Nearly 7 years ago I bought a nice Volvo 440 1.7 automatic from a fireman who was selling it for something bigger to accommodate his ever growing family.
I saw the car for sale in the local press and went to have a look at it. I was very pleased with the car, it had a lot of creature comforts ... Read review
Estate - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 140 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: R-DESIGN, R-DESIGN Premium, SE, SE Lux, SE Lux Premium, SE Premium, S, Sport
Saloon - Front (FWD) - 6 Speed - (Man) / 6 Speed Geartronic - (Auto) - 2401 cc - Max Speed: 143 mph - 185 bhp - Diesel - Available Trims: S, SE, SE Lux, SE Sport, Sport
Advantages: Performs well, very reliable, comfortable, practical, roomy Disadvantages: Not as well built as some Volvos
...ago I bought a nice Volvo 440 1.7 automatic from a fireman who was selling it for something bigger to accommodate his ever growing family.
I saw the car for sale in the local press and went to have a look at it. I was very pleased with the car, it had a lot of creature comforts you would expect (central locking, electric front windows, electric sunroof, power assisted steering and a height adjustable front seet - which is very important ... ...was a defective starter motor. Volvo parts can be expensive, but a Volvo will never need that many. She managed to get a reconditioned one quite cheaply and it has worked fine ever since.
Near where I live there is a Volvo garage, parts there tend to be expensive. However, a number of parts centres sell non-Volvo approved parts which are much cheaper and seem to work just as well as the real McCoy, so it is worth shoppig around. more
Nearly 7 years ago I bought a nice Volvo 440 1.7 automatic from a fireman who was selling it for something bigger to accommodate his ever growing family.
I saw the car for sale in the local press and went to have a look at it. I was very pleased with the car, it had a lot of creature comforts you would expect (central locking, electric front windows, electric sunroof, power assisted steering and a height adjustable front seet - which is very important if, like me, you have short legs !).
Driving the car was a pleasure - very comfortable, and although the car is quite low to the ground this was not a problem as you could raise the drivers seat.
The car handled very well and because these Volvos are quite light, it was very nippy too. I was also pleased with the insurance costs too. I cannot recall the exact figure but I do know that for my age at the time it was very reasonable.
The only problem I encountered with the car in the two years I owned it was that I had to replace the radiator, this was because the previous owner had neglected to put anti-freeze in it causing it to corrode (not the cars fault).
When I bought the car it had around 60,000 miles on the clock and I certainly did a lot of mileage in the time I had the car, but it was faultless and very reliable - I would have taken that car anywhere.
After two years my mother became the owner of this vehicle for the next five years and has only just changed it for something newer. She loved the car but just wanted to change it for something a bit more modern.
The only problem my mother encountered with the car in the time she had it was a defective starter motor. Volvo parts can be expensive, but a Volvo will never need that many. She managed to get a reconditioned one quite cheaply and it has worked fine ever since.
Near where I live there is a Volvo garage, parts there tend to be expensive. However, a number of parts centres sell non-Volvo approved parts which are much cheaper and seem to work just as well as the real McCoy, so it is worth shoppig around.
The only real problem with the car is that unlike some other Volvos, the body work on these does seem to corrode a bit quicker. There are some slight rust spots on the car which is a shame. Being a white car this is more noticeable. I know the later 440s were better built, I just wish Volvo had paid more attention to the earlier ones. So, if you are buying one of the earlier 440s watch out for some signs of rust.
Fuel economy on these cars is good too. It is a common assumption that Volvos guzzle the petrol. As I mentioned earlier, these cars are quite light and you will easily get upwards of 30 miles to the gallon from the 1.7 injection.
Another plus point with these cars is that they tend to attract the sort of owner who will look after them, both myself and my mother regularly had the car serviced, so there are lots of good examples out there for sale.
I was very satisfied with the car, as was my mother, the car is more roomy that most similar cars, the boot will accommodate most things and being a hatchback it is also more practical.
I have got to give this Volvo the thumbs up, it has been in the family for 7 years. It is presently on my drive until it is sold and I know that whoever buys it will have a bargain, this car has a lot of miles left in it.
I may even shed a tear when it it is sold.
12/12/03 - Further to my op, a friend of mine has bought the car and is chuffed to bits with it ;-) It is as reliable as clockwork and has many years left in it, he wanted a Citroen but since driving this he says he would be very reluctant to change it ! Being a Volvo the insurance is reasonable and the fuel economy is surprisingly good too ! I still see the car regularly and even drove it this evening ! The only problem I had was that I am not used to driving a right-hand drive car so find it difficult to judge hoe far the passenger side is from kerbs, parked cars etc (which is obviously the drivers side on my car - lol) ;-)
Advantages: Low insurance, handles well Disadvantages: Out-dated interior
...said when I brought my Volvo 440 Xi. I think that getting the volvo was a good move because of the reliabilty and the low insurance group. Before I got the car I had a Vauxhall Cavalier 1.4L and then the when I got the 440 I found out that the 1.8 injection engine was only one group higher. Im paying around £600 for thrid party fire and theft but thats with 2 years no claims. I think that the group for my model is 7.
Being only 19 I got my fair ... ..."A Volvo is an old mans car", but I myself am happy with the car.
Admittly although it is an L-reg (1993) the interior does seem out-dated compared to the likes of fords and vauxhalls of the same age but the 1994 model had a new image with new interior, different headlights and colour coded bumpers.
The cars performance cannot be put down. If the foot is put down in second gear you can feel the pull of the car which offers no resistance.
I recently ...
elsley 07.09.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 440
Advantages: Value for money Disadvantages: Not chic?
...consideration these days and the volvo won't let you down there either. Even the insurance is reasonable for a 1.7 injection.
Compare it to an xr3i (insurance wise) and the difference is astounding. Yet on performance there is very little difference.
Volvo's have acquired the reputation of being an old man's car but this is just not true. Try the 440 glt and I feel you will be pleasantly surprised. I was. Average auction price £450-700 Average ...
zappamuse 10.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 440
Advantages: Looking for a reliable family car? Disadvantages: At my age, the image
...to drive in my dads volvo 440 and continued to use the car until aged 21. Since then I have had my own 'medium sized' car. Therefore looking back I now appreciate the good and bad points of the Volvo.
The advantages for me were the smoothness and stability under braking matched with the invaluable experience of accelerating through 5 gears. The disadvantages were the 'old mans' image and that the vehicle was too big/heavy to manoeuvre for a first ... ...440 Volvo which can now only be brought second hand would make an ideal purchase for a family looking for long lasting reliability, comfort and safety. There is ample space in front, back and boot. Features including electric windows, central locking and standard Volvo suspension make it a comfortable ride.
For the driver, power steering and fuel injection make it a category of car that I believe should be considered. Insurance premiums should fall ...
Buckle1 09.06.2003
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 440
Advantages: Performs as it should Disadvantages: Base model has only _some_ oomph
...solid.
Basically, that's what Volvo is all about.
I'm in my mid twenties now and the Volvo might seem a little old for me. However, I've had plenty of good miles and a few boy-racing moments (the understeer is exactly where it should be!) and I've been satisfied.
The down side is that the petrol+carb combination provides only medium acceleration and the lack of automatic choke on my 1990 model has meant that I've had to learn how to handle the ...
ashleyfrieze 06.09.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 440
We have owned our volvo since we bought it brand new 5 years ago. It has given us a little hassle, but comparing it to teh re;iability adn quality, the hassle is worth it. When driving in any volvo you definately feel safe. They are heavy cars, but they do pick up speed very quickly, and sfaley. On long motorway journeys the car doesn't rattle like other smaller cars. It is the perfect family car, and volvo are the safeist cars on the road. We have ... ...continue to buy them. They are extremely spacious, have hard wear upholstery, and my dads favourite, the seat warmer. The two front seats have seat warmers, which get comfortably warm within 30seconds. I must admit tis is especailly nice on the cold winters day drive to work. Top motor!! ...
Geminem 18.07.2000
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Ciao members have rated this car review on average: helpful Review of Volvo 440
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