Volvo 480 Club Europe

Jay-Kay-Em wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:07 pm

100 wrote: ↑

Mon Sep 12, 2022 8:19 am

a 968 CS! I would love a 968 and briefly looked at one last year - I remember when they were £15k - £20k! What a fantastic colour

Cheers Oli; 2 years to find a CS in Riviera Blue. We got there in the end. Dream spec, body colour hardback Recaro's, not even a radio! I had my first 944 in 2003 and remember a '68 CS at £12k.....

Congrats, a fabulous colour! Speed yellow with matching wheels for me which ideally I'd like to park next to a yellow on yellow 205 rallye. Don't judge my poor taste!

100 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 12:44 pm

Speed yellow with matching wheels for me which ideally I'd like to park next to a yellow on yellow 205 rallye. Don't judge my poor taste!

Yep, very cool and exquisite taste I’d say.

Besides, if you want poor taste, you could of said the Skoda Felicia “Fun”

Jay-Kay-Em wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:49 pm

100 wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 12:44 pm

Speed yellow with matching wheels for me which ideally I'd like to park next to a yellow on yellow 205 rallye. Don't judge my poor taste!

Yep, very cool and exquisite taste I’d say.

Besides, if you want poor taste, you could of said the Skoda Felicia “Fun”

I was in your thread anticipating an update, instead I'll take the opportunity to state that the Skoda Fun rear seats are glorious and I saw an exceptionally ratty example just a couple of days before your post!

100 wrote: ↑

Mon Nov 07, 2022 3:45 pm

I was in your thread anticipating an update, instead I'll take the opportunity to state that the Skoda Fun rear seats are glorious and I saw an exceptionally ratty example just a couple of days before your post!

No updates here I’m afraid. The car has slipped back into that parallel universe called a one-man-band tradesman that has no concept of time.

Yeah the rear seats are bonkers! I note the extremely rare Felicia Fun has actually 4x more survivors than 480 Turbos…..

Jay-Kay-Em wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 13, 2022 9:49 pm

Besides, if you want poor taste, you could of said the Skoda Felicia “Fun”

I dunno, looks fine, just 'fun' . . . ..

November 2023 - Half an Update...

Since September 2022 a text was sent every fortnight to that paintshop man. This continued for 8 months.



May 2023 I was told rectification work was ready.

Turned up for collection. Driver's seat impregnated with dust. Should never of fitted the leather drivers seat.

My genuine Volvo battery drained as flat as a pancake. That probably has damaged cells now.

Some of the paint faults still present.

No dispute was made. Just wanted out. I took the keys and drove off knowing I would never have the misfortune of dealing with this guy ever again.

Some relief, knowing that fortnightly text charade of begging was over.

The drive home, 26th May 2023...



She was misfiring like a pig. I think the plugs are fouled being idled and/or daily shunting in and out of their shop.

The poor thing hasn't had a proper run since the drive home from Wales some 7 bl00dy years ago.

Got home genuinely upset and chucked a car cover on...



There she sat all summer. Didn't want to talk about it, deal with it or even look at it.

Concentrated on other matters like keeping these two on the road...



Had a great summer with these two, but the Golf and 968 are hibernated now - and still working (amazingly). That means the workshop is vacant again.

So here we are, November 2023 and I have to bite the bullet.

I have totally lost track of where I am with the 480, what's left and what I was planning.

Being an observer of the 480 community for many years I have seen many unfinished projects come and go. The hard fact is that unfinished projects are utterly worthless, irrespective of hours invested thus far.

Perhaps the biggest motivational factor now is not to be beaten.

She went back into the garage this weekend...



Paint has developed a micro-blister rash...





What joy

Every 480 owners indispensable tool is currently spinning my meter...



Being stored outside with no door cards, rear lamps etc. hasn't done me any favours damp wise.

To summarise; two years wasted on paint and the paint is still sh1t.


Moving Forward

I think the new strategy is to forget paint - for now - a subject I have struggled with for 25 years on countless cars.

Just rebuild as complete as possible so I can visit more professional paintshops (further afield) for quotes. Yes, more money will be ploughed in.

Good job they're worth so much money or I'd be on the point of a nervous breakdown.

(Checks the Morris Leslie Auction for the Turbo this weekend where the hammer fell for £1100 )

Hopefully an update with more positivity after Christmas.

I really enjoy writing these updates, so time to refocus.

All the best; JKM.

The painting a car thing going bad is saldy a more common sighting than I thought. One of my friends civic coupe 5gen, was also at the painter for 1 year, when he went and visited him, the car had not ben touched.... I saw his struggles so I can somewhat understand your's.
I wish you will have the time and will power to continue with I tho. My rule for paint would be, no paint until everything else is perfect, eiven if that never happen, not so optimistic of me I know

If it's any consolation we really enjoy reading the updates. I can understand your frustration around paint, what constitutes a good job is pretty variable. Having had paint on a couple of cars, my conclusion is that it will never meet your expectations, although your experience is clearly unacceptable.

If it was any other business then it'd be attributed to disorganisation and lack of resourcing but it appears to be acceptable and considered a mark of quality for bodyshops to operate with huge lead times and work to sit dormant.

Anyway. Good luck building your enthusiasm back up!

I feel both saddened and relieved by this update.

Saddened that painters, by and large, are unreliable (I think it's the fumes) but relieved that you're back on it.

Just a thought - Find a good detailer; They may be able to work wonders with the paint. I had Seymour done and was genuinely shocked by the result; You'd almost think he'd been painted.

Optimistic wrote: ↑

Sun Nov 19, 2023 4:58 pm

not so optimistic of me I know

When not even Optimistic is optimistic, we've got problems

Kind words as always on here.

I have a future place lined up, so all is good.

I know I’ve said this lots of times but I promise 2 or 3 of those £1 dehumidifiers sat in the car Oct-April, if you don’t have other facilities (carcoon/heated garage), make a world of difference to the interior.

Probably only need replacing once.

The first winter I had my last 480 the interior got damp and mouldy within 2 weeks. Popped those in and it really made a difference.

I’m so sorry how long you’ve been put through that stress only to have that outcome. It’s like you’re the problem isn’t it?!

I’ve had the exact same with an auto electrician. Dead brand new Volvo battery, sat under trees with bird muck burning through the perfect paint for months. Raging. I feel your pain. Glad you’ve got plans in place already to help you look forward.