1989 Volvo 360 GLT 2.0 Volvo EFi 8v SOHC from UK and Ireland

Summary:

It's a sleeper really, the fly boys don't expect it until its hugging their back bumper

Faults:

Replaced Timing belt (it had never been changed)

Replaced fan belt (it had been sheered in half)

Replaced brake pads (they were worn right down to bare metal)

General Comments:

Volvo make the best seats, supportive, good for your back and very comfortable on long journeys.

Very good spec for the year, power steering, electric windows, electric mirrors, central locking etc.

It is a quick car, but rear drive layout and rear leaf suspension rocks like a boat at times and I doubt anyone can say they handle well.

There are more modifications out there for this car than people think, a good suspension kit and some big alloys will help it no end.

I bought mine for £500, it is as quick to 60 as the car I last owned, Honda engined Rover 216 GTi.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 5th January, 2004

21st Apr 2004, 10:02

Hi,

I am in Australia and own a '87 360GLT, generally same specs as yours, but no power steering or electric mirrors.

I agree with most of your comments, but have a question for you, you talk of many mods available for his car, me being in Australia keeps me isolated somewhat to access these.

Do you know of any specific places involved in this in the UK, I for one would like to change the rear drum brakes to disc, and am very interested in playing with the suspension,

Who knows maybe I could get parts sent from the UK.

Anyway, one mod which will be coming soon for my 360 will be replacing the B200 2.0L engine with a B230FT 2.3L turbo from a '92 940.

Anyhoo Any help would be appreciated on the supension kits that you mention.

Thank-you,

David.

9th Sep 2005, 11:22

Hi. You can lower the front with -40mm springs (there are various makes) and you can lower the rear leaf springs with custom made lowering blocks, have seen up to -60mm lowered.

Poly bushes and uprated tie rods are available from Superflex. Custom made strut braces for front and rear would be a handy and easy mod too.

There is no point in fitting rear discs, they would never be used properly, the drums on the 360 are large and powerful enough anyway. Fitting larger calipers and possibly vented discs would help, but there are no off the shelf brake upgrades apart from braided brake hose kits and uprated discs and pads.

Good luck with teh Turbo conversion, you will need a custom 2/2.5 exhaust system made up,1 custom engine mount, you will have to use the sump off the B200E engine also.

5th Mar 2007, 17:22

Check out www.volvo300mania.com/ for help in modding your Volvo 300!

1989 Volvo 360 GLE 2.0 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Solid, comfy, reliable, fuddy duddy image

Faults:

I have only had the car a short while and nothing has gone wrong.

General Comments:

This is the third 3 series Volvo that I've owned. I work in the trade selling new and used VW's. I regularly see 3 series Volvos of all ages coming through the dealership and the trade doesn't want them due to zero image.

However I recently acquired my current 360 from an elderly barrister who had owned it from new. It has been serviced religiously every 6 months from new by a Volvo main agent, hence it is in virtually showroom condition despite it's considerable mileage.

It is best at motorway speeds, but thankfully the power steering makes it tolerable around town. They are a beast without it. My friend Jackie will be taking hers away from me later on this week to travel around Europe!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 27th May, 2001