Volvo 480 Club Europe

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-480-AU ... Sw2x1da4UW

This beautiful 480 was sold on eBay earlier this year and is now back up for sale.

I know it went for north of £2K originally. SHMBO would love this as it's her favourite colour!

Would this be towards the end of the 1.7, so it has a CAT?

It also has full leather which is unusual on an ES?

Looks good! Hope it finds a good home.

Wonder why it is being sold on so quickly...might just be someone looking to make a fast buck but when someone's known to have paid good money for it in the first place it always makes me a little suspicious as to what might be wrong with it

Yes, it's a 1992 model so it will be 1.7 with a cat (the so-called B18FP engine). I had one of these from the same year but in oyster grey...

Mind you, Marc, I can't resist pointing out that the word "catalyser" on the back is quite a good clue towards the fact it has a cat fitted!!

Leather was always available as an option, but as you say it's fairly rare to find an ES with it these days. Doesn't look to be in bad condition generally either - it wasn't quite as good a leather as the GT/Celebration leather was.

David

Leather interior is not original to the car, its got the carpet that went with a cloth interior. Momo steering wheel is great, we have one on Al's turbo and it's lovely to drive with. I'm not sure white lights were fitted that early, so my view of the car is that someone has upgraded the spec. Hopefully they spent a lot of money on looking after the mechanics as well.

Leather was always available as an option, so it might be original to the car - unless you know that the carpets were also upgraded if you specified leather?

You're right about the white lights - at that age they were orange (I changed mine on the grey one and it looked so much better!)

David

Can see the CAT badge now! Couldn't see it on my phone.

I didn't realise the 1.7 ever had a cat. I assumed the 1.7 was dropped for emissions reasons and the 2.0 was when the cat was introduced.

What's a 1.7 with cat and auto like to drive? Never tried a 480 auto (not sure I want to either!!).

Would be interesting to see the list of spares it comes with.....

Does look a very clean car - wonder what it's like in the metal. Shame it's not closer, or I'd have had a look.

jifflemon wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:48 am

Would be interesting to see the list of spares it comes with.....

Does look a very clean car - wonder what it's like in the metal. Shame it's not closer, or I'd have had a look.

I think it's just as well it isn't closer, or you'd have a look - and we all know what would happen next....

David

zapcity wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 03, 2019 9:19 am

Can see the CAT badge now! Couldn't see it on my phone.

I didn't realise the 1.7 ever had a cat. I assumed the 1.7 was dropped for emissions reasons and the 2.0 was when the cat was introduced.

What's a 1.7 with cat and auto like to drive? Never tried a 480 auto (not sure I want to either!!).

I seem to remember my 1.7 with cat was fine to drive at the time, but then it was several years after my original 1.7 (B18E, no cat) and I didn't really know any different. Once I had my first Celeb I discovered what an improvement the 2.0 was!

The 2.0 came in really to get the power back up again. By adding the CAT the B18FP was down to about 102 bhp. The original engines were, iirc, at least 106. The 2.0 is 110 bhp.

Can't comment about the auto - like you I have never driven one; never saw the point in this sort of car, tbh!

dcwalker wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 03, 2019 11:20 am

Can't comment about the auto - like you I have never driven one; never saw the point in this sort of car, tbh!

Me too - Until I did the Volvo 600 event. Left leg was on fire!

Quite looking forward to finishing britney to see what and auto would be like; the V70 daily is an auto and I absolutely love it. As a daily driver, auto is a blessing.

 I like a good modern auto. The Citroen C6 I had, Volvo C70 I have and the GMC Yukon XL‎ (uncontrollable barge of shit!) I have at work are all modern computer controlled things. The old ZF4HP18 is a mechanically and hydraulically controlled completely different kettle of fish.

I've had both 1.7 + cat and Turbo autos.‎
‎
480 Turbo auto was pretty good in my opinion. 
Motorway: Revs a bit high on the motorway, but you just get used to it. 
Urban: 30mph is in 3rd gear which again is a bit high for around town but increasing speed a little to get it in to 4th‎ then slowing down again, maintaining 4th gear, works well. 
Both things you just learn to live with and forgive because the Turbo engine does propel it quite well. ‎
‎
480 1.7 with cat: all the downsides of the above which the Turbo engine makes up for a bit. Without the Turbo it was just a droney, gutless, slow experience. Not for me I'm afraid. 

Personally, I'd be scared of any 480 auto as the Turbo gearbox went bang on mine and cost a fortune. You can't change all the oil, only about 1/3 per change. Perseverance would get about 99% changed after a few changes, one after the other, but most never get this and have shagged fluid in which will destroy the box. ‎

Get used to making it hold on to 3rd manually and then choosing when to but it in to 4th when overtaking or joining motorways.‎

My old auto Turbo turned up recently needing some TLC. That's probably the only one I'd buy as it had the box stripped and reconditioned (at J T Automatics who did a decent job).

Apologies to those who love their 480 autos. That's great if you do! They're just not for me. 

I love mine and I don’t care who knows it!
First auto I’ve ever driven or owned. I love the smooth roll and rest from gear changing around all the little roads. I am partial to a bit of nanna driving though.
Agree with James, you just get used to it on longer journeys/faster roads.
Also; spare hand for Dorito intake and what have ya.

edie_fox wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 03, 2019 8:58 pm

Also; spare hand for Dorito intake and what have ya.

Dying over here.....