XC90 T8 - talk to me...
Discussion
Need a 7 seat family car to carry 4 youngish kids around and still have a usable boot. After visiting various brands, there seemingly appears to be only 3 cars/vehicles which fit the bill (unless I go people carrier!). Q7, XC90, Model X...
The model X has been discounted because it's an expensive residual nightmare. So at my price point it leaves me with
2019/20 Q7 S-Line 50TDi
or
2019/20 XC90 T8 (or a D5, which brings me onto my question).
On paper the Q7 is residually stronger if GFV's are to go by, but in my head I'm thinking that surely a plug-in hybrid will be a better residual bet in 2-3 years than an out and out diesel?!? So with that in mind I'm swaying towards the XC90...
But, my driving is split between short journeys and long motorway hauls (3-5 hour round trips), nothing really in between. How does the T8 driving mode work on the motorway, would it be exclusively running on petrol which I know is a killer for that car?!?
Anybody who owns one able to give some real world advice on the T8 and how it might suit me/us.
TIA
The model X has been discounted because it's an expensive residual nightmare. So at my price point it leaves me with
2019/20 Q7 S-Line 50TDi
or
2019/20 XC90 T8 (or a D5, which brings me onto my question).
On paper the Q7 is residually stronger if GFV's are to go by, but in my head I'm thinking that surely a plug-in hybrid will be a better residual bet in 2-3 years than an out and out diesel?!? So with that in mind I'm swaying towards the XC90...
But, my driving is split between short journeys and long motorway hauls (3-5 hour round trips), nothing really in between. How does the T8 driving mode work on the motorway, would it be exclusively running on petrol which I know is a killer for that car?!?
Anybody who owns one able to give some real world advice on the T8 and how it might suit me/us.
TIA
We had an XC90 T8 in our pool fleet and I used it for a European trip. Anyone would have thought it had a fuel leak the amount of stops we made but this is partly down to the small tank.
For low mileage urban use it is great if you can charge it, longer motorway stuff I would take the massive saving and buy the D5, there always seem to be lots of great value year old ones about. It’s also worth searching out cars with the optional Xenium pack and 360 cameras.
For low mileage urban use it is great if you can charge it, longer motorway stuff I would take the massive saving and buy the D5, there always seem to be lots of great value year old ones about. It’s also worth searching out cars with the optional Xenium pack and 360 cameras.
South tdf said:
but this is partly down to the small tank.
Thanks for the heads-up, some research today shows the tank is tiny and only good for 250-270miles max! Wow, I had no idea.Looking at B5 Diesel, but at 235hp I think it's going to be too underpowered for me, and there appears to be no Polestar option for the diesel either to spice things up a bit.
Back to the Q7 (50 Tdi) hunt it is then...
gangzoom said:
I paid £71k for our 6 seater X in March 2017, currently used prices are just under £50k. 70% residuals at 3.5 years doesn't seem like a nightmare?
Buying in 2017 versus buying now, are two completely different things. Show me where I can buy a 6 seater 100/LR for £71k and I’ll bite your hand off. All £71k sadly gets you these days are leggy 3 year old 90’s.
“Used prices” are not what you’d get for the car if you sold it or financed it, look at GFV/ trade values and you’ll see why it’s a nightmare.
Edited by kmpowell on Saturday 3rd October 17:24
I see what you mean about bad finance deals, as already shown a 3 year old LR 7 seater 2020 X in 2023 will be worth way more than £38K, but its not only the GFV but also the crazy £9K of interest over 3 years on £84K borrowed.
Surely the best way to finance any of these cars you mentioned is via additional mortgage borrowing?? An extra £80K at 1.3% fixed for 3 years is £3k interest paid over the same time period. At the end of 3 years you can decide to over pay the additional borrowing and keep the car, or sell the car and pay off the additional borrowing.
Am sure I've seen the BOE mentioned negative interest rates recently, you could end up been paid to borrow money.......
Even if I sold our X for £40K tomorrow, so £10K below market value, that equates to £733/month, so half the monthly cost of the PCP product plus the financial freedom to do what I want with the car. Cannot comment on the other two cars, but a 'cash' purchase upfront funded by crazy cheap mortgage borrowing with a clear/strict plan to clear the additional debt in 3 years time is certainly the way go on a X right now - unless you can access the tax reduction stuff for it been an EV, which I have zero understanding about
.
Surely the best way to finance any of these cars you mentioned is via additional mortgage borrowing?? An extra £80K at 1.3% fixed for 3 years is £3k interest paid over the same time period. At the end of 3 years you can decide to over pay the additional borrowing and keep the car, or sell the car and pay off the additional borrowing.
Am sure I've seen the BOE mentioned negative interest rates recently, you could end up been paid to borrow money.......
Even if I sold our X for £40K tomorrow, so £10K below market value, that equates to £733/month, so half the monthly cost of the PCP product plus the financial freedom to do what I want with the car. Cannot comment on the other two cars, but a 'cash' purchase upfront funded by crazy cheap mortgage borrowing with a clear/strict plan to clear the additional debt in 3 years time is certainly the way go on a X right now - unless you can access the tax reduction stuff for it been an EV, which I have zero understanding about
.Edited by gangzoom on Saturday 3rd October 19:11
I looked at everything with 7 seats before going for a cheapo lease on a Citroën MPV thing, but found the XC90 was disappointing in its lack of third-row ISOFIX. Maybe important if you have four small kids.
The Q7, Model X and Discovery 5 were the only non-MPVs to offer this.
In the end I went for the cheap 2-year lease as I couldn’t bring myself to spend a chunk of money on something I didn’t really like (Q7 and Discovery), but also didn’t want to go down the Model X route as it’s due to be heavily updated shortly. Will get one in a couple of years.
Other thing I considered was a late Discovery 4, but they’re getting on a bit now and also have no third-row ISOFIX.
The Q7, Model X and Discovery 5 were the only non-MPVs to offer this.
In the end I went for the cheap 2-year lease as I couldn’t bring myself to spend a chunk of money on something I didn’t really like (Q7 and Discovery), but also didn’t want to go down the Model X route as it’s due to be heavily updated shortly. Will get one in a couple of years.
Other thing I considered was a late Discovery 4, but they’re getting on a bit now and also have no third-row ISOFIX.
. 
I have a T8. Lovely car. Very quick. Much more fun than the diesel Audi and the GLS that I tried.
However, not fuel efficient in the slightest. I have a heavy foot and cruise at 85, at which the car does 27mpg or so. If the car was charged before I set off over a 50 mile journey at the same speeds it is 35 mpg or so. As noted elsewhere the tank takes probably 65 or 70 litres so range is not great. Mine is a company car so the BIK saving drove my decision and I don't pay for my fuel - the tax policy here is a total nonsense given real world experience.
Should also note I have 3 kids, and they much prefer sitting three across than one being in the rearmost seats. For 4 I'd thus be more tempted by either a V Class or a VW Caravelle.
In hindsight I wish I'd gone for a smaller electric for my company car (e.g. Tesla 3) and used the BIK saving for a Caravelle.
However, not fuel efficient in the slightest. I have a heavy foot and cruise at 85, at which the car does 27mpg or so. If the car was charged before I set off over a 50 mile journey at the same speeds it is 35 mpg or so. As noted elsewhere the tank takes probably 65 or 70 litres so range is not great. Mine is a company car so the BIK saving drove my decision and I don't pay for my fuel - the tax policy here is a total nonsense given real world experience.
Should also note I have 3 kids, and they much prefer sitting three across than one being in the rearmost seats. For 4 I'd thus be more tempted by either a V Class or a VW Caravelle.
In hindsight I wish I'd gone for a smaller electric for my company car (e.g. Tesla 3) and used the BIK saving for a Caravelle.
I looked at the two of these before settling with the XC90 T8 - I really wanted hybrid for the BIK and the Q7 doesn’t come in 7 seater format as well as hybrid (or certainly didn’t when I was looking at the beginning of the year)
Absolutely love the T8. I had a SKODA Kodiaq before (190 diesel) which averaged 37-38 over 95k miles in 3 years and I’m currently getting low to mid 30s in the T8 (10k since May). Wafting around in hybrid most of the time with regen on means a 50 mile trip can get high 40s (as high as 68mpg once!!)
The space and finish inside is lovely and the rear most seats seem biggest in class (apart from the Disco, but the boot was smaller once the rear seats were up)
It’s got some proper poke as well if you hoof it up a slip road, especially in Power mode!
I have it on charge every night as Volvo are refunding the first years’ electricity to incentivise green driving
Absolutely love the T8. I had a SKODA Kodiaq before (190 diesel) which averaged 37-38 over 95k miles in 3 years and I’m currently getting low to mid 30s in the T8 (10k since May). Wafting around in hybrid most of the time with regen on means a 50 mile trip can get high 40s (as high as 68mpg once!!)
The space and finish inside is lovely and the rear most seats seem biggest in class (apart from the Disco, but the boot was smaller once the rear seats were up)
It’s got some proper poke as well if you hoof it up a slip road, especially in Power mode!
I have it on charge every night as Volvo are refunding the first years’ electricity to incentivise green driving
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