1994 Volvo 480 GT review from UK and Ireland

Accessory belt tensioning bolt sheared.

Alternator tensioning bolt sheared and mounting bracket fell off as a result... it's somewhere on the B481...

Anti-roll bar links needed replacing recently.

Rear boot/rear light seals have started to leak.

The GT-spec burgundy metallic paint and 15" alloys are still in mint condition.

The 2000cc engine has massive amounts of torque and plenty of power, which is delivered very nicely to the road through a lithe chassis.

Handling is stunning for the age of the car and considering it was Volvo's first play with a front-wheel drive layout. Over-steer is handled well. Under- and torque-steer is to be expected with so much shove being placed through the front rubber, but is well balanced and plenty of feeling through the steering gives fair-warning of pushing it too hard.

The brakes aren't as sharp as I'd like, but they're strong and effective and the ABS cracks in when things get slippery.

The car is a three-door, but, rarely, ingress and egress is simple, even for large adults as the doors are long and front seats + seat-belts get out of the way. Rear seats aren't a bench, but the same as the front - leather, comfortable and huggy.

The car is luxuriously equipped, everything is electric and there are five computers floating around the car dealing with the hi-tech. For the current market value - You'd struggle to do better.