What are the top 10 problems with the 440/460 models?

[ericgardener9]

I see we now have some plankton who have appeared and they have remarked that their volvo 440 has done 10000000 miles without costing anything and it does 800000 miles to the gallon. And it's faster than any other car ever made.

without any faults whatsoever .

well if ever there was bullsh*t masquerading as truth there it is. These cars are shyte, ill conceived, built shyte, and totally trounced by anything made west of margate.

Let us not deceive ourselves people - these cars are slow - yes even the mega fast turbo is slow, the gearboxes are cr*p the electronics are dire and the have more faults than Jordan. I have had enough of my festering heap and it will be sold as soon as I am back from holiday.

I hope to buy a japanese car which will work have decent acceleration and actually go round corners without one weeks notice.

[ahal]

Originally Posted by ericgardener9

I see we now have some plankton who have appeared and they have remarked that their volvo 440 has done 10000000 miles without costing anything and it does 800000 miles to the gallon. And it's faster than any other car ever made.

without any faults whatsoever .

Must've missed that post ...

Originally Posted by ericgardener9

well if ever there was bullsh*t masquerading as truth there it is. These cars are shyte, ill conceived, built shyte, and totally trounced by anything made west of margate.

I've been drivng mine since February 2001, a few electrical gremlins (mainly alternator) but that's it really ...

Originally Posted by ericgardener9

the gearboxes are cr*p the electronics are dire and the have more faults than Jordan.

Gearbox is fine on mine, gets a bit niggly on 2nd. now and then but after 160k. I'd forgive it that. If you really want electronic faults, try V.W. Jordan is without fault btw.

Originally Posted by ericgardener9

I hope to buy a japanese car which will work have decent acceleration and actually go round corners without one weeks notice.

Better hope there's nothing coming the other way on your side. I somehow doubt any of the Japanese stuff would fare this well:
http://www.volvocars.com/us/top/comm...s/default.aspx

[triumphtoledo]

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

[ahal]

Originally Posted by triumphtoledo

I even remember an advert being run by Volvo UK along the lines of “A Volvo for Escort money.”

You brought back a memory there ... though I think the particular ad. I remember was for the 340. We have the two cars side by side ... under the Ford, "A Ford". Under the Volvo, "Affordable"

Originally Posted by triumphtoledo

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

That's an interesting perspective. I've heard it said that Volvo are a car you should treat with caution second - hand not because they are bad, but because they are good! Previous owners sometimes think that they don't need fluid changes either because of the badge!

[ex911driver]

all i can say is you must have bought a bad one, true the handling isnt brilliant,styling was outdated when new , had some electrial problems ,but what car doesn`t.
As for Japanese cars they are just copies of european cars,plasticky interiors ,no character and only good for Taxi`s

[triumphtoledo]

I'm pretty sure there was an advert championing the affordability of the 4xx series; I remember them selling for less than £10,000, especially when the budget 440 1.6Li was launched in around 1991. The 460 (especially the Turbo) had a heavy price loading applied to it by Volvo UK, I assume to profiteer on the fact it had a bit more snob potential over the more common hatches. Why else are early high-spec booted 460s so rare? 460 prices matched that of the 440 eventually.

Personally, I do not think that the 4xx design was old hat in the late 1980s/early 1990s. It was Volvo's chunky interpretation of the typical Eurobox of the day. It worked well and was different enough to identify itself as a Volvo. Even so, I was disappointed with the 850 saloon at its launch, I thought that car looked too square in the early 1990s, particularly as Volvo was pinning so much hope on it. My own worries turned out to be unfounded.

The facelift 400 series aimed to capitalise on the 850's success by association in its design and it was helped by new wheel/interior/front & rear end design but, like the last Escorts, I agree that it was starting to look a bit out of place by the time production ended.

The comment about Japanese cars is a bit generalist, especially as a chunk of my living involves writing about them. Overall, I do find the interior materials (although not the build) inferior to European products (although some 4xx series plastics are a bit low-rent, although the fabrics tend to last very well indeed). Mechanically, they tend to be lovely and refined at low revs and a bit rough when extended; gearboxes are slick, unlike the clunk-click every change of the 4xx! The Japs also tend to build their cars with useful odd touches designed to help the technician but I agree that many Euro cars can offer a superior driving experience but, then again, Jap cars are often adapted for Euro roads.

I am not going to lambast enthusiasts of rice cars - they do present a different proposition to Euro cars (including 4xx) and both have their pros and cons. Wouldn't it be a boring world if we all liked the same vehicles? Still, to simply proclaim the 400 series as cr*p is over simplistic, just as it would be to criticise all Jap cars for being boringly efficient.

Back to topic, perhaps the biggest problem with the 440/460 is perhaps under appreciation...

R

[ex911driver]

sorry i was replying to ericgardners post/rant about my post. My 440 was a very reliable car, and personally like the style of them, now i have an 850 t5 which is very amusing to drive .

[amaz'in]

Not sure if my posting here is valid...with a 940 turbo...and an Amazon..but a volvo driver none the less.

I must admit..I have always said..the 4 series..and 3 for that matter were just not 'Proper' Volvo's...so I can understand where Eric Gardner is maybe coming from.

However..he clearly had (has) a bad one..this can happen with any car...740/940 or otherwise.

I do feel that a manufacturer should apply the same build quality to their entire range of cars..Mercedes did.with their 190..so did BMW with the 3 series..same build quality..just smaller bodies..engines...and less toy's..but not worse build quality.

The 190 was the baby Merc..yet it became a legend for quality..joe public and Taxi drivers alike.

The Amazon was the best built Volvo ever...yet the P1800 was (initially) outsourced to Jensen...and despite being an Amazon in fancy clothes..they became rotten as carrotts in no time...

I don't belive the 3/4 series did much for Volvo's enviable reputation...having said that..I don't honestly believe the PRV engine was much cop..but I got flamed for that a couple of years ago....by a PRV engined owner of course.

I think they have some superb looking and designed cars in their current lineup...

J

[amaz'in]

last two posts from Norwich

J

[ex911driver]

I am in Loddon 10 miles east of Norwich , are you in the city, or outside?