Volvo 480 Review

Very advanced car for it's time. If you are prepared to spend a little time and a reasonable ammount of cash you will end up with a nice car

Volvo 480 es automatic, what a cool car, very comfortable.
built like a tank, try opening the doors on a slope and you will see what I mean. ok mines an auto so mpg is a bit less but still worth the petrol and many smiles per gallon. brakes and road holding are amazing. soaks bumps up without being a wobbler!
seats are the best and heated. mine had a radio cassette
after replacing it with a cd I was amazed how good the original speakers were with speakers and tweeters in doors and rear.
auto kick down is a bit laid back but if you need extra grunt just knock it down a gear manually. bit its only rare to do it.
I have always wanted one got a almost mint one for £400 turbo versions are said to be even better.
what out for rusty rear arches,the rear lights outer covering goes frosty and cracks as do the front side and indicators.
the rear is also prone to leaking probably due to all galss tailgate and lights cover but clear silicone cures all that.
spares are cheap on ebay for diy but volvo dealers are money grabbers. owners clubs are about for info and help.
buy one you wont be dissapointed

I've now owned a 1994 Volvo 480 ES 2.0i since August of 2002 and have submitted a review here before, way back in October 2002. I don't wish to repeat what I've said before, but thought anyone considering buying one of these might like an account of over 3 years of ownership.

The car is still running as well as the day I bought it. A few things have needed repair, but I've spent more on newer cars in the past. This car was supposed to be a run-around for a year and I can't part with it, even 3 years later.

I've covered 50K miles and it has only let me down once when the alternator decided suddenly to retire completely. In all the time I've owned it, it's only required the following:
A new windscreen (under £180, fitted, from Autoglass)
A new alternator (under £100, fitted)
Two sets of Tyres (about £50 per tyre)
Renewing of brake cables (about £200)
The odd services (under £150)
A slight coolant leak (£8 carton of stuff from the garage)

Other bits and pieces have gone wrong which I haven't yet fixed, including:
Electric aerial is jammed
Boot lock no longer functions with the key.

For a car which is now eleven years old it performs faultlessly and continues to return in excess of 35mpg, on average, for mixed motoring. If I drive at exactly 70mph on the motorway it will return over 40mpg.

This car has at times been slated for performance by reviewers despite a Porsche developed and tuned gearbox and a chassis set-up by Lotus. If it's regarded as a fast, safe, comfortable grand tourer it excels in its class and competes unruffled with more modern cars. Reviewed as a sports car it may be regarded as a little slow.

However, it's more than up to the job of the everyday life I give it. Around where I live is all country lanes and tractors. Getting stuck behind John Deere's finest is soon sorted by slipping into 2nd gear and rocketing past very quickly. Similarly the A9, a scenically lovely and yet terrible road to drive due to the lack of dual carriageway, is no problem with the 480 either. The 480 is in a class of its own when it comes to 40 to 70mph acceleration and lorries are soon behind me.

I can compare this car to several months company car ownership of a Golf GTi and a Ford Puma. It's easily as fast as a 1998 Golf and handles as well as the respected Puma.

There aren't many around nowadays and reaction to the 480 is mixed. I've an 18 year old colleague who made great fun of it until I drove her somewhere. She then spent several months looking for a good one to buy.

The most amusing reaction to it has been picking up the nickname of Doc Brown because it's the "Back To The Future" car!

In summary, if you want a comfortable motorway cruiser, a fun car to hurtle around "B" roads, fingertip driving effort around town and enough acceleration to get you out of trouble then the 480 has been largely unjustly reviewed by those who have never owned one. This car still makes me smile at least once per journey. The lights, for example, even after 3 years, are still a novelty to pop up.

i have had mine for 8 months now and love it my mates are golf gti lovers and i have to smile when they get in mine and just see the performance and handling qualitys of this car.Since turning forty have been looking for a cheap sporty car and this fits the bill perfectly although i have had the usually problems like leks in tail gate and speedo failing to work parts are easily available to fix.i have de badge it and put chrome wheel arches on and chrome around the bottom of the doors. proffesionally fitted twin power exhaust and new low profile tyres and alloys. It makes me laugh when the boy racers look quizingly at the car and turn round to look at it as it goes by it sounds fantastic not loud like the normal boy racers big bore exhausts but just enough too sound sporty and classy its done 105k and still feels like new the only thing i can say thats bad about it it is a bit twitchy in very wet or icy conditions around corners if you are slightly too fast apart from that i hope too keep it and enjoy for many years too come.

Hi there,

I first went and got a Volvo 480S in 1999. I love the car and it's cool looks! I now own a 93 480 Turbo automatic.

Few problems that need sorting otherwise I think it's great car. I also have a spare 480turbo for parts.

You should join the Volvo 480 Europe club for help and advice!

http://volvo480.northernscum.org.uk/forum/index.php

Martin

I have had my "H" reg Volvo 480ES for over 6 years, and I love it. It is classy and looks like nothing else on the road. I call him "Vincent" and he has covered 111,000 miles. I have had a few problems with rusting wheel arches, broken clutch cable, speedo not working and I must have replaced at least 20 bulbs. He is past his best now and I am looking for a sporty car to replace him, but can honestly say I have found nothing to impress me.So I would like to find an enthusiast who could "refurbish" him for me, and bring him back to pristine condition. Is there anyone out there? If Volvo still made the 480 I would splash out on a brand new one tomorrow!!

Iv had almost ten years of fun driving with two versions this little car. My first an early 480ES was initially used to make a long daily commute to work. My high monthly mileage meant I visited the Volvo garage often and even though a few minor things needed fixing, like a clutch bracket which resolved a difficult gear-change the odd brake disk and bearing, it was quite reliable.
It did though have a bit of a personality including not wanting to start sometimes. If this happened I just had to wait for a short while or even jiggle the car. The garage had no answer. Apart from this sometimes starting problem, the (normal) leaks, failure of a light lifting motor, failure of the early air conditioning type heater module, failure of the electric windows, eventual failure of the water pump; I still loved the car!
In my early ownership I was a careful driver and kind to the 480, as I wanted it to stay reliable. The years passed, the car kept going; the mileage grew and grew. It got to the point where I thought the car was unburstable and would never stop. I now drove the car to within an inch of its life, always seeking the power band between 4 and 6000 RPM. I still maintained the 480 well but it was beginning to show its age, with the usual rust starting on the back wing edges, a little play on the steering rack and other assorted items like a failing radiator, heating system and clutch which were beginning to spell that the end of economical repair was in sight. It still wove its spell on me even as I wrapped up warm each day after work for my wintertime blast back home without heating. No matter how hectic the working day was, I always arrived home refreshed after thrashing the 480 all the way and feeling like a spitfire pilot after a sortie!
An unexpectedly flooded road finally finished it all with the car being submerged with me still in it. This is where I discovered the 480's ability to stay dry under water...for a short while! I felt quite at peace for a moment or two, watching the torrent wash over the windscreen before I realised that my ankles were getting wet. At this point I realised I wasn’t going to make it into work, so I pulled out my mobile and made a few calls. At some point then I realised that my bot was getting wet. The water had reached the seat while I was blithely chatting away. I moved to the central consul (just a touch higher then the sports seats) and wondered what to do next...
Luckily the water level started to drop a little so I pooped the tailgate open and swam/waded away and abandoned the sad 480. It was later retrieved (one of my calls was to the RAC) and as a testament to it's robustness I did dry it out, get it started and drive it again but soon replaced it with a Turbo Auto. A good car, but very different from the 1.7 ES. It's a more powerful quieter high speed cruiser, with a softer set up which reduces its cornering ability and sporty character a little but makes it more comfortable. I have again covered many miles in this 480Turbo Auto. And while the engine itself is reliable, Iv had to replace the Auto box, the ABS system, alternator and starter motor. I believe this may be my last! Perhaps a S60 next?
Still the 480’s is a lovely little package like a reduced scale BMW 840/50 but more affordable to run and fun to fling about!

I have just bought a Volvo 480 ES and the handbook is missing and would like to get one. I don't know all the bits and pieces and it would be a great help. I have the driver's manual but the actual hadnbook would be helpful. Anybody help?

I have just purchased a 480 91 1.7 turbo, I have wanted one ever since a conversion with my girlfriend about what car we would have out of choice for under £2000. She said a black volvo 480...I laughed ans said 'what the hell is that'. A couple of days later she pointed one out, My mouth droped, I had seen 480's before but i never thought they were made by volvo. from that day I dedicated my passive time to finding as much imformation as possible about a 480...in the end I found mine on EBAY uk for £430 an amzing bargin...it a red scorcher, I have only had it for a month...I have put a Sony MD in with same factory speakers...ideal sound for car size...speed is great...a few small rust spots, needs a new backbox which I found for £10.00 other than that the 480 is great...in a couple of years I will give my 1.7 turbo to by girlfriend and upgrade to a 95 2.0i if i can find one

wow....i love this car....its the most fun car i've owned since my last 2cv, and share that mad gadgety feel. buy one.... buy four!

Managed to find my 480 in my local garage, they had just recieved delivery of it from a Subaru garage, the previous owner had traded it in for an Impreza, fair progression in my book! I had to buy it as soon as i had sat in the bucket seats, which offer a much better ride and driving position than those fitted on cars which you will have to pay a fair few more thousand pounds for. My 480 is a white J reg Turbo model with 90k on the clock, all i can say is awesome power, acceleration and handling, an absolute pleasure to drive!! With the 480 the ride is quiet, comfortable and safe, with the pleasurable whistle from the turbo there is often no need to put on the radio! Having only had my 480 for 3 months but having covered about 1000 miles in it so far and have loved every minute of it. My brother who has a Renault 5 GT Turbo has driven it and loved it, wanted to know if he could pinch the engine and put it in his!! I Haven't had any problems with it as such apart from trying to keep it clean, white cars tend to attract mud and dirt like flies to shit.

am i a nut my wife thinks so reason i ran a red 1.7ES for the summer and early winter very happy with the high !!! speed ride stylish? and fast enough to embarass some luke warm hatches sold it due to cold weather and a seemingly imposible to fix heater i tried the garage tried -6 outside the car had to go one 2.5L omega standing on my drive tried to be happy but every time i shut the doors or boot (tinny you could call it) not to mention that for every 2 you see one has plates (TAXI) on AND !!!! the electrical problems GOT SHOT OF THE OMEGA !! and am know the very proud owner of a 480 celebration love the leather!!!! 2.0 engine just right smooth reasonably rapid between 20 and 110 mph(not on the motorway !!!) i think for the money i could have had a ropy corrado or some such or some middle rate luxury barge(omega) any way i'm off for a spin

enjoy every mile I cover with this car.
It is Volvo's first FWD with a transverse engine and Born’s finest too. One might say: P1800 ES's successor, a truly European car. 1,020 kg Swedish safety with a French engine modified by the Germans; packed in a timeless Italian styled Dutch wrapper while the Brits took care of her roadholding capabilities. As from her launch in 1986 I strain my neck whenever see a glimpse of her on the road. In 1992 I had the privilege to visit the NedCar factory in Born, the Netherlands were Volvo produced this characteristic 'dutch' brick. The entire production process and quality control program was shown and explained to me and four of my colleagues.
That evening, on the long journey back home, I made myself a promise: one day ... That day came eight years and nine passengercars further on the road with production number 24219. Once a marketing guy from Volvo described her to me as the ultimate cultcar. I prefer to refer to her as an icon of her time, a 'classic' from the eighties.
If are looking for Japanese reliability you're barking at the wrong tree. But I'am more than happy with her character.

I've only had mine a couple of months (Nov 02) but I totally hooked. I've always wanted one from when I was old enough to drive but they were still new back then and out of my reach, but now I've finally got around to getting one.
I've owned fast cars, reliable cars, cheap cars and luxury cars but the 480 is quite literally a bit of all of those and I'll certainly be looking for another one after this one - although with only 75K on the clock I'm expecting at least another 100K of motoring from her ;o)

After owning 3 very reliable Volvo 340's, when it came to buying something a little faster I had to go for a Volvo 480. The model is a 2.0i ES and for a grand comes newer (1994)than you could buy a Golf GTi. The spec is amazing; everything including the aerial is electric, the seats are half-leather, there's a trip computer, ABS, air bags, power-steering and the Volvo paint finish makes it look less than half its age. The novelty of watching the windows and sunroof close with the central locking took over a week to wear off; now it's simply convenient.

Although not the fastest 0-60mph it still compares favourably to a Golf GTi, Ford Puma and minces the local hot hatch 206/106/Saxo/Clio brigade. Where it really comes into its own is acceleration from around 40mph upwards. Pulling out to overtake is an effortless and safely completed move.

The handling might be a little stiff for some, but it corners as if on rails. The Ford Puma, which I drove for a month as a company pool car, has had glowing reports written about its handling; the 480 feels as good. Almost like my first car ever, a wreck of a Mini, the Volvo has a very direct steering feel.

It is unbelievably economical around town, returning somewhere around the 35mpg mark. This rises to around 40mpg even on the motorway. An insurance group of only 12 seems like a rare gift from the insurance companies.

High speed motorway driving is an effortless cruise with plenty of power to quickly leave behind the fast lane dawdlers when they eventually pull in. Even in the windiest of conditions the car is almost unaffected by gusting and points where you want to keep it.

Mine came with the usual swimming pool in the boot problem, but this had obviously only been happening whilst it lay on the garage forecourt. It took me 30 mins after a trip to Halfords to seal the gaps and stop the problem.

Another quick job was popping in a Sony CD/Radio which, with the standard connectors already in place on the 480, took all of 20 minutes. The factory fitted speakers cope well with the higher output and have saved me buying four new ones.

What continues to impress me is the thought which has gone into the car, the little things to make life easier: the rear wiper activates with reverse gear enagaged if the front wipers are on; activating main beam as you leave the car will light up the front of the house for 30 seconds; the trip computer checks everything on start-up - oil level, water, even all bulbs!; the electric mirrors de-mist when the rear window does; the driver's door lock glows on a dark night if you pull the handle and the driver's seat height adjustment adds to the feeling of the car fitting around you.

If you're looking for a sporty, but not flash, car; reliability and unbelievable bargain basement spec then look for a 480. They're becoming difficult to buy too and I had a 600 mile round-trip to buy mine. I'd like to think that people hang onto them once they get them, making them scarce in the For Sales. I've certainly grown to love mine very quickly and the local paper won't be seeing its photo-ad for a long, long time.

Great fun to drive with amazing road handling. Sporty looking, inside and out. Loads of features like pop up lights, fuel computer, PAS, ELECTRIC EVERYTHING! Lots of toys!

If you make sure you get a good one then you won't be disapointed.

1988 F reg 3 door coupe. Fairly reliable, pretty quick, not bad on fuel, very comfortable but leaked water from every joint!

ok got mine for £550 6 months ago and
as yet finegrs crossed no real major
problems, its done 177k miles and still
runs sweet as a nut. only major
grumbles are that the boot leaks like a
sieve and the way the rear arches rust.
apart from that its lovely to drive not
amazingly fast but that dont really
bother me.

I just brought my first volvo 480 es purely by accident (someone nicked my other car and i needed a quick replacement) anyway i have fallen in love with it even though its a year older than my last car (escort) Anyway as it was so cheap and i basically need a car that will last 10 weeks i am away from home, its great! the problem is i didn't have any manuals with it and i was hoping someone could help me as the "ext" on the dashboard is now highlighted with a red band and i don't know what the problem is and whether it just needs something or i need to take it to the garage, being a student i don't want to spend money if the problem is fixible myself. I am hoping to have the car serviced after the ten weeks when i a job. Its the first time i have wanted to really look after a car and i will certainly look at volvo's again in the future!!!
Thank you.

Had my '90 ES for nearly 4 years,
replaced to date radiator and hoses, front discs plus all pads, headlamp bulbs and rear light assemblies and damaged interior trim, fitted correct tyres rear shock absorbers.
When I got the car (after 340/360s) it was obviously solid but needed a little TLC, hence all the above work. All of it planned and none due to
breakdown. Rear arches, these seem to be the only visual rot on the 480, I bit the bullet and had them both cut out with new VOLVO sections welded in
in by a proper bodyshop with loads of wax and tar to prevent reocurrance, at the same time door bottoms were replaced.
All this because I have always wanted one of these amazing and comfortable little touring cars.
The "water in boot" problem is a design fault, water enters via the rear light surrounds and cars were recalled to have the lights removed and bedded in a sealant, obviously not all 480s' made it back and on others the sealant no longer seals.
Keep the crankcase breather pipes and the idler valve clean!