is a 300 a reliable "winter car" ?

Post by **chpoker** » 22 Apr 2007 09:52 pm

Hi
Im considering getting a 360 GLE, I must admit I dont have much experience whit alot of diffrent cars couse Im only 19, I also know its a bit to early to think of a car to use on the winter

when I say winter car Im thinking of a car that I can drive a bit sideways and have some fun whit on the winter time whitout it constantly breaking down.

thought Id ask here since you guys look like you realy know what your talking about (been sitting on this forum and reading for some time, quite informative)

I have several frinds that have 240 and simlar volvos and the say its extreamly though. I was just wondering if the volvo 300 is just as reliable

sorry for my poor english

also first post yay!

cheers

Post by MJ » 22 Apr 2007 10:30 pm

Welcome to V3M!

Yes, they're very reliable as long as you maintain them properly as you should for any car. We have a 340 1.7 which has been in the family since new, but for the last, what 5-7 years (I have a bad memory

) whilst it's been with my parents and me it's been very reliable. Other than routine maintenance, the only problems it's had have been a couple worn out distributors/rotor arms which are a service item (they simply caused bad running, and the effects came on slowly, no sudden failure causing breakdown or anything), and a leaking cam seal, which just dripped oil, no damage or breakdown. Both very cheap and simple to replace

The 340's use Renault engines, but 360's which your looking at use Volvo ones which are even more reliable.

Before the 340 we had a 360, and I was too young to remember details, but I know it never broke down and was very reliable. It was sold when it failed the MOT on rust

Post by **Ronnie** » 22 Apr 2007 10:30 pm

The 360 is the most reliable car I've ever owned, but then I have owned a lot of bangers.

As a lad I used to run 360's between London and the Highlands of Scotland on a regular basis, often in winter, and they never missed a beat. I've been out in the back country of the west highlands many times in a 360 (quite similar to Norway really, just not as big!), been out in places and weather where you really don't want to break down. And I never broke down.

They are tough cars. The first 360 I had, my first ever car got written off as a total insurance loss, twice, and it still drove and got me to college on time.

They are really very simple. Lots of room in the engine bay to get at things so you can easily and cheaply maintain them.

They are fun to drive. Rear Wheel Drive just feels right some how, for me any way. After learning to drive in old Volvo's, front wheel drive cars feel twitchy, unsubstantial and just wrong some how. Quite good performance for an old cheap car with very cheap insurance. Similar power to a Golf GTi of a similar age, and better torque. Will come off the lights fast if you need it to and will happily cruise at 150km/h for hours and hours. Although it will drink A LOT of petrol at that speed.

They are invisible. The police wont hassle you - or at least they didn't used to before the drifting scene got wind of them

And people wont steal them.

Buy a good one without too much rust and you wont regret it

Post by **petefarrell360** » 22 Apr 2007 11:03 pm

Ronnie and MJ are spot on. The 300's are very reliable, even when not looked after. It's amazing what abuse and neglect they will withstand and still carry on running. I always think that if you service a car well, and regulalrly, it should repay you with reliability, there are always going to be unforseen problems, most of them not the fault of the car.

The 360 has to be one of the most reliable cars I've come across. THe engine is bomb proof. The aux fuse box can cause a problem, as the fuel injection models have an extra fuse box mounted behind the battery, where a bad connection can cause a problem, once you know about it you'll be fine! Other than that though, for a car of it's age, it does extremely well. I'm happy to drive anywhere in mine, confident that it will get me there and back without missing a beat. And as has already been said, most of it's pretty simple and easy to sort anyway.

Welcome to V3M.

Pete

Post by **foggyjames** » 23 Apr 2007 12:27 am

As the cars get older, reliability issues can start creeping in to cars that haven't been well looked after. Carb models may need a carb rebuild (and 340s may need further attention to the inlet side), and EFI models can suffer from minor electrical problems (although no more than 2/700 series models of a similar age).

Having said that, they are surely one of the most reliable cars of their generation. My 360, owned by my family for 15 years, has never missed a beat (apart from when I forgot to put fuel in it).

Pick a good one, and it sounds ideal for your requirements.

cheers

James

Post by **jtbo** » 23 Apr 2007 04:07 am

Problem with 300 is that it was so cheap originally and people that bought them did not take proper care of them in first place and we need to fix their mess. Every now and then you will find well kept car and then it is as any more expensive Volvo.

Of course most of 200 start to be in similar situation too, as their prices have been so cheap for such long, but first 200 000km in car's life are most important, imo.

You can get bad or good car, test it well before buying and take friend with you that keeps your head cool and stops you buying bad car

Post by **chpoker** » 23 Apr 2007 08:51 am

wow you guys convinced me, my next car is gona be a 300 series

so I found a 1987 model ( 360, 5 door) thats gone 150000KM whit no rust, two prior owners and a sunroof ^^

Is this a good example of a 360 I should buy ?

cheers

Post by **IvanAE86** » 23 Apr 2007 05:22 pm

no rust...sounds good to me.. That's their biggest problem if you ask me. The b200 engine is absolutely indestructible, been racing mine for 4 years, and it still runs like a charm and has never let me down.

Post by **Ronnie** » 23 Apr 2007 08:48 pm

jtbo wrote:Problem with 300 is that it was so cheap originally and people that bought them did not take proper care of them in first place and we need to fix their mess.

I ws under the impression that the 360 was very expensive in its day, more expensive than most other hatchbacks like golfs etc - maybe that was just in the UK, or maybe I have bad info!

Post by **IvanS.** » 23 Apr 2007 09:38 pm

Well here come another happy ( future ) owner of 300 series

.
Mates above have told you everything. You won't regret it if you buy 300 series. Anyway it's not ANY car, it's Volvo

Post by **chpoker** » 24 Apr 2007 07:51 am

hehe thx for the tips you guys.
I'l keep an eye out for a nice 300 series

Post by **Nikdev** » 07 May 2007 12:34 pm

chpoker wrote:hehe thx for the tips you guys.
I'l keep an eye out for a nice 300 series

Do It, I had a 360 all trough last winter, never stopped or let me down.
You will be begging for snow all winter long, because its just so much fun!

And when summer arrives lower it and put n some deep dish wheels and it will look alright too.

( Sjekk ut denne inspirasjonstråden på bilforumet: http://www.bilforumet.no/showthread.php?t=149195 )