RE: Shed Of The Week: Volvo 480 ES
Discussion
Lotusgone said:
Oh dear. Not a great shed, and certainly not a classic - just a bit old. Dull as ditchwater to drive - yes, I was interested at one point, but really this car has no redeeming features.
They lacked in power, but handling was generally pretty good - in fact surprisingly good.I do miss mine in ways, but it had too much "character". It lived up to its "en suite" nickname, the boot typically leaked regardless of what I did to correct it, had the heater matrix fail (not a cheap job, total dashboard out iirc).
But the kids absolutley loved the bucket seats in the back, it had enough space for 4 of us to do a week away.
And it had POP UP HEADLIGHTS, which are the coolest thing like ever man!
20 years ago I was going to buy one of these once from a Volvo specialist. He must have been very considerate as he told me to walk away as they had a primitive electronic instrument system which often failed & cost a fortune to repair. I guess now they would be even more difficult to sort out.
" it was generally well to do ladies driving them"
This is how I got to buy a second one after a slight
disappointment with the first one (early reg.),
The second one was a late series, had been serviced to the book
and gave me enjoyable motoring until the gearbox sadly konked out at
200K + Miles (turbo).
At the time (15 years ago) many passers by already asked "what is this?"
These are not the best built Volvos but not worse than any VW or
Toyota of the time. They look sporty, but are much more comfortable than
a comparable BMW. Great for a weekend journey with your spouse and
nimble enough in the city.
Martin
This is how I got to buy a second one after a slight
disappointment with the first one (early reg.),
The second one was a late series, had been serviced to the book
and gave me enjoyable motoring until the gearbox sadly konked out at
200K + Miles (turbo).
At the time (15 years ago) many passers by already asked "what is this?"
These are not the best built Volvos but not worse than any VW or
Toyota of the time. They look sporty, but are much more comfortable than
a comparable BMW. Great for a weekend journey with your spouse and
nimble enough in the city.
Martin
I once had the deep misfortune of owning a 440 Turbo.
I've owned over 60 cars and bikes since 1987, but the Volvo holds the record for being the car I kept for the shortest period.
I bought it on a whim at auction because it was very cheap. It was a finance repossession and was immaculate.
But it was about as much fun as a colostomy.
I kept it for the four weeks it took for the V5 to come back from Swansea, then it went straight in the Autotrader.
Sold it to a nice policeman from Fazakerley, if I recall.
For some bizarre reason, I still have the Haynes manual for it.
I've owned over 60 cars and bikes since 1987, but the Volvo holds the record for being the car I kept for the shortest period.
I bought it on a whim at auction because it was very cheap. It was a finance repossession and was immaculate.
But it was about as much fun as a colostomy.
I kept it for the four weeks it took for the V5 to come back from Swansea, then it went straight in the Autotrader.
Sold it to a nice policeman from Fazakerley, if I recall.
For some bizarre reason, I still have the Haynes manual for it.
I must be a sucker for punishment, as my parents had two of these when they first came out, and I've subsequently owned three myself - a 1.7ES, a 2.0ES and a 1.7 Turbo.
My favourite was the 1994 (facelifted) 2.0 litre ES by the time I'd finished tweaking it. Metalic black, ever so slightly lowered on new shocks & springs with the alloys from a 440 (460?) which looked very similar to the original 850 T5 wheels:
... and a pic of the 1.7ES and 2.0ES (when I first bought the 2.0ES, before tweaks):
My favourite was the 1994 (facelifted) 2.0 litre ES by the time I'd finished tweaking it. Metalic black, ever so slightly lowered on new shocks & springs with the alloys from a 440 (460?) which looked very similar to the original 850 T5 wheels:
... and a pic of the 1.7ES and 2.0ES (when I first bought the 2.0ES, before tweaks):
Edited by benharris on Friday 19th June 12:46
Once upon a time my mum inhertied my late grandads 340GL, which my dad later traded in for a 360GLT (unpopular opinion... quite a capable car!) Anyway, when the old man would go to have the 360 serviced i would go along for the ride (loved new cars set out in the dealership) and used to lust over the 480 Turbo at the time 
Thought it was the greatest supercar ever made and tried to convince my dad to buy it 
Great shed, but shame its not a turbo
Thought it was the greatest supercar ever made and tried to convince my dad to buy it Great shed, but shame its not a turbo
Had one of these when I was at uni. Quite comfortable for the time tHe only flaw being the engine. The Renault sourced unit frequently conked out While driving especially when pulling out of junctions. Went back to dealer so many times but they still couldn't find the cause even when I sold it. Didn't really know about consumer rights etc at the time. Decent car otherwise. I was also loaned an auto 340 which was the first auto I had driven and I couldn't work out why it just ran around in 1st all the time(yes it was in drive!). Put me off volvos forever!
cho said:
Had one of these when I was at uni. Quite comfortable for the time tHe only flaw being the engine. The Renault sourced unit frequently conked out While driving especially when pulling out of junctions. Went back to dealer so many times but they still couldn't find the cause even when I sold it. Didn't really know about consumer rights etc at the time. Decent car otherwise. I was also loaned an auto 340 which was the first auto I had driven and I couldn't work out why it just ran around in 1st all the time(yes it was in drive!). Put me off volvos forever!
All the auto 340s were CVT.I remember the turbo version being test driven on Top Gear back in the day. William Wollard's conclusion was something like "your mother will like it". There was also an example in just about showroom condition that was parked next to me a few days a week in Houston last year. The build quality seemed to have been pretty good.
Having said that we really expect something a bit more exciting for shed of the week don't we?
5 out of 10 Mr Shed. Must try harder please.
Having said that we really expect something a bit more exciting for shed of the week don't we?
5 out of 10 Mr Shed. Must try harder please.
It's a 440 in a dress basically, isn't it? I loved my 440, yes it had the occasional electrical gremlin but no more so than anything else of the era. Only real problems I had was the speedo needle gradually curling up until it couldn't move any more (and major ballache of a job dismantling the instrument cluster to get at it) and RUST. Oh my god rust, I repaired the rear wings several times and ended up flogging it to a colleague who killed it within 6 months by thrashing it everywhere without once checking the oil.
Certainly has the advantage of a rather pretty body if rather run of the mill running gear. I do like these, I remember trying one for size back in the day and was disappointed to find that I plain do not fit (I'm 6'2") so bear in mind that the driving position for those of above average height is not ideal.
I'd say these are on the cusp of "classicness" or should that be "classicity"? Dunno, but they are on the cusp of it, you heard it here first.
I'd say these are on the cusp of "classicness" or should that be "classicity"? Dunno, but they are on the cusp of it, you heard it here first.
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