Hi everyone,
ive been searching at buying a volvo 340 for a bit now, i'd thought i should come here for advise on what type of 340 to get for a first car, i wanted to get volvo with a fair bit of power and a 5speed transmission box because ive read up that there are a few volvos that only have four speed box , but if someone could list or send a link of all of the volvo specs because i cant find much on this internet , i hope someone could point me to a dream volvo as this is a car i like alot.

thanks

Nate

Welcome to V3M!

If it's a fair bit of power you're after, you're probably best with a 1.7. They're not too bad on fuel either apparently.

DO NOT get a 340 DL. They suck ass.

Hi Tom!,
glad to have a reply, does the 1.7 have a 5 speed gear box by chance, i want something with a closer gear ratio instead of getting to top end on the rev limiter then it bogging down in next gear, hope my dream can be answererd ,

thanks

Nate

I've not actually owned a 1.7 before, but I imagine they do have 5-speeds. Ask a guy called 'redline' or 'DeKay' on the forum.

Y'know, they do suck ass, but 340DLs are surprisingly quick off the mark! Just don't expect much once it's got going...

Most, if not all of the 1.7s are five speeds. After 1983, all but the 340DL 1.4s seem to be 5 speeds too.. Hughs '85 GL is 5 speed for example.

A 340DL 4 speed can do an indicated 100mph.. pretty damn impressive, I might even be tempted to avoid the 1.7 for the carb base trouble they can give and requiring cambelt changes if you dont know when it was last done by the previous owner. The 1.4 OHV is impressive for an old design, but the heavy bodywork doesn't help matters.

If you want more power there is the 360 2 litre variant, which may not be out of your reach atall insurance wise - worth looking into anyway.

As a first car you can't go wrong really, comfort, reliability and safety - also should be damn cheap to insure

thanks for the input guys, i'll post on the forum how i get on with purchasing a 340 or maybe a 360 if they are available in a 3door .

thanks for your help guys

Nate

If you want close ratios - go for the automatic, the 340 1.4 is one of the first cars ever to have the world beating 'stepless' CVT transmission, instead of those dreadful power sucking, fuel sucking 'normal automatic gearboxes' you must try one if your'e buying a 340, they're quite a bit quicker then the manual, mine once did just under 40mpg on a long run. The Volvo 360 I'm selling no here was my mum's, she bought it after she saw how well my CVT 340 was lasting. Clv

Theres not a big difference in insurance between the 1.4 and 1.7 I think it was around £80 more for a 1.7 for Dekay last year (he was 19 with 2yr NCB)

........ i always think a manual is faster than a automatic, i'd prolly go with a manual though because automatics are a bit lazy for my liking .

thanks

Nate

DeKayDAD wrote:Theres not a big difference in insurance between the 1.4 and 1.7 I think it was around £80 more for a 1.7 for Dekay last year (he was 19 with 2yr NCB)

i got a insurance quote on a 340 1.7 3door and it was around 1400 pounds , this is definitly looking like a option for a car

The CVT automatic Volvo is not slow, when 14, Volvo 340s were returning from a Volvo dealer convention, hosted by Volvo at the NEC some years ago, the fastest by a good margin was the only automatic, in those days, the A1 was all roundabouts, the auto 340 was overtaking all the others, then going around the roundabouts twice to let them catch up, only to beat them all over again on the nest streach of A1!! The fastest I've been in a Volvo was my 1.4 CVT auto, at an indicated 104 mph, never been that fast in the 360 two litre I now have for sale on ebay.Clv

Good to see another CVT fan on here!!!

Will

SteveP wrote:A 340DL 4 speed can do an indicated 100mph..

It can't, and trust me, I've tried...

It was witnessed last week, on a private test track, however

Definitely get a 5 speed - pretty much anything GL or above will have this box.

Personally, I'd get the 1.4 - cheap tax, cheaper insurance, and the most 'impressive' engine for its size. Any 300 bar the 360 injection can easily manage 40mpg on a run - my 360 managed 40mpg average on the way back from the Birmingham meet, and that's with a knackered carb!

The Varios are very cool, and give better power delivery than a conventional auto...I'd say it'd be close between a 1.4 5 speed manual and a CVT once on the move, but there's no way they're as quick as a 360

I managed an Indictated 125 (on a private test track, of course...one with a big hill...!), and I have the less powerful carb version

cheers

James