Chris_C wrote:

trabitom99 wrote:But I wouldn't trade reliability (broken props?)

You are having a laugh The one engine in the line up worth having is about as reliable as something out of the BL factory, on a day where lucas was on strike, longbridge were in a trade dispute and the machines had broken!

I wasn't thinking about the 1.7 when I wrote that

But I wouldn't agree on it being "the one engine in the line up worth having" ... The 1.4 would be too slow and noisy as a daily for me these days, but in a "Sunday car" like the 343 vario it's great The injected B200 stays at 100mph all day on an autobahn, with four people inside and three bikes on the roof without batting an eyelid. I'm happy with that ...

Cheers

Tom

trabitom99 wrote:The 1.4 would be too slow and noisy as a daily for me these days, but in a "Sunday car" like the 343 vario it's great The injected B200 stays at 100mph all day on an autobahn, with four people inside and three bikes on the roof without batting an eyelid. I'm happy with that ...

Time for a Chris confession... I've never driven a Vario. I think one of those would be a fun car, but I've heard economy goes out the window?

Also, don't forget you got B200F's Tom, I'm willing to bet it's a huge amount better then our B200e's. You know I've had a couple of GLT's, and I just can't bring myself to love them like a 40. The engine is bulletproof, it'll start *every* time, even if half of it has fallen off. Thing is, most of them run rough at startup (I was lucky with Jet, when I'd sorted that it was nice), they don't have good economy, and they have nowhere near the power they should be making. Which makes it in my mind, a reliable average engine.

For some reason, I hate average. I love amazing, I love bad, but average is just all a bit too mondeo.

Quick edit: I think what a lot of us on here are looking for, and always wanted, was a 300GTi. Something mk2 Golf like, comfortable, reliable quick and loveable in the corners. For me, the 340 has more smiles per corner than the golf out the box, just not the power or reliability.

... and I have to admit I've never driven a 1.7 Or a diesel, but we let's not talk about that one, urgh

You're so right with the 360 "GTI", or lack of one. The MkII Golf got 16V and the G60 versions, whereas power-wise the 360 GLT was only in the same power league as the 8V Golf GTI. A real pity ... I guess Volvo'd already "written off" the idea of redblocks in their small cars by the time the development of the 400 series began, where Renault-based engines were solely used.

A 155 bhp B234 16V in the 300, "Made by Volvo". That would have been it. Sigh ...

Tom

trabitom99 wrote:A 155 bhp B234 16V in the 300, "Made by Volvo". That would have been it. Sigh ...

Definitely! I too also like the idea of 'How Volvo should've done it'. Like a B23A GLS, or B230F/B234F in a 360 GLT... but I'd probably only do modifications like this to a car that wasn't totally original etc.

Im pleased this thread has managed drift and saunter onto a far more positive vibe.
nil pun intendo.

You have to remember, driveline was originally designed for 60-70hp only, also for under 1000kg car, 360 has some changes to that, but not so different, it still is not meant for huge amounts of power, it is not what car was intended for.

Then again it would be really nice amount of performance if just other parts would handle it that well, which in standard form they really does not, so it would mean changes to many aspects of car.

It would be great if Volvo would made that.

Again example of Mk1 and Mk2 Escort, it was not really meant to be a performance car.

I've never driven a 360 of any description although I have owned a 2.3 GLE 740 Estate and a 2.0 940 Estate.

A couple of my 340s have been 1.7s but I never really took to them. I've also owned 3 Varios which I liked but they are an acquired taste and fuel economy can be an issue.

My personal preference for a daily driver would be a late model 1.4 GL manual although I'm more than happy with my '87 DL. In spite of it's four speed transmission economy hasn't dropped below 32mpg on the daily commute with the best reading so far being around 39mpg.

The only real downside is the lack of a decent stereo and this is one modification which I may allow myself....

Ian Mac wrote: The only real downside is the lack of a decent stereo and this is one modification which I may allow myself....

how very dare you.

Don't do it! You might miss out on a BKV award come summer

Why bother, just enjoy all that extra space for your choice of travel sweets

Speedy88 wrote:Don't do it! You might miss out on a BKV award come summer

BKV award?

Best kept Volvo

You've still got an MW / LW radio? Go change it. There are plenty of period Volvo radios around which look as good (and have stereo reception ...)


Cheers

Tom

Dude!
Do you LIVE in your car?



what on earths going on in there man?

Yes, medium wave and longwave only and all the associated interference and loss of reception going under bridges...

How about something like this:

Not the prettiest of "classic" V300 radios, but it comes with front & rear fader, autoreverse, loudness button and metal tape facility. Yeah!

Cheers

Tom