1995 Volvo 480 T review from UK and Ireland

Suffered from Turbo lag, but tuning-shop fiddling with the boost pressure seems to have sorted this.

Rear windscreen wiper seized up, easily repaired. CD player faulty, replaced twice! Left electric window intermittently fails.

Installed specialised GST dump valve, blacked-out windows, alloy wheels, engine management chip, stainless steel twin exhaust system. Car has been professionally tuned.

I was always impressed by the performance of the 480, from the moment I first sat in the front seat at 110mph I knew this was the car for me. It's our 6th year together now, and I haven't looked back once.

Reliability is sound, no major problems. Just the rear windscreen wiper. The ride is firm, but the seats comfortable and the fan-blower very effective.

I was impressed with the performance of this car even before I had it tuned. Now it is manic:

0-60 mph is achievable in 6 seconds ever since the engine management was chipped. The fastest I have had this car was 144mph (on a private road, of course.) I think it can do more.

Since the tuning it is the fastest car I have ever driven, I now use it for private rallies and seldom find a car as fast. It can easily leave behind my neighbour's Calibra, and my friend's Ford RS2000. I have yet to duel with an Impreza Turbo, but I await the day with bated breath, I'm sure it will not let me down.