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400 Series General Forum for the Volvo 440, 460 and 480 cars

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

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Old Jan 4th, 2011, 22:59   #41
triumphtoledo
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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
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Old Jan 4th, 2011, 23:20   #42
ex911driver
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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 .
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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:04   #43
amaz'in
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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

Last edited by amaz'in; Jan 5th, 2011 at 20:24.
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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:06   #44
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last two posts from Norwich

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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:26   #45
ex911driver
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I am in Loddon 10 miles east of Norwich , are you in the city, or outside?
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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:36   #46
amaz'in
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Born In Loddon....moved to Chedgrave when a toddler....and 16 years there (Proctor Road)...then at 17/18 went to live in Langley for a few years.....

How about that?..been on the outskirts of Norwich for around 8 years....

I had a couple of Amazon's when at langley...and a very well known 144 (144GT) when in Langley...

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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:40   #47
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How bizarre, i lived in chedgrave 30 years , and Loddon for the last 9
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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:47   #48
amaz'in
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I'm 43......In my best David Frost Voice ...can you guess....who's house this is?

Oops...better move to pm's in a bit...for us Chedgravian's taking over this thread...sorry guy's.

I'm normally in the 7/9 section... building a bit of a HP monster 940....or in the Amazon (king of em all) section

Or better still mail me through my website, www.20-20audiovideo.co.uk

You simply must know Clem etc?

James

Last edited by amaz'in; Jan 5th, 2011 at 20:52.
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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 20:55   #49
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Ha ah yes i know clem very well , and Cadby amongst others, i was 40 last August, left school (Hobart) in June `86.
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Old Jan 5th, 2011, 22:30   #50
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Quote:
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
The 400 series engines aren't PRV but just plain Renault engines. But some of them were modified by Volvo for the 4xx's and in case of the turbo by Porsche. Porsche gave the 1.7 turbo originally 170hp. Which Volvo thought would not suit their savety image so they tuned it back to only 120hp. These engines can handle large milages and when they are descently maintained pretty bulletproof. Cold they may sound like a bucket full of bearings especially the 1.8i and 2.0i, but that's just the way they are.
The 8v 1.7i and 2.0i was used in the R21,Clio, R5, Megane, Laguna. Lots of R5 and clio fans scavenged the Volvo 4xx for the 1.7 turbo and chipped it to the originally 170hp. 0-100 in around 6 sec, impressive figures.
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