1.7 480

[dcwalker]

Robert, the S was sold in the UK much longer with the 1.7...Volvo obviously decided to inflict the last of them on us!!

David

[dcwalker]

To hopefully clarify both S model specification and engine size, I have photographed the relevant UK brochure pages for a 1994 model (produced late 1993), which the one we are discussing here appears to be:





You can see that compared to the ES, the S (as standard) lacks the following:

Info centre (it has traditional temperature/fuel gauge instead)
Alloy wheels (it has 14" steel wheels with "Sports" wheel covers)
RDS radio cassette (it has VC602 as opposed to VC802)
Moonroof
Front foglights
ABS brakes

Also that the engine remained the B18FP (ie 1.7 with catalytic converter).

I hope this helps people! For interest, it is only in the 1995 brochure that the UK S model finally had the 2.0i engine - presumably by then Volvo had finally run out of the old 1.7s!!

David

[dragonflyjewels]

I'll add my tuppence worth:

Love your enthusiasm but dont let it rush you into making the wrong decision. We'd like to welcome you into the wedgie fold with a car you'll be happy with. A disaster could mean the loss of a new member. I have to say, a 480 is a great choice for someone wanting a 90's car

I think £2500 for a low spec car with a strangled engine is far too much. I dont like that the seller has so readily knocked almost a third off the price (not that I doubt your haggle skills, just that 10% would be more like it if the price was realistic - it's the old trick - ask far too much and a big discount makes it seem a terrific bargain) Also, I dont like that he hasn't shown the rear wheel arches or the rear light clusters in the pics. Both are money pits and need careful inspection.

My recommendation would be that you wait for an earlier 1.7 (1991 at the latest). OK, so you wont get the half leather interior but you will find it much more sprightly and enjoyable to drive. You could change the interior at a later date, half and full leather ones do come up for sale now and then. An S model is the least desirable, so you might struggle to re-sell it for anything like 2.5k. Look at what you get with an ES before you decide which you prefer and be prepared to wait for what you REALLY want.

Whatever you do, don't ever buy a car without seeing it first. A hand behind the wheel arches could easily save a lot of heart break. A test drive to see how you like it is also a must. I doubt this one is going to sell in a hurry, so take your time - you have a good sized budget so you can afford to be picky.

[GCooper]

More pictures were sent to me and the brake lights and wheel arches seem to be good, I intend to buy it on the 2nd but if I find any serious issues that weren't in the pictures I won't buy it

[GCooper]

The only thing the S is missing that I really want are alloys, but I'm going to buy a set of 14 inch ones to put on it.
Heated leather seats, central locking and a cassette player are all I need on a 480, and my previous cars were a Ka and an 8v Clio so 100hp still feels fast to me.
As for resale value, I don't intend on reselling it

[dcwalker]

I applaud your determination

I genuinely hope that on 2nd the car proves to be everything you want it to be, and launches you into the world of 480s with a smile on your face.

Keep us posted how it goes!

Best

David

[GCooper]

Someone has to buy the ones others don't want!

And that someone is me

[MisterH]

I wish you the best of luck, it most certainly will not be uninteresting

[dragonflyjewels]

So, you are happy with the spec and engine, which is good. You'll see the condition when you view it, also good. The mileage is dubious, check the condition of the driver's seat and the pedal rubbers - any signs of wear usually means high mileage. Ask when the cambelt was last changed - if he doesn't know or it was more than 5 years ago, or you suspect the car has done a lot of mileage since the last change, you'll need to get it done straight away and it's a couple of hundred pounds you'll need to allow for. It's really the price that's bothering me.

Our four 480s are on Classic insurance through brokers Carole Nash, who have very experienced valuers negotiating with the insurance company's own valuers on agreed valuations. My 2 litre ES was insured for 2k up to this year, in very tidy condition with various optional extras on top of the extra bits on an ES. They would not have agreed to £2500 - believe me I tried ! Based on this I doubt the valuers would agree more than £1500 tops on a 1.7 S. In response to your original question, I think this one is still overpriced by at least £1000.

Food for thought.

[jifflemon]

Someone has to buy the ones others don't want!

And that someone is me

And that's fine. What people on here are trying to do, is arm you with sufficient information so that you don't end up paying over the odds. Asking the right questions, using the points that people on here are suggesting, are all tactics to try and save you money. Because I don't think ANYONE has ever bought a 480 and NOT had to spend money on it.

Speak to insurance companies NOW about trying to get an agreed value policy.
Have a slew of questions to ask the seller, so that he thinks you know what you're talking about. Also be prepared to treat every single word that comes out of the sellers mouth as a blatant lie - People will say anything to sell a car. So for example, I'd be pulling the cam belt cover back and having a look at the belt; It doesn't matter too much if you don't know the difference between a shiny new belt or an old knackered one; It's showing the seller you know what your looking at. Better still, take someone who does know what to look for, who's not emotionally attached to the idea of buying the car.

You're currently buying with your heart, not your head. We all know that feeling, which is why we're trying to be the sanity check your heart needs right now.

Cynical Me would put the car at about £1k - £1.5k Maxiumum (just from the 3 pictures and what we've been able to gleam from them). GT's, Turbos and Celebs have struggled to make the 4k barrier, and even though I say buy on condition, even condition has limits. The seller clearly doesn't know the spec of the car, hence the wannabe trader. He, like so many on eBay, see's old car = Money. Has he sent you any other photos? If so, post them up (or drop me a message, I'll host and post them) and we can go through them.

[brinkie]

Wow, I didn't know that in the UK the 1.7 litre engine was available until model year 1994, I think it's the ony market where they sold the S, ES and Turbo together in the same model year. In its native country, it was 1.7 ES until model year 1991, 1.7 S in 1992, 2.0 S in 1993 (in Germany in 1994/1995 also) and 2.0 ES in 1994/1995. Turbo was available from 1988 onwards.
Moonroof, powered antenna, leather upholstery and rear speakers were optional (radio was NEVER standard, there is even a documented case of a car which was ordered with no speakers at all). Automatic was optional on S and ES (both 1.7 and 2.0), but never on Turbo! ABS and front fogs standard on Turbo but not on S or ES. The 2.0 S was the only one without info centre, the 1.7 S always got one.
In 1995 you could order the "GT line" package which threw in all options except rear speakers, moonroof and automatic transmission. The 1995 Turbo was available with GT Line only.
For some strange reason, the third brake light wasn't standard even on 1995 cars, nor was driver air bag.

Anyway, here in The Netherlands, there's a trader who's been advertising a 1992 1.7 S with approx. 186,000 kms = 115,000 miles for 15 years already, asking 6750 euro = 6000 pound. I think he doesn't want to sell: https://www.saabspecials.nl/occasions/v ... 96071.html

[dcwalker]

Wow, I didn't know that in the UK the 1.7 litre engine was available until model year 1994, I think it's the ony market where they sold the S, ES and Turbo together in the same model year. In its native country, it was 1.7 ES until model year 1991, 1.7 S in 1992, 2.0 S in 1993 (in Germany in 1994/1995 also) and 2.0 ES in 1994/1995. Turbo was available from 1988 onwards.
Moonroof, powered antenna, leather upholstery and rear speakers were optional (radio was NEVER standard, there is even a documented case of a car which was ordered with no speakers at all). Automatic was optional on S and ES (both 1.7 and 2.0), but never on Turbo! ABS and front fogs standard on Turbo but not on S or ES. The 2.0 S was the only one without info centre, the 1.7 S always got one.
In 1995 you could order the "GT line" package which threw in all options except rear speakers, moonroof and automatic transmission. The 1995 Turbo was available with GT Line only.
For some strange reason, the third brake light wasn't standard even on 1995 cars, nor was driver air bag.

Anyway, here in The Netherlands, there's a trader who's been advertising a 1992 1.7 S with approx. 186,000 kms = 115,000 miles for 15 years already, asking 6750 euro = 6000 pound. I think he doesn't want to sell: https://www.saabspecials.nl/occasions/v ... 96071.html

Thanks Robert, that's really interesting - you wouldn't think that for just a few miles of sea there would be so much difference!!!

Perhaps I should look to add a couple of the mainland European brochures to my UK collection...

David

[brinkie]

Someone has to buy the ones others don't want!

And that someone is me

I can't tell you off because of that, as I did the same. I paid 1500 euro for a car with 200,000 miles on the clock, which turned out to be in need of 600 euro immediate repair, had a bit of rust on the arches and worst of all, an engine that was very tired. But it had the colour, engine and trim level I wanted. I've spent several thousands the past 6 years to get the car near where I wanted it to be, including an engine swap, and it still needs some work.

That said, walk away if the car has touched-up wheel arches (you can feel that on the inside) and a crusty rear inner bumper. The interior must feel solid and not smell damp.

[Norm57]

If you have not already purchased the car there is what appears to be a really decent example for sale on Facebook. It is a 95 celebration model and includes a load of spares.maybe worth a look although bear in mind it’s a 2ltre.

Cheers Norman

[jifflemon]

If you have not already purchased the car there is what appears to be a really decent example for sale on Facebook. It is a 95 celebration model and includes a load of spares.maybe worth a look although bear in mind it’s a 2ltre.

Cheers Norman

Got a link Norm? Not showing on my searches (blummin facebook is useless for most stuff!)

[Norm57]

If you have not already purchased the car there is what appears to be a really decent example for sale on Facebook. It is a 95 celebration model and includes a load of spares.maybe worth a look although bear in mind it’s a 2ltre.

Cheers Norman

Got a link Norm? Not showing on my searches (blummin facebook is useless for most stuff!)

No sorry but Sylvia knows about this one I think. It is not far from Norwich where she lives. Was advertised a few weeks ago and now seller has dropped price to £1900 with a load of interior and body spares

[dragonflyjewels]

The Celebration on facebook belongs to Arthur (on the forum as oddballer) He came to the lunch on our last visit to Rutland Water in it. Looks lovely, I'm surprised it hasn't sold. I wondered if the 340 owner who has just popped up on fb looking for a Celeb would pick up on it.

Sadly Arthur's income has been badly hit by the pandemic- much as he needs the money he really doesnt want to sell it. I'm sure he would prefer it to go to a classic enthusiast who will look after it.

It's only about 5 miles from me so I could go and give it a once over before anyone makes a long journey. I just cant get to grips with facebook!

[dcwalker]

Ah...sorry to hear that story; it's getting all too common in recent times

Thanks for placing the car - as I recall that one was a nice one...

David