Still away from Ciao, logged in for the first time in ages ! Hope to be back soon though.
Still away from Ciao, logged in for the first time in ages ! Hope to be back soon though.
Member since:28.05.2003
Reviews:50
Members who trust:81
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) ;-)
Pictures of Volvo 440
Part of the family ;-)
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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: Fast, Fun, Stylish, Lots of legroom, Good Fuel Economy,Plenty Boot space, the list goes on. Disadvantages: May take a while to get use to the clutch.
michael_brown 13.01.2002 (13.01.2002)
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