Volvo 480

Having owned my Volvo 480 for a little over a year now, i feel its about time to write a proper review for it. Having been a member of the invaluable online owners club and forum (www.volvo-480-europe.org) for some time before buying i felt infromed as to what to look for and had already walked away from a couple of cheaper / worse condition examples. Hard though it may be to do, its the only way you're going to enjoy your 480, read up before you go and let someone else buy the cursed ones! I bought mine for £671 from a forum member through an ebay auction, which i still think was a bargin. There are cheaper 480's out there but to get any car with a ...  Read the complete review

I bought the 480 turbo thinking I was getting a performance car from a manufacturer with a reputation for reliability. Well, at least I was right about the first bit. The 480 can go fast. I have no issues saying that. What I do have issues with are: the dodgy mechanicals; irritating electrics; and the jaw-dropping bills from Volvo dealers that catalogued the time that I owned the car. It broke down the day after I bought it, and the day after that. New battery required, but the dealer covered that. They didn't cover the four other batteries that their beauty killed over the following twelve months... the light bulbs that it ate like smarties... the ...  Read the complete review

I currently use one of these for day to day transport. It's solid, reliable and practical. Performance is brisk but not exactly breathtaking, and the handling seems to encourage the hooligan in me. The jury's still out on the cars styling, is it ugly or funky? the pop up headlights make you think your in a proper sports car though. Build quality seems better than that of ford et al but it's not exactly a mercedes. Economy seems ok but is very dependent on the weight of your right foot 25-45 mpg ...  Read the complete review