New forum member, 360/480 fan

[Alanovich]

Hi All,

I'm new here, and not currently a Volvo owner, but I'm an enthusiast. I have previously owned a 1983 360 (GLS) and a 1989 480 (1.7 ES), and I'm currently looking for a nice example of either of these as a hobby car, and possibly to get up to show standard.

My current fleet is a VW Touran (kids, school runs etc), a Golf TDi (the wife's favourite) and a Smart Roadster, which is a nice summer car but a bit new and complicated (and valuable still) to be a hobby car for a rank (enthusiastic) amateur like myself.

As well as 360s and 480s, I'm a big fan of Alfas and FIATs - an Alfasud is my dream car really, but they are a bit on the temperamental side and perhaps I'll try to find one when my mechanical skills are a bit more honed.

I'll be keeping my eye on the for sale notices on here and look forward to joining in the chat.

Cheers all,
Steve

[pyro]

Hey man, welcome to the nut farm!!

i do have a 360 for sale that i need rid of sometime sharpish!

welcome matey

Ben

[Alanovich]

Thanks for the welcome, pyro!

Do let me know when you're ready to sell, might be interested if I'm still looking.

I just can't make my mind up about what to go for - heart says 360 GLS, head says 480. Actaully, my head (and the wife's head) is really saying don't do it at all, but hey ho.

Cheers!

[pyro]

Hey man

Its actually for sale now in the for sale section...

ive a few people interested, and its hopefully off in for MOT tomorrow

Ben

[Alanovich]

Ah right, yes I've seen it. Sorry, didn't put 2 and 2 together.

I think I've got my heart set on a MK2 GLS if I go 360 rather than 480. Yours looks a nice motor but I don't think it's quite right for me.

Cheers and good luck with the sale.

[Nimminz]

welcome mate, go with the 360!!! My little brother fancies a 480, just because its a c30 he can afford and he likes the pop-up headlights.

can fit 5 people in a 360 but IIRC only 4 in a 480, interior is lush though. You see a load more 480s than 360s too

[MCHUDD]

hI mate.
Welcome to 300 land.
The 360GLS is now a rare beast but well worth waiting for the right one.
They don't have to be big money.
The 480 electrics might do your head in while the GLS will turn heads.
Good luck with the search.
Cheers Mark.

[Alanovich]

The 480 electrics might do your head in

Ah, yes. The 480 I had about 10-12 years ago (right after my metallic green, beige interior 3-dr 360 GLS) had this bizarre starting problem which no dealer or mechanic could ever sort, it would just not turn over even though the battery was fine. Then after about 20 minutes of taking the key in and out it would suddenly just turn over and start on the button. Weird. No one except me could ever reproduce the fault though, even left it at a Volvo dealer for three days and it wouldn't demonstrate the fault. And, of course there were the pop up headlights.....

So yes, perhaps a 360 is on the cards unless a stunning 480 crops up for next to nowt.

[L14MNP]

Welcome mate, nice to see a man of taste on here. mk2 360 GLS ftw.

Nimminz, my mk2 only seats 4. maybe it's a mk3 thing?

[Nimminz]

Nimminz, my mk2 only seats 4. maybe it's a mk3 thing?

actually i think my car has had a lapbelt put in as the button release thing isn't a volvo one and the seats rise a bit in the middle as if its not a seat :/ my bad lol

[mrsoundcraft]

I think a 300 series car offers much more. Come on its RWD!
This car has helped me build my mechanical confidence. Everything bolts together so easyly and in such an obvious way, and there's so little to go wrong, great car to work on, once lowered and stiffened a very responsive involving drive too!
Ive not driven a 480, so I might be being slightly unfair, I suppose its a faster car, without any modding required but its not RWD!

[Alanovich]

Well, mrsoundcraft, I am now in 360 land - see my other thread. Just bought a stunning 360GLE.

I won't be doing any lowering or aftermarket malarkey though, this car is 100% original and it's staying that way. I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to originality, it's my thing.

I've got a Smart Roadster in the garage when I feel the need for speed and wind in my hair (well, it belongs to the missus but hey, I pay the road tax and maintenance for it).

Interesting to see you're in Ayrshire - my ancestral home! Are you an Honest Man? I get up to Somerset Park occasionally. Sheesh, Volvo 360s and Ayr United. How trendy am I.