1985 Volvo DL review from UK and Ireland
"Great little car, shame about the image"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Problems with the ECU - previous owner had replaced battery, alternator and distributor to try and correct starting problems. I replaced the ECU with a secondhand unit (£15) and this cured the starting problem.
No other faults.
General comments?
I found the car very reliable and whilst a bit of an eyesore, I found it perfectly acceptable. The car was in very good condition and was showing no signs of rust or rot.
Avoid main agents for spares where possible scrap yards and independent specialists can help keep running costs low.
If you can live with the looks and lack of cudos then the car won't let you down. I'd buy another one. The 360 especially after 1985 is a good buy with reasonable performance and refinement.
The 1.4 is the old DAF engine, the 1.7 is a Renault engine and the 2.0 is a genuine Volvo lump. The 2.0 if serviced will run for 200,000. The 1.7 has been know to have problems with water pumps. The 1.4 is a bit noisy, but generally reliable with no known major faults.
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  | Does what it's supposed to do... and it does it very well! |
| The Perfect Car. |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Yes |
| First year of ownership | 1998 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 1998 |
| Engine and transmission | 1.4 Manual |
| Performance marks | 6/10 |
| Reliability marks | 7/10 |
| Comfort marks | 7/10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 3/10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8/10 |
| Distance when acquired | 78000 miles |
| Most recent distance | 85000 miles |
| Previous car | Rover - Austin Mini |
| Date of Entry | 11th January, 2001 |