Cool 300? Lighthearted Christmas relief....

[workshopmanualman]

I was intrigued by this comment:

Could be, but what makes that scary is a lot of us weren't even around when some of the 300's came out, let alone able to drive, not even while they were still being produced! Somehow the 300 has gained a strong following from the younger generation, who appreciate the engineering and feel. I myself learned to drive in a newer car, but prefer the feedback and feel the older Volvo has to offer.

Apart from making me feel old, the comment raised a question:

Which of the 300 series could lay claim to being a cool car? And are there any colours or interior/exterior options etc. than add coolness?

Or are the 300 series anti-cool, where we don't actually give a stuff so long as we enjoy the drive?


PIJ

[Cornholio]

[Cough] Redline [cough]

[Ronnie]

Anti-cool

So anti-cool it's cool

I've always believed the 360 has the edge, and GLT hatchback at that, that's why I've had three...

[sven360]

and GLT hatchback at that, that's why I've had three...

That must also refer to the number of doors aswell

[hatch360]

unfortunately people who dont appreciate older european cars who drive slightly newer vehicles will never see the 360 as cool

[redline]

Gavin said it all redline in grey is by far the best colour combination for a 300 , classy without being lairy ( well until I got hold of one that is ),

the worst colour has to be the pink that volvo never intended

[petefarrell360]

It is the anti cool that makes it cool. Retro coolness and it's not your run of the mill *insert name of tinny, generic small hatch* that everyone has that has no character, feel or enjoyment. It's the ability to be able to work on it yourself in 90% of cases, and the fact that they aren't that common now, I enjoy being different and often couldn't give a stuff what anyone else thinks.

It's also that you have to be either pretty lucky or search for the pimp retro toys and options, such as the cash register/taxi meter driving computer, bodykit, air con, gauge panels, cavity covers etc! The GLT was always intended as the highest spec model and did get the toys, but then any late 340 got them too. and for me it is a bit more desirable, that said I really enjoy the CVT as it's just so different to any other system about!

The styling is all down to taste, it is a late 70's early 80's design, with changes along the way, but it still has a certain look about it that means it hasn't aged badly.

Pete

[Chris_C]

Anti-cool

So anti-cool it's cool

Agreed! Tbh, I reckon all the accesory's are too try hard to be cool (I have spent long enough getting most of them, but then I've never managed cool anyway, way too geek)

The times I get the best feeling from them has to be either trouncing something from the lights, or the accel on the motorway with the torque, or even the feeling of never ever giving up when something breaks, I've never had to be towed home in 70odd thousand miles, including stupid amounts of broken stuff.

What other car would drive home with a bent con rod, after me and Andy had scattered the push rods liberally around Watford (they were neatly organised on his bonnet, until I drove it to get something....) And home being 100 miles away, with coursework due, and the car still had the guts firing on 3 cylinders to drift whilst taking Carl home from the pub

[petefarrell360]

And I nearly forgot, any R Sport model is super cool and the 343 Turbo Rally Cross car is just awesome! I have some cuttings to scan when I get organised!

Pete

[germ]

i agree redline too it just has somthing that makes me smile.

glt's and Rsport versions and the motorsport ones get my mouth watering lol also iam quite into those 343's mk1/2 retro coolness


iam probally the youngest person here still so i speak for my generation! and we love it! ...or erm i do

a few of my mates commented retro beauty and uber cool another said it was a slow piece of s### so every one has differnt opinion on them maybe like marmite you either like it or hate it? becouse i love mine!

later every one have a Happy Christmas and new year, iam off to france in the car any second now
will

[Fuse]

They can be.










Although I don't care one bit what someone else thinks about my car.

[voly340]

its drifting thats making them popular again, same reason for their price starting to go up

[dalahare]

For me they are cool for a number of reasons, you will not find another small rear wheel drive car here in Aus of that era with fuel injection, power window and central locking, they actually run decent amounts (almost too much) of negative camber stock, and they get very sideways, very controllably, when the conditions are right.

[trabitom99]

For me, the coolest 300's were built in '76 - '79: Mk1s with lashings of chrome, preferably in a garish 70's colour like yellow or green. 3 door GLTs in red, white or black come a close second, and I think the Mk2s are the prettiest of the bunch.

The least cool? Very much a personal taste. I like any 300 really, but a base spec 340 in non-metallic blue doesn't really do it for me, nor does a saloon in brown, sorry maroon, with a diesel engine ...

But that's just me, anyone else I meet (outside this forum) thinks all 300's are desperately uncool. But that just spurs me on

Tom

[2 Fast 4 U]

[Cough] Redline [cough]

haaaBluelinetjiiee