Conference terri::cars_uk

I have no personal experience of the car, but it has had fairly poor reviews 
in Autocar due to unreliability and the inability of the dealer network to fix 
the many mainly electrical problems that the car has had.  They have one on 
their long term test fleet I believe.  There have been several letters from 
owners with similar experiences.

Poor build quality seems to be a feature of the Dutch Volvos, of which the 440 
is an example.  Servicing is not exactly cheap, either.

Mike.

    THATS'S ENOUGH!
    
    The topic was for VOLVO 440 comments and all but the first reply are
    going down a service cost rat hole. A worthwile subject for a separate
    note me thinks.
    
    Back to the base topic please.

    service cost discussion moved to 937, lets return to the Volvo 440 shall
    we?. 
    
    
    Although who'd want a VOLVO?
    
    
    :-)
    Richard

       Well, that killed the topic stone dead, didn't it?
       Perhaps that says it all!

       Personally, in the interest of continuity, I'm all for letting
       ratholes take their own course. Let's throw the rulebook out of
       the window.  :-)

       Ian. 

OK......

They're blooming expensive for what they are. (irrespective of servicing costs,
which incidentally are ........... whoops!)

   Renault reliabilty with a Volvo badge?

    We've just acquired a 440GLT with cat, well 4 weeks ago.
    
    We test drove (what did we do to succeed where all around us seem
    to find it impossible?) Renault BX19's, Ford Sapphires & Volvo 440's.
    We actually tried 2 or 3 models from each range. 
    
    We are very pleased with it. It has sufficient acceleration, is
    quiet and comfortable - even on long journeys, the road
    holding/suspension is the same as 480's (on GLT and Turbo) and very
    acceptable ( the other models have squishier suspension, not so
    great).
    
    It had a couple of tiny niggles, squeaky clutch, duff bulb in boot
    interior light!! when it was delivered. The Volvo dealer fixed those 
    as soon as we pointed them out!! We have also had a 480ES, about
    2 years ago, now that had electrical problems that kept the dealer
    scratching his head.... 
    
    Judith. 
    

    I borrowed the demonstrator referred to for three days. Each day I
    drove from Reading to Poole and back so I gave it a fair hammering.
    Here's my verdict.
    
    On long journeys I found it VERY tiring. It was noisy above 70, harsh
    when accelerating, the steering was far to precise. You literally
    couldn't take your eyes off the road without the car wandering off.
    Now, I am willing to put most of this down to the sportiness of the car
    (turbo, beefed up suspension etc). So I would like to think that the
    non-turbo models are more refined. The trip computer was great and I
    couldn't complain really about any other features of the car.
    
    Although the car went like a rocket and knocked spots off my BMW 316, I 
    have to say that:
    
    	a) The 316 is much more relaxing all round especially at speed.
    
    	b) Because of the classy way the 316 gets up to speed even though
    its consideranbly slower, the thrill you get from puting your foot down
    is much more satisfying.
    
    Just in case you think that comparing a 440 with a BMW is unfair
    (probably not if you look at price) I also recently had a Cavalier 1.6L
    which I drove to Manchester and back. This compared VERY favourably
    with the BMW especially on the motorway. So on that basis, an up market
    Cavalier I assume would really knock spots off a Volvo 440.
    
    To finalise, I am a Volvo man through and through. Owned and still own
    140s and 240s and had a 340 compnay car last time around. On build
    quality, the 440 struck me as lightweight. But my 340 (which was
    Dutch/Belgium built) was fine and most 340s on the road today still
    look like new. So, I don't agree with the generalisation about non
    Swedish Volvos.
    
    Richard
    Basingstoke.

    AND... another thing!
    
    Little thing but it really annoyed me. I couldn't slide my foot off the
    clutch to the left. There is no space to the left of the clutch pedal
    so every change involves lifting your foot off the clutch and putting
    it on the floor under the pedal. Really tiring in traffic.
    
    	Richard

    Apart from comments already made in this note, has anybody else got
    any further comments. I am looking at getting a 440GLE or GLE
    injection, on the Company lease Scheme.
    
    As there are no quotes currently in the system, does anybody know of
    any lease quotes for any of the 440/460 range ? ( reasonably recent,
    obviously )
    
    Thanks in advance,
    
    Chris
    

    I recently saw a quote on a 440 GLT for around 1000 extra for
    supplement holders.
    

    The 440 turbo GLT was tested agianst the new Audi and BMW in Germany.
    
    Surprisingly enough the German testing team verdict was:
    It may not have the appeal or reputation but the
    performance and roadholding blows the competition away whilst keeping
    the comfort well within the same ratio to the price. The quality is on
    par so it is a better buy at a lower price.
    
    Over here, in the Netherlands, the 440/460 range is quite competitively
    priced.
    The reliability records, compounded by the ANWB(Dutch AA), gives it a
    vry high rating. Yes, the earlier models in the 400-range did have a
    very severe electrical problem A few even short-circuited into flames!
    However this is now completely solved and was warranted under the
    pretty good service.
    The safety record is second to none. Even better than the Swedish cars!
    
    For me a huge advantage is that they, historicly, offer very
    competetive automatic models.
    The 440 model has the ECVT on an 1800 with 90HP as an exclusive.
    Volvo are about the only one to offer an automatic on the base models
    as well. This effectively makes them CHEAP.
    P.e. the 440 1.8 with ECVT can be had 10% cheaper than the only Astra
    with an automatic! It's even cheaper than the Tipo 1.5 Selecta!
    This ECVT is fitted to some Subaru, Fiat and Ford models and is the
    best automatic you can wish. Strictly spoken it isn't even an automatic
    gearbox at all as it has no gears! ECVT is VERY economic with fuel
    too.
    I intensively used a Uno 1.5i Selecta(70hp) for six weeks and found the
    ECVT to be it's best asset. Can't wait to test drive the first demo 
    from Volvo next week.
    
    Over here the lease-prices are as competitive as VW prices.
    
    Although I thoroughly disgust the Volvo-image and am definitely not
    braindead I will most likely opt for one as a company car. I have my
    own car and two motorbikes left anyway!
    For me, in the Netherlands, the 440/460 is just too economic to pass,
    even if I didn't have my private outlets.
    I don't know about UK prices but perhaps you'r doing yourself no
    service by shunning them.
    
    Peter