1991 Volvo 440 GLEi - scrap fodder

[JohnK]

I'm making a bit of a habit fucking about collecting cars these days.

 

Today's delights include a trip to London - the trip there costing less than £20. That's using 2 trains and the joy that is ... Megabus.

 

 

Unfortunately, I haven't put the tassel back onto my coat for this trip. Bollocks. Fingers crossed.

 

[JohnK]

I deliberately sat as far away from anybody else on the megabus because I'm just an unsociable git.

 

Just my luck that the only 2 gobby twats on the whole bus are now sat behind me and not on one of the many other vacant seats in the bus.

 

They're on all the way to London as well.

[JohnK]

 

Are we there yet? I've read all the forums I use up to date, the copy of AutoCar I bought on the way is shite and I'm trying to keep the copy of Practical Classics for when I get completely bored.

[cort16]

Is this purchase going to have 4 rings and be built of non standard construction?

[JohnK]

It's about as exciting as a giffermatic beige Volvo 440 would be.

 

Oh hang on ...

[cort16]

I thought you'd maybe succumbed to the temptation of Barratt's A8.

[JohnK]

That's a story for another day ...

[JohnK]

I swear to god, if this bloody woman who's decided to sit next to me doesn't just sit still and stop messing about, I will be making best use of the 'Break Glass Here' and booting her out of the bloody thing.

[UmBongo]

I swear to god, if this bloody woman who's decided to sit next to me doesn't just sit still and stop messing about, I will be making best use of the 'Break Glass Here' and booting her out of the bloody thing.

 

Spew on her.

 

She'll move pdq.

[stillOrange]

Always carry a copy of the "Watchtower" with you and smile awkwardly when someone approaches the seat

[JohnK]

 

Nicely damaged Fiesta. Ouch. Looks fairly fresh damage too.

 

I can rest in the knowledge that if the same happens to the Volvo on the return trip home, it will probably improve the way it looks.

[JohnK]

 

For all it looks a heap and does need some mechanical attention, it's not actually that bad...

[Jim Bell]

Nice save.  Never had a 440/460.  Its the right colour for a high class conveyance too.  All the best mediocre Volvos are JRG.

[hairnet]

LOLVO

[cms206]

Time to break out that SVM Seal of Approval again... still to do a 400 here too.

 

[JohnK]

Glad I did save it - it's too good to scrap.

 

Yes it's a giffermatic, beige volvo that is tatty as anything and makes strange noises under acceleration, but it has a certain charm about it ...

[trigger]

There's a red 440 that's been for sale up the road for at least a month now, it's only £325, that's how unliked these 440's seem to be.

[JohnK]

I can quite well believe it.

 

They really aren't a bad car though! They aren't anything special, but as dependable transport they do the job. This is my. 3rd (had a 440 and a 460 previously).

 

I was gonna use this for shitefest then weigh it in but I'm gonna take a gamble with the free mot voucher I've got and chuck it in for a test.

[RobT]

260 miles after sitting here for weeks doing nowt might shock it a bit, but hopefully it'll get you home John!

[JohnK]

 

Pretty much mid way stop - time for a pee, bag of crisps, a coffee and to double check everything to make sure it's ok. I know the brakes are good. Some clown pulled straight out of a lay-by on the A1M, so it went from 70 to 10 fairly rapidly.

 

Just look at it!

 

 

Wings are shite. I'm thinking I might just paint the whole car in the bottle green marine paint I've got at home ...

 

 

1991 style cup holder is effective though:

 

 

This cars gets the JohnK 'no tassels required ... Touch fucking wood' approval..

 

[barefoot]

That's never you?

I've always imagined you as much younger!

[JohnK]

And insult of the day goes to ....

 

I'm an old looking 25 I think lol. Don't even get asked for ID on the Think 25 for alcohol these days.

[Bear]

See if you'd swung by, you'd not only have seen the BMW, you'd have seen the Avantime heading back to Keith's custody and a Xantia V6 appear... And marvelled at a dead Saab 9000 Aero with some sort of tuning things that make it go very fast - when it has a working fuel pump...

[JohnK]

I'ts a good job I didn't drop by thankfully, got back just in the nick of time! I will sort something out to get down though.

 

 

It's back, with one of it's many new stablemates. It drove really really well all the way back.

 

The bodywork is screwed, so I think I will give it a makeover in a different colour, only if it does pass an MOT easily. It'll be a ten-footer for sure, but it can't look any worse than it does now!

 

Initial calculations show 35mpg or thereabouts for this trip. That's not bad.

 

Total cost -

£101.90 car

£28.60 day insurance

£20.00 travel down

£40.00 fuel back

£5.20 for refreshments

 

£195.70

 

I like that figure.

[UmBongo]

Total cost -

£101.90 car

£28.60 day insurance

£20.00 travel down

£40.00 fuel back

£5.20 for refreshments

 

£195.70

 

I like that figure.

 

Good deal.

 

I just spent more than that to get a bumper painted...

[HMC]

Great collection thread, looking fwd to seeing what you do with the paintwork!

[hairnet]

KEEP THA GOLD

[kinkersaab]

Does it do the "dashboard shudder" as the engine starts, they all did that, once you notice it,it will annoy you in a nice shitty car kinda way.

[JohnK]

KEEP THA GOLD

It's possible.

 

And yes it does do the dashboard shudder on startup!

[purplebargeken]

They are actually quite worthy cars, sadly viewed as non-Volvo by Volvo people as they were built in Dutch Land.

 

John, you have a PM by the way