XC90 - Must have options?

[pmanson]

Hi All,

I need to change my current estate (Jaguar XF) to something a little bigger/more practical and i've pretty much decided on an XC90 D5 Inscription.

I'm looking for a 2016 car but what are the must have extras I should be looking for. Having got used to having one in my XF a reserving camera is on the list and I quite like the Blind Spot Monitoring system too.

3 kids and a dog to be transported around - is the family pack worth having?

What else should I be looking for / what is nice but I can do without?

Cheers,
Phill

[Murph7355]

Family pack is mainly the built in booster in the middle seat. Handy to have. You also get a load net, which is decent.

Pano' roof was a must have for me. Really lifts the interior and my kids love it. 12" display is a definite too - the Xenium pack gave both of these options plus 360deg camera I think (handy, but I only have the reverse camera and don't miss the 360deg one).

Wouldn't want to be without the Winter Pack at this time of year.

Intellisafe Pro gives you the BLIS you like, plus other goodies such as adaptive cruise (very good). Also make a note of which headlights it has...the fully adaptive ones are brilliant.

Nappa leather is very nice. Much better than the std leather interior. But not essential.

Bigger wheels and air suspension are not must haves IMO. Nor is premium sound (std system is fine).

I think that covers it.

Don't dismiss an optioned up Momentum...that's what we have. I much prefer the front grille, and the roof bars are IMO a better design (the posher models' roof bars fit flush to the roof down their length, which isn't as useful).

[pmanson]

Murph7355 said:

Family pack is mainly the built in booster in the middle seat. Handy to have. You also get a load net, which is decent.

Pano' roof was a must have for me. Really lifts the interior and my kids love it. 12" display is a definite too - the Xenium pack gave both of these options plus 360deg camera I think (handy, but I only have the reverse camera and don't miss the 360deg one).

Wouldn't want to be without the Winter Pack at this time of year.

Intellisafe Pro gives you the BLIS you like, plus other goodies such as adaptive cruise (very good). Also make a note of which headlights it has...the fully adaptive ones are brilliant.

Nappa leather is very nice. Much better than the std leather interior. But not essential.

Bigger wheels and air suspension are not must haves IMO. Nor is premium sound (std system is fine).

I think that covers it.

Don't dismiss an optioned up Momentum...that's what we have. I much prefer the front grille, and the roof bars are IMO a better design (the posher models' roof bars fit flush to the roof down their length, which isn't as useful).

Thanks very much!

I've got my eye on this one

[Murph7355]

pmanson said:

Thanks very much!

I've got my eye on this one

Being blunt it doesn't look that well spec'd to me. I only paid fractionally more than that over a year ago for a car with less miles and, despite it's Momentum start point, a significantly higher spec.

Is there anything specific about that one that is attracting you to it?

Probably also worth noting that a "Powerpulse" model would be worth looking for. They came in around mid-2016 (my car is just a fraction too old). Apparently makes a worthwhile difference to power take up/mid-range etc.

[pmanson]

I'm struggling to work out all the various specifications if I'm honest.

I'm looking for a late 2016 or early 2017 registered car (to keep the tax down).

Camera is important and I'd like the Blind Spot system (had it in my last two cars). Full leather would be good with the kids as well

Apart from that happy to be reasonably flexible.

[Murph7355]

A number on the Volvo Selekt site that look better value IMO...

http://selekt.volvocars.co.uk/en/used-cars/volvo/x...

http://selekt.volvocars.co.uk/en/used-cars/volvo/x...

http://selekt.volvocars.co.uk/en/used-cars/volvo/x...

Had a quick look on AT too but not a huge amount different showing on there.

I'm surprised how many are being sold with the smaller instrument screen - when I was looking there were hardly any. I'd avoid this.

I'm also surprised at how well mine will have retained value! There's nothing for equivalent age/mileage/spec for less than I paid for mine a year ago, which for a big diesel 4x4 strikes me as pretty good.

[pmanson]

Just to update this, I agreed a deal on an Inscription Pro this afternoon.

Hopefully pick it up in a few weeks.

Black with black interior, Pano roof, 360 camera etc. Less than 100 miles on the clock (and within budget)

[Darlo74]

Sounds similar to mine - hope you enjoy it!

[pmanson]

Some photos from the dealer:

[Murph7355]

Enjoy it

[pmanson]

Little update time.

Car is now on 20k miles and running well.

Likes:

• Self driving
• 360 camera
• Massage seats
• The looks of it
• The comfort
• The flexibility as a family car
• It flys under the radar (unlike a bright red jag)

Not so fond of:

• Black paint is a sod to keep clean
• Parking it (360 camera helps) in small car parks
• I miss the power of my old jag and the 4 cylinder is a little rattly
• Standard sound system is a little lacking

Would I buy another one? Without a shadow of a doubt but i'd probably go for the hybrid and have the 3rd row air con (it gets rather warm in the back)

A few recent pics following 23hrs with a local detailer (getting it prepared to be the wedding car for my SIL this weekend):




I hadn't realised quite how much metal flake there was in the paint






Car was stage 1 all over but the NS was a stage 3/4 polish as I had managed to catch it on a hedge and it had a single line from front to back.