Volvo 480 Club Europe

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

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!!

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

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.

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 .

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!?

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

Best wishes

David

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! . 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

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

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)

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?

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.

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
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???