Had no idea this car existed until I saw one today on I-66. I hereby declare Nov 5th to be Volvo 480 day.
Had no idea this car existed until I saw one today on I-66. I hereby declare Nov 5th to be Volvo 480 day.
If you think about it, April 80th should really be 480 day.
They were never sold in the US.
Wow, I just googled a very ugly Volvo..
One of my all-time favorites; but then again I like really weird stuff. Top 20, for sure.
Here's some food for thought.
the 480 is interesting.. not sure why anybody would call it ugly.. it looks more like a p1800 mated with a Civic hatchback to produce a streamlined and straight edged modern P1800.
now the 360 is more an aquired taste.. but is far more interesting underneath with it's front engine and rear transaxle design.
I had a non-car guy in the car with me, and as I'm pulling up to this thing, I said, "Hmm, I don't know what that car is." Which doesn't happen very often, so I started to get excited. Fortunately it was well labeled, so I said, "Volvo 480!" And he said, "So what, it's ugly." And I said, "I know, but they never sold them in North America, I've never seen one before, and neither of us will ever see one ever again, most likely." And he was so not impressed.
I think all those look petty sweet.
The 480 was going to be introduced into America, but was pulled at the last minute. The cost of federalization, plus tech training, plus parts stock, meant that Volvo couldn't hope to make money in the US on the car at the price point. Saw one at the Volvo headquarters. The Volvo name had been ground off of the alloy wheels, and all the badging had been removed. It was a big secret.
Yes, I remember all the car mags back in the day touting the certain pending arrival of the 480. I was excited and I like the look. I expected a deja vu when the C30 was being introduced. I like the C30 and would like to own one but their arrival has been less than stellar also.
I've heard this is the last year for the C30 in the US (maybe everywhere).
The 480 is definitely an acquired taste and generally for fanatics only in the US. One of the parts vendors in California has one in his collection.
that is because americans hate hatchbacks... if Volvo produced a sedan version of the C30.. it would sell like hotcakes
How well do hotcakes actually sell? Do you think Twinkies sell better? Maybe it would sell like Twinkies.
mad_machine wrote: if Volvo produced a sedan version of the C30.. it would sell like hotcakes
Like the S40 T5?
Americans don't like expensive hatchbacks. The C30 is pretty pricey compared to other small cars. Right or wrong, we still associate size with price. Small = cheap.
Oh, and I love the C30 and the 480 and the P1800.
dculberson wrote: Right or wrong, we still associate size with price. Small = cheap.
...and F350 crewcab brodozer Longhorn titanium omg baller Murrica status!! (and Ford laughs all the way to the bank)
...and I think that 480 is pretty sweet! ...and I love C30's.
dculberson wrote: Americans don't like expensive hatchbacks. The C30 is pretty pricey compared to other small cars. Right or wrong, we still associate size with price. Small = cheap. Oh, and I love the C30 and the 480 and the P1800.
The C30 is pretty damn big in the flesh. The C30 is definitely an expensive hatch and that is a small market...
A quick search shows Volvo is doing quite well:
mad_machine wrote:
Whoa, it's like a Volvo and a Saab had a baby.
Is the Volvo 360 a variation of the Hyundai Pony?
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