RE: Volvo XC90 | PH Used Buying Guide

RE: Volvo XC90 | PH Used Buying Guide

Author
Discussion

What The Deuces

2,780 posts

24 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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Leins said:
Same as that, I love my Mk1 D5. It’s a bit noisy and not the best handling, but as a family bus it’s hard to beat, and we use the extra two seats quite frequently. The kids love the split tailgate too

If I was ever to change it then I’d be highly likely to stick with another XC90
The split tailgate has made it a godsend on its own, let alone the capacious boot, extra seats etc. God knows why they've dropped it.

Darlo74

284 posts

209 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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What The Deuces said:
Leins said:
Same as that, I love my Mk1 D5. It’s a bit noisy and not the best handling, but as a family bus it’s hard to beat, and we use the extra two seats quite frequently. The kids love the split tailgate too

If I was ever to change it then I’d be highly likely to stick with another XC90
The split tailgate has made it a godsend on its own, let alone the capacious boot, extra seats etc. God knows why they've dropped it.
I'm with you - can't understand why they didn't do the split tailgate, always found it useful on my Mk1. But the Mk2 is a step up in every other sense - will be keeping it as can't see a reason to change or anything else I'd really want instead

aland75

172 posts

77 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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I had a D5 Mk1 for 9 years and recently found a rare, tidy V8 MK1 - which although thirsty, is proving to be great as a family bus and tow-car.
MK2s were out of my price range without borrowing, and as all are 2.0L 4-pot weren't that appealing.

What The Deuces

2,780 posts

24 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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aland75 said:
I had a D5 Mk1 for 9 years and recently found a rare, tidy V8 MK1 - which although thirsty, is proving to be great as a family bus and tow-car.
MK2s were out of my price range without borrowing, and as all are 2.0L 4-pot weren't that appealing.
I would quite like a go in one of those

Mikebentley

6,106 posts

140 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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A good article with lots of detail. I’m a massive fan of Volvo but by god that was some list of potential issues.

Numeric

1,396 posts

151 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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Don Roque said:
The twincharged engine is an impressive performer in the V60, the V60CC and the V90 but it certainly doesn't sound premium and they are all incredibly thirsty.
I knew someone who was shocked by his fuel consumption, I don't know which engine but the highest performance variant, came from big engine X5 models and felt it was no better if not worse; he felt he had to gun the engine harder to get similar performance. Driving gently was OK, but he admitted to being a lead foot driver.

MuttWagon

62 posts

60 months

Monday 9th May 2022
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I always liked the look of the xc90 and the interior. When I was in the market for a used petrol suv last year I test drove a few from a main dealer but I really struggled to fall for it. The engine lacked soul even with the polestar map and the gearbox never felt in harmony with it. I went for the older interior of the x5 in preference for a 6 pot and better dynamics. No regrets.

Murph7355

37,715 posts

256 months

Tuesday 10th May 2022
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JeremyH5 said:
What weight will they tow? Braked trailer type load.
2,250kg I believe.

Don Roque said:
....and they are all incredibly thirsty.
Our D5s very frugal....compared to the nk1 and everything else I'm used to biggrin

Motormatt

484 posts

218 months

Tuesday 10th May 2022
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Mikebentley said:
A good article with lots of detail. I’m a massive fan of Volvo but by god that was some list of potential issues.
We have a XC90 D5 and love it, however it had an 'episode' last year that saw it off the road for 5 weeks (all covered under Volvo warranty and with a brand new V90 provided as a courtesy car).

Make no mistake, these are very complicated cars. Like any of its rivals, owning one out of warranty could be a potentially ruinous experience. Anything significant goes wrong and you're into very big bills very quickly indeed. I can say from experience having seen the breakdown of labour rates and parts pre-warranty claim, they are no cheaper to look after than any of the obvious rivals from Germany.

The original warranty has now expired, needless to say I didn't hesitate to take out the extended one!

Dohnut

531 posts

46 months

Tuesday 10th May 2022
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I pick mine up from the dealer a week today! R-Design Pro, albeit in B5 diesel guise and not T8.

Looked at Disco and Q7 but both were more expensive with less kit and importantly for me, both have less boot space with all 7 seats in place.

It's a handsome car too.

JeremyH5

1,584 posts

135 months

Tuesday 10th May 2022
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Murph7355 said:
JeremyH5 said:
What weight will they tow? Braked trailer type load.
2,250kg I believe.
Thanks, less than I expected.

oedipus

368 posts

66 months

Tuesday 10th May 2022
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To those questioning why this is on PH - in a week that we’ve had a feature about McLaren not changing their radio supplier and another about Twisted putting a sticker on a boat I can’t see a problem with an article about a lardarse SUV.

Murph7355

37,715 posts

256 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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Dohnut said:
...

Looked at Disco and Q7 but both were more expensive with less kit and importantly for me, both have less boot space with all 7 seats in place.

...
This in spades.

We have 2 young kids, so when looking at the alternatives I took our pram down and tested each in the showrooms - 7 seat config, could the pram fit.

The XC90 was the easiest by far. Disco didn't work (the Disco Sport was actually at least as good as the std car). The Q7 wasn't bad, but still not easy.

Motormatt said:
...
Make no mistake, these are very complicated cars. Like any of its rivals, owning one out of warranty could be a potentially ruinous experience. Anything significant goes wrong and you're into very big bills very quickly indeed. I can say from experience having seen the breakdown of labour rates and parts pre-warranty claim, they are no cheaper to look after than any of the obvious rivals from Germany. ...
Out of interest, what failed and what were the costs?

Brake parts aren't cheap through main dealers, but it's possible to get them done much, much cheaper outside of the network.

I've yet to have anything else material fail. Aux battery was £100. I have a seat belt guide to replace (£25)....but I think that's broadly all we've needed (which is asking for bother!).

Motormatt

484 posts

218 months

Wednesday 11th May 2022
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Murph7355 said:
Dohnut said:
...


Out of interest, what failed and what were the costs?

Brake parts aren't cheap through main dealers, but it's possible to get them done much, much cheaper outside of the network.

I've yet to have anything else material fail. Aux battery was £100. I have a seat belt guide to replace (£25)....but I think that's broadly all we've needed (which is asking for bother!).
I'll try to keep it brief....engine lost power and stopped whilst driving, luckily on a quiet rural road and I was able to roll to a stop without causing obstruction off the road without a problem.
Car recovered to main dealer.
The issue seemed to be that the on board computer thought (incorrectly as it turns out) that one or more cylinders were losing compression so went into safe mode. Engine would start, run for a few seconds then shut off again. Cue lots of pressure testing, bore scopes, more pressure testing, then cylinder head off for full inspection, still nothing. Complete software wipe and reset, more testing, same result.
After each change and test, the dealer had to send off the data from the car to Volvo for analysis and wait for further instruction. This back and fourth took weeks. On one occasion they were actually driving the car back to me when it failed on the delivery driver! In the end it turned out to be an issue with the injectors, all replaced, tested and another complete software wipe and reset and replacement of some other sensors I cant remember the name of.
The total cost would have been well in excess of £4k had it not been covered by the warranty.

mat205125

17,790 posts

213 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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Interested to hear from owners of used Twin Engine cars, as I'm seriously considering one as my next car.

Is the warranty extendable, and is there anything specific that could be ruinous if I were to have one out of warranty??


Dohnut

531 posts

46 months

Thursday 23rd March 2023
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mat205125 said:
Interested to hear from owners of used Twin Engine cars, as I'm seriously considering one as my next car.

Is the warranty extendable, and is there anything specific that could be ruinous if I were to have one out of warranty??
Head over to www.volvoforums.org.uk - loads of info on there.