The great Volvo 300 replacement debate

[MJ]

Ah yes, it was you that posted some pics with a Massey in the background before.

My uncle has a David Brown tractor from the late 60's, and that certainly has heavy clutch and steering. That's not as bad as the brakes though. No assistance at all, and when there's a loaded trailer behind, you really need to stand on the pedal

[hatch360]

Using tractors as an example is going a fair way to defeat my argument

[petefarrell360]

Fordson Super Majors FTW! LOL

It depends, the clutch in my 360 is heavy, but then I believe it to be an el cheapo after market one that isn't very good! However, Andy's being genuine Volvo, is pretty light. They do vary a lot it seems.

It's never bothered me to be honest, but then the clutch in my van is heavy and you sit above it and literally push down on it, rather than towards the bulkhead. Without good thick soles that take a lot of the pressure like my workboots, if you use the front of the foot it pulls muscles in your foot when wearing shoes!

As for sunroof seals I'd love to find a source on them, however it isn't the seal that is responsible for wind noise tbh. As long as it's not sitting above the surface in bits to catch the air, it'll be a badly adjusted roof. It's not a job to be attempted unless you're keen, got a fair bit of time on your hands, are a patient and fairly capable sort of person! And as usual, ignore Haynes, it's useless, I think the picture is the only vaguely useful thing. Don't force anything. If your roof doesn't slide backwards, then it's a no go to start with, as in order to remove the trim panel, you need to slide the roof back. If anyone is keen, I will find some time to do a how to guide at some point, and I'll get some pictures too.

The best way to have the roof is very slightly low at the front, so it's just below the roofline, then very slightly higher at the back so it above the roofline. That way the wind won't catch the front edge and will be deflected off the back edge, not hitting a lip. Often the plastic blocks on the runner guides break, preventing the front of the roof being held down completely, resulting in a high front edge. This makes lots of windnoise!

As for the steering, the PAS on a 300 is very well balanced, not too light and unconnected like many new cars. It only really comes into play or is noticeable at low speeds.

As for the air con, I need to learn exactly how that works at some point, but I know Andy had issues with his idle with the air con on, and that he replaced or corrected that solenoid, but it didn't last I don't think. Not sure if he's now able to control it with megasquirt in some way, or whether he sorted the solenoid out, or if my memory is just incorrect!?

Pete

[SteveP]

As for sunroof seals I'd love to find a source on them, however it isn't the seal that is responsible for wind noise tbh.

I'd say it definitely is to do with the seal regarding windnoise, it's certainly not a weatherproof seal. My sunroof is adjusted nicely (in the saloon and my previous GLT) and the wind noise is still noisier than the 343 (which is surprisingly quiet).

I thought they were still available?

[trabitom99]

Often the plastic blocks on the runner guides break, preventing the front of the roof being held down completely, resulting in a high front edge. This makes lots of windnoise!

That could be part of the problem. When the sunroof is shut, the front edge rises slightly above the roofline. The rear part is just underneath the roofline. I can't check the plastic blocks at the moment as the car is garaged a fair bit away, but I don't remember there being anything broken ...

What I do to reduce the racket is to switch over into "tilt" mode and raise the sunroof slightly, so the rear part if the seal is a better fit. Then the whole of the panel is slightly higher than the rest of the roof, but at least the noise is less

Generally, it opens and closes well, however to completely open it in the tilt position it needs a helping push from underneath, I don't want any of the cables going "twang"

When it's working, it's a nice accessory to have, especially on a sunny day. I like it, I never had a car with a sunroof before the GLT

I thought they were still available?

I asked two weeks ago, they were deleted ... (part number 3278164)

Tom

[foggyjames]

If you like driving the 360, I'd run it on gas (a really great idea).

Personally, I was starting to resent driving mine every day - the work needed to make it daily driveable (cruise, AC, fixing the 'noise' issues, etc) was going to start getting me down. I bought the S70, and have no regrets. Even being FWD isn't a huge deal 99% of the time. MPG isn't amazing (30-40), but good enough for my relatively limited mileage (15k).

Still, a nice cheap diesel would do the trick, and with the money saved, you could afford to run the 360 for fun, too.

cheers

James

[Ronnie]

Well, I still appear to be spending money on my 360, so I guess Rosie stays for a while longer. It's been bearing up well as a motorway cruiser - especially in the weather we've been having. Much better than my previous 360's I ran as a young man which I seem to remember didn't like side winds. I guess my Rosie is just better cared for.

Fuel economy is my only real issue - but then when I look around at other cars I might like to own, and more importantly can afford - they have similarly OPEC proportioned appetites.

[retrocool73]

Speaking as someone with a few V300's and many other cars, I'd say whilst they have a quality 'feel' once inside and driving, the one thing that lets them down is wind-noise, especially on steel sunroof models which is unacceptably high - without the noise it is so much better. My blue E-reg 1.4GL has a flat rust-free sunroof that the old dear who owned it for almost 20 years probably never opened, ditto the low-mileage red 360 GLT. The 1.7GLE and black GLT though both suffer the problem of the roof having been used often thus are both too high at the front when closed. It's absurd that my grey 1.4 'Catalyser', that's basically a base model with a few 'extra's' (i.e.a rear spoiler and a glass sunroof) is actually quieter than the higher-spec cars (the glass roof makes the interior a lot less gloomy too, to the point that I keep checking to see I haven't left the interior light on!). Another niggle I have with the whole range is how noisy and unrefined they feel and sound when cold, in contrast to how they drive when warm.... Drive-wise, I used to think that these cars were boring when they are actually one of the quirkier cars of that era, but technology-wise they are rooted in the early 70's as opposed to much of their 80's & 90's 'opposition'

[foggyjames]

Damn straight with the sunroof comments. Get a 300 with good door seals, and a sunroof which doesn't leak air (note: the seal is primarily an acoustic seal), and they're not *that* noisy....but if you do have air leaks, they can be quite painful!

cheers

James

[Jason B]

my car doesn't have any wind sound at all! - heres the geeky bit.....

Wind noise is not actually sound as it does not conform with linear pressure fluctuations that provide a solution to the one dimensional wave equation and as such should be referenced as pseudo sound... I knew taking a degree in acoustics would be useful at some point!

Back on topic, I agree with the general consenus because as much as I love my 360 for rallying and general fun driving it is not easily maintainable for daily driving i.e. door handle snapping at an awkward moment etc.

[Chris_C]

Yours makes no noise as Redline (or the guy before him even) siliconed the sunroof in!

[redline]

twas not me it came like that

[trabitom99]

I suppose it depends a bit on which model you've been lucky enough to get hold of. I was really chuffed with my GLT when I bought it, it looks loads better than the poverty-spec GLi and has all the toys. But TBH I've been glad to get back to the "scruffier" GLi over the winter, with its better seats, no sunroof and manual everything. I'm sure it goes better too, lacking all that extra weight of PAS, e-mirrors, e-windows C/L etc ...

Tom-who's-been-daily-driving-a-300 (well, almost) since '93

[redline]

If wind is a problem in your life

go here

http://www.climairuk.com/climair/home.p ... 5a67edb741
and type in your vehicle

you can get front and rear side window deflectors for a four / five door

or just fronts for a three door


and one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1500-SUNROOF-SPOI ... dZViewItem


yes the listing is for a primera but if you scroll down you will see it fits the 300 as well

[SteveP]

Put it this way re-noise... I've been driving my 343 instead of my 360 just because it has decent door seals and no sunroof....