A little riddle?

Here you can talk about the joy owning a Volvo 480 brings. Non-technical discussions take place here, like what is the difference between an ES and a S version.

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pepper
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A little riddle?

Post by pepper » Wed Dec 19, 2007 10:15 pm

Ok we have two cars here, one a left hand drive 88ES and the other 92S, the earlier one is left hand drive and the later is right hand drive.

THe right hand drive cars feels so much smaller to sit in, I'm 6'2" and large but Wanderers a slim little lad (not for much longer the way my wife keeps feeding him). In the ES I can get the seat back further and it feels far far roomier to sit in (seats are in exactly the same postions for height reach.) So too are the steering wheels, in the S It feels cramped and very tight in the ES its just feels right. Very strange and it was Wanderer who noticed it first btw not fat bloater me.

Did they make it larger for the Europeans? Or did they just think rich british housewives would buy these cars when they were new?

Oh and I've changed the seats in the 88ES for a leather set from a 92Turbo and it still feels larger than the S.
Oy Wanderer thats my Smoke Silver Volvo 480 now.

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guitarcarfanatic
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Post by guitarcarfanatic » Wed Dec 19, 2007 11:12 pm

I'm guessing aftermarket sunroof? Really cuts in on cabin space! A Car with normal volvo sunroof has so much headroom the same as a car without the sunroof. The aftermarket ones really cut about 3 inches off your headroom!
1996 Saab 9000 CSE 2litre EcoTurbo

Previously...
Peugeot 406 executive TD - The devil!

1991 Red Turbo - Great condition and surprisingly un-rusty!

1989 Light Blue metallic Turbo - Sold!

1993 Steel grey S - Bought for parts

1990 Red ES - Now resting in car heaven!

1989 Black ES - Great runner

1989 Black ES - Spares Car. I murdered it!

pepper
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Post by pepper » Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:20 pm

Nope no sunroofs in either, though I know where you're coming from, they really do reduce the available headroom.
Oy Wanderer thats my Smoke Silver Volvo 480 now.

Joolz
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Post by Joolz » Thu Dec 20, 2007 3:44 pm

Are you sure its not your seat position.....you can alter just the back with the wheel on the side but he whole seat pivots up and down with the lever on the side of the seat...clear as mud huh!
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Van
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Post by Van » Thu Dec 20, 2007 8:48 pm

The steering wheel is adjustable too. But maybe your feeling is caused by the pedal lay out? I can imagine on a rhd model the pedals moved more to the center of the car because of the right front wheel, so your seating position maybe a little cramped?
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

pepper
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Post by pepper » Thu Dec 20, 2007 9:53 pm

I reckon its more to do with the pedal layout, there is far far more legroom in the left hand drive car than the right hand drive one.

Joolz I know what you mean about the seats but we set them both to their lowest settings both front and back adjustment if you know what I mean in the muddiest sense, and the seat reclining position was in the same place as each other.
Oy Wanderer thats my Smoke Silver Volvo 480 now.

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Agwa Moose
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Post by Agwa Moose » Fri Dec 21, 2007 3:35 am

My 91 ES felt alot smaller to sit in than either my 89 ES or the TT, and i know it wasn't just me, Sarah needed a cushion to sit on in the 89 and the TT or she had problems driving either, she didn't need one in the 91 tho (she is only little :lol: )

All 3 cars were right hand drive

Wierd, but I'm glad someone else has noticed this

J
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Dan the 480 Man
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Post by Dan the 480 Man » Fri Dec 21, 2007 5:59 pm

Actually, drivng/sitting in mine ('93) felt alot more spacious and airy than sitting in my Dad's ('91), and i mentioned it to him the first day i had mine... weird!
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Wanderer
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Room

Post by Wanderer » Wed Dec 26, 2007 1:55 pm

As strange as it all sounds there definitely is a difference between the LHD and the RHD and it's not the seat height or sunroof. after driving the LHD for some months before donating it to pepper I found that my RHD was far more cramped in every way, height, width and just general feel. If anyone else has a lhd just try the 2 and if you haven't tough you'll just have to believe us. :dispute:
1995 Celebration 332

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