air of sci-fi chic, and it's generally an appealingly left-field alternative to your average shed-spec hot hatch or luxobarge.

We won't pretend that this slightly wobbly Volvo isn't a bit of a punt, but at £650 quid with tax and ticket, you'd not be staking all that much on it...

Advert is reproduced below

CAR OF THE FUTURE -TODAY!!!!! (1996)
156,000 miles £650

An oppurtunity has arisen to buy this fantastical car of the future. Whilst it was originally registered in 1996, it is clear to see that the rest of the car manufacturing world is yet to catch up. I am selling it to make way for a Renaultsport Clio of some description. 

THE GOOD:
-Pop-up headlights- officially the coolest feature ever to be installed on any car.
-8 months tax 3 months mot.
-completely standard.
-Good mechanical working order- being used daily with no problems.
-Just completed it's 155000 mile running in period so engine is ready to go.
-It has a turbo- almost as cool as pop-up headlights.
-70% of the time, the 'infocentre' works 100% of the time ( i suspect a loose connection but have not investigated this).
-Half leather interior.
-Recent full rebuild of suspension, new rear dampers, discs and pads. 
-head gasket and watter pump done by volvo 2 years ago.
-Its from the furture.

THE BAD
-intermittent problem with engine revving spontaneously at idle- not always and not affecting running of car.
-sunroof is stubborn and wont open
-2 small rust spots on nearside wheelarches (see pics)
-radio antenna doesnt retract.
-only 3 other people can enjoy the experience of it as well as you at any one time.
-incomplete service history but have receipts for recent things including suspension and water pump etc.

THE UGLY
-some might say the way it looks. I would say to them - please leave.

Feel free to email with questions. I am open to sensiible offers on the price.

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
I was very close to buying one of these. The engine is a renault 1.7 turbo engine which is very unstressed. A simple ecu mod (can be bought off 480 owners club) raises the BHP to 170 and you end up with the a very fast car.

They look very interesting and I would definatly look at getting one, but would prefer a lower milage one.

BalhamBadger

1,159 posts

172 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
I have always liked these, top shed.

RichF

63 posts

196 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Looks (un)surprisingly similar to the C30 that Volvo then released some 10-15 so years later with the three door and half-hatchback boot look!

My favourite bit of the advert is definitely "70% of the time, the 'infocentre' works 100% of the time" rofl

thewheelman

2,194 posts

172 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Easily one of my least favourite SOTW's, i remember a friend had one in the mid 90's, it was just one of those cars, that if it could go wrong, then it would. He got shot of it for a Honda Prelude, which by chance, i'd say would make a good SOTW.

SirSamuelOfBuca

1,353 posts

156 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
perfect engine donor for renault 5 turbo

Frimley111R

15,537 posts

233 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Looks like he got the hosepipe out and then CBA to use it! :lol

stewy68

1,826 posts

242 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Had one of these (albeit non-turbo 2ltr) and loved it. Bought as a stopgap and kept for a year, it never let me down although the info-centre and fuel gauge only worked about 1% of the time. Great fun at the time though.

The_Burg

4,845 posts

213 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
SirSamuelOfBuca said:
perfect engine donor for a Volvo 340
Fixed the typo for you!

ITech

111 posts

153 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
I had one of these many years ago. They are a nice little car, but pretty slow. The 'Richmod' chip is a very good idea to release some much needed horses. They also suffer really badly from electrical problems, the interiors are cheap and they really rust. An interesting car, but only worth having a really nice one as a 2nd or 3rd car, a cheap one wouldn't be worth it.

B'stard Child

28,324 posts

245 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
BoxyWedgey but good

Just like a previous Ph'r said earlier a mate of mine had one and it looked cooler than a penguins nadger. It didn't drive so well and if the article is correct with 110 bhp I'm not surprised biggrin

My mate replaced his with a TR78 - wedgey with pop up lights, drop top and a Rover V8 under the hood.

I prefered the Volvo hehe


gforceg

3,524 posts

178 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
ITech said:
I had one of these many years ago. They are a nice little car, but pretty slow. The 'Richmod' chip is a very good idea to release some much needed horses. They also suffer really badly from electrical problems, the interiors are cheap and they really rust. An interesting car, but only worth having a really nice one as a 2nd or 3rd car, a cheap one wouldn't be worth it.
Was this car one of those, only partially successful, joint ventures between Volvo and someone else?

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Brilliant shed.

Idle issues will be a sticky ICV, or something equally simple to sort, and who cares anyway... I mean... POP UP HEADLIGHTS. biggrin

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Im quite tempted!

edo

16,699 posts

264 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
"Just completed it's 155000 mile running in period so engine is ready to go."

hehe

Raoul Duke

929 posts

162 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Love these!!
Quirky, flawed, characterful, potentially unreliable etc etc but still damned tempting as a shed!!
Pop up lights smooth over faults.

ITech

111 posts

153 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
gforceg said:
Was this car one of those, only partially successful, joint ventures between Volvo and someone else?
Not sure. I know the 480 and 440/460 were built in a different factory, to the other Volvo models of the time and that caused some 'quality issues'.

thewheelman

2,194 posts

172 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Brilliant shed.

Idle issues will be a sticky ICV, or something equally simple to sort, and who cares anyway... I mean... POP UP HEADLIGHTS. biggrin
All cars with pop up lights should now come with one of these as standard......

esvcg

851 posts

184 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
nice rust hole back of the rear offside arch - wonder what else is rusty under that body!

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
Add now says £500

Life Saab Itch

37,068 posts

187 months

Friday 27th April 2012
quotequote all
*like*