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Comments
Speaking of colors, Volvomax, what are the most popular XC90 colors being ordered now? Can't decide if this car looks better in light(ex. silver) or dark(titanium gray, black or navy) exterior colors. Anybody have an opinion?
You are right about a prospect buyer's pool for S2000 and Crossfire - but there were just about 6000 "serious car buyers" in the entire world by your own admission
I have no way to convince my "serious buyer's" friends that Volvo can be considered as a performance SUV and prospect Volvo buyers care very little about extra HP and 0 to 60 seconds. It might change in the future - let see...
I do not know, my experience, as well as my non-scientific polls tell me that Volvo buyers care less about extra HP as about extra $5-6K. The 2.5T with it's 208HP is more than enough for all the routine tasks (except, maybe, towing a big trailer to the top of Everest)
As to colors, I agree with Lev that XC90 looks the best in Ruby Red. The new Pearl White should be nice, too.
I also would have thought that the fact anyone would pay any premium for the T6 over the 2.5T would have favored the V8. Jumping from the 2.5T 5-speed to the T6 4-speed bought you almost nothing in my opinion. Somewhat better acceleration, but still with turbo lag and a significant loss in fuel economy, thanks in part to the 4-speed. But the V8 6-speed is a significant improvement over the T6 on all fronts.
lev, re: the S2000: The market for a 6-speed only, limited luxury and do-dad, 9,000 rpm roadster is indeed limited. But I wouldn't conclude that all serious sports car buyers prefer BMW and Porsche brand "prestige" to Honda. Honda's Formula One success of late far exceeds either of those brands and matches Ferrari's. I had a contract to buy a Boxster S before deciding on the S2000. The decision was based far less on the $25k price difference,and more on my actual preference for the (Ferrari like) S2000 driving dynamics. Admittedly, the decision not to buy a Ferrari 360 was based on the $145k price difference
Again... we are able to purchase one of these from dealer inventory. Does anyone know if these should have any miles on them at all (in the 50 mile range?) Thanks.
I will be concerned and inquire for the additional discount if a car will have several hundred miles on it. Then it indicates that it was either a VIP loaner or a manager's "go around" vehicles.
"As such, a vehicle with more than one trim line and a big range in pricing, such as the XC90, might not have the snob appeal that cars like Escalade, Cayenne, and BMW do for around the same money."
Part of the reason I thought the V8 in the XC90 would be a bigger hit is how relatively great of a deal it is. In addition to an engine upgrade, you are getting a transmission upgrade, a superior AWD system (for now) and other goodies.
Look at the premium one pays for an the Cayenne TT over the Cayenne S and base Cayenne (about $45k spread) or an X5 4.8is over the X5 4.4 or X5 3.0 ($25k spread). Heck, even the Touareg comes in $35k form and $60k form with the limited production V10 TDI ($25k spread).
Perhaps the current gas price inflation is putting a damper on the V8. Or perhaps (and notice I said "perhaps") Lev is actually right and significant majority of XC90 shoppers are just not interested in sporty performance period.
I knew that we will come to the common ground at some point. IMO the point is that the 2.5T already has all that - the look, the ride, the safety, the social status, the decent modern 5 speed transmission with Geartronic, the adequate performance, the decent gas mileage, etc., etc. And all that a statistical someone is going to get is a couple of seconds off the 0-60 figure.
I am used to trusting my feelings to predict the general trends. I consistently opt for the lower power on all my Volvo purchases. The 2.9 S80 is still the S80, the 2.5T XC90 is still the XC90. I have tested V50 a few days ago, and while T5 is obviously more fun, I will buy 2.4i by the same reasons - it is the same car minus some peppiness from the red light.
I truly believe that once person is committed to Volvo, the HP is a 25th priority on that person's list, while $5K (about 10% of a price) is much more higher. I will rather spend them for a fun stuff, while I am in Europe, taking a delivery.
I wouldn't rule out the V8 as a player, although it may not have taken off like the rocket in those ads just yet. I think people WILL go for the V8 in increasing numbers as prices come down this spring and summer and there is a greater supply. I fully agree with you that the 5K is well worth the price for what you get.
Thanks Volvomax and Lev for your helpful replies to my questions!
I would not characterize the AWD system of the V8 as currently "superior" to the 2.5T. It's a small improvement, IMHO. And, as pointed out, a small improvement that will be in the 2.5T pretty soon.
While I'd opt for the V8 myself at this time, I think a lot of buyers looking for "performance SUV's" look past the XC90. They buy something less practical but more edgy like an X5 or an FX or Cayenne.
2005 vehicles that will hold value the best by category:*
Sedan: Honda Civic
Coupe: Infiniti G35
Convertible: Nissan 350Z roadster
Luxury: BMW 5-Series
Pickup: Toyota Tacoma PreRunner
Sport Utility: Volvo XC90
* Over the first five years.
tidester, host
Lives of my family were already saved by the advanced XC90's features.
Another factor for us considering V8 vs. 2.5T - the occasional need to tow up to 5000 lbs.
However, a minority of the cars returned 14-20.
Volvo went w/ the lower figure since they were tired of the grief they were getting over the T6's initial figures.
For those who've done this program, did you get your car back in the states exactly on the date they told you/on your piece of paper, or was it earlier? I'm doubting that they'd make it any later, but we will be moving and could really use the extra space of our car... if it could arrive about 5 days before the date they gave us. Is an earlier delivery possible? What's your experience?
Any comments, experiences, concerns, performance issues with reg. vs. premium gas?
I had dropped mine off on 11/14/03, it shipped out on 11/24/03, it arrived on 12/22/03. From what I understand, deliveries in June, July, August take a bit more to get home.
What's the line up for 2006 than?
Dealers still have a few left however.
For 06 there will be the XC90 2.5T both FWD and AWD and the V8.
Won't the T6 engine still be available on other Volvo lines? Like the S80, V70, etc.? I wouldn't want T6 owners to think they won't be able to get replacement parts in the near future, eh?
Don't worry about parts. Heck, you can still get parts for the B23 engines and they haven't been built since the mid 90's.
To get 23.5 with the V8 shows you had a tail wind to some degree, or you did not set your computer as I have suggested. The only way to get a tank to tank reading which is accurate, is to drive the route, or tested mileage, in both directions. That way you will test the head wind and tail wind.
Good luck.
The V8 is very very responsive to throttle pressure and will get you up onto the freeway in a big hurry. Fuel economy on the road is better than the T6, however. I was very surprised at the engine response of the V8. Not only that, but under pressure, it has a great growl.
I have found that the 4 wheel drive is much safer than the fwd, especially in curves.
I have had 3 XC90's and they all drive dead straight. Don't let the dealer tell you that the only thing they can do is toe-in or toe-out adjustments. Loosen up the subframe, tweek it with a crowbar then tighten it up again. Your vehicle will go dead straight.
Believe me. BEEN THERE, DONE THAT.
A car a year???
1. Service has been horrible. We have been to the dealer for misc repairs over 16 times.
Problems with: check engine light being on due to software problem, radio/CD player messed up and having to be replaced, thermostat knob breaking on driver side, sunroof leaking, headliner beginning to fall, passenger seat making funny noise when moves, and to top it all off poor satisfaction from the folks at Sweden.
2. Driving down the autobahn with total ease and control at high speeds.
3. I would change the quality of the vehicle.
We are military living in Germany. I love my car. I have waited ten years for a car like this. However; I have driven my vehicle for 6 months with the check engine light on and the radio changing stations or CDs on me. Volvo had to develop new software to correct the check engine problem. The dealer replaced and re programed and did several other things to correct the radio. Come to find out it was the rocker switch in the steering column that was bad. I waited 4 months to have the knob fixed on the thermostat which broke with in three days of ownership. Oh and I think they may have a recall on their hands with the seatbelt warning system. I as well as many others do not have that warning light come on or noise chime when a seatbelt is not connected or disconnected while driving. You can not tell me of any other vehicle that will not bug the crap out of you when you unbealt you seatbelt while driving. With the "SAFTEY" as number one at Volvo you know someone was not paying attention. Customer satisfaction is horrible with Volvo. For all the folks I have spoken with in Sweeden and Germany, most do not return phone calls or emails. We have been around and around with them. They all say the same thing... "We want to make you satisfied". One of two things would make us satisfied...1.Full refund or 2. Brand new Volvo that does not have such issues. Like I said before, I love my car and had waited many years to get such a vehicle. I have never received such horrible customer service. You get better service at Walmart!
By the way, our attorny here on base mentioned that we are only one of the MANY that have had issues with their Volvo.
Good luck!
What tires are others using on their XC90's?
Hopefully post 4202 is a very rare exception. I noticed that the April issue of Consumer Reports did not give the Volvo a very good reliability rating.
P225/70R18 and P275/55R18. You might have to shop around to find them.
Trying to decide between the Volvo XC 90 V8 and the Landrover LR3 especially regards reliability and value,any suggestions will help.
Also, the LR3 has tremendous off road and towing capabilities. Great if you need them, but those capabilities come at the expense of on road handling and gas mileage, if you don't.
We ended up going with an MDX. But the XC90 V8 was a very close second. The LR3 was just too risky.