360 GLTs??

[Chris71]

Hi,

Can anybody tell me a little more about these cars? Such as,

* What's a sensible price these days
* Do they tend to be reliable - are parts available if they do go wrong?
* I'm a keen mountain biker - do they have folding seats and/or a hatchback?
* Any idea what the insurance is like on them?
* Any idea what sort of economy and range they offer?

Also a bit of mechanical detail - all I really know is they're RWD, mid-sized and under valued. I have a feeling they're turbocharged - is this correct? I know the 360 GLT is emmerging as a bit of a cult car, are the other 340/360 volvos any good? Are they all RWD or was there a front wheel drive variant?

Basically, I'm looking for a small to medium sized workhorse for occasions where I can't fit passenegers or luggage into my other car and/or they'd object to being rained on! I had thought about the usual Japanese banger route, but wondered if I could get something with a bit more character and a bit more fun. It has to park in London and attract relatively cheap insurance (I'm 23) so no T5R's!!

Chris.

[Valentin]

Hi Chris,

The 360 GLT is the hatchback version. The GLE where the saloon cars. there are 3 and 5 door hatchbacks.
Go for the 360 with the 2litre Volvo engine. Avoid the 1.4l & 1.7l Renault engines in the 340.
The early 360 had carburetor, later ones EI. Go for the latest 360 you can find (1989).

And Yes, they were all RWD.

Edited by Valentin on Tuesday 16th January 18:38

[Chris71]

Thanks.

Any idea on reliability and economy? Is it a genuine alternative to spending a bit more on a dull generic FWD japanese hatch?

[swedish nemesis]

Hi, I have a 360 GLT saloon (not a hatchback)with the 2.0 engine. The GLE and GLT badges refer to the level of trim.

[Chris71]

Hi,

What's it like? I know the drifting people like to weld the diffs up to liven up the experience, but I'd look to keep one standard I think.

So, all the 360s should perform and handle in the same way, assuming their both the same injection (or indeed carb) model?

Chris.

[cossiemetro]

get one quick as mentioned the drift boys love them and prices will go up

[Chris71]

cossiemetro said:

get one quick as mentioned the drift boys love them and prices will go up

Yeah, that thought had occured. Would be pretty cool to actually make money on a cheap utilitarian car.

But theres no point doing it if I spend the benefit on spare parts and AA call outs - anyone know how well they hold together?

[madleee]

The 300 series was a design by DAF that was adopted by Volvo when they took over.
I seem to remember that the 360 shares running gear with the 240 series.
Engine is a B200E if I remember correctly. Gearbox might be from the 200 series too.
They had the Gbox at the rear with pushpull rods from the selector
(lee gets Heinous Manual out...)

With 5 spd box and efi final drive is 3.64 to 1 on hatchb and 3.45 to 1 on saloon.

check out
www.volvoclub.org.uk/forum/index.php

There is a guy on there with a tuned 360 GLT and there may be some inso on the 300 series forum

I ahd a mate with a 360gle carb and my 1.6 Orion used to piss rings around it so as another poster said go for the efi, and strip it out.