300 now even accepted by other Volvo model owners?

[Attack2001]

You don't have to be old to read Hitchikers guide to the galaxy. In fact, you pretty much have to be quite young

aha, never read it myself, that might be why

[Hell Driver]

A Quote from The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy (1977), radio series, book, tv series and later later in film (2005).

[Hell Driver]

First heard it on the radio when I was 7 in 1977 and although I didn't understand many bits the sci-fi angle and wacky stuff made it addictive. Not a big book reader myself. 2005 film was very good if not quite the same story in parts. Books, TV, radio and film all have different bits which is confusing. Douglas Adams made some cracking quotes, a genius.

[thebear54]

You don't have to be old to read Hitchikers guide to the galaxy. In fact, you pretty much have to be quite young

Well said. I even picked up on that and that show has been off the air here for 6 years...LOL

The 343 is still shunned in the States by the Volvo owners...they view it with interest but that is all. They don't admire it because it has the Volvo Badge on the Grille.

John

[macplaxton]

Well you have to get a 66 too John so you can really piss 'em off at shows.

[Evoman]

With the big VW diesel engine or the V6 from PRV (Peugeot, Renault)....

Both of which I'd say are worse than any B14 and B172

And that's not even mentioning modern-day Peugeot diesel engines or Ford Focus platforms ...

Tom

I was told by my old boss that all ford platforms came from Volvo during their ownership. I quote (as he was looking at his x-type) "everyone says they are mondeos but actually its a Volvo, infact all ford platforms came from Volvo at that time." I tend to believe him considering he was an engineer at Jag at the time and would have worked on the development/validation. I could also have totally miss heard

[trabitom99]

Hm OK ... It would surprise me a bit if a "world car" like a Focus would take its platform from a V50 and not the other way around ... But I could be wrong of course.

The Volvo 5 cylinder engine was used in the Focus ST, but not anymore in the coming version unfortunately ...

Tom

[Evoman]

Yes, it suprised me alittle, perhaps the focus is an exception.

[SteveP]

I thought it was more the other way round and Volvo used the Focus platform for the S40/V50/C30 range

[Evoman]

I thought it was more the other way round and Volvo used the Focus platform for the S40/V50/C30 range

It could still have been designed by volvo but came to the focus first. When was the first v50/focus?

[thebear54]

Well you have to get a 66 too John so you can really piss 'em off at shows.

LOL...LOL...LOL

There is a massive gathering of Volvo owners in Massachusetts every year...I think Bob C.(with his '82 crashbox) and I (with my '78 Variomatic) may have to test out the "Why Volvo Owner's Hate The 300" theory next year.


John

[foggyjames]

I think the Mazda 3 was the first to use the "new" Focus / little Volvo platform. The 2.0 petrol in those cars is a Mazda unit.
The X-Type and mk3 Mondeo shared a platform (and rust problems), but not with Volvo.
Mk4 (i.e. current) Mondeo and current S80/V70 share a platform.

As far as I'm aware, Jag and Volvo have no links at all (besides owners).

To be fair...the main thing which set 300s apart from the other Volvos of the era was the build quality of the bodies. The steel was thinner, and even at their best they rusted worse than 240s. Perhaps not that bad for their age, but not good either. And they went round corners as standard.

cheers

James

[Evoman]

Foggy Spoke, perhaps my boss was wrong

[trabitom99]

...The steel was thinner, and even at their best they rusted worse than 240s. Perhaps not that bad for their age, but not good either. ...

The benchmark for the eighties in the the 300s class (if there is such a thing) has to be the MkII Golf. Excepting perhaps the most neglected examples, they put a V300 to shame rust-wise...

Tom

[Chris_C]

Agreed Tom, though the MK11 rusts in some really weird places I've seen, it's miles ahead of what we have to deal with. Shame the interior (well, dash mainly) is quite so cheap, warning lights on the 16V GTi at least are comedy, 10 LEDs arranged in a rectangle!