Volvo 440/460 buying advice.

[warren t claim]

I've been offered a stupidly low mileage example at a nice low price. Any pointers on what to look for would be most appreciated! Thanks!

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

Didn't a lot of them have Renault engines? I'd be negatively predisposed against them for that, though I guess Renaults weren't that bad back then...

[trigger]

They are pretty nice cars as it goes, They are all quick and light up the front tyres easily, My dad's boss had a N plate 2.0 SE for a long time and never had a problem with it, It looked the part as well with dark Met Green paint, 1/2 leather interior, Spoiler and alloys.

 

The only thing I've found with them was the plastic interior was a bit cheap and nasty, a bit like the 480 in that respect, Thinking about it my uncle had a an L reg (L808LOO) for years, never looked after it, done about 100k in it and only scraped it when the gearbox backed up on it.

[theorganist]

I had a 1989 440 GLE with the 1721cc engine (shared with Renault). I bought it for £275 in 2005. It was a great car, comfortable, pretty fast, good on the motorway and it had central locking, electric windows and power steering, plus a manual choke!

 

When I took it for an MOT all it needed was a CV boot and a headlamp cleaned as it had a build up of condensation. In the eighteen months I had it the only other work required was on the brakes and a relay.

 

I would honestly say it was the best car I have ever owned and if it wasn't for the leaking power steering pump burning out I would likely still have it.

 

Of all the cars I have owned it is the one I have the fondest memories off, in fact I have been looking at getting another one.

 

Peter.

 

PS: This is probably a bit of a "rose tinted specs" review but from what other owners have said about them I am not alone in thinking highly of them!!

[RobT]

Make sure the alarm/immobiliser isn't playing silly buggers as these can be a problem, an M plate 460 I had caused me lots of headache re the electrics. When it worked it did drive nice though. IIRC the earlier models had a different immob alarm set up to later ones.

[Waderider]

I scrapped an M reg 1.9TD 440 yesterday with 172000 miles on it. It was about to fail an MOT on both sills and the steering rack. In it's last five years it did 110K miles and never failed to proceed.

 

 

 

A good car for the discerning shitter.

[warren t claim]

This is getting tricky....

 

Supposing I can buy it for £300. Spend £150 taxing and testing it. Add £75 for a cambelt swap and I'm well over £500 in for a 30000 mile 440 with a resale value of still only £350.

 

I really don't want to see it crushed but I'm struggling to make the thing break even. I really don't want to be in a similar situation as Mr Boll with his Chavalier.

 

Any ideas folks? I'm looking at you WAT! Anyone on the Volvo enthusiasts site like 440s?

[Guest]

I'm looking at you WAT! Anyone on the Volvo enthusiasts site like 440s?

 

They have a following, yes, but you'd have to deal with people on the VOC forum. That's never a good idea. Ever.

 

The cooking models don't really have any appeal to the public at large outside of the clubs - unless you're talking about the 440 \ 460 Turbos. These inevitably get bummed for their engines and running gear to hot 5 GTs up, just like the hairdryer-enhanced 480s.

 

The same things apply with 440s \ 460s as the 480. Mechanically they're very similar. The 480 shares a good deal of its floorpan with the 440 \ 460 as well.

 

So....

 

1. Check for rust on the wheelarches.

2. Check ALL the electrics work - particularly the CEM control and instrument binnacle. Although if yours are cagged, there's this cunt in Stockport who could help you out with spares..........

[warren t claim]

I had a squint at the arches and they're only slightly flaky. An easy fix. The paintwork is a very flat blue but a bit of Tesco-Cut should bring it up nicely.

 

It's the facelift model with the 850ish front end and I think it's about a 1995 model, hard to tell 'cos it's wearing an Irish vanity plate and I'm not really a Volvo perv. It could be an Li model, not sure though.

 

It seems like a solid little car that will do someone as fine transport so it's a bit of a shame to see it fragged.

[Guest]

 

It seems like a solid little car that will do someone as fine transport so it's a bit of a shame to see it fragged.

 

It's a shame I agree, but they're virtually worthless, much like the S and ES 480s. If I ever let mine go I'll be lucky to see £300 from it.

[warren t claim]

I'm almost tempted to polish it up within an inch of it's life and chuck it on the 'Bay giving it a Doctor style write up....

 

It must be 15 years since I've driven a 440. I might just buy it and run it into the ground. I could always use a second car.

[Luxobarges_Are_Us]

This is getting tricky....

Supposing I can buy it for £300. Spend £150 taxing and testing it. Add £75 for a cambelt swap and I'm well over £500 in for a 30000 mile 440 with a resale value of still only £350.

I really don't want to see it crushed but I'm struggling to make the thing break even. I really don't want to be in a similar situation as Mr Boll with his Chavalier.

 

Can't you try and get classic insurance for it? May make it worthwhile as a car for occasional use...

[warren t claim]

This is getting tricky....

Supposing I can buy it for £300. Spend £150 taxing and testing it. Add £75 for a cambelt swap and I'm well over £500 in for a 30000 mile 440 with a resale value of still only £350.

I really don't want to see it crushed but I'm struggling to make the thing break even. I really don't want to be in a similar situation as Mr Boll with his Chavalier.

 

Can't you try and get classic insurance for it? May make it worthwhile as a car for occasional use...

 

I've got traders insurance so it doesn't really matter. I suppose Momma_Claim could use it as a run around until I can work out what to do with it.

[Guest]

This is getting tricky....

Supposing I can buy it for £300. Spend £150 taxing and testing it. Add £75 for a cambelt swap and I'm well over £500 in for a 30000 mile 440 with a resale value of still only £350.

I really don't want to see it crushed but I'm struggling to make the thing break even. I really don't want to be in a similar situation as Mr Boll with his Chavalier.

 

Can't you try and get classic insurance for it? May make it worthwhile as a car for occasional use...

 

I've got traders insurance so it doesn't really matter. I suppose Momma_Claim could use it as a run around until I can work out what to do with it.

 

I wouldn't mind a drive either.

This doesn't mean you can sell it to me.

[warren t claim]

Go on! You know you want to!

[Guest]

Go on! You know you want to!

 

NO.

[warren t claim]

Lol! What engine's are fitted in these? Is it a 1.7? Is it an easy belt change?

[Guest]

Lol! What engine's are fitted in these? Is it a 1.7? Is it an easy belt change?

 

I think they went along the same lines as the 480s. The 1.7 is the old Renault 11 plodder, and the 2 litre is some kind of weird Renix \ Volvo hybrid. No idea on the belt change, mine had been done, shortly before I bought it. There was also some kind of rancid Renault based diesel option.

[Barry Cade]

I LOVE Volvo's but hate the 440/460. Brake pipes are a real pain in the arse to do, everything seems to creak and groan and the french engines just seal the deal. I had a 440 on the ramp once and the exhaust was glowing from end to end. i hoped it would catch fire, but alas not.

 

Sooo many times I have so nearly bought a 480, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

[Guest]

 

Sooo many times I have so nearly bought a 480, but I just can't bring myself to do it.

 

480s are FIT.

 

Although the electrics are stupid. And too many 480 Turbos get bummed for their running gear. Give them 10 years and they'll be OMG YO SCENE COOL AS FUK.

[garethj]

Give them 10 years and they'll be OMG YO SCENE COOL AS FUK.

 

Even if this were true, there's no way it'll happen until you've sold yours. It's the Autoshite law

[Guest]

Give them 10 years and they'll be OMG YO SCENE COOL AS FUK.

 

Even if this were true, there's no way it'll happen until you've sold yours. It's the Autoshite law

 

 

Wot, am I not cool?

 

(I know the answer to this one).

 

Weirdly, the editorial section in Retro Cars has been giving some space to the 480 recently. I also agree with them that they're in that awkward transitional phase of being old (as opposed to classic) cars that people modify badly and scrap for peanuts. It afflicted cars like the 205GTI up until a few years previous, but now they're being recognised as modern classics - what the Germans would call a 'Youngtimer'.

 

The 480's time will come, but as you say, I'm not sure whether mine will still be around.

 

Oh, and by the way Tiff, you're welcome to drive mine when I get it back on the road. Even SCTSH_ANDY, who hates every car that isn't his, likes it.

[oman5]

I'm looking at you WAT! Anyone on the Volvo enthusiasts site like 440s?

 

They have a following, yes, but you'd have to deal with people on the VOC forum. That's never a good idea. Ever.

 

The cooking models don't really have any appeal to the public at large outside of the clubs - unless you're talking about the 440 \ 460 Turbos. These inevitably get bummed for their engines and running gear to hot 5 GTs up, just like the hairdryer-enhanced 480s.

 

The same things apply with 440s \ 460s as the 480. Mechanically they're very similar. The 480 shares a good deal of its floorpan with the 440 \ 460 as well.

 

So....

 

1. Check for rust on the wheelarches.

2. Check ALL the electrics work - particularly the CEM control and instrument binnacle. Although if yours are cagged, there's this cunt in Stockport who could help you out with spares..........

 

 

I'm curious...whats the issue with the volvo forum?

[Richard]

It's just full of arseholes basically.

[Guest Leonard Hatred]

My neighbour had a Volvo 440 for years, I remember it from new, it looked quite rough at the end but was still a good runner - I didn't realise, but it had 275k on the clock.

[v6pop]

I will just leave these pics of my old 460

 

1.7 Renault Turbo engine fitted as standard,auto,comfy seats,nice place to be.