When discussing these smaller Volvos, some kind of perspective has to be introduced, because they are judged rather unfairly.
I remember when they were new; my dad ran several mk1 versions as company cars – he was the MD of a Volvo dealership at the time. The 440/460 was priced keenly to compete with the likes of Ford Escorts (with the possible exception of the early 460s, which were a bit overpriced). I even remember an advert being run by Volvo UK along the lines of “A Volvo for Escort money.” To compare the build quality of the Dutch cars with that of the vastly more expensive 700/800/900 series (and cars that were dearer to buy new) is both not right or fair.
When viewed in comparison with the Mk5-7 Escort, the 4xx models fare pretty well. Dealers were pretty excited by the new compact Volvo in the early 1990s, because the company was hardly renowned for introducing new models regularly; it simply could not afford it, unlike Ford or GM.
The overhaul needed to the factory in Holland was not cheap or easy for the small Swedish company and yes, some quality glitches crept through on the early cars but these were attended to.
Like every other Volvo though, the 4xx series was built to a specific budget and the “non exec” market was (and remains) more competitive, compared to the more “executive” type that Volvo was used to in the early 1990s.
The 4xx also introduced the company to FWD and permitted it to grow its presence in an essential market segment. The model does have faults mechanically but it was a sales success. Although the current C30 is unlikely to have appeared without the 480, the 440/460 had to carry Volvo’s repute for strong and safe small cars through the late 80s to the late ‘90s, a job that it did well. Without it, would the later models have fared as well as they did?
Now, even the latest 4xxs are simply “old cars” and **some** people expect a 4xx to run without fault (or servicing) simply because it wears a Volvo badge and, when it either breaks down or fails an MoT Test, they think it right to chastise the thing, when perhaps the owner is to blame for allowing the car’s condition to deteriorate to such an extent.
One day, the model will become appreciated, which is why I am looking for either a good Mk1 440 Turbo (or GLT Injection) or a 460 Turbo/CD (or GLE Injection) for my personal car collection, now I have bought the land to house it in…
R
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