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check post #2071........
I'm one booster seat away from exiting that phase of my life, sorry! ;-)
Steve, Host
.
My problem is that the 3rd row light reading lights both switch on or off with either button. They are both on or both off.....all in all not much of a problem since we won't be using the 3rd row for several years.
I thought I had a problem with the back speakers, but I think it's just something to do with the sound when using the Dolby Surround with the fader fully turned to the rear speakers. Anyone else notice something like that when sitting in their garage listening to the stereo cranked up to high volumes? It seemed like it was messed up, but after further review, it might have just been an issue with the cd. I still think its a great stereo, and it's more fun to listen to than my home system.
Surprised my wife with a Crystal green 2.5T AWD with Premium, Versatility, Climate Packages, Premium Sound, Bi-Xenon, 18" Atlantis Wheels, and Reverse warning sensors.
No defects noted on delivery. The car handles great for such a large and heavy vehicle. The 2.5T provides more than adequate acceleration for around the town and highway merging (although we're still breaking the engine in).
I'll keep the forum upto date with our experience.
George
I asked my dealer about it and they said Volvo knew about the discrepancy and would "correct" it soon. He didn't know what type of corrective action would be taken but he said the problem was that Michelin had stamped the tire incorrectly. That was about two months ago and I haven't heard any more since. I tried contacting Volvo and Michelin directly and received replies saying they would check into it and get back to me but I haven't heard anymore from either of them.
I'm beginning to wonder if there isn't more to this issue. Given the recent lawsuits with Ford and Firestone over tire pressures for the Explorer, I can't believe Volvo or Michelin would want to have this discrepancy left open for so long.
Does any one have more information?
Thanks.
The Michelin website does not post the max PSI numbers but Tirerack.com does:
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.jsp?make=Michelin&model=Pi- lot+HX+MXM4
It does indeed show a very low max of 35 psi for this size Pilot MXM4 and for other sizes as well. And yet other sizes in the same exact tire go to 50 psi and above.
Guess what? I just checked our new RX330 with Mich MXV4s in size 235x55x18 - same 35 psi max on the sidewall!
I've never seen tires with a max psi rating this low. If you do a cold temp inflation like one is supposed to do for accuracy - and you put 31-32 lbs in - it can easily exceed 35 psi when they get hot from normal operation.
Add summertime heat, a long trip, a heavy load...could be Exploder/Cheapstones all over again.
I think the tip-off might be that both tires, Volvo and RX 18"s, are "OEM" specials - not quite as much tread depth as the after-market normal Michelin line and I think I read somewhere that they are short one ply (or "belt") compared to their more-expensive-to-build brothers.
Sad on $40-50k SUVs, eh? Especially ones that tout passenger safety as a selling feature.
tidester, host
While I don't pick up my T6 for a couple of months, I believe I know what you're thinking about with respect to the stereo. My wife had told me that when she would sit in the back seat of the C70 that the speakers sounded hollow. This is when the ProLogic is turned on. To remedy this, I switch the stereo option to 3 ch (3 channel, i believe) when I have people in the back. Pretty sure that option is available on the XC90 as well. It sounds just as good.
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
This is ridiculous. One always notices things in a car after one buys it. To say one should notice everything before buying or keep quiet about it is ludicrous. You may not have a right to go into the dealer and complain but certainly it can be brought up on this board. It may be helpful to others who test drive the car and may not notice all the subtleties of the headlight switch design etc. I for one noticed the way the car drove and its basic ergonomics. I have had the car for a few months and am still learning the good and the bad about the car. It is a great car but I will continue to bring up issues I notice because it may be helpful to me and to others. I hope everyone else does the same. There is no benefit for those cheerleaders out there to imply that people shouldn't bring up issues they notice about the car as if we are dishonoring some unwritten duty to volvo.
What is the downside on a board dedicated to the xc90 in bringing up our reflections based on ongoing use of the vehicle?
Does it somehow taint your enjoyment of the car? If so, stop reading this board and just read Volvo advertisements.
Try a Search This Discussion for "mileage" and you'll get some other mpg messages (or jump to message 1776).
Steve, Host
Your requirement (post 2110) to wait 10 years between buying new Volvos is impossible to meet !
We (in fact my wife) own a '89 240 Wagon like you did. We would like to buy a new XC90 but the damn 240 won't die ! And trading my 2001 manual Accord is not money wise. The 240 is driven carefully by my wife, maintained carefully by me (I replace the fluids, brake pads etc. by myself), has the original engine, transmission, paint ... in fact it has original everything except the brakes, muffler and electrical stuff. True, the electrical parts of this car are crappy quality, but I am an electrical engineer and I find challenging and amusing to fix it (yesterday my wife let me know that the radio and wipers sometimes stop working; if she restarts the car they will work ... like the Windows operating system !)
Our car has 14 years and 220,000 Km (137,000 miles). The body is almost perfect because I had it professionally sprayed every year with the Krown rust inhibitor (the best, believe me).
Do you want to change your trading interval recommendation to 30 years ?
If not, what you expect me to do ... to take a big hammer and break the windows ?! Or those beautiful headlights ?!
My Edmunds research had been on the Buick. Everyone raved about their Buick and talked about no problems. But after the test drives over a very bumpy road with kids in the 2nd and 3rd rows, my family decided they liked the Volvo best (although the ride in the Buick was great--but everyone else liked the Volvo seats better and the quality of the interior materials. I was, of course, swayed by the years of knowing the Volvo reputation for safety and figured it would be a great car. After browsing through these posts, and also looking for comments about mpg, I'm now thinking maybe I don't want the 2nd year of a new vehicle.
I researched the Mercedes ML320 on Edmunds and found that it came out in 1998 and had problems until 2002. I was looking to buy a used 2002 ML320 until the ride on that bumpy road. That narrowed the choices to the Volvo, Pilot and the Buick which are new vehicles, too. Should I look again at the Acura? Do I need to go back and see if there were problems with the Buick that I didn't see in the topics I read? I do still need to read comments about the Pilot because I've only read the editors' reviews and test comments.
Anyone driven these vehicles and have comments? I don't have a lot to spend, but I want a well-built vehicle that will hold some value, carry 6 passengers safely and comfortably, and get reasonable gas mileage. I may buy or lease and I haven't decided if I will keep the vehicle for only 3 years as my family size will be diminishing by then, or do as with our last vehicle and end up keeping it for 12 years.
It seems to me to be the same thing as to get home with a vehicle and then weeks later complain about the color.
IF these are things that are not liked about a vehicle, then I don't understand why one would STILL buy it.
And no, reading the posts on this board DOES NOT taint my enjoyment of my vehicle, because I made spent 18+ months thoroughly researching vehicles and test-driving them multiple times before I made my final decision. IF I had problems with my vehicle - THAT would taint my enjoyment, but after 3200 miles I am thoroughly pleased with my selection. Perhaps you should just sell yours and save yourself some hand-wringing.
Hesitant, I don't know what mpg figures you've seen, but I've been getting about 18 mpg city and 23 highway with ours. It has the 2.5 engine configuration. The T6 will be a bit more thirsty.
I get your point. I like my volvo but it has some features other than color that are problems. Maybe I am not the most completely perceptive person and didn't pick up on these things when I test drove the vehicle....or maybe I am just normal and have noticed a few small items that are appropriate to bring up on this board.
Please don't criticize people who bring up issues on this board. I am glad your driving experiene isn't "taint"ed but that is irrelevant to this board. The purpose isn't to make you feel good or bad about your driving experience. It is to improve it and help others. Maybe these issues will help others who are not as perceptive as you on their initial test drives. All the issues I have raised are minor but this is the appropriate place to bring them up.
That is the "POINT"
I was just responding to what max63 commented on about 2 weeks ago. It seemed that the point he was making was getting missed.
Yes, this is the perfect forum to comment on problems with one's vehicle and in order to `improve it and help others' it's also important to point out that certain `problems' could easily be remedied or identified with more attention paid to these items at the time of test driving.
If you have a positive comment about your vehicle, it's important to post that as well, as it, too, helps others who plan to purchase, make an informed selection.
We're still in our break in period and have been pleased so far. Yes the MPG on the first tank was recorded as 14 MPG (all city traffic, stop and go, with AC on all the time in 100+ temp). We'll see how much it improves past the break in period).
I would certainly consider the Honda Pilot and the Acura MDX. Depending on where you live, the market may put the MDX as the value winner when you consider that the Pilot and XC90 are both in demand with limited supply. An MDX in our area was going for 1K over invoice (not the MSRP). I doubt there is any negotiating room on the Pilot - and so you may find yourself only a few $k difference between a comparably optioned MDX and Pilot. The XC are pretty much going for MRSP or more!
Having said that, I personally like the handling of the XC better than the MDX. Yes the MDX's V6 is better and quiter(being a v6)- if you are going to be towing anything, I'd probably go with the MDX despite the tow ratings of the XC90. The XC's 2.5T is no slouch though, and is a proven engine in the Volvo lineup. I also wanted the safety features of the XC90 (granted most are yet unproven in the real world).
Neither vehicle is perfect - both have ergonomic flaws (yes Honda can goof once in while too) or features missing. One example - why does Honda insist on leaving the moonroof control on the left side of the dashboard??? Its the same control that exist up and down there entire linieup - why can't you put it up by the roof? As for the XC, there is no Auto lock feature - that should be considered a safety feature, and I'm surprised its missing.
Bottom line ... It boils down to personal preference.
We never considered the Buick - can't stand the look.
Good look with your decision.
George
A sober person would probably get the Pilot. I spent about 8K more and got the volvo...what can I say.
I hope it is more reliable than volvos have traditionally been....I hedged my bets and bought an extended warrantee (another 1600 dollars!).
good luck
As far as value, a Pilot is a good choice, just not in the same class. My brother in-law pulled in from Utah recently with his new Pilot and all he could talk about was how much he liked my XC90. Looking side by side, I feel good about my purchase. The MDX is also very nice but I can count 20 of these on the road before I see an XC90, which I personally like. The other Euro SUVs lack the rear cargo space.
Just to let you know, over a 1,000 miles and average about 16.8 MPG with a 2.5T. No problems and great dealer service.
2002 Mercedes ML320--rated 12
2003 Mazda MPV--rated 8
2004 Volvo XC90--rated 22
2003 Buick Rendezvous--rated 18
2003 Acura MDX--rated 18
2003 Honda Pilot--rated 18
Maybe I should go back to checking out the Mazda MPV.
In my browsing a "read only" post, I found one where someone owned the Volvo XC90 and the Mercedes ML320. After warranty expired, they traded in the ML320 on the Honda Pilot as their 2nd vehicle. That was posted a while ago and I'd like to find that post and see if I can contact them to find out their comments after having had all three cars.
nofeer "Honda Pilot" Jul 8, 2002 7:58pm
Or maybe it was in the Honda Pilot vs Volvo XC90 discussion.
Steve, Host
I had a private sale of the '92 240wgn [103K miles] in mint condition [never scratched, immaculate interior, rust free - S.Calif., and full dealer service]. Local market research allowed only $6300US for the quick sale. Interestingly, only current or past volvo owners responded to the newspaper ad.
Yes, it was an outstanding car with many good miles ahead for the fortunate buyer. My sense of loss for an old friend, however, is responding nicely driving the xc90.
A sober person would probably get the Pilot. I spent about 8K more and got the volvo...what can I say.
I hope it is more reliable than volvos have traditionally been....I hedged my bets and bought an extended warrantee (another 1600 dollars!).
good luck
Congrats on your purchase!
Have you noticed the map pockets on the front face of the drive and passenger seats? Those come in handy for storing small items. I didn't realize they were there until I read thru my owner's manual one night (couldn't sleep - read the entire thing cover to cover)
Good cure for insomnia, but pertinent info as well. Learned quite abit.
Also, the XC90 Executive model has mentioned the DVD system will be included in the headrest instead of an overhead screen. Again, our dealership has said "don't hold your breath" on this one coming out anytime soon.
As to the Aluminum, I can't answer in regards to the XC90 (I don't have the aluminum in mine) but I have noticed on the Nissan Murano site that some owners have had problems with the aluminum console being easily dented, specifically around the cupholders (evidently dented when missing the cupholder while replacing cup or bottle).
There are several kits for simulated wood. One is offered by volvo dealers but also by a guy on ebay. There are some posts on it. I bought it for 120 or so dollars an it looks GREAT. It doesn't look cheap likein the MDX. Again, you can find it if you search the posts.
Regards,
Chris M
We own an `04 with the 2.5 5 cylinder turbo. We took a trip to Destin, Florida from Louisville, Ky. Plenty of grade changes along I-65. We had 4 people in the vehicle and was fully loaded. I didn't feel the vehicle was sluggish at all, especially when passing. The 5 speed auto tranny offered with the 2.5 seems to help.
We have about 3200 miles on her in 2 months time and have been extremely pleased. It will get a test this November when we go to Gatlinburg. I will be curious as to how it handles the mountain grades.
I don't know what the geography is like in your area, but in my opinion, the 2.5 would be adequate, and you'd appreciate the gas mileage better than in the T6.
W
Regards,
Chris
This is what the service dept. invoice showed as the fix for each problem . As for the clicking sound , " Found both axles loose / adjusted and torqued w/Locktite per TNN .
For the vibration problem , "Found spring for the e-brake cable weak , replaced e-brake spring ".
So far problems seem fixed , but have only driven about 50 miles since service .
I also have the clicking axle issue in my 2.5T and brought it into to my ever-so-inept dealer. They claim there is no service bulletin from Volvo and will not perform any repair. Please advise what "TNN" you are refering to in message 2140. Thanks.