Russ's 2.1 SED Auto now in Mandarin

[CitroJim]

My Volvo was a 340 and indeed it had a Renault engine.. Actually it was a very good and brave little car... The 340 was horribly under-rated in my humble. It happily towed a small caravan all over the UK and to France and back. I fell out of love with it when it stranded me with prop shaft failure in Bicester. The only car ever to do so in such a terminal way.

When I was stationed in Cyprus I had a Volvo 144 as a daily driver to keep the miles off my nice shiny new MG Metro.

[citroenxm]

1 series, 4 door 4 cylinder... Pah! Why not a 164 with Volvos OWN Straight Six engine before they went V6 with Peugeot/Renault....

[mds141]

If you think Ford KA's rust, you should try a Volvo 440.

[VeronicaVeronese]

I had two 9000's a 2.3 full pressure turbo and a 2.3 Lpt. Both were fabulous to drive - a buzz - but drank petrol and cost a fortune to service.

[russ92xmsed]

Originally a DAF design Jim, although you'll know that!!!! Didn't the very very early cars have the variomatic set up.

I like the 760 style range of Volvo's. Quite like the 480ES secretly.

SAABs are built like tanks, love the fact they turned a Lancia Thema into a better stronger car.

[CitroJim]

1 series, 4 door 4 cylinder... Pah! Why not a 164 with Volvos OWN Straight Six engine before they went V6 with Peugeot/Renault....

.

I had no choice Paul, it came as a package with the house and job...

I must say I always fancied a 164. Gorgeous engine... The old 4 pot B18 engine was OK though. Mine had twin SU carbs on it... Went well...

[citroenxm]

Yea, initially they did, or ALWAYS did, but the 340 started out as the Volvo 66 !!!

After the Daf 66.. as Volvo bought Daf, and therefore built 3 series and 4 series in the Dutch Factory.

Jim,

The 4 pot was either the B20 engine or the B18 1.8, and the 6 was the B30

a 1.8 in the heavy 1 series! That was pushing it a bit!

[CitroJim]

Didn't the very very early cars have the variomatic set up..

They did Russ and all 340s had a hangover from that; there was no room for a normal gearbox up front so all 340s had a transaxle mounted where the Variomatic would have lived high up in the rear under the back seat effectively

This meant the prop-shaft ran at engine speed and was very special as a result. It was made of light alloy and had clamped splines on either end. The clamps used to work loose and wear the splines. That was what killed mine in the end.. One set of splines wore right away and the repair was not economical.

I swapped it for a Rover Metro and that in turn was swapped for a Pug 405.

Paul, my 144 had the B18. As I say it was OK performance wise and anyway in those days Cyprus had a blanket 50mph limit so performance was really quite academic. Toughness was what was wanted as the roads were shocking.

[russ92xmsed]

1 series, 4 door 4 cylinder... Pah! Why not a 164 with Volvos OWN Straight Six engine before they went V6 with Peugeot/Renault....

.

I had no choice Paul, it came as a package with the house and job...

I must say I always fancied a 164. Gorgeous engine... The old 4 pot B18 engine was OK though. Mine had twin SU carbs on it... Went well...

I always liked the Alfa 164.... To totally change tact!

[mds141]

Did you live in Cyprus Jim? Lovely country, friendly people and a fantastic climate. Although July can get a bit warm.