Just how safe should I feel?

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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dragonflyjewels
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by dragonflyjewels » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:21 pm

At least one session on a skidpan is also a good idea - I did a few many years ago and still instantly respond correctly on the rare occasion I hit oil/ice etc. I believe they are mostly at racing circuits these days
Sylvia

Snazzy - 1993 Paris Blue ES red dipstick 2.0i bought 2001
Lethal Lily - 1991 White Turbo
Paris the Unicorn - 1991 Paris Edition
hubby has
Sven - 1994 Racing Green GT
Evil Eva - 1992 Paris Blue Turbo

no previous 480s - can't bear to sell any

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by Alan 480 » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:22 pm

if you feel a 480 is iffy, then adjust driving style to try and take account of idiots?

it can't prevent everythig, but having driven a three wheeler and still driving an SS1 nuff said (wheel studs on trucks are at eye level!! )

but you can't win them all :-( a guy in an SS1 was 'T-boned by a Clio at a junction, car drove straight into side of the guy, didn't stop at the give way sign :( I thnk th eother driver was charged for careless/dangerous driving

life is a risk, no such thing as 'risk free' . . . . .

number 23 bus is prime example, if you step in front of it!!
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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MisterH
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by MisterH » Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:24 pm

dragonflyjewels wrote:
Sun Sep 13, 2020 6:21 pm
At least one session on a skidpan is also a good idea - I did a few many years ago and still instantly respond correctly on the rare occasion I hit oil/ice etc. I believe they are mostly at racing circuits these days
I did do one of those recently, it was very interesting
Current Jobs to do (23/1/22):
Fix Central Locking
Fix drivers side speaker
Annoying Scratching Squeak
Water leaks
Complete Front O/S rebuild

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Van
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by Van » Sun Sep 13, 2020 8:02 pm

Here's a bad crash on x-mas morning 2011. While intoxicated the driver hit a road barrier, causing the death of the passenger. It's hard to tell from the images if the passenger had used the seat belt. Even when belted the passenger may have suffered head injuries from the roll over. The driver was convicted to 3 years in prison.
after over 10 years parted with the 1995 Volvo 480 ES 2.0

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glasgowjim
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by glasgowjim » Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:40 pm

A few years ago my daughter lost control in torrential rain (saquaplaned at a bend ) crossed the road hit a wall bounced back across road and thumped into the crash barrier and stopped . Car was just about driveable and limped home daughter was fine.
These cars are safe .

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jamescarruthers
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by jamescarruthers » Tue Sep 15, 2020 7:23 pm

glasgowjim wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:40 pm
A few years ago my daughter lost control in torrential rain (saquaplaned at a bend ) crossed the road hit a wall bounced back across road and thumped into the crash barrier and stopped . Car was just about driveable and limped home daughter was fine.
These cars are safe .
Ah Jim, how are you!?
1987 Volvo 480 ES, 507274, 217 - Red (Ness)
2006 Citroen C6 Exclusive 3.0 petrol/LPG
2008 Mini Cooper convertible (Mau)

Previous 480's:
J123 CFU -- ES
J449 MNL -- ES auto
D864 CPV -- ES
L691 JFC -- Turbo
F70 MNR -- ES
H858 FGV -- Turbo auto
E981 KHM -- ES (509849)

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dcwalker
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by dcwalker » Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:23 pm

glasgowjim wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:40 pm
A few years ago my daughter lost control in torrential rain (saquaplaned at a bend ) crossed the road hit a wall bounced back across road and thumped into the crash barrier and stopped . Car was just about driveable and limped home daughter was fine.
These cars are safe .
Jim - fantastic to hear from you again! Hope all is well with you :hopping:

Best wishes

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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dcwalker
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by dcwalker » Tue Sep 15, 2020 9:39 pm

Ben, reading through this thread I think it's important to remember we are mixing two subtly different conversations here. The first is, if the worse happens how well will my 480 look after me? The second is what can I do to avoid getting into hot water in the first place?

You've had a lot of responses now which have mostly looked at the first - I certainly think you have taken from those responses what we all wanted to get across. The second rears its head when things like skid-pans and IAM are mentioned.

When I met you a few months back you struck me as a young man with just the right attitude towards our cars and driving/owning them, and nothing you have posted since has altered my view. In many ways you remind me of myself 25 (ahem, cough cough) years ago...

Leaving aside everything I suggested regarding the 480, my old-timer's advice to you if, as I sense, you want to do things properly, would be:

(1) To do any driving courses you can - I had an intensive skid-driving session which, just like Sylvia, I still instinctively put into practice on the rare occasions it is needed, and I've also done a couple of rally driving/off-road driving courses - again, its amazing what little pointers and techniques you acquire and then use.
(2) Look to do the IAM course. My previous moves towards doing the advanced driver course were thwarted when life got tricky due to my father's death followed by a serious house-fire, but it remains on my to-do list and is currently up near the top again...
(3) Seize every opportunity to drive as wide a range of vehicles as you can in as many different conditions as possible. Might sound odd at first, but the wider range of vehicles you drive the more you polish up your driving skills rather than your ability to drive one particular vehicle. I am happy that nowadays I can get into and successfully drive any car - I've had a go at everything from an ancient Mini to an Aston Martin to a Mk2 Discovery to off-roading an XC90, driven nearly every Volvo back to the 240, many other makes of cars, vans, and even a fire-engine (don't ask ;) ) I have also driven a couple of trains but I don't think that really counts here! :lol: . I have driven in pretty much all weathers, on and off of pretty much every type of road and surface. All such experience is immensely valuable, especially if you can get to drive cars that aren't loaded with driver aids and safety systems.

Bring all that to bear and hopefully you'll never need to even find out how well your 480 will look after you!

David
Current: 1994 480 GT, 1996 460 CD & 1997 440 LE with lots of optional extras & 2007 V50 SE Sport
Previous: Celebration 331 (re-homed with Richard S), Celebration 467 (returned to Martin Mc); Celebration 346 (re-homed with Alan480); Celebration 269 (scrapped abandoned project), Celebration 73 (sold on after 6 years), 1992 ES, 1988 ES - and numerous other non-480 Volvos!

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glasgowjim
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by glasgowjim » Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:55 pm

Hi guys

I am keeping well thanks taking every opportunity to sneak a drive of my daughters C30 despite what volvo may tell you its like a 480 on steriods but it doesnt quite hold the road like a lowered 480 :)

nice to hear from you keep safe !

Regards Jim

hdickins
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by hdickins » Sat Sep 19, 2020 11:56 am

One thing I think of in regard to safety is the rarely mentioned matter of VISIBILTY. Some modern cars seem very difficult to see out of!
Massive A-pillars might be very strong, but I still can't see through them! The 480 does at least seem to offer great visibility - especially with B pillars being a way-further back than many cars. And any help in avoiding an incident is a worthwhile, IMHO

Howard
1992 MB 190e 1.8
No 480 (yet)
Howard
1992 MB 190e 1.8 auto
No 480 (yet)

Norm57
Can tell where the 480 was built
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Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by Norm57 » Sat Sep 19, 2020 1:46 pm

glasgowjim wrote:
Tue Sep 15, 2020 1:40 pm
A few years ago my daughter lost control in torrential rain (saquaplaned at a bend ) crossed the road hit a wall bounced back across road and thumped into the crash barrier and stopped . Car was just about driveable and limped home daughter was fine.
These cars are safe .
Good to hear from you again Jim,not thinking of rejoining the 480 world again are you?

Alan 480
480 Is my middle name
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Location: Aberdeen

Re: Just how safe should I feel?

Post by Alan 480 » Sat Sep 19, 2020 6:55 pm

glasgowjim wrote:
Fri Sep 18, 2020 9:55 pm
Hi guys

I am keeping well thanks taking every opportunity to sneak a drive of my daughters C30 despite what volvo may tell you its like a 480 on steriods but it doesnt quite hold the road like a lowered 480 :)

nice to hear from you keep safe !

Regards Jim
Jim
long time, no hear. :hopping:

concur, the C30 is 'more relaxed' motorway bashing, but the 480 will knock it into park on the acceleration front, weel 2litre 480 does, although the C30 has same BHP, but I guess at 5000rpm :wink:
for road holding probably 'lack of weight' helps the 480?
the C30 is a bigegr car outside , but smaller inside!! must be all that safety stuff,like a two inch steel tube across front above feet to keep the two sides connected/apart in a crash???
Alan

480 ES 2litre 'Celebration' ? , C30 1.8ES, SS1

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