Discussion
In the search of buying a RWD Car i've found a Volvo 360GLT with 61K On the clock and cood condition for a not bad price. Really tempted in buying the car, just looking for some input from people that have owned/worked on them.
It's the 2L 8v Engine, It's a 1988 360GLT.
I can insure it for quite cheap on a normal comparrison website so im happy with that, it would be a LOT less than im paying for my EG Civic.
I love the way they look, so retro.
anything i should ask about before buying? Anything i should know?
Since its in Essex, 3 hours from me, id be insuring, buying it and driving down to get it and drive it back. Just making sure theres nothing i miss before taking the plunge to buy it. Any help/input is appreciated. Cheers
It's the 2L 8v Engine, It's a 1988 360GLT.
I can insure it for quite cheap on a normal comparrison website so im happy with that, it would be a LOT less than im paying for my EG Civic.
I love the way they look, so retro.
anything i should ask about before buying? Anything i should know?
Since its in Essex, 3 hours from me, id be insuring, buying it and driving down to get it and drive it back. Just making sure theres nothing i miss before taking the plunge to buy it. Any help/input is appreciated. Cheers
Check the heater works (the heater matrix bungs up). Also check the blower fan works - the switch/relay fails and is a hard part to find.
Other than that just check the basics. The mechanicals are tough - as long as the body is sound (they are prone to rust) and drives OK it will probably be fine.
The GLT is actually quite sought after in 360 circles.
Other than that just check the basics. The mechanicals are tough - as long as the body is sound (they are prone to rust) and drives OK it will probably be fine.
The GLT is actually quite sought after in 360 circles.
confused_buyer said:
Check the heater works (the heater matrix bungs up). Also check the blower fan works - the switch/relay fails and is a hard part to find.
Other than that just check the basics. The mechanicals are tough - as long as the body is sound (they are prone to rust) and drives OK it will probably be fine.
The GLT is actually quite sought after in 360 circles.
It's a shame it's 5 door, ive heard the 3 doors are rarer than orphans tears.Other than that just check the basics. The mechanicals are tough - as long as the body is sound (they are prone to rust) and drives OK it will probably be fine.
The GLT is actually quite sought after in 360 circles.
But yeah apparently the bodys in great condition, ive requested more pictures and i will be giving it a thorough look over.
Thanks for your input
They are RWD but it can be a snappy transition from grip to oversteer. Fun when you are expecting it not fun when you are not really thinking about it and find yourself facing the wrong way.
If it is 3 hours from you then ask for lots of pics, including under bonnet, inside the bottom of the doors, under the arches, underneath if possible, and under the boot carpets. Rust is the biggest enemy on a car of that vintage as everything else is fixable with relative ease.
If it is 3 hours from you then ask for lots of pics, including under bonnet, inside the bottom of the doors, under the arches, underneath if possible, and under the boot carpets. Rust is the biggest enemy on a car of that vintage as everything else is fixable with relative ease.
Just got this reply:
Yes jan 2012 . Tax is about £220 for the year . Apart from the door the sunroof has rust and doesnt open properly . General body work is in good condition , bit of welding has been done on seals but nothing major . Needs some tcl but engine runs perfectly , has started every day for the last 4 years . Cam belt was done 10,000 miles ago . Recently replaced exaust parts . I can send a few photos I have on my phone but will have to wait til I get home to send pics of interior .
Any other questions just ask
I've asked for pictures of everyting i can think of, he said he'd take some/send when he gets home.
Only things that stand out there for me sunroof not opening? I can live with that but could this be a possible future MOT Failure? Also Seals being welded puts me off a bit?
But overall sounds good and im waiting for more photo's, any more input is welcomed, thanks guys
Yes jan 2012 . Tax is about £220 for the year . Apart from the door the sunroof has rust and doesnt open properly . General body work is in good condition , bit of welding has been done on seals but nothing major . Needs some tcl but engine runs perfectly , has started every day for the last 4 years . Cam belt was done 10,000 miles ago . Recently replaced exaust parts . I can send a few photos I have on my phone but will have to wait til I get home to send pics of interior .
Any other questions just ask
I've asked for pictures of everyting i can think of, he said he'd take some/send when he gets home.
Only things that stand out there for me sunroof not opening? I can live with that but could this be a possible future MOT Failure? Also Seals being welded puts me off a bit?
But overall sounds good and im waiting for more photo's, any more input is welcomed, thanks guys
I had a 1983 360 GLS as my first real car almost 20 year ago (I try to forget my 1984 Fiat Uno, never should have bought that car).
The GLS was carb fed whereas the GLT is injected, but that was the main difference. Apart from some welding work on the sills and an issue with the driver's door hinge/lock which I never manage to sort it was pretty much bullet proof. I did have the master cylinder fail on me as I approached a red light in North London, but managed to sail through the junction without hitting anything and drove home very slowly using the handbrake.
It provided several years of sterling service and was referred to as the 'sofa on wheels' by my friends, but it's age and a long list of 'small' failures after one year's MOT sealed it's fate.
I replaced it with a 1962 Volvo Amazon, which had the same basic engine (albeit 1.8 rather than 2.0) and the same porous sills.
The GLS was carb fed whereas the GLT is injected, but that was the main difference. Apart from some welding work on the sills and an issue with the driver's door hinge/lock which I never manage to sort it was pretty much bullet proof. I did have the master cylinder fail on me as I approached a red light in North London, but managed to sail through the junction without hitting anything and drove home very slowly using the handbrake.
It provided several years of sterling service and was referred to as the 'sofa on wheels' by my friends, but it's age and a long list of 'small' failures after one year's MOT sealed it's fate.
I replaced it with a 1962 Volvo Amazon, which had the same basic engine (albeit 1.8 rather than 2.0) and the same porous sills.
Harding91 said:
Just got this reply:
Yes jan 2012 . Tax is about £220 for the year . Apart from the door the sunroof has rust and doesnt open properly . General body work is in good condition , bit of welding has been done on seals but nothing major . [b]Needs some tcl []/b] but engine runs perfectly , has started every day for the last 4 years . Cam belt was done 10,000 miles ago . Recently replaced exaust parts . I can send a few photos I have on my phone but will have to wait til I get home to send pics of interior .
Any other questions just ask
That bit is car speak for "It needs more work than it's worth". Not sure what welded seals are, maybe he meant sills.Yes jan 2012 . Tax is about £220 for the year . Apart from the door the sunroof has rust and doesnt open properly . General body work is in good condition , bit of welding has been done on seals but nothing major . [b]Needs some tcl []/b] but engine runs perfectly , has started every day for the last 4 years . Cam belt was done 10,000 miles ago . Recently replaced exaust parts . I can send a few photos I have on my phone but will have to wait til I get home to send pics of interior .
Any other questions just ask
Rammy76 said:
Is the 2 litre a Renault engine? I'm sure the 1400 and 1700cc engines were.
I remember when I was 17 having a go in a 1700 one of these and was impressed how comfortable it was and how well laid out it was ergonomically (this is coming from a Fiat Uno though!).
The 360 is a Volvo engine.I remember when I was 17 having a go in a 1700 one of these and was impressed how comfortable it was and how well laid out it was ergonomically (this is coming from a Fiat Uno though!).
I owned a 360 GLS for a short time and the front spring mount failed resulting in the spring decompressing and rubbing on the tyre. They were quite old shocks though.
I also ran a GLT from 90k miles to 160k miles with only a plug cap and a couple of front wheel bearings to change (cheap and easy to DIY). In fact I only got rid because it was rear ended and it was still running around after. Engines are tough but sills can rust.
340's/360's are crap. Real proper crap.
Brilliant first cars, because everything that comes after is so much better, and at least the RWD gives you a bit of respect rather than the forgiveness of a FWD hatchback.
Vague steering, poor brakes, shoddy gear change, wayward handling and no real guts (although the 2.0 will rectify that).
You might want to work on your metaphors:
Brilliant first cars, because everything that comes after is so much better, and at least the RWD gives you a bit of respect rather than the forgiveness of a FWD hatchback.
Vague steering, poor brakes, shoddy gear change, wayward handling and no real guts (although the 2.0 will rectify that).
You might want to work on your metaphors:
Harding91 said:
I've heard the 3 doors are rarer than orphans tears.
?????Rammy76 said:
Is the 2 litre a Renault engine? I'm sure the 1400 and 1700cc engines were.
I remember when I was 17 having a go in a 1700 one of these and was impressed how comfortable it was and how well laid out it was ergonomically (this is coming from a Fiat Uno though!).
The 1.7 engine introduced after the post 1987 face life was the same engine that Renault used in lots of their late 80s and mid 90s cars (e.g. 5, 9, 11, 21). The 1.4, also a Renault engine, was selected by DAF before Volvo bought them, but as Volvo had no engine smaller than 1.8 they would probably still have used someone else's engine. I remember when I was 17 having a go in a 1700 one of these and was impressed how comfortable it was and how well laid out it was ergonomically (this is coming from a Fiat Uno though!).
As pointed out above, the 2.0 was a Volvo engine, it was carried over from the 240 but the basic design dates that dates back to the 60s. (The 1.8 in my 1962 Amazon shared some parts with this engine).
He emailed me back with more pictures.. its slightly offputting with the rust which sucks.. I dont know how easy it would be to get a new door/sunroof or even to repair the rust...
As apart from the door/sunroof rust it looks fine!
I'll post the pictures up he sent me, still deciding over wether or not to buy it
Is it worth walking away due to the rust or is it still a good buy with potential? I want it but that rust is so daunting...
Thanks again for the input.
As apart from the door/sunroof rust it looks fine!
I'll post the pictures up he sent me, still deciding over wether or not to buy it
Is it worth walking away due to the rust or is it still a good buy with potential? I want it but that rust is so daunting...
Thanks again for the input.
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