480's are crap

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Thu Apr 26, 2007 11:12 pm

Tell me what's crap about 480's and what's not crap.

I love the look of them

The build is not very good and look at other volvo's of the day to see what I mean.

Budget volvo?

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:28 am

They're not crap!! Sure the interior is made of bone china, but they got soul!

vins480t · Post by **vins480t** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:39 am

crap would not be the word i would use.
faulty electrics make them difficult to read.
like there is too much difference in wire-harnesses.
ive got 4 full wire sets. if i compair these then even at connector base they are all different.
then there is the engine management. its to highteck for 1986. to much connections and sensors.

but the looks! thats what makes it perfect. together with handling.

Dan the 480 Man · Post by **Dan the 480 Man** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 7:42 am

Nope, not crap!

Interior is the worst, but thats mainly the door pockets and dash surround! With regards to build...hmm...Volvo 300 carved out of a lump of solid metal and the looks of a Rhino, or a 480 which is only slightly lighter but glides across the tarmac like some graceful tarmac-using Swan creature?

480!

pol · Post by **pol** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:09 am

The rear lights are crap.

The delicate plastic air flow valves are crap.

Turbo's are cooooool!

Momo's are coooool.

It's a good looking car i reckon. But I would say that.

pol

barnsleyGT · Post by **barnsleyGT** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:13 am

the electrics are crap.
the window regulators are crap.
the rear arches are crap.
the rear clusters are crap.

the car looks fantastic.
it drives superb.

clubman_dan · Post by **clubman_dan** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:14 am

they have character, but most cars with character come with problems, like shite quality interior plastics.
got to love them though

owen080808 · Post by **owen080808** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:22 am

not forgetting the handbrake/rear calipers are crap.

but we still love them

VanDerGraaf · Post by **VanDerGraaf** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:31 am

Agree with all the negatives and positives so far, got a big negative to add:

UNDERPOWERED.

There we go.

Othe good points include: infocentre- still wonderfully informative whilst retaining a beautiful simplicity.
Huge proportions of autos out there. Every second one on ebay seems to be auto. Though this isn't really an inherent problem with the design of the car.....more like a "480 culture" problem.

Hard to customise/upgrade (no poly bushes etc etc).

I bloody love it anyway!

98kellrs · Post by **98kellrs** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 8:57 am

Yep, i'd go with VDG on this one, underpowered badly! A car that looks like a sports car, drives like a sports car, and is as high maintenance as a sports car should be better powered, how about a nice 2.5 V6?

Seriously, should have been 2ltr from standard (and a better 2 ltr at that!), with the cruising GT's being 2.5 ltrs and the "sporty" ones being twin cam.

But I am a bit of a sucker for a big engine

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 10:17 am

98kellrs wrote:Yep, i'd go with VDG on this one, underpowered badly! A car that looks like a sports car, drives like a sports car, and is as high maintenance as a sports car should be better powered, how about a nice 2.5 V6?

Seriously, should have been 2ltr from standard (and a better 2 ltr at that!), with the cruising GT's being 2.5 ltrs and the "sporty" ones being twin cam.

But I am a bit of a sucker for a big engine

They should be T5 and rearwheel driven like a proper sportscar should be

Other than that, I like it. Even the interior (exept the rattling)

Brasco · Post by **Brasco** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:17 am

The rear suspension is crap. So is the day-running lights, they're bloody rubbish... the exhaust hanger loops on the mid-section, they're rubbish, the load cover... what's that about huh? Rubbish. Plastic the rear clusters are made out, crud, glovebox? Glovebox? fine, if you only want to put a pair of gloves in it, rubbish! Stupid reg plate holder that breaks easily, rubbish, front wishbone bushes, they're rubbish, rear engine mount? that breaks, that's rubbish... it's all bloody rubbish!

(But it's got soul

)

aibast · Post by **aibast** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 11:43 am

Brasco wrote: (But it's got soul )

Thats the main point man

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:19 pm

The first few posts kicked up some upset

Good because I wanted to see real reasons for liking parts or disliking the car.

I don't think there crap but some parts are crap...

rear clusters

bushes

auto gearbox and anything other then m59's in standard

trim is crap but looks cool

leather seats must be of cheap leather / are full leather my arse!

door pockets suck

changing sensors is a PITA

exhaust bolts rust like crazy

screws for spoiler are rusting away

clear fogs are shit as they break (thin glass)

rear bumper rust like nothing I have seen before

pop up motors fail early when you think how much they are used / they rust even under the sealer.

nose cone nut/fittings whould be welded to the body!

etc

otherwise the car is really fun to drive.

Maybe it's a small price to pay for something that's great otherwise.

robkendall · Post by **robkendall** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 1:31 pm

nah....i just agree with the thread title....they are crap.
if they had been a huge success, volvo would still be producing them now....not in c30 guise or whatever, but badged as a 480....but theyre not, cos they are crap....they didnt badge the c30 as a 480 cos of the possible association with the original.

having said that, they have a certain charm that makes owners ignore the crappiness of the car, hence their cult status and following.
yeah, the door pocket plastic cracks if you give it a disgruntled glance....IC stops working everytime you switch from one readout to another......back clusters are as clear as mr magoos vision, and the dash squeeks like a thousand tortured mice everytime you hit a pebble, but hey....its all charm right?
.
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right?

rgrds
rob

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:04 pm

-Looks are funky

-Handling is relatively good

-Build quality is third world

-Performance is rubbish

I just wish they went half as fast as they look like they should and were RWD

I will always have a soft spot for the 480 but I don't miss not having one.

Awaiting the flames

98kellrs · Post by **98kellrs** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 4:46 pm

I just don't think they'd suit being RWD, i know we'd all love them to be, but it just wouldn't look right, the car is shaped all wrong

"now 4wd, dats what i'm talkin' 'bout" *in my best Will Smith accent*

catgroom · Post by **catgroom** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:15 pm

I own a 480 because at some point I could no longer afford to insure a 944 or a Lancia integrale.

480s are crap in comparison,in MY opinion.

They are-:

Underpowered

Ugly from some angles

A poor mans sports car

Full of issues due to naff build

Poor designed in parts (engineering wise)

They rot like fuck

Not a car you can neglect,so not truely reliable,summits always fucked if you leave em for more than 2 days!!!

People take the piss out of you as you drive along in one,
probably me actually!!!!

Apart from that I have never ever had a car which I find it so hard to sell for something else....and this is my 38th car!!!

Steve

VanDerGraaf · Post by **VanDerGraaf** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:18 pm

Aww Groom, you're making me want to sell mine now!

They are wonky, but wouldn't go as far as to say crap.

suddy · Post by **suddy** » Fri Apr 27, 2007 6:44 pm

interior rattles.

but look after it and don't maul with it and it will do you proud.

[gearbox failiures accepted]