shimon340 wrote:
a typical volvo in that everything comes apart well and its easy to service.
the interior build quality of the mk1 wasnt so hot with rattling dashboards but this was addressed by the Mk2 which in terms of interior is what the mk1 should have been!! very much quieter
480s have give more electrical faults than the 440. really its the first 2 years of the 480 which is most "interesting" in this way. pop headlights and their electrics plus the information centre give the most trouble - both things the 440/460 do without.
I've cut that down abit... but I feela 400 bashing about to start... deep breath... remember to be civalised... tongue firmly placed into cheek... we may begin...
COMES APART EASY?!?!?! What planet are you on man?!?!?! Even the mondeo is easier to pull apart than that, for a car of it's time it's shocking for the home mechanic. It's fine if you have lifts, but the only way to do a clutch change is to drop the subfame, which you can't do without suspending the car at least 4 feet in the air! The only way I managed was to hacksaw the front of the car off, and wheel the damn thing out the front, but it makes re-assembly just that little bit harder. Nothing fits right, all the hoses are the wrong shape or too short, and the clip on style air ones seem to jump off at will!
The interior is also a firey passion of mine, it's more plasticy than the city rover which everyone constantly slates, and the plastic not only feels thin, but the s/h price you can command to non cracked trim shows it must be.
And as to the electrical faults, when I pulled mine apart (which was an 89, so 3ish years in) the leaks the thing had ment water ran down the wiring loom and as the plugs were on top of the ECU's had filled these with water! ARGH.
Right, that off chest now, no offence ment Shimon, just 400's hit a nerve with me
I taught my housemate to drive in one... read into that what you will!
Will, Ricatron, my turbo progress has been slow, I havn't been able to get to it for the last few months, but the engine is built up now, I've got all the bits apart from a few hoses, and I replaced a few bits a little while ago so the front end is nicely revamped. Basically, I need to weld a patch into the inner wing where I had it bodged 5/6 years ago when I really didn't have a clue (as opposed to now, where I only have a tiny clue) and the engine dropped onto it's mounts.
Wiring is worked out, fueling sussed, tbh I just need a week or two to be able to get to it, and then suss out what paper work it's all going to create. Oh, and sort out the suspension. Kar's is knackered, and since I've sorted Fake's out I know I hit corners 15-20mph quicker as it doesn't feel like I'm about to scratch the door handles, so if I don't sort that out, I can see me flying off the first corner
With subtle exterior mods it would be a one hell of a car. 
