The Truth Behind The Volvo 300 series (Volvo 340/360)

Member Name: Nar2

Product:	Volvo 340/360
Date:	24/06/08 (616 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Bargain buy if maintained properly, comfy seats, high position, average drive, safe

Disadvantages: Heavy steering on 340, 360 much better but silly prices ruin an otherwise sound buy.

When the 340 was first launched, certainly in this country, it was known as the 343 DL. The 343 was all of DAF's design, a Dutch manufacturer more known now for it's trucks rather than it's cars because their only model, the "Daffodil," and later known as the 45, 55, 66 & Coupe series would carry the same basic design; namely a 3 cylinder air cooled engine and a revolutionary automatic transmission known as "Variomatic." The little car was about the same size of Austin's Mini although it had quite a large boot as a result. It was primarily made as a 2 door saloon, but eventually a 2 door estate model and coupe were launched over time. All the models featured automatic transmission and no other option. Eventually it would make its way here to the UK in the 1960's and many drivers found that the quirky three speed transmission was slow to respond, yet character building for its small charms. It was really a car suitable for town driving and buzzing around Holland seemed to fit the bill for a car that was economic to run.

When Volvo eventually merged with the Dutch government and Daf BV Auto works, Volvo took the automatic transmission system and heavily revised the principle. It wasn't Daf that were wholly responsible for the CVT principle, but an engineer who worked for the company by the name of Van Doorne. Volvo's increasing interest in the small car niche upheld its roots and over the years their percentage in the Dutch holding grew until Volvo became wholly independent for the firm. Thus, Volvo took over the car division of DAF in the early 1970's and they updated the tag and renamed the system, Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT).

Slipping gears were also a common problem on the Daf 66 models, and would also surface early in life, on the 343 and 340 automatic versions - but they were much improved on in the 400 series HTA or "high tech auto," to give its proper title.


With a normal standard ZF type automatic, a vehicle which is equipped with an automatic transmission does away with the manual clutch. Instead the automatic transmission therefore hunts automatically for gears - usually in such an equipped vehicle you can tell when a standard automatic does this, as the car creeps or hunts into the next gear. Most cars these days have better automatic transmission systems that slide into the next gear seamlessly but you can still detect it, particularly up to speed or when over taking. With CVT, there is no creeping and the automatic transmission has a continuous gear that just follows the vehicle's speed. It therefore doesn't hunt for the next gear, because simply there isn't a pre-selection of gears available. Fuel consumption as a result isn't as high with CVT as it is with normal conventional automatic transmissions. Volvo 300's will do a normal 35 to 40mpg on the automatic models.



The 340 was effectively the same model as the 343 3dr and 345 5dr albeit with a few updates here and there and very little done to the basic body work architecture to keep costs down. By the middle of the 1980s however, Volvo renamed their entire range so that the 343 & 345 became the 340. It was simpler to understand really! Engines were mainly derived from Renault while the 360 featured a bored out engine taken from Volvo's bigger saloon, the 240 series. Thus the engine range is as follows:


* 340 DL/GL/GLE 1.4 (1397cc) 70 bhp

* 340 GL/GLE 1.7 (1721cc) 100 - 105 bhp

* 340 Diesel (Not available in the UK) 1.5 (1597cc) 45 bhp

* 360 GL/GLE (1986cc) 113 bhp. The older GLS models had the same engine but lower bhp of 109.

* 360 GLE Injection / GLT 113 bhp (the injection models were slightly quicker and made an improvement to fuel consumption)

Body Styles

* 3 Door hatchback
* 5 Door hatchback
* 4 door saloon

Transmission Options

* 4 Speed gearbox
* 5 Speed gearbox
* CVT Automatic Transmission


Again, the automatic transmission was not heralded as an advance in transmissions though and the fact that the car came with a Renault engined 1.4 in capacity hardly set the world alight. The car was slow and ponderous and often the noise of the transmission coupled with the engine would result in a similar sound made by a cow as the revs got faster. Later in the 1980s, there was the 345, which meant effectively that the 343 had two extra doors to make a 5 door hatchback. This time, Volvo decided to launch a 4 speed and 5 speed manual gearboxes for owners to have more choice.



The 340 GL (and further badging such as GLE models etc) is really, one of the most popular cars launched by Volvo. The GL, or Grand Luxe as it was known by, usually sported central locking - and very little else - because Volvo would make great lengths for it to be known that at that time, that here was a family hatchback that was very safe on the road and no other competitor could beat it for that addition only - in the Ford Escort class where it was sold alongside. Other variants such as GLE versions were added, which gave the 340 more items such as rear head restraints and more colours to its options lists as well as electric windows in the front. By far one of the most unusual standard kit on all of the 343/345/340 range was the inclusion of heated front seats. However there was no switch to activate this (not until much later in 1987 when the car was about to be face lifted one more final time) and the heated seats would often come on, unaided.

Heated seats were of course a usual Volvo trait as well as its safety record, featuring heavy silled passenger and driver's doors, crumple zones front and rear, and a collapsible dashboard along with the steering wheel. When compared with cars of its age in its infancy, the 300 series did look quite a bargain compared to what was on offer in terms of occupant safety. The car came with a safety cage and steel bars in its doors whilst rivals had to do with lower fitments of safety. The 340 series was also, one of the very few cars where rear seatbelts were also fitted as standard.


Volvo 343 DL models in general (and 340 DL models later on) were usually in 3 door form only until the last 5 to 10 years in its life. The reason being for this is that the lowest model in the range would do with the automatic transmission whilst other derivatives would have the option of manual gearboxes. The highest derivative the automatic versions of the 300 series ever got was the 1990 Volvo 340 GL which was available with 5 doors and electric front windows.

However, the only model that was ever available with Power Assisted steering, was the 360 series in the last couple years in the 1990s. As a result, the other models had no power assisted steering and let me tell you, the car could prove heavy to steer because of this lack of valuable assistance. Blame it on the body shell and added safety crumple zones. However the tight steering gave way to a good turning circle and the fact that the car was in rear wheel drive makes it a doddle to drive, as well as being somewhat bouncy thanks to De Dion suspension.

So here are a few tips if you do see a Volvo 340/360 come on the auction line or consider online sellers such as EBay:

* Some 340s and more 360s have had an abused life, so watch out for rust in the tailgate and surrounding areas on the doors, especially at the bottom sills. Water pumps usually are the first to go in the engine bay, although some exhaust problems also remain.

* Fit and finish is generally average because Volvo tried in earnest to make the car hospitable and comfortable, cutting costs here and there of good quality plastics. Some models therefore have irritating squeaks and rattles, but as I have often found a couple of squirts from a bottle of WD40 will often do the trick!

* Not many models in the 1980's had a rear wiper fitted either and it was not possible to get an after market factory fit option. Later models had rear wash wipe fitted as standard - it seems odd that Volvo went to all the bother of fitting headlamp wash wipers as standard and not a rear wiper given that it would be a safer idea of putting it on their cars!

* The rear seat is essentially a bench type seat that doesn't split, even in the 1990s when Volvo were working on the 400 series, the 300 series never yet received split rear seats.

* The transmission tunnel is quite large and bulky which means access to the rear is best suited to 2 people in the back rather than 3. A lap belt was fitted as standard though and at that time not many cars had lap belts in the back, never mind rear seat belts.

* Early 3 door models had quarter windows in the front side windows that meant you had to open the window to adjust the mirrors and couldn't do it from inside.

* Headroom in the 3 door models in the rear is tight due to the sloping nature of the hatchback's roofline.


** Pros **

* All 3 door models featured angled seats that swung towards the dashboard making access to the rear a great deal easier than other 3 door hatchbacks whose front seats fold over the base cushion.

* Cars are generally cheaper to buy nowadays. Even if you see a 1990 spec one going for £1000 you should consider walking away; private owners are notorious for charging a fortune when they are trying to sell these cars, ESPECIALLY the 360 GLT models that feature power steering.

* The 4 door saloon 340 and 360 models had no split seats but they were generally better built and featured a ski hatch in the back to enable long items to be put in the boot.

* Average fuel consumption for the 1.4 is around 35 miles per gallon depending on the mileage that you do. The worst I have managed is around 32 and the best around 40 mpg. Not bad for a 1.4!

* The car's spare tyre is fitted in the front underneath the bonnet. The bonnet also opens up with its side facing upwards, which makes it a lot easier and safer to look into the engine bay. Changing oil is easy since most parts under there are clearly marked.

Space is in plentiful supply in the front at least and on all models except the DL badged versions, lumbar support on the front seats are fitted as standard.

My car, a Volvo 340 GL G reg. 5 speed manual gearbox model was bought a few years ago from a mate in the trade. Priced at £595-00 this car was a major bargain at the time, not just because it was super safe, but because the car was very comfortable and visibility excellent due to the high design of its windows and large windscreen. It was a 1.4 version and its powerful engine that managed to take a lot in the boot, which is also quite large. Best of all though, when travelling at 70 miles per hour, the car felt planted although side winds can move it around a little thanks to its un-aerodynamic shape! When servicing these cars though, please be warned that Volvo are notorious for charging high prices. If you just fix the basics and get a local garage to do it, it usually works out a lot cheaper!


In terms of cost of parts, you would do well to shop around as prices can be high but they can also cost buttons if you know where to look. The 300 series was continually made with part galvanised steel which means that usually, these models take their time to allow their paint work deteriorate.

It doesn't stop people getting a bargain however - there's still life in the old Daffodil - or Triffid yet depending on how you look at it! Thank you for reading! ©Nar2 2008.

www.volvocars.com

Summary: Volvo's best seller in terms of a small family hatchback.

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