Why do I want an XC90?
Discussion
Paddy_N_Murphy said:
To be fair then - thats not a whole lot of Borkage for a large 'exec' type car.
A local friend-of-a-friend dealer has identified the buoyant market for older XC90s and hes been buying them in from around the country and selling them like hot cakes - unfortunately hes been tortured by problems that people have had under warranty. I think he has something like 6 with ongoing problems at the minute.Like all old luxury 4x4's i'd buy with extreme caution and with a large bork fund...
exelero said:
Does that V8 XC90 like drinking? I bet it does, a LOT
V8 is a rare car, only sold for less than 2 years in the UK. I've had one over 3 years now and it averages 19-20mpg over mainly short journeys. Just depends which way you look at it really. It's a fantastic engine and gearbox combo making all sorts of driving enjoyable. Clearly no variant of XC90 can be considered sporty but the V8 pulls hard at any speed making road positioning and overtaking etc. very easy indeed. For context the D5's are glacial accelerators and around town won't do much better than 25mpg anyway. Long motorway cruises you will see the benefits for sure but not many use it exclusively for that in my experience.
Earlier T6 petrols best avoided unless very cheap as gearboxes are different to D5 (and later V8's) plus they use fuel with no benefit in performance. Worst of both worlds in my view.
Well, I have agreed to buy my bro's 2003 D5 with 145k miles off him for £2750. 
Over the years he has had it as the second owner he has replaced plenty of parts like the diff and intercooler, so I'm hoping most of the bork had borked. My wife doesn't so many miles so hopefully I can get a few years out of it.
Over the years he has had it as the second owner he has replaced plenty of parts like the diff and intercooler, so I'm hoping most of the bork had borked. My wife doesn't so many miles so hopefully I can get a few years out of it.
kapiteinlangzaam said:
Emeye said:
Well, I have agreed to buy my bro's 2003 D5 with 145k miles off him for £2750.
Over the years he has had it as the second owner he has replaced plenty of parts like the diff and intercooler, so I'm hoping most of the bork had borked. My wife doesn't so many miles so hopefully I can get a few years out of it.
If you know the history of it you stand a much better chance than an average punt on a <3k example Over the years he has had it as the second owner he has replaced plenty of parts like the diff and intercooler, so I'm hoping most of the bork had borked. My wife doesn't so many miles so hopefully I can get a few years out of it.
Did someone mention there a general XC90 thread? - I follow the S60 one - I will have a look.
Devil you know, etc, etc.
Sis had a D5 XC90 manual. On the way home from collecting it, it left my BIL stranded on the M6. It got worse from there. Random electrical issues, expensive bearings, you name it. It was swiftly replaced with one of those Mistu PHEV's, and then took them almost 9 months to sell. Hers was pristine too, with a full service history. I used to quite like them, but after observing their experience, I'd never actually spend my own money on one.
Sis had a D5 XC90 manual. On the way home from collecting it, it left my BIL stranded on the M6. It got worse from there. Random electrical issues, expensive bearings, you name it. It was swiftly replaced with one of those Mistu PHEV's, and then took them almost 9 months to sell. Hers was pristine too, with a full service history. I used to quite like them, but after observing their experience, I'd never actually spend my own money on one.
I had a V8, the engine was brilliant and it was a lot of fun because people don't expect an XC90 to be fast, up to around 70 it was pretty quick but it was badly built and easily the most unreliable mass produced car I have ever owned.
It never had everything working during the entire time I owned it and it cost me more to run on a day to day basis than the Maserati GranTurismo S I had at the same time.
It never had everything working during the entire time I owned it and it cost me more to run on a day to day basis than the Maserati GranTurismo S I had at the same time.
For those looking for an XC90 our 2011 one has been brilliant so far. Comfy, roomy, separate cd/radio/ipod access for the kids in the back using headphones, a huge boot, genuine 7-seater etc. We did a camping trip to the South of France last year and it was brilliant. Swallowed a huge tent and all the kit and a really smooth easy journey down there.
There are only two irritants for me.
- The turning circle is utter crap - to the point that it makes you look like you can't park, it's that bad.
- The media/phone set-up is really poor. I had a 2005 Audi A6 before this which was good but it looks ultra-modern in comparison to my XC90. It all works, just not in a remotely usable or integrated way.
But once we added a dog to the family it made sense to get the bigger car. Just beware of underground car parks when travelling with a roof box in France...at least so I've heard. Ahem.
There are only two irritants for me.
- The turning circle is utter crap - to the point that it makes you look like you can't park, it's that bad.
- The media/phone set-up is really poor. I had a 2005 Audi A6 before this which was good but it looks ultra-modern in comparison to my XC90. It all works, just not in a remotely usable or integrated way.
But once we added a dog to the family it made sense to get the bigger car. Just beware of underground car parks when travelling with a roof box in France...at least so I've heard. Ahem.
SteelerSE said:
For those looking for an XC90 our 2011 one has been brilliant so far. Comfy, roomy, separate cd/radio/ipod access for the kids in the back using headphones, a huge boot, genuine 7-seater etc. We did a camping trip to the South of France last year and it was brilliant. Swallowed a huge tent and all the kit and a really smooth easy journey down there.
There are only two irritants for me.
- The turning circle is utter crap - to the point that it makes you look like you can't park, it's that bad.
- The media/phone set-up is really poor. I had a 2005 Audi A6 before this which was good but it looks ultra-modern in comparison to my XC90. It all works, just not in a remotely usable or integrated way.
But once we added a dog to the family it made sense to get the bigger car. Just beware of underground car parks when travelling with a roof box in France...at least so I've heard. Ahem.
We have a 2008 model. I can relate to the irritants. The turning circle is woeful. I pulled off my parents drive the other day and was almost on the curb of the opposite pavement by the time I'd made my manoeuvre! There are only two irritants for me.
- The turning circle is utter crap - to the point that it makes you look like you can't park, it's that bad.
- The media/phone set-up is really poor. I had a 2005 Audi A6 before this which was good but it looks ultra-modern in comparison to my XC90. It all works, just not in a remotely usable or integrated way.
But once we added a dog to the family it made sense to get the bigger car. Just beware of underground car parks when travelling with a roof box in France...at least so I've heard. Ahem.
I have an M135i for my sporty kicks but the XC90 is utterly brilliant at being a safe, practical family hack. It's not that refined but I really like the seat arrangements, boot space and the little touches. If you don't want your shopping falling all over the place it has a lid which you can make a small area to put bags. It has an elastic band for extra protection. Split boot for easy access, etc. I know these aren't groundbreaking or original features but it just seems well thought out. I even like the off beat 5 cylinder engine. As far as diesels go, it has a bit of character to it.
Murph7355 said:
Leithen said:
Nice
Leithen said:
Yes Magic Blue - which is a lovely metallic IMO. But it's the black leather, which is disappointing as I really don't like dingy interiors, but faced with the reality of three children six and under... We've got a 335d Touring coming too and I was very tempted by the Cohiba Brown leather, but it's too soft for the abuse that the tykes will inevitably throw at it. So boring old black....
Nice.Our first choice would have been Magic Blue but an Ember Black car with the right spec came up.
2 kids under 5 and we went blond interior with soft nappa leather
We'll see how it lasts, but it looks great.Enjoy it.
Murph7355 said:
Nice.
Our first choice would have been Magic Blue but an Ember Black car with the right spec came up.
2 kids under 5 and we went blond interior with soft nappa leather We'll see how it lasts, but it looks great.
Enjoy it.
Very jealous - especially if you report an unblemished interior in a few years time.Our first choice would have been Magic Blue but an Ember Black car with the right spec came up.
2 kids under 5 and we went blond interior with soft nappa leather
We'll see how it lasts, but it looks great.Enjoy it.
Even though it's my wife's car, I'm looking forward to driving it occasionally - the test drive we had for a morning was very impressive. Comfortable, stable, surprisingly eager and precise. Hope it doesn't have too many electrical gremlins - some of the stories from the Volvo forums are a bit scary.
I bought our 145k mile, 2003 D5 SE off my bro about a month ago. Everything seemed well on the drive home.
When I got home there was a strong burnt clutch type smell - next day I realised the rear offside caliper was binding and cooking the wheel. Caliper was replaced at my mate's garage with a recon part.
Week later the car goes into limp mode every morning as my wife drove up the steep hill near our house towards the school, after restart that problem did not occur until the next morning - after a long drive this problem has disappeared...... the fuel filter has been change about 6 months ago.
Week later ABS error messages start popping up but going after restart - they are not on full time - suspect this is the ABS reluctor ring related to the over heated wheel. When I get the chance my mate will run diags on it.
Other than that we love it.
When I got home there was a strong burnt clutch type smell - next day I realised the rear offside caliper was binding and cooking the wheel. Caliper was replaced at my mate's garage with a recon part.
Week later the car goes into limp mode every morning as my wife drove up the steep hill near our house towards the school, after restart that problem did not occur until the next morning - after a long drive this problem has disappeared...... the fuel filter has been change about 6 months ago.
Week later ABS error messages start popping up but going after restart - they are not on full time - suspect this is the ABS reluctor ring related to the over heated wheel. When I get the chance my mate will run diags on it.
Other than that we love it.
Emeye said:
I bought our 145k mile, 2003 D5 SE off my bro about a month ago. Everything seemed well on the drive home.
When I got home there was a strong burnt clutch type smell - next day I realised the rear offside caliper was binding and cooking the wheel. Caliper was replaced at my mate's garage with a recon part.
Week later the car goes into limp mode every morning as my wife drove up the steep hill near our house towards the school, after restart that problem did not occur until the next morning - after a long drive this problem has disappeared...... the fuel filter has been change about 6 months ago.
Week later ABS error messages start popping up but going after restart - they are not on full time - suspect this is the ABS reluctor ring related to the over heated wheel. When I get the chance my mate will run diags on it.
Other than that we love it.
Your brother got rid at the opportune time then When I got home there was a strong burnt clutch type smell - next day I realised the rear offside caliper was binding and cooking the wheel. Caliper was replaced at my mate's garage with a recon part.
Week later the car goes into limp mode every morning as my wife drove up the steep hill near our house towards the school, after restart that problem did not occur until the next morning - after a long drive this problem has disappeared...... the fuel filter has been change about 6 months ago.
Week later ABS error messages start popping up but going after restart - they are not on full time - suspect this is the ABS reluctor ring related to the over heated wheel. When I get the chance my mate will run diags on it.
Other than that we love it.
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