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Comments
XC90 still a hot commodity.
Good Luck though.
I still hate the design of the switch....
S
Sorry - I didn't mean to sound facetious. You bring up a good point (pun intentional) about the Volvo logo on the steering wheel. I wonder if it can be peeled off.
Also, I agree with you about the light switch. It seems it would be simple enough to enable the high beam switch to work in the "Auto" position as well as the "On" position. I also have an '03 Suburban Z71. The light switch has four positions: Auto; Parking Lights; On; and a spring-loaded position to turn off the DRLs until the next time the vehicle is started. The high beams work by pushing the signal stalk forward where it stays - makes a lot more sense. Go figure - it's from Detroit (Mexico, actually.)
To Bigeddy: Thanks for your input on the bi-xenons. The dealer essentially told me what I read in the manual. I'd like to know if they can be aimed higher, and if so, if that would blind oncoming drivers. Does anyone know the procedure for checking and aiming the headlights? I don't see any means of adjustment. Incidentally, we didn't order the bi-xenons, but the car came through with them. We didn't have to pay for them, though - sort of a party favor from our dealer.
Overall, we couldn't be more pleased with the vehicle.
Thanks to all.
happyvolvo
Where is the Homelink transmitter? Is it that weak? I can't imagine the car's transmitter is weaker than my little micro remote. Is it???? HELP!!!
hope this works!
www.homelink.com
Good luck.
The Volvo Logo on the wheel isn't a safety concern if your wearing your seatbelt.
The airbag cover splits just below the logo to allow the bag to deploy.
SB 88-0034-0903: "A new belt guide has been introduced to prevent the locking tab of the outer seat belts for the 2nd row seat from catching in the door."
I had this fix done on 9/26. It involves having a 6" plastic sheath riveted to the base of the belt. It is designed to keep the belt from twisting as easily and also pulls it away from the seat a little bit so the belt doesn't catch on the release as easily. It looks very similar to the ones already on the front belts except twice as long and slightly curved. Seems to be working so far.
Volvo is working on a new I6 as well.
My guess is that the V8 will replace the T6 initially and then the new T6 will come back in 06 below the V8.
Has anyone actually towed anything with the XC90? I am looking to two a travel trailer that weighs about 3500 lbs loaded, well under the 5000 lb capacity of the XC90. I'm worried because I don't see any option for transmission or power steering coolers that you usually see with towing packages. Does anyone have any experience towing a trailer in that weight range?
Thanks!
wyn
No redesign of the XC90's are planned.
The XC90 already has the proper add on equipment for towing, all that is needed is the hitch.
I am interested in peoples experience with premium vs regular gas. I discussed this with the Volvo salesman, who told me that regular fuel is recommended. However this forum and others have said to use premium. Some have suggested that without premium fuel the vehicle computer will switch to a lower efficiency combustion and decreased mileage. I would appreciate all comments.
In other words, you'll buy more gas.
As a side note, I am happy to say that I just got my windows tinted (metal-free) and have none of the reception problems I've read complaints about. I get fantastic FM reception and some of the best AM reception I've had. Seems like the worst problems with reception occur on Dolby systems (mine is not dolby).
There's aren't a lot of nav owners out there but the reports on the Volvo forums have been positive to date.
Good luck.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
True. Dolby is okay IF the station you are tuning to provides a strong signal, if it is not a strong signal, Dolby makes it `sound' snowy, or static-like.
I actually have the Dolby OFF for radio reception and ON for CD's.
SUV shows Swedes can think outside the box (San Antonio Express-News)
Steve, Host
One hint, more white space is good. Makes even the longest post easy to read.
And finally, we all want to know what your wife's email address is so we can point her to the Ruby Red comment :-)
Steve, Host
You might want to try them on someone else's XC90 before buying. Some people find they get in the way and others don't think they are wide enough to step on comfortably. Also, there is at least one after-market running board made for the XC90.
Given the low step in on the XC90 they are pretty useless, look nice though
A May '03 post in 'another' forum (sorry...I don't have the link) refers to European availability of this rear seat entertainment (RSE) system in the XC90, at a cost of 2,500 pounds (British). Inquiries at local dealerships (I know, I know....) yielded the vague offer of a Volvo-authorized roof-mounted RSE later this year, probably no different than many such aftermarket systems (a Volvo bid to retrofit '03, '04 models?). The decisions of what options to offer, and at what price point, are usually assisted (driven?) by marketing surveys. If the XC90 is being used by families taking longer trips, wouldn't such an option be popular? (Assuming it doesn't cost a lot more than the current roof-mounted RSE system)
While the entire issue of a RSE system is trivial compared with the many other reasons to get an XC90, I'd feel foolish seeing the better option become available a few months after my purchase. So....any info?
Thanks.
The roof mounted system from Volvo will be available sometime in the first quarter of 2004.
The system will be dealer installed ONLY.
Figure $2000 installed. System will play through headphones only.
The headrest mounted system will be available on the XC90 Premier only. Also first quarter 2004.
The drawback of the headrest system is visibility from the 3rd row.
The Mrs. and I prefer the headrest mounted solution and we were going to get it in the XC90 Premier but now I'm not sure if I can wait that long - we're thinking about passing on the XC90 for now since the arrival of the V8 late next year is going to hurt T6 resale in my opinion (and we keep vehicles for about 3 years and need to start thinking about resale a little more than we have in the past - boy do I miss the late 90s when we just didn't care as much because it always seemed a pot of gold was just around the bend!)
FWIW, there's 2 XC90 Premiers (1 black , 1 white) running around here in South Orange County (driven by Volvo staff in Irvine) and I haven't managed to find one yet - but my digital camera is at the ready!
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
Also, I don't think the V8 will hurt the T6 engine much at resale time.
The public will want whatever used XC90's they can get their hands on I think.
Anyone else have this problem and / or have any suggestions for me besides pray ?
After paying about 48K and never having a problem with my 12 year honda accord, I am very nervous eventhough it will not cost me anything and my wife thinks we may have a lemon and wants a new one...
Suggestions for me ?
One was to do with the computer (service department fixed the problem).
Another was to do with the following part:
The part # is 30636959 Ladeluftrohr (Air load pipe).
This part had cracked and was replaced.
The 2 listed incidences above could be related, or not. I'm sure Volvo will make it right.
I know there are not many options and welcome any thoughts or suggestions.
BTW now at 4000 miles and loving it. No problems so far.
Thanks.
Does anyone know of any significant changes that would make up the difference?
Does 12 valves vrs. 24 valves make any difference?
What is the value of the free maintance package on the 2004?
Thanks!!
Stephanie
That would be hard to say without knowing if the options are the same on both vehicles.
As far as options available from MOY `03 to MOY `04, there isn't a significant change. I believe `04 models added options include wood steering wheel and wood shifter.
24 valve engine vs. 12 valve results in a better performing engine.
The free scheduled maintenance is for the first 30k of the vehicle. Depending on what your particular dealer-service department charges, it will be worth about $400.
If you aren't in a terrible hurry for a car, Volvo will begin taking orders for `05 models late this year or early next.
Wood wheel available on 03 and 04 models.
All Volvo engines are 4 valve per cylinder.
5 cyl= 20 valves
6 cyl= 24 valves
The 05 won't be here till the fall of 04
so, in your opinion, am I going to be ok with the 12 valve engine on the XC T6 2003?
I am confused. The engine offered in the `03 XC90 T6 is identical to the `04 T6. They should both be 24 valve DOHC engines.
Where are you getting the 12 valve info from?
It must be quite hilly where you live to get 13.5 mpg in city driving. Have you had a chance to get it on the highway yet?
As you get more miles on it, the mileage should start to improve abit.
It's abit hilly where I live. My wife gets about 17-18 mpg going to and from work. Mostly county and residential roads, so there's alot of stop and go driving. On the highway we get 23-24 mpg.
Hope your mileage improves.
By the way, the reviews on the 2.5 AWD seem better than the T6. To me the T6 seems significantly better.... did you try the 2.5 before you bought?
I really appreciate all your help on this. I don't even know what a valve is!
The info on Yahoo is incorrect. The info here on Edmunds, under the specifications for the Volvo (or any car for that matter) is accurate. You can also go to http://www.volvocars.us for more info.
We test drove the T6 and the 2.5T and ended up buying the 2.5T. The advantages of the 6 cylinder engine in the T6 seemed to be negated by the 4 speed transmission paired with it. The 2.5T seemed readily adequate for us. Some think the 2.5T a bit sluggish, but I don't agree.
The gas mileage in the 2.5T is a plus as well.
We avg. about 17-18 mpg city and 23-24 on hwy trips.
In the end, the choice between the T6 and 2.5T is a personal preference.
Good Luck!
Anybody here ever chipped a Volvo?
By the way, think that the 2.5T works great. Could maybe use a little more power sometimes getting up to freeway speed, say between 50-70 mph, but it really works just fine. It's a kid transporter, not a sports car.
I'm one of them.
First time, I thought the tires were totally wrong.
I called the Michelin USA & Volvo USA as well as my dealer(Westside Volvo in Culver City, CA) a month ago.
Finally I got their final answer.
They will send me a letter explaining this situation.
And They will not replace my wrong tires with new ones even though they admitted my tires had wrong marks of max. PSI 35 on the side wall.
As you know, Volvo recommends max. PSI 32-36/39 depending on the loading weight.(on the fuel filler door & on the certification label on the facing side of the driver's door).
Almost all the other XC90s have Michelin Pilot HXMXM4 with max PSI 44 on it. Mine has only 35 not 44.
Michelin & Volvo confirmed my tires are not different products from others but exactly the same ones under the same name "Pilot HXMXM4".
Then isn't it a defective product, if the specification PSI mark is wrong on the side wall?
I'm not talking about a misprint of a manual but a wrong stamp on the product itself. It's not a brand logo or mark but a safety-related essential stamp what the product should be.
I don't think Michelin can sell this tire with a wrong PSI mark '35' to a customer at a tire shop.
But is it OK Michelin sell it with XC90 to a Volvo customer?
I don't understand!
It IS a defective product which should have been discarded through the Quality Inspection process.
I don't think I could sell my car as a used car with a letter from Volvo & Michelin explaining my tires with 35 PSI are the same ones with others with 44 PSI. How can he/she believe to inflate over the max PSI 35 on it.
To replace defective tires with new ones is a basic courtesy to their customers. I think Volvo & Michelin both are responsible for this problem.
I will fight up against two big dinosaur companies.
Have a look at your tires' max PSI on the side walls of yours tonight.
(P.S. Besides, I have to smash rear doors to close completely...
I hear a tearing loud sound from rear speakers
when I turn on the ignition...
I have to turn off the DPII surround effect to
get a clear radio signal...
I still hear the whistle noise...
I still have the hesitation at lower shifts...
After the first maintenance check-up!
The answer is always same...
"...cannot duplicate..." )
XC90 T6 '04 Crystal Green, 8500miles
So this is a non-defect defect.
I've forgotten the way it is phrased, but NHTSA (National Highway and Traffic Administration), for whom EVERYTHING is a defect, says that this would be an inconsequential defect and they do not even acknowledge official notification letters written to them by the tire manfacturers about this sort of thing, even though the tire manufacturers are obligated to do so. This particular item isn't even an item where an official notification letter has to be wriiten, because it is already covered by current practice and is not a safety issue.
Hope this helps.