Hello and questions

[Chris71]

Hi,

Firstly hello as I'm new to the board

I'm thinking about getting a 360 as an everyday runaround. Heard a lot of good things about them, but I have a few questions....

Firstly, can someone give me a brief overview of the UK models - which were saloons and which were hatchbacks? Do the seats fold on both (this is very important as I need to carry mountain bikes around in it)? Are there any differences in the power output, brakes or suspension across the 360 range? Essentially, which cars are which

And any other general points about running them - what sort of MPG do they return? What's reliability like on them? Are parts easy to come by? Is rust an issue?

I'm looking for a sensible car for commuting and carrying stuff around, but I'd like something with a bit more character and the 360 has always struck me as quite a good deal and a bit more fun that the usual Japanese hatchback.

[Tourinki]

Seats fold only in 3 or 5 door hatch. In 360 there is three types of 2 liter engine. B200K about 100bhp B200E 116bhp and B200F 108bhp. K is carburetor engine E is high compression injection engine and F low compression injection engine with katalysator. i hope that i didn't make any mistakes about those engines. If properly looked after B200 engine is very very reliable. Every 360 has same suspension and brake components. But in 340 there is some differences.

[Cornholio]

Hello Chris, welcome to v3m

I can't answer all of your questions, but I'm sure someone else will later on. Maybe one of the moderators could create a sticky FAQ thread, as a number of these questions crop up quite often.

The 340 came with a choice of 1.4 or 1.7 Renault engines. The 360 had a 2.0 Volvo lump, along with a stronger drive train. Most have 5 speed manual boxes, although there were also 4 speed and CVT models.

They are, on the whole, reliable cars. Most problems are well documented and generally not too horrific. Rust is the killer. The 300s are not in the same league as the Swedish Volvos of the time regarding tin worm resistance. However, a number of parts are still available.

I don't know about the saloon, but in the hatch the back seat will fold down. It can be removed entirely without too much difficulty; the seat just clips on and the back rest is held by screws. I can just fit my bike in the back of my hatch with the seat folded down, although it is easier with the bike's front wheel removed.

My old 1.4 was good for up to 50mpg on the motorway, a 1.7 may give about 35mpg around town. Mine currently has carb issues and is giving less than 30mpg

Parts are becoming an issue. Volvo are cutting back on the ones they supply, although there is a lot of work being done to ensure continued availability of the important bits. For example, someone here is producing replacements for out-of-stock gaskets.

Load carrying ability is great for a car of its size. I've had a stack of gear piled up after a gig and people haven't believed that it would all fit in the 340 - they've come out to watch me load and been amazed when it's all gone in.

The 300 certainly has character and they are very nice little cars to own. As far as I know, this one is still for sale and looks very nice.

[edit]Sorry, hadn't seen Tourinki's reply[/edit]

[Chris71]

Seats fold only in 3 or 5 door hatch. In 360 there is three types of 2 liter engine. B200K about 100bhp B200E 116bhp and B200F 108bhp. K is carburetor engine E is high compression injection engine and F low compression injection engine with katalysator. i hope that i didn't make any mistakes about those engines. If properly looked after B200 engine is very very reliable. Every 360 has same suspension and brake components. But in 340 there is some differences.

Superb, thanks Tourinki.

Sounds like I'd be looking for the B200E (not a fan of carbs!) Presume the engine depends on year and model, is there anywhere I can find out which models (UK right hand drive ones) had which engine.

Think I'd be looking at a hatch. For bikes and guitar stuff (sounds like my requirments are pretty similar to yours Cornholio )

PS Does anyone know what the performance figures are like for them? Not especially important, just curious.

[Tourinki]

To help you identify which engine is which.
K is fairly easy air filter box is left side of the engine between battery and cylinder head
E air filter box is between right headlamp and engine coolant reservoir.
F I don't about RHD cars but LHD cars have lambda sond sticking out of the front exhaust pipe. There should be two thigys in the exhaust pipe first which is smaller is katalysator and almost after it is front silencer.

And in sedan rear seats back rest is bolted to its place there is about 10 -15 nuts holding it in its place. And it is not quick job to take it out.

[redline]

welcome to the madhouse Chris

I'd say get yourself a nice GLT hatch you wont regret it

. I can just fit my bike in the back with the seat folded down in my hatch, although it is easier with the front wheel removed.

Gavin ,how the hell do you drive with the front wheel removed ?

[Cornholio]

. I can just fit my bike in the back with the seat folded down in my hatch, although it is easier with the front wheel removed.

Gavin ,how the hell do you drive with the front wheel removed ?

I wondered how long it would be...

[Chris_C]

Agreed with Gavin... mountain bikes are a lot easier in a 300 without the front wheel

If you are from the UK Chris, we didn't get B200F's, but B200E's are in any UK GLT from '86. Don't overlook the 340 1.7, with a good carb it'll return 40+MPG, 360GLT will be looking at around 35ish, but theres not much either way overall tbh. The GLT will have more toys on average though.

Seats don't fold on a saloon, do the bikes have to go in the back? Plenty of towbar mounted carriers availible.

Good luck on your hunt, and welcome to the forum

[Chris71]

Seats don't fold on a saloon, do the bikes have to go in the back? Plenty of towbar mounted carriers availible.

Yep, it's worth about five times what I'd up hope to pick up a 360 for, don't want it dangling out where it can be nicked or collected by a passing hedge

Also find it's quicker to stick a bike inside the car and you can make reasonable progress on the way to the trails without any fear of it flying off! Used to cram it in the back of my Quantum (kit car) and that was still less hassle than rigging up the bike rack.

What's the performance like on the 340? I'd prefer something reasonably rapid (as long as it doesn't mean a big comprimise in fuel or insurance costs) so I was concentrating on the 2 litre.

[Chris_C]

The 1.7 is revvy, the 2.0 is lazy but torquey. The 2.0i is marginally quicker however though!!!

The only reason I use a rack is so I could fit some mates in at the same time Two bikes in the back gets a bit tangled...

[Chris71]

Fiar enough, I'm a lazy git - if there's more than two of us travelling up, I'll persuade someone else to drive, whilst I snooze off the days exertions

So, what are they like in terms of handling? I gather the 360GLT was sold as something of a GTi competitor when it was new? 2 litres, quite small and RWD sounds like quite an entertaining way of transporting the bikes around.

Will probably also commute in it, which is a 60 mile round trip on motorways, so perhaps a more relaxed torquey engine would be better....

[pettaw]

We didn't get the B200F in the UK, but we did get a lower compression B200E, designed for use with unleaded petrol. The 1985-1986 B200E had the 115bhp, but the 1987- B200E had 111bhp. If you get the more torquey early one, be aware that you need to run it on Optimax or it'll ping.

[SteveP]

So, what are they like in terms of handling?

Roll... lots... but level of grip is impressive, easy enough to upgrade it to stop the bodyroll too. The Spax adajustables I have on the rear of mine gave a very noticeable improvement for an hours worth of fitting em (going rather slowly!).

[Chris_C]

Heh, what Steve said... new rear dampers and the car is completely different, on a rally a month or three ago I abused a mk2 golf GTi through the corners. Ok, not that hard a task, but the golf is supposed to be one of the best handling things in that range.

The GLT is supposedly the tourer, it has slightly lower rear springs, and slightly stiffer too, but it doesn't make much difference. Overall, the 340 is slightly more oversteery, but both are great fun!

[trabitom99]

The only reason I use a rack is so I could fit some mates in at the same time Two bikes in the back gets a bit tangled...

+1



Tom