New toy

2cv

I just bought a lovely Volvo 480 ES, 1991. I know it's not that old, but IMHO it's a classic.

Pictures to follow.

I was wondering who'd consider this a classic, and why. Same story for those who don't consider it a classic, why?

VolvoMan

I'd certainly consider them to have reached classic status by now. They are quite a unique car afterall, and early examples are getting very rare. What are the details of it, it's not an Irish car I presume?

This might be a useful website for you: http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/

Make sure to post some pics up of her when you can.:)

2cv

VolvoMan wrote: »

I'd certainly consider them to have reached classic status by now. They are quite a unique car afterall, and early examples are getting very rare. What are the details of it, it's not an Irish car I presume?

This might be a useful website for you: http://www.volvo-480-europe.org/

Make sure to post some pics up of her when you can.:)

She's english, came in about 2 years ago.
I'll post some pics as soon as i have the chance to take some :-)
I had an E-reg 480 ES when i was in the UK. Always regretted selling it, so i couldn't resist this one when it came up for sale.

johnf2020

So then you could say that the CV in your name stands for Citroen/Volvo:D

2cv

johnf2020 wrote: »

So then you could say that the CV in your name stands for Citroen/Volvo:D

something like that yes :-) But where do my Renaults fit in then? :-)

johnf2020

2

Saab Ed

2cv wrote: »

something like that yes :-) But where do my Renaults fit in then? :-)

Well the Volvo has a Renault engine

Saab Ed

Only saw one of them the other night. A 94 one that the guy was using as a daily driver. Very cool IMO. Any pics?

2cv

Saab Ed wrote: »

Well the Volvo has a Renault engine

Why do you think i like it :D

RENAULT RULEZ

2cv

Saab Ed wrote: »

Only saw one of them the other night. A 94 one that the guy was using as a daily driver. Very cool IMO. Any pics?

I'll take some pix when i get the chance and put them up

Saab Ed

2cv wrote: »

Why do you think i like it :D

RENAULT RULEZ

sssshhhhh.....dont mention it was fetteled by porsche.....;)

2cv

Saab Ed wrote: »

sssshhhhh.....dont mention it was fetteled by porsche.....;)

ok sssshhhhh i won't say anything

it's a damn nippy little yoke too :-)
mmmmm i wonder what the turbo version must be like

Saab Ed

2cv wrote: »

ok sssshhhhh i won't say anything

it's a damn nippy little yoke too :-)
mmmmm i wonder what the turbo version must be like

I drove one years and yeras ago. Lovely linear turbo ,none of that sudden on-off lunacy. That's the best engine Renault ever made, bomb proof. Just keep the gearoil changed

zozimus

I've two of them and a Citroen C4 for sanity.

The daily Volvo 480 needs a few parts and luckily I've a damaged (vandalised) 93 ES that has a lot of new parts that were lovingly and painstakingly acquired by a friend's dad.

Trouble is - I'm moving and have to find storage for the donor car and one of the others. The driving 480 is 95 and is lovely. As I say - I'll be transferring a few parts over the next few months.

I really wish it had classic status, it costs a fortune to tax and insure.

ferga_com

Sister's boyfriend bough a 480 new in the 1990s. I thought it (and therefore he) was so cool that I wanted her to marry him on the spot. She didn't, but that's another story.:D

zozimus

Wow - I'd love a new one. I had the '93 one resprayed and had new lights and stuff and it looked amazing for about a year. Then a bus parked in the passenger seat and cowboys who did the fix ruined the car.

When I got it all sorted and back on the road, some little $#%^&&@ bent back the driver's door and put it beyond economical repair. A friend's dad had put nearly two years into fixing it up. So I'm keeping it for the parts he got. And for the memories... sniff.

Max_Damage

There is this one beside DIT Kevin Street I used too see alot:



It's the only one I've seen in recent years.

@ 2CV: Well wear anyway

_Conrad_

Strange cars, but kind of cool. I have some sort of liking for them, but still prefer the auls rwd volvos, worth keeping a few 480s around though

G Luxel

When the car came here first in 1988, Volvo was talking of selling 50 a year....and I guess that there being so few here anyway, they were lucky to sell any at all.....Volvo did make a one-off 480 convertible.:)

_Conrad_

on a side note did ye ever see those estate converted 400 series volvos? cant remember the name of the company, but i've seen a few pictures of them, and saw a real one once in holland, odd machines

seosamh1980

I wouldn't consider it a classic because it doesn't meet the basic requirement to be a classic car in the first place.

A car has to be at least 25 years old to be considered a classic.

V480

This is a fairly old thread, 2CV sold that 480 ages ago! He bought it from me actually and I have been trying to find it since but with no luck:(

The 400 series gets a fair bit of flack for various reasons but you still see quite a few 440/460 models about, so they can't have been that bad?!

The 480's did have a fairly woeful reliability record but they have quite a cult following - it amazes me the love people have for them...I'm not the only freak!:)

_Conrad_

seosamh1980 wrote: »

I wouldn't consider it a classic because it doesn't meet the basic requirement to be a classic car in the first place.

A car has to be at least 25 years old to be considered a classic.

...and to be an annoying know it all, all you need to do is post like you've just done.

_Conrad_

V480 wrote: »

The 400 series gets a fair bit of flack for various reasons but you still see quite a few 440/460 models about, so they can't have been that bad?!

They never seemed bad to me... different to the big rwd barges of the 70s, 80s and early 90s but still grand cars, had a couple and there were some others owned by family members too. I have fond memories of a plucky 460 1.8 which used to make a valliant effort towing a very large trailer every summer when trying to get hay in without rain, and it was lovely in the winter with it's heated seats. never gave a spot of bother either and was comfortable, also had a less well specced 440 which was reliable and durable.

seosamh1980

_Conrad_ wrote: »

...and to be an annoying know it all, all you need to do is post like you've just done.

Easy there with the name calling Conrad, if you'll take a look at the OP he said:

2cv wrote: »

for those who don't consider it a classic, why?

So not a know it all, just answering the OP's question, not my problem if you don't like the answer.

zozimus

I found mine to be very reliable actually - the engines are really great and the whole thing is comfortable and handles well. The problems were with the rear light clusters leaking and the electrics for the onboard computer and binnacle. That was often due to a faulty earth elsewhere. The popup lights sometimes gave trouble but that too was down to an earthing problem.

oflynno

when i was a kid i used to think that they were one of the best designed cars in their day(lookswise),same as the new honda civic is now,different.

i preferred the saloon one to the hatch.

while i have the volvo boys here i am looking for a back axle off one with a good lsd in it to stick on the back of my project,and giving me rear disks too,so if you know of any around,giz a shout!

_Conrad_

now that's a rare one! I am actually dead serious saying this, find someone who speaks swedis or norwegian and go on sites from those countries, naturally enough they're populated by volvo fanatics, you can find any strang or rare bits for volvos. I reckon you'll be waiting a while to find a lsd axle from a rwd volvo in this country. Other option is buy a standard volvo rear axle and get an aussie locker diff

http://www.aussielocker.com/

oflynno

i cant buy an aussie locker yet as the car is a scrapheap challenge type and not a buy stuff especially for it.

i have looked into some of the volvo stuff and because they cant import a lot of stuff into there they use home built bits

the kitcar scene there is mad and they seem to use the volvo t5 engine as their base one and the rear axles from even the volvo 240 or 244 are being used with little or no modification and handling upto 500 bhp

if it was a few years ago i could have picked up loads of them,but they are scarce now with the scrappage scheme,the estate cars 740 and 760 high spec models had a bullet proof rear axle and it seems random ones had lsds as they were not an optional extra over here but volvo had so many of them they built the cars and left them in,so i am told

i'd love a rummage around a few good junkyards as i also like the leather seats from them too and most people bypass them

i will keep looking

HumpM

V480 wrote: »

This is a fairly old thread, 2CV sold that 480 ages ago! He bought it from me actually and I have been trying to find it since but with no luck:(

The 400 series gets a fair bit of flack for various reasons but you still see quite a few 440/460 models about, so they can't have been that bad?!

The 480's did have a fairly woeful reliability record but they have quite a cult following - it amazes me the love people have for them...I'm not the only freak!:)

Nope your not the only one there :D



I always wanted one they , I said one day I would have one and fortunately , I got the chance its not a daily drive something that will see road now and again

V480

Nice car HumpM

zozimus

Well the 480s are still with me - I've finally moved them into storage and have started the work to bring the 95 one up to mint. It's not actually all that bad, but I'd like it to be perfect.

I see some insurance companies will consider it for classic insurance, but the government would like it to be 30 years old for classic tax.

A pox be upon the government, then.

Suasdaguna1

I had two 480s in the early 90s. First was a pile of muck, it had terrible issues with the ecu, really was a dire car.......next one I had was a red one and it gave me sterling service. A very comfy car, good on the open road but the Renault engine was a weak point. Also heaven forbid you cracked a rear light assembly as they became brittle with age......a dog to remove and very expensive to replace.

Kace

Still got my one lads – a white 480 ES 1.7.

Great car in its day and I loved it. It was OK for power. I tested it once and it propelled me to 125mph (race track of course ;-) )

OK – technically it’s not mine anymore. I gave it to the parents about 15 years ago and they still run it in Galway as their daily driver.

I upgraded to an FTO GPX V6 which I now have insured as a classic. Another car I just couldn’t get rid of !!