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Comments
This is what Volvo considers daytime running lights. My question is, if your inside the car and don't see them, what difference does it make. My previous vehicles and my current truck had daylight sensitive drl's but I don't have a problem with how the XC90's drl's function. I actually prefer the XC90's drl operation, since mine is black, the better I am seen by traffic.
I just consider it out of site, out of mind.
It's all a matter of perspective I guess, since I like this setup better than what I've been used to.
Before this volvo i had a nice Pathfinder and i never even touched the headlights b/c of light sensors...for 3 years..but Volvo apparently doesnt offer this option.
This is unfortunate as my experience with Volvo has been different. Our salesrep was VERY exhaustive with regards to the features of the vehicle. We knew everything about it's operation during the test drives and subsequent visits prior to deciding on the XC90.
Not having any problems with mine, save for the trip odo reset (has happened only twice in about 5 weeks). Per other boards there is a software fix for this due in the spring.
As for the cd's, do the titles show up in other cd players?
Many of my cd's the title does not show up. The ones I have that do, also have pc interactive software on them.
but it has been shown in seveeral studies (and just makes sense) that headlights on is better than just running lights as far as visibility goes. why would you consciously want to lower the visibility of your car? It is almost unethical.
I leave my headlights on in my honda even though it isn't designed for that and it dims my interior dash...it is just plain safer......
Maybe you are one of those who on older cars at dusk just put on the running lights...maybe that makes one cool....I never understood why they didn't just put on their headights....
.....
It will be interesting to see how well the XC90 engines hold up relative to turbocharger life when put to real SUV driving conditions.
The T6 engine works fine on the XC90 for most purposes assuming a consistent driving style (which makes it one of the worst setups for test drives.) It has an adaptive transmission so if it is consistently driven in the same manner (e.g., granny, drive-it-like-you-stole-it, etc.) the transmission mates to the engine quite well. If you have different drivers switching in and out you will end up with gaps in power delivery that often feel like turbo lag but are not. The T6 engine uses two light-pressure turbos that spool up so quickly that power delivery is seemless in scenarios where the T6 engine (also used in some S80s) is driven for 'power' shifts instead of 'economy' shifts. (Why Volvo got rid of the 'Sport' and 'Economy' transmission buttons they had on other recent models is a mystery to me.)
That said, if you are looking at SERIOUS off-road abilities the XC90 is not the best choice. For light off-roading it is VERY good. It outclimbed Hummer H2 in street mode (4-wheel unlocked diffs.) in Motortrends tests all three times they tried and I read a review where it did better in slippery terrains where Range Rovers had problems. It has good ground clearance (9+ inches) and better than average towing capacity at 5,000 pounds (Touareg has higher numbers but there's a possible snafu with their numbers being discussed in Touareg forums that you can catch up to.)
I've spent enough time in the X5 and Touareg to say that in my opinion the Touareg is the better off-roader for serious terrain. The X5 isn't much if any better than the XC90 (and it feels a lot tippier in the corners than either the Touareg or XC90.) I took a XC90 T6 out to some 4x4 trails in Joshua Tree in November. It had street tires but did VERY well (except for the fact that I think I needed a kidney belt from all the jarring around!)
However, for serious off-roading none of these vehicles is a great choice in my opinion. Stick to Jeep, Land Rover, Toyota, Mercedes (G, Unimog), etc.
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
Steve, Host
Where did you get this information? All Volvo specifies in the owner's manual is the proper size and load rating. Note that the winter tire Volvo sells for the XC90 is only Q-rated.
P.S. I did enjoy an extended test drive in the new X5 4.4 (315 horsepower, valvetronic engine w/ 6-speed auto for 2004). I can tell you that it is damn near as quick as my S2000. It also handles better than any SUV and many "sport" sedans that I've driven, so I'm not sure what you mean by "tippy" in the corners. It could easily take on ramp curves at 60mph that would give me white knuckles in the XC90 at 45 and in my Isuzu Trooper at 25. The icing on the cake was the gas mileage - I drove 185 miles of highway (70 +/- mph) after a fill up and only used 8.6 gallons after refilling upon returning = 21.5 mpg. According to the dealer, the valvetronic 4.4 liter V8 w/6-speed gets better gas mileage than their current (non-valvetronic) 3.0 liter 6 cylinder. Unfortunately, where the X5 4.4 is great in "sport" it's to light for our needs in "utility"; not to mention a $58k sticker.
The information I received regarding warranty and liability came from three different sources within Volvo, namely the Dealer, Volvo Customer Service, and Volvo Management.
Swapping lower speed rated tires does not automatically forfeit one's ability to sue, but if there was a problem it would be more difficult to win. Besides, who wants to take the increased personal risk?
In fact, the Gislaved NordFrost that Volvo sells is Q-rated. What do we make of that? IMHO, speed rating is one of many factors in tire design and merely provides guidance to match max driving speed with that of the tire. In the U.S. speed rating is mostly irrelevant as few of us ever exceed a Q-rating (99 mph).
"The information I received regarding warranty and liability came from three different sources within Volvo, namely the Dealer, Volvo Customer Service, and Volvo Management."
I have had disappointing experiences with the knowledge of Volvo dealers and NA customer service. It would be nice to speak directly to inside sources on some matters. What position in management did you speak to and what did they tell you?
"Swapping lower speed rated tires does not automatically forfeit one's ability to sue, but if there was a problem it would be more difficult to win. Besides, who wants to take the increased personal risk?"
Spoken like a true American consumer. ;') In most matters the bible is the owner's manual and it says nothing about speed rating.
If you're the type of person who drives like I do (I'm typically in the left lane passing more than anything else) then the T6 is the engine of choice. I drive at WOT from every light I can and when I've had the XC90 T6 for awhile it acclerates VERY strongly for me because of my driving style. I don't think I would personally be as happy with the 2.5t. On the other hand, the penalty for my driving style is 12 mpg average around (South) Orange County,CA (which is a mix of mostly city style driving with parkways that have highway speed averages.) When my wife drives the T6 she gets much better fuel efficiency but she drives me crazy because she doesn't pre-select the quickest turning lanes, pass vehicles driving under the speed limit, etc. - in other words she drives like a sane person!
Regarding the X5 4.4, it is a stout beast. I LOVE the sound and acceleration of the engine. The only SUV I liked more in this department was the Cayenne (a properly broken in, meaning 12000+ miles, XC90 T6 is actually just as fast or faster off the line but never gives the aural satisfaction of a V8.) Aside from limited utility from small interior space, the only issue I had with the X5 was the tippy feeling on quick curves. It leans more like a pickup than a cross-over SUV (which it is since it is built on the older 5 series platform.) I attribute the feeling to the ratio of wheelbase to height which isn't favorable in the X5 (I haven't driven it yet but I expect the lower riding X3 to do much better in this department.)
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
Rollie,
I drove an X3, very underwhelmed. The X5 rides better and has a much nicer cabin. X3 very plasticky, handled well but ride was a bit firm.
Seats not nice at all. Does have more cargo and rear seat room than X5 though.
T6 engine the choice if your a hot rodder. Big difference in performance versus the 2.5T engine.
But, if that isn't enough for you XC90 V8 in 1 year.
With the 19 gal tank that's barely 200 mi per fill-up. You must have to keep one eye on the road and one on the gas gauge! For my more sedate driving style the 2.5T is fine and can pass easily at 80+ mph when it needs to. Around 20 mpg mixed driving is typical.
But right now there is so much snow that only a few daredevils are above 40 mph. Most of I-5 in the northwest was under chain control recently.
I also spend most of my highway time in left lane passing those who are only driving at 5mph over the speed limit. I am not a lunatic driver but I don't like driving @ 65mph just cause the sign says so. I have no problem recommending this engine to anyone who is not trailering a substantial load. I think with the 5 speed tranny, it does a good job excelerating and cruises rather well @ 75mph - while the instant gas gauage reads 22mpg.
I don't race teenagers from light to light. Guess I am too busy listening to Springsteen kick in on the subwoofer.
I have put Micheling Pilot Alpins on front only and that seems to have helped a bit.
RB
I'm not one, however, to race from a stop light. Those who get their kicks that way are probably better off with a T6.
Sharon
Very solid with Gislaved winter tires. Not so good with the stock Michelin tires. Recently drove several hundred miles in severe conditions (cold, high wind, heavy snow) without the slightest problem.
http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/life/story/0,4386,228091,00.html
Checkout Singapore's car prices, they are one of the highest or maybe the highest in the world. Exchange rate US$1 = Singapore dollars $1.7
An Xc90 2.5T cost S$200,000 which is equivalent to US$117,647!
That is illadvised even if your XC90 is FWD. It may damage your driveline if AWD. Reputable shops will not even sell just 2 winter tires because the increased traction in the front can cause the rear end to break loose.
Rollie,
I appreciate your opinions as you probably get the most out of the advantage the T6 offers over the 2.5, albeit at the expense of fuel economy. However, we must have different driving styles regarding our respective opinions of the XC90 vs. X5. Car and Driver tested the XC90 T6 at 0-60 in 8.5 seconds and 0.76g's skidpad. This is slower than the MDX/Pilot at 7.6-7.8 seconds, and slightly better handling than their 0.74g's. However, the X5 3.0 managed 8.1 seconds and 0.82 g's. The conservative estimate for the new 2004 4.4 X5 is 6.5 seconds and at least 0.82+ g's. I'm not sure what you've done to break in your T6 to claim it's quicker off the line, but you should share your method with Volvo. The T6 I test drove was the manager's personal car that he drove very aggressively and at 4,500 miles, it felt about what the above figures would suggest relative to the competition. Very good, mind you, coming out of an Isuzu Trooper, but clearly not anywhere near the league of the X5 4.4. As for handling, the X5 is indeed based upon the RWD 5-series platform, which just happens to be one of the best handling sport sedans in the world. My strong preference for handling is a RWD based AWD system, rather than the Volvo's or MDX/Pilot's FWD system and I think the C&D test results show why. Again, I think the T6 is a good choice over the 2.5 for someone who wants to get the most in performance out of the XC90. However, if performance were my primary consideration (which it isn't), I would be looking much more seriously at the BMW.
My choices have pretty much been narrowed down to the Pilot for prudence and Honda relaibility, the XC90 2.5 for a bit more luxury and the lowest "after tax" cost of a 6,000+ GVW SUV or the GX470 for the ultimate in luxury and competitive with the Pilot after tax cost. Unfortunately, the MDX comes in as too expensive for a sub 6,000 lb SUV. Of course, if I wait till Congress is back in session and they repeal the SUV write-off loophole, my choices will be narrowed considerably.
I've only done the stop light rally with one X5 4.x (I don't know if it was a 4.4 or 4.6 but I could see it had some tack 'M' badge added to boost the owners ego - it was definitely a V8 from the stance, quad pipes and sound.) I did three successive runs with the X5 4.x and it couldn't match me off the line and I walked away all three times up to 60 mph. Not very scientific as the X5 pilot probably had traction control on or some electronic nanny to slow him down.
That said, to bet the most out of a T6 engine with 4t65e tranny do the following:
1) setup the adaptive transmission for power shifts
2) turn off DSTC
3) learn to modulate turbo power delivery (simply stomping on the pedal doesn't get it for best effect)
4) keep high octane gas in the tank
5) if you want to be really picky hit the button and fold those side view mirrors in
I think I'm missing an item here somewhere but maybe I'll think of it next time I'm in the XC90 T6 (I've got my new S60R with me today and the XC90 is becoming a distant memory...)
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
I'm still looking for a set of replacement tires that will provide improved performance in the snow.
Any ideas?
This can get down right scary when you shoot gaps and are familiar with the power you get from the 268 horses when the turbo is fulling spooling.
Interested in how you can possibly get the turbo ready to take off when you are stopped and need a more responsive accelerator??
Thanks!
When it's time to go I just do a normal start (probably 1/4 of the accelerator) and after about 5 seconds or so give the pedal a move to about 2/3 and both respond reasonably well. I have experienced the 'severe turbo lag' off the line when I've floored it before and the practice above has paid off for me.
Usually I have about 20 yards of space or so from a dead stop. If I do not, then I don't even bother.
In my case the fact that I drive it like I stole it often keeps the transmission setup for power shift. For you I would assume that in any case where you are concerned with quick take offs you are dealing with dry manageable road conditions? If this is the case turn DSTC/STC off. Next find some empty space and practice the following for launching your car:
1) from rest, rapidly depress the pedal about 1/3 of the way down until the tach hits around 2k or so
2) now quickly (but not as quick as possible) put the pedal to the floor
3) repeat but vary the rpms by a couple of hundred until you find optimum launch speed (which is a function of traction, tires, tire temp, etc.)
4) now repeat start at step 1 but this time put you foot on the brake until you get to step 2
This will give you two methods of launching the car a little quicker (the second method will result in quicker launches but of course also results in more driveline and brake stress.) In my case I usually went through brake pads about every 25 - 30,000 miles (for my S80 T6, not my XC90 T6 as we've only had it for about 5,000 miles so far) or so (so I can't tell if my driving habits had a really bad effect on brakes or not without hearing from other users.)
Let us know how you make out.
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
p.s. - Almost forgot, third method which is like double clutching almost, tap the accelerator down about half way, come off the pedal completely for a brief instant and then feed the pedal down briskly (but not as fast as possible). Be careful who is next to you with this method as they may think you want to race!
I have chastised some on the "sports car" forums for complaining that the S2000 needs to be wound out to get the most out of it. Yes, it does, but that's half the fun of having a car with a 9,000 rpm redline. On the other hand, even my prowess might be tested with the additional challenge of an automatic. I've been driving for 30 years and have never owned anything but a stick. At least with a manual, you can rev the engine up to power before taking off.
Keep up the good work!
It just so happens that my BMW dealer also owns Volvo, Acura, Infiniti, Porsche, Audi and VW dealerships as well. For the fun of it, I put the question to him as to how he would rank the top SUV's on performance, first on acceleration, second on handling. Here's his e-mail response:
Acceleration:
1. Cayenne Turbo
2. BMW X5 4.4 (2004 model)
3. ML55
4/5. toss-up FX45 & Cayenne S
"As for the XC90 T6, yes, if you really push it, it can nearly match the lighter MDX in acceleration. But compared to an X5 4.4 or even FX45?? If I claimed that, I'd be sued for false advertising".
Handling:
1. Cayenne Turbo
2. FX45
3. X5 4.4/3.0
4. Cayenne S
5. "Everything else is in a different league than the above".
"Look, Volvo has some very positive attributes, but high performance is clearly not their forte or priority. After all, every vehicle they produce is FWD based. That the XC90 offers exceptional safety features, good build quality and bread and butter utility to go along with competent performance should be enough to make any owner happy. That's how we sell Volvo, but if someone wants to dream that they have a Ferrari, so be it."
You can check your Atlanta Metro Yellow pages if you want to talk to this Volvo dealer directly.
That said, Volvos have been excellent straight-line machines for 10 years now (Car and Driver proclaimed the 1994 850 turbo automatic the fastest automatic sedan on the planet at the time - subsequent Volvos based on the same engine family have more power and better hp/weight ratios.)
Ask your salesman how much experience he has behind the wheel of a T6 with over 12,000 miles on the odo and how often he gets to drive at WOT.
I stand by my statement that in my hands our XC90 T6 does indeed beat X5s and many V6 sedans off the line and up to legal speeds and if you're anywhere close to (South) Orange County, CA and want a ride to verify you can email rdollie@att.net (of course I'll have to sneak it past the Mrs who would have a fit if she knew what I was offering with her toy
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
Three questions/issues:
1. I could swear that the car automatically locked on me while I was outside and the motor was running. (I was clearing snow/ice from the windshield and warming up the car at the same time.) Is this possible? Under what conditions could this occur? I had a four year old in the car at the time and luckily I had a second set of keys to open the car. (No, the kid didn't lock the car - he was in his car seat.)
2. I have rubber floor mats to protect the carpet. They have little tabs/buttons to secure them to the floor of the car. However, it appears that the tabs/buttons allow water/melted snow to leak under the mats and get the carpet wet! This is different from the earlier designs without the holes/buttons/tabs. Any suggestions to fix/replace this? I don't want to have mold growing in my new car!
3. Rear Windshield wiper not great - same as on old 850T - any suggestions to improve performance?
Otherwise, I have been very pleased with the car so far - good handling in snow (17" rims w/Michelin Alpins... although perhaps not as good on ice as Gislaveds which I had on an older 850T wagon.
CD Sound system not great (stock system, not enhanced audio)
Rear bumper radar very valuable
Would like to see a heated steering wheel... yes, this sounds wimpy, but I have it on my 99 BMW528i and it is great for cold days in the snow.
Finally, any suggestions on rear bike racks - I have Thule roof rack for skis, but it is too high for bikes.
Second, has anyone (like Volvomax) heard any updated info on when the XC90 Premier (or Executive) will be available in the US?
I own a 2003 2.5T AWD that I purchased used with about 12Kmiles. The rear end was out of alignment, and the stock 16in Conti tires were were worn to the wear bars on the outside of the tires. I replaced them with 4 Nokian WR tires, and have had great luck in the snow with them. I'm in the snow and mountain passes 3-4 times per month XC skiing, and have had my traction control light flash just 3 times. The 16inch tires are H rated, but those for the 17 and 18in rims are V rated, so they won't wear as well. The 16s cost about $150 each mounted, etc.
I've had Nokian NRW-H (now called the WR as well) on my 850 FWD Wagon for 5 years now, and have about 45K miles on them. I've run then year round, and I think they handle great on dry pavement and wet roads. Since they are severe service emblem rated, I purchased them so I wouldn't have to chain up when the "chains required" signs would come on. They worked great, but now of course I use the XC90 in the snow. I'll probably get about 5-10K more before I have to replace them.
I can't comment on any of the other tires mentioned here because I haven't driven them, but I have nothing but praise for the Nokians.
The tax break is a section 439 deduction as I recall and it is for independent business owners. If you own a business or are an independent worker you can claim the deduction on the business portion (minimum 50% business use required) of a vehicle with Gross Vehicle Weight (that's curb weight plus payload) of 6,000+ pounds (the plus sign is very important as Lexus found out the hard way with the GX470.)
Regarding the XC90 Premiere, there is no set date for the U.S. I've seen a couple of them in for service in the past month at Volvo Irvine (Volvo NA headquarters is here in Irvine) and they are quite nice (in fact I just saw one that belongs to VCC President a few moments ago.) The problem turns out to be one of pricing. There was an internal struggle regarding pricing for the Premiere and the reality is the current market of discounted vehicles won't support the bump in price Volvo wanted for the Premiere so it's off for now (there's simply no market here for 6 cylinder $50k+ SUVs). I think there's a possiblity it may re-appear after the V8 debuts for the XC90 as the value proposition for the XC90 would be higher across the board with a V8.
Thanks.
-rollie
rdollie@att.net
We are looking to order pretty soon and want to know what will be available for options and what will be standard. I've read rumors about painted lower panels, mirrors, and door handles along with a V8 and new colors. If anybody has informations on these topics it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
I wanted a Manual C70 but unfortunately....I have a wife. Now that she has the 90 I wonder if I can change the tranny in my coupe. hmmmm
Nothing firm on what we will get as upgrades from 04.
My guesstimates are more bodycoloring on the moldings, a more powerful 2.5T engine, maybe the Premier. A new color or 2.
The V8 is set for Jan 05 launch.
The Premier is dead here for now. Rollie is correct VCNA and Volvo Sweden were at odds over pricing. Sweden wanted alot more for the car than a current loaded T6 would be.
Generally the factory closes in July-August.
The museum and safety center stay open for tours.
I have premium audio.......at least that is what it says when I turn it on.
Good luck.
RB
<mock indignation> Hey! I'm a wife and I can drive a stick! I actually prefer a manual transmission. But then, I learned before I was a wife, so maybe that has something to do with it. ;-)
I wanted a manual XC90 (like my old Explorer), but alas, it wasn't meant to be.
Sharon
You should have shopped harder for a wife! Perhaps Edmunds needs to have a forum for spouse shopping. I found one who, in spite of being 5'1" and 105 lbs, is frustrated that almost all of the SUV's we are considering only come in automatics. She prefers a manual transmission as is in our Isuzu Trooper, although the X5 3.0 6-speed is just a bit too small for our needs. When she was pregnant with our first 9 years ago, I brough home an automatic Nissan Maxima. She made me take it back for the 5-speed. We still have it.
Sharon,
Good for you! And to make sure this sexist misconception doesn't continue in our family, I have taught both my daughters (5 & 8) how to at least shift from 1st to 2nd in our Honda S2000 from the passenger seat (on quiet side roads of course). When we were looking at the Honda Pilot, my 5 year old asked the salesman "where's the stick?". When he replied that it only comes in an automatic, SHE said "that's no fun, let's get the BMW"!
Sad part is that the performance of the low displacement turbo engines in the XC90 would probably benefit greatly by having a manual transmission option.
Sharon, my wife actually started driving a stick AFTER we got married. It helps that she drives an Acura Integra which I think is one of the best manual transmission cars around: lovely clutch and a very short throw. She was not so sure when I first wanted it back in 1996, but now she loves it, but its getting too small for us and our two kids. Maybe Volvo will add manual to the XC90 and then I would buy it in a heartbeat.
lzk4--I learned when I was in high school. My dad taught me on his Datsun 280Z. Our other car (Audi s4) is a stick, so I drive that occasionally, just so I can keep in practice.
Why is it that more woman in the States don't know how to drive a stick? When we sold my 850 wagon, I had a for-sale sign in the window. I would drive it to school to pick up the kids and was approached by a lot of woman who were interested in the car, but not one of them could drive a stick. It really limited us on resale.
I find I rarely use the geartronic feature. It's just not the same to me, for some reason. I just use it in bad weather, when I want a little more control.
sharon