Volvo 480 Club Europe

Volvo 480 Celebration article from Autocar magazine ...

If you’ve got a high res pdf scan I’d love a copy.

Surprised they got the power output wrong!

6 colours? Is that correct?

“22,000 480 owners”

What is it now? About 200 at best.

Surprised that they found the handling so bad, from all other accounts it is superb, but then maybe the 2.0 had different dynamics

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 3:59 pm

If you’ve got a high res pdf scan I’d love a copy.

Surprised they got the power output wrong!

Yes certainly, pm your email and I'll send across

Surprised that they found the handling so bad, from all other accounts it is superb, but then maybe the 2.0 had different dynamics

Al and I each have a 2litre and a turbo, we are agreed (makes a change!) that the 2 litre has better handling. I often wonder if the journalists that write these reviews have actually driven the cars.

dragonflyjewels wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 6:31 pm

Surprised that they found the handling so bad, from all other accounts it is superb, but then maybe the 2.0 had different dynamics

Al and I each have a 2litre and a turbo, we are agreed (makes a change!) that the 2 litre has better handling. I often wonder if the journalists that write these reviews have actually driven the cars.

Agreed - what on earth does "blue rinse image" mean?! It reminds me of music journalists where I used to wonder "have they actually listened to this?"

'blue rinse' refers to old ladies who used to have their hair done with the stuff (giving away my age here!) It's the female version of 'cloth cap'

I remember that article when it came out and I still have a paper copy! On the one hand it was quite complimentary, but on the other hand the journalist hadn't done his homework or driven the car.

No, there weren't 6 colours for the Celebration, just 3 (burgundy red metallic, storm grey metallic, and white satin).

No, front fog lights weren't a "gain" - all UK 480s except S models had them.

No, the 2.0 doesn't handle poorly - in fact, provided the suspension is still all in good condition the handling is both sharp and tight.

But there we are...

David

Even the most thickest rose tinted glasses can't escape the fact that by 1995, the 480 was quite dated against the competition. The poor car was even having to compete with Volvo's own too, as if life wasn't hard enough; the T5R.

Other sports coupes were destroying the car on performance.... Toyota Celica GT-Four.

Other sports coupes had masterpiece engines... Honda Prelude VTEC.

Even by 1993 the Clio Williams was a front wheel drive revelation.

Journo's would of also have had the pleasure of testing the Honda Integra Type R (DC2 - JDM only) in 1995. To this day that is regarded as one of the best handling front wheel drive cars of all time.

Even saloon cars by 1994, like the Alfa 155 Silverstone and their 1994 BTCC victory produced way more spice in the showrooms than any 480

The 480 always had good handling when this is gauged by mathematical grip; it's a light car and with wide tyres, so its always going to 'handle'. But, in my opinion, this does not translate to dynamism. It's a hard term to define, but it sort of means the car feels 'alive' and in turn, begs you to thrash it harder. I would put the 480 in the sports touring category... good grip but a chassis with a comfort bias.

What I will criticise the article on is slagging off the dashboard as 'ugly'; which I totally disagree with. I think it's a great piece of design... not a showcase of structural integrity though

I note the M57WJO press photo (last MoT 2006 incidentally) is another Oxford registration (JO) and M**WJO are all Volvos. I would put good money on this being another "Lyehill Quarry" car from the Volvo PDI centre.

Volvo had a thing with press photos and London bridges because the 1994 brochure had one too:



Great to see, thanks for scanning.

I'd largely agree with you, Jay.

I do think it's important to remember thought that what Volvo had I mind all along was a sports tourer - what used to be categorised as a "GT" - the 480 was never intended as an out and out sports car.

Just like the P1800 before it.

David

dcwalker wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 25, 2021 9:29 pm

I'd largely agree with you, Jay.

I do think it's important to remember thought that what Volvo had I mind all along was a sports tourer - what used to be categorised as a "GT" - the 480 was never intended as an out and out sports car.

Just like the P1800 before it.

David

And that is where I get the most frustrated, people calling it a hot hatch. It never was and wasn't meant to be. It would have similar performance to a sporting golf I would say, but is set up differently, and is closer to a Gen4 Celica in terms of its aim.

I must say the 480 does encourage me to enjoy the turn as its handling does stand out I would say, it feels like it goes where you point it. Compared to the Rover, which is a full on Hot Hatch, and very nice, I would say the Volvo has a nicer handling feel as you feel more connected with it.

To steal a line from Ford, man and machine in perfect harmony...









...Until the throttle idle has a moment

Yep I agree with the above analyses of the 480, cars had moved on by 1995. Doesn't stop it being an intriguing bit of car design that still fascinates us to this day though.

I do think they could have picked a better spot rather than a wall to just dump it in front of...

MisterH wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:30 pm

I do think they could have picked a better spot rather than a wall to just dump it in front of...

almost crashed into?

I'd agree it is more old skool GT than VW GTi

Perhaps that's where it ended up when the handbrake failed...

Hammersmith Bridge (I think) in that one; Tower Bridge in the other one shown on this thread (which is in one of the brochures as well). So yes, there was a thing about London bridges it seems.

Did anyone else notice the top of HMY Britannia just showing over the black turbo? I'm surprised the photographer didn't try to make more use of that - the Royal Yacht and a Volvo 480 in the same breath...

David

Alan 480 wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 27, 2021 3:42 pm

MisterH wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 26, 2021 6:30 pm

I do think they could have picked a better spot rather than a wall to just dump it in front of...

almost crashed into?

I'd agree it is more old skool GT than VW GTi

Almost like a reinvention of the Capri but with a 1980s twist, and scene tax

Instead of Scene Tax, we have scene oligopoly: all the 480's eventually end up with a specific group of people with the space and skills - It's the 480 Oligarchy!