I had a 460 and a 440, but both facelift. I was under 20 and loved them because they had everything. Aircon, electric everything … at the time that was a big deal. My mates were winding their windows and dreaming of a CD player 😂
Very much the same here. Had a facelift 460 in the early 2000s, when used cars in the same price range had no airbags or ABS, let alone aircon, electric windows or the cool turn know trip computer; Plus, being the sport model, the 850 like alloys made it actually look rather good, and the part leather sports seats were from an era when Volvos had basically the best seats.
Wow! My mum bought a 440 in 1992 to replace her ‘89 Nova as she wanted something a bit more solid. As a 17 year old I wasn’t impressed at the beginning but once I got behind the wheel I really liked it, nice accurate handing and really good brakes . I think it saved me one night when I came barelling around a corner on a country lane way too fast and found an unlit tractor and trailer across the road. Despite no abs, the Volvo just stopped straight and true with no drama. Also, one night, a Talbot sunbeam ran into the back of it. In true Volvo fashion the talbot had to be towed away while the 440 just had a minor scuff on the bumper!
I own a 460. It's a Turbo, black on grey leather and on the 480s 15 inch, 5 spoke alloys. It's been a project for the last year or so, but I absolutely love it. It feels tough as nails and like the kind of car that could just sit happily at 100mph all day. It gets a lot of attention for it's rarity, and often people comment on it being a car that aged well. Genuinely underrated as a car
Glad you enjoyed the panama hat, Mr Richardson! Those awful wheeltrims are going to be removed next month, and we will be fitting a set of period correct Volvo alloy wheels which have been offered to me by a very kind viewer. The rattly dashboard is pretty awful (there's not a lot you can do about it), which is why I always put it in neutral when I am stopped for any more than a few seconds, which does help. Festival of the Unexceptional, here we come!
@@furiousdriving , Mr Coleman did his best, but not even he could cure the characteristically rattly dash.... Having driven a couple of 440s and a 480 as well, this particular car is worse than most 400s, sadly.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I've noticed Volvo Car used some kind of foam to mechanically insulate the wiring loom from the dash, 30+ years later that's all gone and that is where the rattling starts.. And it's not just the 400 series, my 1999 S70 sees its interior falling apart with age and my wife's 2011 V70 is getting more rattly every day...
My grandmother had one of these, company car, same spec but a white manual. She bought the car off the company passing up the opportunity for a replacement. When the next replacement came around she took it (Rover 420GSI) but we kept this, my grandad ran it for years. Then when I was old enough to learn to drive he taught me in this. It stayed with us until about 2005. It really was a part of the family and I would love to own one now
I owned a 1996 440si 1.8 manual for almost ten years up until nine years ago covering over 200 miles per week, it never missed a beat. My son always liked that car and now owns a 1996 440 CD 1.8i as a second car, it's great to drive one again.
At the same time, the Chev Cavalier that were built in N. America ran a 2.2 liter motor with a heat shield at the manifold that rattled like a coiled snake under acceleration . Terrified a lot of owners who had no idea what the sound was, and caused a lot of trips to the repair shop.....Cheers
We had one of the first 440s brought into the UK. The warranty claims were many. Build quality was similar to an Airfix model made by 10 year old. It replaced our string of 360 GLTs and sadly it wasn’t a patch on them. The 7 and 9 series we had were a world apart.
My mum had a 460 auto. It really shouldn't shake and rattle like that while waiting for the lights to change, something has gone loose in the dash. I remember there are three "clicks" at the end of the accelerator's travel, each click locks out another gear, so it can be driven quite spiritedly at full throttle despite the slushbox.
I bought a new 440 in 1995. 28 years old at the time so I definitely wasn't an OAP! A comfortable, solid and reliable car that served me well for 8 years until I switched to an S40 at the ripe old age of 36. Nothing wrong with the later 440/460s apart from some dodgy interior trim (you picked up on this), a notchy gearbox and the slightly rough and jerky transmission. Aimed more at the Golf/Jetta and Rover 200/400 than the Sierra in reality and priced accordingly. The 1993 refresh was tastefully done and the Phase 2 cars benefitted from a slight trickle-down cool vibe from the well-regarded 850. Overall, far better cars than the motoring press of the day would have us believe.
My dad had one of these. The EXACT car your testing. Same colour and same year. Also an automatic. He loved it!! Unfortunately he passed away 4 years ago. Watching the video brought back some lovely memories.
Matt back in 1978 / early 80s a Volvo dealership would not let you test drive a 460 let alone buy one unless you were properly attired in Crimplene slacks , cravat, beige nylon shirt and obligatory Panama hat 😁 real stylish and the nearest it got to the Nurburgring was the Bullring in Birmingham 😂.
The beige is delightful ❤️ these are so maligned but lovely, appealing cars! Friend of ours had an M-reg 460 CD 2.0 automatic which had the facelift which made it look like a mini 850 from the front! Great video as always Matt!
The 460 has become the rarest of the 400 series and though I live in its native country and am an active member of the local 400 community, I have never, ever seen one this beige! Early 460 had more body roll, because only the Turbo got a rear stabiliser link. In the 480 all cars have this, and in my car all suspension parts have been renewed, I am faster in corners than many modern cars. If the tyres begin to squeal I know I am reaching the limit, then I have to ease the throttle a bit and it stays wonderfully on track. But I have changed every bit in the suspension with new parts, so maybe this one was still on its original shocks and stabiliser links. Oh, the ZF 4-speed auto was later mated to the newly developed 2 litre engine and much to be preferred to the CVT, because those all die around 150k miles and the 1.8 is slower than this 1.7 And did you know the entire 400 series was based on the Renault 9? Volvo more or less took their first FWD car from Renault, learned how it worked and then designed the 850 with proper Volvo engines and gearboxes.
Mr Richardson and I have very different expectations of performance. I find it perfectly adequate. The GLEs had different suspension from the GLTs and Turbos, and are a fair bit softer. The 480 alloy wheels that I am due to have fitted will probably make it handle a bit better. The front suspension bushes and arms have been changed, but overall it is a bit tired. I still like it, though.
@@lloydvehicleconsultingI think 102 bhp on a 1000 kg car is perfectly adequate. You should try and replace the shocks, a set of Bilstein B4 is highly recommended.
Great video! Being Dutch, I have a bit of a soft spot for them of course. I test drove a 440 2.0 GLE once (manual) which had climate control! But it wasn't really comparable to my beloved Italians in the handling department 😁
Growing up in the Netherlands in the 90s, these things were everywhere. We were a Volvo family (mom had two consecutive 340s, dad had two 240s and a couple of 940s, later a v70) but these 400s never managed to warm my heart. I spent quite a bit of time in them because some other kids' parents had them. They jist always felt flimsy, even compared to the achingly geriatric 340s. Looking at a 400 now, I somewhat see its pedestrian charm but still no spark. Some cars are doomed to oblivion and I fear this may be one of them.
Excellent review of Mr Lloyd's Volvo, i bumped one of these in my first car and there was not a scratch on it! 😂😂 Luckily i knew the owner and all was good!
Hi, the big gap by the radiator, was for the placement of an intercooler for the Turbo model along with a small cooler for the auto gearbox as fitted later, the rattles are terrible, I think the dashboard shrink over time and pulls on screws and plastic clips so the rattles then are made by the vibration from the dash shaking.....great video, please keep up the good work, love your videos...
I think the gap was also a Volvo crumple zone for any crashes that might happen, minimising any damage to the radiator, etc. Had 2 Volvo 440's myself, 1st one was a 1990 440 GLI, 1.7i, put over 250, 000 miles on it, doing all my own servicing and repairs, I could write a book on it, (maybe one day I will! ) and then I had a 1994 440 xi, a cracker of a car - 1.8i, very reliable, bought it for 425 euros and ran it for 5 years doing over 600 miles per week going to work (in Ireland), again, doing all my own servicing, no major breakdowns and more reliable than the 1990 model I had. Anyway, that's some of my story with Volvos. Also had a 740 and 940. I currently have a 264 GLE (1979) with 86,000 miles, I just use it for the occasional car show and tinker with it when I have time :) Happy motoring.
I think these may have been sold in very limited numbers in Australia, however I can't ever remember seeing one on the road. All the same, I am happy to learn about this car, and even though it's been more or less totally forgotten about, you have created a legacy for it by creating this video.
My 460 2.0 automatic was one of my favorites cars. Comfy and fast in daily trafic. Liked it better than my old Volvo 850 glt! One dark and frozen night I pulled a load of 4.5 tonnes on the hook for 40 miles. It went very well but I won't do it again!
I had a new 440GL manual in 1989 and have driven Volvos ever since. Unfortunately the 440 nearly put me off for life, the gearbox failed after 300 miles leaving us stranded in the centre of Birmingham. After 2 months off the road as no new gearboxes could be found it was identified that the box had not been built properly and it could only be driven in 2nd. I was reluctant to take it back as I was loaned a slightly used 340 which at least was reliable. The replacement box was incredibly stiff and heavy to use and never felt right. There are so few left as they rusted so badly particularly underneath which sent them to the scrapyard much earlier than they should. Have a 22 year old V70 T5 now and it’s the best car I have ever had.
Goosebumps. My granddad bought a identically beige 460 GL Injection in 1990. It was the 5-speed without power steering and he hated it so only drove it in 2nd and 3rd. When he died, I learned to drive in it, it only did 80km/h at first but I managed to revive the engine and had lots of fun. The seats were horrible for Volvo standards. When it was T-boned and beyond repair, I bought a 1990 240 GLT, which I still drive until today.
I had a 440, with CVT transmission, which was really interesting. As far as i could tell, it had a normal first, then went into CVT, which took a bit of getting used to as it meant one continuous engine pitch until you got to about 60mph, unless you floored it. That car, albeit very heavily laden, well past its best, and on summer tyres, got me over the Alps in a blizzard without missing a beat.
My mother had a 1990 GLI for many years. That vibration thing was prevalent in hers too but also had a metallic sound under the car. Mechanics could never figure out the source. Good to know it’s a common thing! I see to ask her to drop me off at school around the corner because I was embarrassed by it!
Lovely. Couple of friends of my parents had a 480 and a 440. My folks had a 340 1.7 and my first (although very ratty) car was a white 360 GLT. (please do a review on a 300 series- maybe a 360?). Keep up the great content Matt! :)
Matt I had one as a courtesy when it was about 5 years old. 5 speed manual was terrible, like stirring a bucket of rubber balls, add to that the body role and lack of power from the 1.4 basic car and it was a very bad car.
Wow theres a blast from the past my mum had one in the early 2000's a near similar 460 GLE but with a manual box and alloy wheels. It was bought at trade price from a Volvo dealership around £200 and did a year or so service without needing any money spending on it.
I had a 460 with the 84bhp 1.6 engine. 1st car I had with heated seats. Loved it and it never let me down. Strange choice for a 22 year old at the time.
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My dad had a 440 SE. A lot of technical problems. Also, handling was sloppy. He said he's never going to buy another Volvo again. I'm glad he did, as the 850 he eventually got was a great car. :) They were pretty horrible after some 20 years on the road. Now almost all 400 series Volvos are gone. Rust eating the front subframe is usually the last nail in the coffin. I once had a 360, and while it was a bit weird and really dated for it's age, I kinda liked it. It had character. :D
Nearly bought a new 440 diesel in 1994, however at 6’ 1” tall in my youth I found that this model lacked headroom when a sunroof was fitted. I bought a Peugeot 306 D turbo instead. My late father had a 440 at the time although he was slightly shorter and slimmer than I was.
I had a 440 Xi as a tuition car. 1.7 5 speed stick. It was a good machine, and I nearly replaced it with a diesel. I found the seats lacked the support of the 740, which was a disappointment. Biggest problem with them is Volvo sold off the entire spares stock, so you can't get any bits.
Love the video, I have two 440s and two 460s - all facelifts, one is a 440 GLT 2.0i, the other a TD. The 460s are both 2.0i CD models, one a manual and the other is an auto like this. Presently looking for a ZF auto gearbox replacement to fix mine as its sadly failed!
Took me back to the days when my sister owned one. I had an R8 Rover 214sli at the time and I got to borrow her car when mine was off the road. A more substantial and heavier feeling car and yes, I remember the sluggish performance, heavy steering and diving under braking. I also remember the appalling interior quality. You were being very diplomatic but the lack of interior walkaround spoke volumes to me. That creaking as you pulled away brought back many memories! To think they pitched this at the class above, it barely competed on level terms with the cars in its size class ( Rover 200/400, Escort, etc). It pained me as a spotty Volvo fanboi youth to admit it but it wasn't a particularly good car, and that's being polite.
My dad a 460GLE 1.7. Was a decent comfy car and the metalwork was like rock proven by being driven into by other cars few times and coming out with a few dents. But it was terribly unreliable, lots of electrical faults then was scrapped after the gearbox failed. He went back to Honda's again which were just better in everyway.
Worked for Volvo when these were launched , remember to open day at dealership well , am a Volvo nut having owned 17 in total...so far ,nice to see a early 460 still going strong
I like the 440/460/480 rather a lot. I owned a facelift 440 for a while, and it was a thoroughly nice car. Mine was well appointed with half leather and air con - nice dash too. No heated seats though (or maybe they didn’t work - the car was bought for £750). It’s the 480 though that I really like - fantastic styling and interior.
I bought a new Black Volvo 440 GL in 1992 and it was very disappointing. I found it badly built, noisy and not what I expected from Volvo. When I took delivery of the car it had to be returned to have the rear seat cushion replaced as it was torn. I was my first and last Volvo. After 2 years I bought a new Mk1 Laguna 2.0 Automatic which I loved.
Late 80s early 90s, the elderly gentleman couldn't get enough of gold cars. At the time my grandad bought a new gold rover as a retirement present to himself. Those gold rovers seemed to be everywhere at the time
The initial 400 series volvos were slated for build quality but things improved over time of production. Using Renault engines probably didn't help compared to the larger volvos but a family friend had one and I don't remember any problems with it. It was quite comfy in the back.
Always liked a Volvo I remember my parents neighbour had a blue 440GL new which would be a H plate and then a later J/K plate I believe the original one had a Renault engine not sure about the newer one I remember them very comfortable cars and many seemed to be bought by older people new That one looks fab I wouldn’t mind it in my garage!
My 460 1.6i had a strange random tendency to stall on intersection just right when i'm lifting clutch lightly and the engine wouldn't start until it cooled off again,which took about 15 minutes at a time. Despite being a light car (1050 kg) it's as spacious as bigger volvo's and it had good sound insulation.
We had a 1,6 version of this same engine here in Finland. That was made cause of the company car tax reason we had the time. So you could buy here 1,6; 1,7; 2,0 litre versions and the Turbo of course. Neighbour had one of these and remember the ticking nose for the seatbelt sensor. :)
I’ve had both the 440 & 460 with the 1.8 engine. Fantastic cars all honesty. The 460 was flawless apart from stuck handbrake. Actually pretty darn good handling cars. Mind a step up the Volvo 850 2.5 20v it was a night and day difference.
Both my grandparents had Volvo's my grandad had 340s and a 1992 Volvo 440 xi and my grandpa had a 340 360 440 manual gle then a peacock blue Volvo 460 automatic after a bad leg injury then a 1992 or 93 Volvo 440 manual followed by a 1995 Volvo 440 1.8 si facelift and finally 1996 S40 1.8 both automatic 😊
Back in the Eighties I had a metallic gold Lancia HPE that was a very similar hue to this, but according to Lancia the colour was called "metalised beige".
Yeah, that AT is probably holding back the 1.7 a lot. Another Dutchy here. My dad had the 460 GL with the 1.7 as well but in a really nice mauve metallic paint. I remember it as being quite nippy, so that tells me the automatic in your beige 460 is the culprit. Looking back, the exterior dimensions are now considered to be subcompact class...which is just astounding, no?
I had the Volvo 440, exactly the same colour and spec, they certainly weren’t an old man’s car. They were up against the likes of BMW and were very popular. Stylish and powerful, it was like shit off a stick with the acceleration it was very good for the time
I've always liked the 400 Series in all its forms despite the range's perceived shortcomings and its popular image of being for old people. I deeply regret not buying a 1992 460 GLT 2-litre on sale at a garage near Canterbury back in 2000, which I passed over in favour of a 1994 Rover 214Si in the next row. With the benefit of hindsight, I truly believe that the 460 would have been a far better prospect. I redeemed myself in 2003, when I bought my 740 estate, which I still own ^^
Great video as ever. There is a part of me that really misses the 340 we saved from the scrap man. It’s not well on its way back to the road kind. But yes wow that’s 460 is beige 🤣
My brother has a 360 he wants to sell. it WAS in very good condition when it came off the road but has been parked up 18 years and now has rusty holes. Our dad bought it as an ex-demonstrator back in 1986 I think and used it little.
The rattle is standard. I remember reading review of this years ago on car magazine. I wouldnt last a week with it. Styling is retro cool in these days. Would have liked back seat view and boot added to the video.
Had 440,460 & 480 in auto and manual and the 2.0 they weren't bad cars and the 480's were great to look at if not fast. But as always a Volvo and love them all 70-96
I like the 460 TD (turbo diesel) versions as they were quite economical, and again, could be run on vegetable oil like the 700 diesel models saving quite a bit of money on fuel duty and VAT/
Interesting video about a model I had never heard of. We did not see the 3 or 4 series here in Canada. I suspect that has to do with prices after import duty and/or crash and emissions standards. The gap between grill and radiator is there for a reason. The gad is about the same on my 240, but there is a metal panel over it. That space with nothing in it is part of the crumple zone system. That first bet folds in both absorbing crash forces and giving the car a few precious inches of deceleration to reduce G Forces on the occupants. Also, if the roof were only strong enough to hold the car it is a good bit weaker than the 140 from the 60s. 1 and 2 Series Volvo cars had roofs to hold upwards of 5 other cars without damage to the structure. The 240 is so strong I had a worker from an auto recyclers tell me not to bring the wagon there if I scrapped it. The first 240 they tried to crush broke the crusher
I had a 1993 facelifted Volvo 440 on an L plate for a short time back in 2004 which had the 1.8 Renault engine, the engine looked identical to this 1.7 that's in the Volvo 460, the only thing that gave it away was the cc number on the logbook lol - It was a little more than 1721cc - 1783cc (or it could have been 1793cc?) I think it was ?) and it was 8 valves, It may have been the same engine used in the Clio, Laguna/Megane of the same era... It was a great little car until I was forced to sell it due to lack of space 😞
Yes, slightly enlarged Renault F-Type engine. The 1.6 and 1.8 replaced the 1.7 in 1992, and were joined by a 2.0 in 1993, only the Turbo had the 1.7 to the end.
I had a J plate 440 GLEi 1.7 auto a few years back. Nice comfortable motor but the box wasn't the best and it was damn thirsty. Also had a 340 1.4 cvt that felt better built amd just as comfortable but the cvt was god awful!
Where does the SE trim stand? One of my neighbours has a pre facwlift 460SE and its in really good condition, when i pass by it on foot i always take a second to apriciate it :)
I remember blocky being as much of the trend as curvy Astras and Sierras. Fiat Uno for example or the larger Croma. At least there were differences in the showrooms! 🙂
@@364nailhead exactly what I thought when Matt's voice echoed in the space in front of it, he's got the basic spec there with small radiator and no aircon.
An L reg 440 like the same vintage shown here was my first car... 5 speed manual with Air con... A tough old bird who never let me down, and never found a car since with such comfortable seats... Shame Volvo lost their way the V40 came out...
I googled "tea shelf; car tea shelf; tea shelf dashboard; t-shelf", literally no results whatsoever. Can I ask how did you come up with the idea that the top of a dashboard is called a tea shelf? (or t-shelf, whatever)
You aren't that far off actually. The design team consisted of former DAF designers Rob Koch, John de Vries (left after completing the 480 design jn 1985) and Peter van Kouwenhoven, who completed the design of the 440 and 460. Volvo headquarters in Sweden didn't have much involvement in the design process. There are more ties to Renault, Porsche, Lotus and MGA Developments, an independent design office in Coventry (spearheaded by later Volvo design boss Peter Horbury) than to the namesake of the badge on the car...
@@volvo480 Thank you for that. I had read some bits of the development story years ago (Car Magazine probably) and in 1989 made the joke when a spivvy guy I worked with turned up with a new one. I do like them though and thought it a very neat evolution. 🙂
@@PaddyWV on the other hand, the DAF 77 which became the Volvo 343 was so horribly bad in quality in its first years, that without Volvo (and Dutch government grants, DAF employed many former coal miners whose jobs were lost after the mines closed in 1967), the factory would never have survived. John de Vries, who designed both the 343 and the 480, told me some terrible design decisions were made, which were rectified in later model years. So in that sense it is more Volvo than DAF. Or as an old Volvo mechanic told me "In 1974 I was doing an apprenticeship at DAF, after that I had to do my military service and when I returned in 1975 I've found myself working for Volvo!" :D
@@volvo480 That's a shame, because folk have said the 33/44 engines were very well engineered. Maybe a phase they went through? I've seen the pic of the engineers standing round the 343 to be, prototype. It had a hint of early Scirocco at that time.
I had a 460 and a 440, but both facelift. I was under 20 and loved them because they had everything. Aircon, electric everything … at the time that was a big deal. My mates were winding their windows and dreaming of a CD player 😂
Built like the proverbial tank too I believe?
Very much the same here. Had a facelift 460 in the early 2000s, when used cars in the same price range had no airbags or ABS, let alone aircon, electric windows or the cool turn know trip computer; Plus, being the sport model, the 850 like alloys made it actually look rather good, and the part leather sports seats were from an era when Volvos had basically the best seats.
@@jonnygtiNo, just rebadged Daf's
@@losch78 ha, yeah mine was a sport. Lovely wheels and a little spoiler!
Wow! My mum bought a 440 in 1992 to replace her ‘89 Nova as she wanted something a bit more solid. As a 17 year old I wasn’t impressed at the beginning but once I got behind the wheel I really liked it, nice accurate handing and really good brakes . I think it saved me one night when I came barelling around a corner on a country lane way too fast and found an unlit tractor and trailer across the road. Despite no abs, the Volvo just stopped straight and true with no drama. Also, one night, a Talbot sunbeam ran into the back of it. In true Volvo fashion the talbot had to be towed away while the 440 just had a minor scuff on the bumper!
I own a 460. It's a Turbo, black on grey leather and on the 480s 15 inch, 5 spoke alloys. It's been a project for the last year or so, but I absolutely love it. It feels tough as nails and like the kind of car that could just sit happily at 100mph all day. It gets a lot of attention for it's rarity, and often people comment on it being a car that aged well. Genuinely underrated as a car
Glad you enjoyed the panama hat, Mr Richardson! Those awful wheeltrims are going to be removed next month, and we will be fitting a set of period correct Volvo alloy wheels which have been offered to me by a very kind viewer. The rattly dashboard is pretty awful (there's not a lot you can do about it), which is why I always put it in neutral when I am stopped for any more than a few seconds, which does help. Festival of the Unexceptional, here we come!
Can't wait!Im told they rattled almost that badly when new, so I dont think there is anything you can do, its is a fun car regardless
@@furiousdriving , Mr Coleman did his best, but not even he could cure the characteristically rattly dash.... Having driven a couple of 440s and a 480 as well, this particular car is worse than most 400s, sadly.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting I've noticed Volvo Car used some kind of foam to mechanically insulate the wiring loom from the dash, 30+ years later that's all gone and that is where the rattling starts.. And it's not just the 400 series, my 1999 S70 sees its interior falling apart with age and my wife's 2011 V70 is getting more rattly every day...
I might be alone but I like the wheel trims (obviously even more when refurbished) I think they add a ' cool' factor to the car.😊
@@brianiswrong You are not alone.
My grandmother had one of these, company car, same spec but a white manual. She bought the car off the company passing up the opportunity for a replacement. When the next replacement came around she took it (Rover 420GSI) but we kept this, my grandad ran it for years. Then when I was old enough to learn to drive he taught me in this. It stayed with us until about 2005. It really was a part of the family and I would love to own one now
I owned a 1996 440si 1.8 manual for almost ten years up until nine years ago covering over 200 miles per week, it never missed a beat. My son always liked that car and now owns a 1996 440 CD 1.8i as a second car, it's great to drive one again.
At the same time, the Chev Cavalier that were built in N. America ran a 2.2 liter motor with a heat shield at the manifold that rattled like a coiled snake under acceleration . Terrified a lot of owners who had no idea what the sound was, and caused a lot of trips to the repair shop.....Cheers
We had one of the first 440s brought into the UK. The warranty claims were many. Build quality was similar to an Airfix model made by 10 year old. It replaced our string of 360 GLTs and sadly it wasn’t a patch on them. The 7 and 9 series we had were a world apart.
As a Dutchman I am very proud to say the 460 was made in The Netherlands ! Superb video and a very nice trip down memory lane.
My mum had a 460 auto. It really shouldn't shake and rattle like that while waiting for the lights to change, something has gone loose in the dash. I remember there are three "clicks" at the end of the accelerator's travel, each click locks out another gear, so it can be driven quite spiritedly at full throttle despite the slushbox.
I bought a new 440 in 1995. 28 years old at the time so I definitely wasn't an OAP! A comfortable, solid and reliable car that served me well for 8 years until I switched to an S40 at the ripe old age of 36. Nothing wrong with the later 440/460s apart from some dodgy interior trim (you picked up on this), a notchy gearbox and the slightly rough and jerky transmission. Aimed more at the Golf/Jetta and Rover 200/400 than the Sierra in reality and priced accordingly. The 1993 refresh was tastefully done and the Phase 2 cars benefitted from a slight trickle-down cool vibe from the well-regarded 850. Overall, far better cars than the motoring press of the day would have us believe.
I drove a 1996 440 LE on my channel, and the build quality was definitely a fair bit better than this one.
No disrespect intended to our Dutch friends but as a driver of a new 740 estate in 1988 it was difficult not to look down on the non-Swedish models.
My dad had one of these. The EXACT car your testing. Same colour and same year. Also an automatic. He loved it!! Unfortunately he passed away 4 years ago. Watching the video brought back some lovely memories.
Matt back in 1978 / early 80s a Volvo dealership would not let you test drive a 460 let alone buy one unless you were properly attired in Crimplene slacks , cravat, beige nylon shirt and obligatory Panama hat 😁 real stylish and the nearest it got to the Nurburgring was the Bullring in Birmingham 😂.
The beige is delightful ❤️ these are so maligned but lovely, appealing cars! Friend of ours had an M-reg 460 CD 2.0 automatic which had the facelift which made it look like a mini 850 from the front! Great video as always Matt!
Currently have 3 volvo 440's in the fleet, we've owned one from new that we bought in 1993. Another great Furious Driving review
The 460 has become the rarest of the 400 series and though I live in its native country and am an active member of the local 400 community, I have never, ever seen one this beige!
Early 460 had more body roll, because only the Turbo got a rear stabiliser link. In the 480 all cars have this, and in my car all suspension parts have been renewed, I am faster in corners than many modern cars. If the tyres begin to squeal I know I am reaching the limit, then I have to ease the throttle a bit and it stays wonderfully on track. But I have changed every bit in the suspension with new parts, so maybe this one was still on its original shocks and stabiliser links.
Oh, the ZF 4-speed auto was later mated to the newly developed 2 litre engine and much to be preferred to the CVT, because those all die around 150k miles and the 1.8 is slower than this 1.7
And did you know the entire 400 series was based on the Renault 9? Volvo more or less took their first FWD car from Renault, learned how it worked and then designed the 850 with proper Volvo engines and gearboxes.
Mr Richardson and I have very different expectations of performance. I find it perfectly adequate. The GLEs had different suspension from the GLTs and Turbos, and are a fair bit softer. The 480 alloy wheels that I am due to have fitted will probably make it handle a bit better. The front suspension bushes and arms have been changed, but overall it is a bit tired. I still like it, though.
@@lloydvehicleconsultingI think 102 bhp on a 1000 kg car is perfectly adequate. You should try and replace the shocks, a set of Bilstein B4 is highly recommended.
Send it my way when you're done. I need to cut up the front arches to rebuild the rears on a superior 480
I am afraid it's not for sale at the moment.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting 😅
Great video! Being Dutch, I have a bit of a soft spot for them of course. I test drove a 440 2.0 GLE once (manual) which had climate control! But it wasn't really comparable to my beloved Italians in the handling department 😁
If you're an Italian car fan this is definitely not going to stay on your shopping list!
In ducce italy the Italian handle you
Possibly the most surprising, even in Limburg we were surprised when they were first launched - nobody from outside the factory saw it coming...
Growing up in the Netherlands in the 90s, these things were everywhere. We were a Volvo family (mom had two consecutive 340s, dad had two 240s and a couple of 940s, later a v70) but these 400s never managed to warm my heart. I spent quite a bit of time in them because some other kids' parents had them. They jist always felt flimsy, even compared to the achingly geriatric 340s. Looking at a 400 now, I somewhat see its pedestrian charm but still no spark. Some cars are doomed to oblivion and I fear this may be one of them.
Excellent review of Mr Lloyd's Volvo, i bumped one of these in my first car and there was not a scratch on it! 😂😂 Luckily i knew the owner and all was good!
Hi, the big gap by the radiator, was for the placement of an intercooler for the Turbo model along with a small cooler for the auto gearbox as fitted later, the rattles are terrible, I think the dashboard shrink over time and pulls on screws and plastic clips so the rattles then are made by the vibration from the dash shaking.....great video, please keep up the good work, love your videos...
I think the gap was also a Volvo crumple zone for any crashes that might happen, minimising any damage to the radiator, etc. Had 2 Volvo 440's myself, 1st one was a 1990 440 GLI, 1.7i, put over 250, 000 miles on it, doing all my own servicing and repairs, I could write a book on it, (maybe one day I will! ) and then I had a 1994 440 xi, a cracker of a car - 1.8i, very reliable, bought it for 425 euros and ran it for 5 years doing over 600 miles per week going to work (in Ireland), again, doing all my own servicing, no major breakdowns and more reliable than the 1990 model I had. Anyway, that's some of my story with Volvos. Also had a 740 and 940. I currently have a 264 GLE (1979) with 86,000 miles, I just use it for the occasional car show and tinker with it when I have time :) Happy motoring.
I think these may have been sold in very limited numbers in Australia, however I can't ever remember seeing one on the road. All the same, I am happy to learn about this car, and even though it's been more or less totally forgotten about, you have created a legacy for it by creating this video.
My 460 2.0 automatic was one of my favorites cars. Comfy and fast in daily trafic. Liked it better than my old Volvo 850 glt! One dark and frozen night I pulled a load of 4.5 tonnes on the hook for 40 miles. It went very well but I won't do it again!
I had a new 440GL manual in 1989 and have driven Volvos ever since. Unfortunately the 440 nearly put me off for life, the gearbox failed after 300 miles leaving us stranded in the centre of Birmingham. After 2 months off the road as no new gearboxes could be found it was identified that the box had not been built properly and it could only be driven in 2nd. I was reluctant to take it back as I was loaned a slightly used 340 which at least was reliable. The replacement box was incredibly stiff and heavy to use and never felt right. There are so few left as they rusted so badly particularly underneath which sent them to the scrapyard much earlier than they should. Have a 22 year old V70 T5 now and it’s the best car I have ever had.
Goosebumps. My granddad bought a identically beige 460 GL Injection in 1990. It was the 5-speed without power steering and he hated it so only drove it in 2nd and 3rd. When he died, I learned to drive in it, it only did 80km/h at first but I managed to revive the engine and had lots of fun. The seats were horrible for Volvo standards. When it was T-boned and beyond repair, I bought a 1990 240 GLT, which I still drive until today.
I had a 440, with CVT transmission, which was really interesting. As far as i could tell, it had a normal first, then went into CVT, which took a bit of getting used to as it meant one continuous engine pitch until you got to about 60mph, unless you floored it. That car, albeit very heavily laden, well past its best, and on summer tyres, got me over the Alps in a blizzard without missing a beat.
My mother had a 1990 GLI for many years. That vibration thing was prevalent in hers too but also had a metallic sound under the car. Mechanics could never figure out the source. Good to know it’s a common thing!
I see to ask her to drop me off at school around the corner because I was embarrassed by it!
Had 2 440’s before being “Converted “ to Volvo. Changed the second new one for a 745, then 940, then a new 855 which I still have. 👍🏻🏴
9:03 that radiator place was for ac radiator. fits behind grill.
Lovely. Couple of friends of my parents had a 480 and a 440. My folks had a 340 1.7 and my first (although very ratty) car was a white 360 GLT. (please do a review on a 300 series- maybe a 360?). Keep up the great content Matt! :)
Matt I had one as a courtesy when it was about 5 years old. 5 speed manual was terrible, like stirring a bucket of rubber balls, add to that the body role and lack of power from the 1.4 basic car and it was a very bad car.
Wow theres a blast from the past my mum had one in the early 2000's a near similar 460 GLE but with a manual box and alloy wheels. It was bought at trade price from a Volvo dealership around £200 and did a year or so service without needing any money spending on it.
I had a 460 with the 84bhp 1.6 engine. 1st car I had with heated seats. Loved it and it never let me down. Strange choice for a 22 year old at the time.
My dad had a 440 SE. A lot of technical problems. Also, handling was sloppy. He said he's never going to buy another Volvo again. I'm glad he did, as the 850 he eventually got was a great car. :)
They were pretty horrible after some 20 years on the road. Now almost all 400 series Volvos are gone. Rust eating the front subframe is usually the last nail in the coffin.
I once had a 360, and while it was a bit weird and really dated for it's age, I kinda liked it. It had character. :D
Nearly bought a new 440 diesel in 1994, however at 6’ 1” tall in my youth I found that this model lacked headroom when a sunroof was fitted. I bought a Peugeot 306 D turbo instead. My late father had a 440 at the time although he was slightly shorter and slimmer than I was.
I had a 440 Xi as a tuition car. 1.7 5 speed stick. It was a good machine, and I nearly replaced it with a diesel. I found the seats lacked the support of the 740, which was a disappointment. Biggest problem with them is Volvo sold off the entire spares stock, so you can't get any bits.
Love the video, I have two 440s and two 460s - all facelifts, one is a 440 GLT 2.0i, the other a TD. The 460s are both 2.0i CD models, one a manual and the other is an auto like this. Presently looking for a ZF auto gearbox replacement to fix mine as its sadly failed!
Took me back to the days when my sister owned one. I had an R8 Rover 214sli at the time and I got to borrow her car when mine was off the road. A more substantial and heavier feeling car and yes, I remember the sluggish performance, heavy steering and diving under braking. I also remember the appalling interior quality. You were being very diplomatic but the lack of interior walkaround spoke volumes to me. That creaking as you pulled away brought back many memories! To think they pitched this at the class above, it barely competed on level terms with the cars in its size class ( Rover 200/400, Escort, etc). It pained me as a spotty Volvo fanboi youth to admit it but it wasn't a particularly good car, and that's being polite.
The Volvo 460 is such a gem that I can't say enough good things about it. We've had ours since 1992.
My dad a 460GLE 1.7. Was a decent comfy car and the metalwork was like rock proven by being driven into by other cars few times and coming out with a few dents. But it was terribly unreliable, lots of electrical faults then was scrapped after the gearbox failed. He went back to Honda's again which were just better in everyway.
My grandfather had a 360 glt but I have always had a soft spot for the 400! Great review as always 🏴
Gap in the front was for intercooler space for the turbo and ac cooling unit
Worked for Volvo when these were launched , remember to open day at dealership well , am a Volvo nut having owned 17 in total...so far ,nice to see a early 460 still going strong
And that space in front of the radiator, mine had a intercooler and the ac condenser, so it was no space left on mine😊
I like the 440/460/480 rather a lot. I owned a facelift 440 for a while, and it was a thoroughly nice car. Mine was well appointed with half leather and air con - nice dash too. No heated seats though (or maybe they didn’t work - the car was bought for £750). It’s the 480 though that I really like - fantastic styling and interior.
I bought a new Black Volvo 440 GL in 1992 and it was very disappointing. I found it badly built, noisy and not what I expected from Volvo. When I took delivery of the car it had to be returned to have the rear seat cushion replaced as it was torn. I was my first and last Volvo. After 2 years I bought a new Mk1 Laguna 2.0 Automatic which I loved.
I had one of those. 1.7 litre base model.. it was a ton of fun and so nice to drive even if it was on it's last leg.
Late 80s early 90s, the elderly gentleman couldn't get enough of gold cars. At the time my grandad bought a new gold rover as a retirement present to himself. Those gold rovers seemed to be everywhere at the time
The initial 400 series volvos were slated for build quality but things improved over time of production. Using Renault engines probably didn't help compared to the larger volvos but a family friend had one and I don't remember any problems with it. It was quite comfy in the back.
Always liked a Volvo I remember my parents neighbour had a blue 440GL new which would be a H plate and then a later J/K plate I believe the original one had a Renault engine not sure about the newer one
I remember them very comfortable cars and many seemed to be bought by older people new
That one looks fab I wouldn’t mind it in my garage!
My 460 1.6i had a strange random tendency to stall on intersection just right when i'm lifting clutch lightly and the engine wouldn't start until it cooled off again,which took about 15 minutes at a time. Despite being a light car (1050 kg) it's as spacious as bigger volvo's and it had good sound insulation.
We had a 1,6 version of this same engine here in Finland. That was made cause of the company car tax reason we had the time. So you could buy here 1,6; 1,7; 2,0 litre versions and the Turbo of course. Neighbour had one of these and remember the ticking nose for the seatbelt sensor. :)
you could get the 1.6 in the uk to, i had one.
I had two 460’s a 1990 GLE injection, and 1.8 iS, both great cars, I’d have another one in a moment.
Great review, Matt. Love the 400 series a lot. You should get yourself in to a 480 and hoon about the streets in that, you will have immense fun 👍🏻
I’ve had both the 440 & 460 with the 1.8 engine. Fantastic cars all honesty. The 460 was flawless apart from stuck handbrake. Actually pretty darn good handling cars. Mind a step up the Volvo 850 2.5 20v it was a night and day difference.
I always quite liked the look of the 480ES but was not so keen on these grandad models.
Both my grandparents had Volvo's my grandad had 340s and a 1992 Volvo 440 xi and my grandpa had a 340 360 440 manual gle then a peacock blue Volvo 460 automatic after a bad leg injury then a 1992 or 93 Volvo 440 manual followed by a 1995 Volvo 440 1.8 si facelift and finally 1996 S40 1.8 both automatic 😊
Back in the Eighties I had a metallic gold Lancia HPE that was a very similar hue to this, but according to Lancia the colour was called "metalised beige".
Yeah, that AT is probably holding back the 1.7 a lot. Another Dutchy here. My dad had the 460 GL with the 1.7 as well but in a really nice mauve metallic paint. I remember it as being quite nippy, so that tells me the automatic in your beige 460 is the culprit. Looking back, the exterior dimensions are now considered to be subcompact class...which is just astounding, no?
Did u use the tea shelf?
no, it was too shaky!
I had the Volvo 440, exactly the same colour and spec, they certainly weren’t an old man’s car. They were up against the likes of BMW and were very popular. Stylish and powerful, it was like shit off a stick with the acceleration it was very good for the time
The manuals are a bit quicker than the automatics.
I've always liked the 400 Series in all its forms despite the range's perceived shortcomings and its popular image of being for old people. I deeply regret not buying a 1992 460 GLT 2-litre on sale at a garage near Canterbury back in 2000, which I passed over in favour of a 1994 Rover 214Si in the next row. With the benefit of hindsight, I truly believe that the 460 would have been a far better prospect.
I redeemed myself in 2003, when I bought my 740 estate, which I still own ^^
Judging by the general feel of the comments you did well to pass off the 460!
Great video as ever. There is a part of me that really misses the 340 we saved from the scrap man. It’s not well on its way back to the road kind. But yes wow that’s 460 is beige 🤣
That would have been a good project to follow but huge amounts of work to get done!
@@furiousdriving definitely we have done the hard bits just needs a small about welding and some brakes going through it would be a good little car
My brother has a 360 he wants to sell. it WAS in very good condition when it came off the road but has been parked up 18 years and now has rusty holes. Our dad bought it as an ex-demonstrator back in 1986 I think and used it little.
@@MS-yy2dh oh now that sounds a great little car
The rattle is standard. I remember reading review of this years ago on car magazine. I wouldnt last a week with it. Styling is retro cool in these days. Would have liked back seat view and boot added to the video.
A friend of mine has one of these that’s been parked in a garage for 24?years. Looking to get it running very soon! Hopefully my
Next project
Had 440,460 & 480 in auto and manual and the 2.0 they weren't bad cars and the 480's were great to look at if not fast. But as always a Volvo and love them all 70-96
Could the gap before the radiator be so the front is more crashable, and the radiator isn't smashed by a minor ding?
had one of those, bought it with 168k mls on it, 1.7, 5sp manual on a carb. g reg.
My first car was a beige Chevrolet Monte Carlo with a beige velour interior and beige vinyl landau top!
I had three comfortable one automatic two manual sporty version lovely now got Toyota so reliable.
What is name of head light cleaner please?
I like the 460 TD (turbo diesel) versions as they were quite economical, and again, could be run on vegetable oil like the 700 diesel models saving quite a bit of money on fuel duty and VAT/
Is the exhaust blowing? I had a friend with one of these and it did not seem to be as well built at the 850.
Interesting video about a model I had never heard of. We did not see the 3 or 4 series here in Canada. I suspect that has to do with prices after import duty and/or crash and emissions standards. The gap between grill and radiator is there for a reason. The gad is about the same on my 240, but there is a metal panel over it. That space with nothing in it is part of the crumple zone system. That first bet folds in both absorbing crash forces and giving the car a few precious inches of deceleration to reduce G Forces on the occupants. Also, if the roof were only strong enough to hold the car it is a good bit weaker than the 140 from the 60s. 1 and 2 Series Volvo cars had roofs to hold upwards of 5 other cars without damage to the structure. The 240 is so strong I had a worker from an auto recyclers tell me not to bring the wagon there if I scrapped it. The first 240 they tried to crush broke the crusher
Volvo had a stack of 700s 4 or more high they would bring to motor shows.
I use my 480 es daily. Don't see many now.
As much as I do love Volvos, I'm ok with "missing out" on these in North America.
I had a 1993 facelifted Volvo 440 on an L plate for a short time back in 2004 which had the 1.8 Renault engine, the engine looked identical to this 1.7 that's in the Volvo 460, the only thing that gave it away was the cc number on the logbook lol - It was a little more than 1721cc - 1783cc (or it could have been 1793cc?) I think it was ?) and it was 8 valves, It may have been the same engine used in the Clio, Laguna/Megane of the same era... It was a great little car until I was forced to sell it due to lack of space 😞
Yes, slightly enlarged Renault F-Type engine. The 1.6 and 1.8 replaced the 1.7 in 1992, and were joined by a 2.0 in 1993, only the Turbo had the 1.7 to the end.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting Great info Mat - Keep all the great videos coming ! 👍👍👍
Had the facelift 460 -95 102 ps mp 1.8i , before bying a used 855 -96
My first ever brand new car ❤️❤️ Mine was red though, traded in a 345
I had a J plate 440 GLEi 1.7 auto a few years back. Nice comfortable motor but the box wasn't the best and it was damn thirsty. Also had a 340 1.4 cvt that felt better built amd just as comfortable but the cvt was god awful!
Is the 460 1.6 83 hp from '94 any good? What about fuel averages?
Where does the SE trim stand? One of my neighbours has a pre facwlift 460SE and its in really good condition, when i pass by it on foot i always take a second to apriciate it :)
SE was mid trim
Why not consider adding this to the furious fleet. It is such a nice example of a rare beast.
worked for nedcar in Holland had a 1.8i 460 supplied!! was altho very basic a great car!!
I remember blocky being as much of the trend as curvy Astras and Sierras. Fiat Uno for example or the larger Croma. At least there were differences in the showrooms! 🙂
I love to se a test of Volvo 960 and you tell about it. I have one .-97 2.5 with a manual gearbox.
My Dad had one of these, briefly. He hated it. After his spritely Datsun he just felt let down.
I recently sold my manual 460 turbo-91, fun little car.
And that space in front of the radiator, mine had a intercooler and the ac condenser, so it was no space left on mine😊
@@364nailhead exactly what I thought when Matt's voice echoed in the space in front of it, he's got the basic spec there with small radiator and no aircon.
Shame you didn’t test a GLT model , I had a G plate one 1.7 , it was rapid one of the best cars I’ve owed , I doubt there’s any left now 😢
With around 65 460 of all types left, trying to find one these days is quite hard, I am afraid.
@@lloydvehicleconsulting in The Netherlands 129 left with valid MOT
I have a 1994 440 GLT 2.0i
@@Naebothernosey awesome, I’ve looked for my old car , it doesn’t say it’s scraped but was last mot’d in 2013 😞
An interesting slightly different Volvo. And the predecesor to my (also very beige) 2001 Volvo V40
An L reg 440 like the same vintage shown here was my first car... 5 speed manual with Air con... A tough old bird who never let me down, and never found a car since with such comfortable seats... Shame Volvo lost their way the V40 came out...
they rattled and creaked and my neighbour hated his.... myself i thought it dog ugly after the 340 1.7 i had.
I googled "tea shelf; car tea shelf; tea shelf dashboard; t-shelf", literally no results whatsoever. Can I ask how did you come up with the idea that the top of a dashboard is called a tea shelf? (or t-shelf, whatever)
It was my first car the 460 GLE auto. I wanted a 740 or 850 but couldn’t afford it then. 😂 but it was a great car
I owned a facelift 460 2.0 SE gorgeous thing . Very reliable. Renault engine. So got my parts from Renault as they were cheaper 😂
Would love to see you review a first-gen S40 after this!
The Volvo or ovloV as we call them.
Or even a Swedish Valiant. A lot of us in Australia don't think much of them.
Just bought a Panama hat. I must be reaching that time of life. Comfortable beige slacks next. Those you wear halfway up your chest. 😂
I jokingly think of these as the DAF 88. Yes, I know the pedants know that they had nothing to do with it by then, but still.
You aren't that far off actually. The design team consisted of former DAF designers Rob Koch, John de Vries (left after completing the 480 design jn 1985) and Peter van Kouwenhoven, who completed the design of the 440 and 460. Volvo headquarters in Sweden didn't have much involvement in the design process. There are more ties to Renault, Porsche, Lotus and MGA Developments, an independent design office in Coventry (spearheaded by later Volvo design boss Peter Horbury) than to the namesake of the badge on the car...
@@volvo480 Thank you for that. I had read some bits of the development story years ago (Car Magazine probably) and in 1989 made the joke when a spivvy guy I worked with turned up with a new one. I do like them though and thought it a very neat evolution. 🙂
@@PaddyWV on the other hand, the DAF 77 which became the Volvo 343 was so horribly bad in quality in its first years, that without Volvo (and Dutch government grants, DAF employed many former coal miners whose jobs were lost after the mines closed in 1967), the factory would never have survived. John de Vries, who designed both the 343 and the 480, told me some terrible design decisions were made, which were rectified in later model years. So in that sense it is more Volvo than DAF.
Or as an old Volvo mechanic told me "In 1974 I was doing an apprenticeship at DAF, after that I had to do my military service and when I returned in 1975 I've found myself working for Volvo!" :D
@@volvo480 That's a shame, because folk have said the 33/44 engines were very well engineered. Maybe a phase they went through? I've seen the pic of the engineers standing round the 343 to be, prototype. It had a hint of early Scirocco at that time.
Awesome car,my grandad had a 440 to replace his 240,have to say though the 240 was better, especially in mustard yellow 😆