1989 Volvo 340 DL review from UK and Ireland
"Boring image but goes better than expected"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Only alternator - low output.
General comments?
Very solidly built. No rust and the underside is perfect. Easy to repair (my other car is a Citroen BX!).
Seats OKish but poor ride, back end responds badly on poor surfaces due to cart springs although a previous Volvo 66 (DAF) handled well.
Engine noisy on startup (piston slap?) but quiets once warm and doesn't use any oil at all.
Thought performance was poor when I bought it but discovered that the second carburettor barrel doesn't open until you floor the throttle well. Surprises other drivers and gets better over 65mph - ride and handling improve.
Heavy steering at lower speeds.
I look forward to a few years as a strong, easy to maintain, local runabout but wouldn't consider swapping it for the comfort of my Citroen for a long trip.
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| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1989 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2000 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.7 Don't Know |
| Performance marks | 8 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 8 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 6 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 96000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 100000 miles |
| Date of Entry | 25th March, 2000 |