Thats pretty much the way I want to get mine are you saying dealers are not able to put that together? beceaus its late in the year? Does the OSD process help with getting these options, or are we out of luck till 05
Prices are out now for all models except the S60R/V70R. There are some changes from the 04 pricing. For a while Volvo was honoring the 04 pricing on 05 orders placed prior to the 05 pricing being made available. gambiaman, Shipping is included in the price of the car, they just don't break it out separately like they do on the regular US models. The round trip tickets are good anywhere SAS flies. Time line: 3 months from order to pick up in Europe. An additional 1-2 months to get the car from Europe to your dealer in the US. The only 2005's that are available for pick up now or in Aug are the S40's/V50's. To get a 2005 you are looking at Sept/Oct.
jcarney, sounds like a nice car. X-plan is a good deal. Volvo expedites the shipping and processing of sold units ahead of stock ones. It doesn't change the time to build though. It will make a diffewrence when the car hits port in the US. Good Luck!
Greg108..unless there's something in the pipeline to your build in the '04 line..I would recommend '05 ordering. To me , another year of refinement can only enhance this SUV. Looks like 1-3% price increase.
To me, you can't replace the excitement of ordering and receiving EXACTLY the color, equipment, options, of argueably the safest vehicle on the street in the real world.
My thoughts? I already forgot I ordered one. As long as it gets here just the way I wanted it....it won't matter if it comes on Santa's sled. To me, it's a long term 200k mile, 15 year investment. It may look old in 2019, but it's a Volvo.
Yes you right I am sure the 05's are the ideal way to go,and nothing beats the thrill and satifaction of getting the vehicle just the way you want it. Is going to Sweden the only way to get 3k off the price? The volvo dealer ship told thats the discount I get for the OSD.
I've got say Im pretty damn excited about getting the XC90 you dont see to many on the roads here in Southern Cal.
I ordered an 05 T6 through the military sales program in Germany which is pretty much the same as the OSD program as far as pricing. I went yesteerday to change my order to the V-8 which will push back my delivery from Nov to some time in the spring - but I believe it will be worth the wait. The dealer also gave me the pricing and options sheet on the 05 models.
No change in base price (31000, 2.5 FWD / 32500, 2.5 AWD / 36100, T6) Versatility Package (7-seater) +400 Premium Package (2.5 only) +420 Premium Package (T6) changed to "Touring Package" +295 and adds luggage cover Bi-Xenon lights +200 --- A few increases in some of the other minor options as well.
Also, the security package was deleted. Rain sensing windshield wipers, Home link, and Tire pressure monitoring system are now standard (but the less robust climate package is still the same price). Nautic Blue, Cypress Green & Black Sapphire colors deleted / replaced with Titanium Grey and Magic Blue Pearl (very nice looking).
No info on V-8 model obviously, but I ordered one anyway. I was told mine is the first OSD / military sales order for the V-8. That makes me a little nervous to get one of the first productions, but I'll chance it.
I'm looking to purchase an XC90 2.5 AWD or T6 in the San Francisco Bay area. Looking for a no hassle/haggle price approach and good deal of course. I've seen MSRP's of $46K for T6 and getting discounts to $42K but postings seem to be mostly in the Eastern and Southern United States. Any experience with good discounts and positive purchase experience in the Bay area? Dealers with good Internet departments (i.e. quote price, go in pick it up, and pay what was quoted, no extras). Thanks, Dan
Well, after around 6 months of debate and test-drives, and hundred of printed pages of research, my wife and I today finalized on and drove home an XC90 2.5 AWD.
Our triplets are still in the hospital, and are due to come home later this week, or early next, and the XC90 accommodates our preferred car seat arrangement: 3 across the 2nd row, with the third row down for item storage. Many other SUVs and minivans offer a similar capability, but the XC90 provided the best combination of features, safety, luxury and value.
We bought with the following specs: Silver/Taupe 2.5 AWD with Premium, Versatility, and Climate, adding 18" wheels and Reverse Warning.
Before this, the Honda Pilot was our front-runner... but between the dealer markups on that vehicle, Volvo's more thorough safety resume, and the luxury features, we found that the XC90 was much more suited to our wants and needs. Depending on the depreciation of the XC90, it might even end up being a better overall value. But even if it's not, it's just as practical and a greater subjective value for us.
I was struck with how competent the 2.5 turbo engine was, compared to expectations after reading countless reviews. My daily driver was (until I traded it in for this vehicle) a BMW 330i, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I found the overall drive of the XC90 very healthy and agile. Not athletic, but I didn't really expect it to be, since it was both an SUV and a Volvo. The 2.5 engine provided enough power to please me, and I found it smoother than the T6. Add to this its greater (though still lowish) fuel efficiency, and it was clear that the 2.5 was the engine for me.
Not going to say much about the safety features, since we all know them so well. The laundry list is long, and this is what sold the car, more than anything else.
I was also particularly impressed with the overall feel of the interior of the vehicle. The interior feels like polished stone. I love the lines and angles, and how solid most of the parts feel in your hand. The quality of the materials is overall quite high, I'd say, with the exception of the aluminum inserts, which fingerprint as easily as stainless steel kitchen appliances (and also aren't as solid, unfortunately). My wife thought the control console was very well designed and approachable. Unlike some others, we didn't mind the angle on the steering wheel, finding it instead substantive and easy to grip.
The Volvo seats could use a little more side bolstering... but I might be biased. :-) Having said that, though, the Volvo seats are excellent. I prefer leatherette to leather, but the Volvo leather is soft and of good quality. The lumbar support is appreciated.
Exterior design is very distinctive and overall quite good, although I don't like the bug-eyed front appearance; the car looks much better from the side and rear.
A few things I'd like to see in future model years, based on initial impressions:
- Improved gas mileage. - Improved stereo user interface. Are all those buttons and knobs necessary? - A little more storage space up front. - Front cupholder lid seems to stick closed in every model I looked at. - Better simulated wood. Or, you know, real wood. - Ability to turn off day-time running lights.
My buying experience at Smythe Volvo in San Jose, CA was easy and professional, with no up-selling or last minute switches. I started off contacting them through the Internet, and this was very convenient, as my salesman was very responsive.
I intend to post driving impressions after a few thousand miles.
I picked up a brochure at my local dealer over the weekend and noticed that Volvo offers a free maintenance program (3 year/36,000 miles) on all new models... does this apply for OSD cars?
With respect to turning off the day-time running lamps. On the square 'panel' where the dial is, you will see a small screw head on the upper right corner. I have it under pretty good authority that a turn of this screw will turn off the daytime running lamps.
Clheit:
On my 04 T6 OSD we get the first 30k scheduled maintenance free. Not sure if they have changed that from when we bought it in December of 03. Double check that sign because, to the best of my knowledge, all service visits for Volvos are in 7,500 mile increments.
The screw method will not work to turn off the DRL's on the newer Volvo's. Your dealer will have to do it. Only the halogen systems can be shut off. The bi-xenon ones can't.
TDS= Tourist and Diplomatic Sales. The old name for Overseas Delivery. The dealers have the 2005 Overseas Delivery prices. I haven't checked to see if Volvo has put them on the volvocars website yet.
just got back from our overseas delivery - ordered a loaded 2.5T AWD
totally satisfies with the experience, though, admittedly, the car has not been delivered to the U.S. yet (I only dropped it off on Tuesday)
drove in a driving rain storm the first day I had it - loaded with 4 people and their luggage - the vehicle handled wonderfully - I never lost confidence in it though I was hitting some fairly deep puddles on the Swedish freeway heading south to Malmo
My only complaint - the weather!! :-) Sweden (and Denmark) have had about two weeks straight of rain. I can attest that the rain sensing wipers work GREAT! (that is an excellent option)
as to the weather - I'd rather have 65 degrees with intermittent rain than 85 degree sunshine when exploring a new city - I hate sitting in cafes in the sun when it's hot. And the low light makes for much better photos (except when you want a blue sky background, of course)
I found the car to have plenty of power, but the car I am comparing it to is a 96 Grand Caravan that is not the sporties driver on the road.
Speed Sentitive Power Steering is an excellent option. Buy it. I've driven the 2.5T with it and without it and there's no comparison.
And the factory tour is excellent as was the free lunch. That, alone, is worth a few hundred bucks. (hey, herring ain't cheap)
I would try to upgrade the Volvo free ticket to Economy Plus on SAS. YOu get two economy tickets from Volvo. If you can pay a few bucks (a few hundred) and upgrade to the next class of seating, do it. It is a long flight from the west c oast. Of course, maybe this is more important to me since I am 6 foot one and I have a bad hamstring, so sitting for a long time is no fun for me. Next time, I would upgrade my ticket and get seat assignments for my kids in the Economy row behind me. They are still small and don't need the leg (or butt) room.
If you can swing the time, do the overseas delivery. Though Gothenberg proper may not be "anything special," it is certainly a nice city, with convenient shopping near the hotel, no crime, good food, on the water, and there are areas nearby that are very unique: The coastal area north of Gothenberg seem like a very special place to go. From the pictures I saw, I'd highly recommended it - think coastal Maine with better museums and herring.
I'm starting to plan for a vacation (and car pickup!) next year... Where are the best places to visit in Sweden? Where did you stay? How expensive are things like food and hotel? I've done a little bit of research so far, but firsthand insight would be much appreciated!
When I went over, I had them fly me to Copenhagen where I hung out for a couple of days before taking the train to Gothenborg. After being in Gothenborg for the evening, I was very happy that I had done that. Gothenborg is ok, but in my opinion, just ok. Other than Trelleborg and Gothenborg, I did not spend much time in Sweeden.
clheit: I live in Germany, and will be picking up my XC90 next year when the V-8s are available. I'll actually take the overnight ferry from Sweden to Germany and drive the car home. I think I've read or heard where a lot of people on the OSD take the ferry and use the opportunity to visit other parts of Europe. If you like to drive, and don't mind putting some early miles on the car, I'd highly recommend southern Europe. Bavaria, Austria, Switzerland are all very beautiful in the spring and early summer. If you prefer to stay north, there's tons to see throught Belgium & Netherlands. As part of my job I've travelled pretty extensively throughout europe. Check out the travelogues at tompgalvin.com - tons of information there.
I drove down to Trelleborg and took the ferry to Rostock, FRG. That was a Monday night and was spending the night in Budapest on Wednesday night (with stops in Prague and Vienna). Marathon trip up to Koln on Thursday and Friday dropped the truck off in Brussles with about 1800 miles on it. Another good site if you are going to plot out your own trip is www.viamichelin.com
If you go towards Prague, go through Teplice during the DAYTIME!
Picked-up my T6 last weekend before the trip to Fla. 1000 miles later I have a few issues. Dealer has the T6 now. Anyone experience these or have advise?
Muffler rumble at stop: Idle seems high 800 - 850
Premium Sound rear channel crackle/static: Seems to change with movement. Volume also erratic with movement.
Short Squeal/Whistle when accelerating: can't tell if from trans or turbo
I just bought my T5 over the weekend. The 4-speed transmission was a key reason why I picked T5 over T6, gas mileage was another...
Before I bought, I asked several dealers and got the same answer from all. There will be almost no changes in the XC90 models between 2004 and 2005, but the price will increase slightly (I seemed to recall 3%). They don't know (or won't say) if there will be any mid-year changes. The only thing mentioned was the possible arrival of a V8 engine option in the spring of 2005.
What I heard from the dealers (5 different ones in the Bay Area) finalized my decision to buy now to get the free versatility pkg promotion and to lock in the 1.9% interest rate offer. Hey, it's free money, I'm getting a 2.1% rate on my savings account...
05 T6 will have the same 4 speed. No other tranny is possible.
The V8 will come with a 6 speed Geartronic
No manual will be offered. At least not in the US. I doubt one will be offered in Europe either. The changes for 05 will be very minor. The Tire Pressur Monitoring system will not be offered at the start of the year. Nor will the power child door locks. The V8 will arrive after the first of the year.
We finally received our 2004 Ruby Red AWD T6 with Prem, Vers, Clim, and Bi-Xenon. We purchased through the Military Sales Program. I would have to say that it was a very smooth purchasing experience. Only issue, I am waiting to obtain the original MSO so that I can apply for a title.
I like it. I like the color, the styling and the overall feel of the vehicle. Some issues I do have are minor, i.e. What to do with that cargo cover when going from two to three rows away from home? I wish I could listen to our portable DVD player over the sound system. The oil dipstick is hard to reach without burning your hand on the engine or metal frame around the radiator (really annoying). BTW, anyone else have that issue and is there a fix, like an after market dipstick that sticks out a little farther?
I get 20 MPG on my 2000 S70 in town so if I can get close to that (17-23 MPG) I will be pretty satisfied. The tranny, although many complain about the 4-speed, seems really smooth and transitions are hardly noticeable. It doesn't move quite like my car but it is twice the weight and I haven't pushed it much yet. Seats are great. Third row design is great. Power features work well.
Plan on going to synthetic at first service or maybe even earlier.
Overall happy and hope I have bought a vehicle to last many years and miles relatively worry free.
I'm wondering how your FM station and Prologic are getting along? If you FADE sound to rear and listen to FM in Prologic mode how does it sound? Then switch to 3 channel mode and notice the difference. Also, with A/C on what is your RPM reading....
The Prologic requires a strong FM signal in order for it to break-down the broadcast and recreate it in surround sound. Also, like any other surround sytem it is front biased. If you put your speakers to the back you won't like it.
Has there been any active discussion here, or elsewhere, of favorite accessories and the like?
for example, who has bought (Volvo OR other) running boards and liked them?
I know I want mud flaps and running boards, but haven't taken delivery of my XC90 yet. I drove it in Sweden and it took me less than one minute to want running boards - on my test dive I went through some mud and had mud on my front doors right away. And please don't start with me with the "it's an SUV" line of thinking. If I just spent an hour washing it (never mind if I've spent a bundle having it detailed), I'd like minimal mess after encountering a puddle.
But I am interested in who bought other running boards and why. I don't feel like searching the entire web for this, especially when I know we have folks with experience around.
We were at the FDC around the same time as you were (based on posts here and at Swedespeed). We didn't get the mudflaps at the FDC when we picked up the car (you may recall they had a "special" on them), but quickly came to the same conclusion that you did. We dropped off a very dirty XC90 at the FDC and ordered the mudflaps. Hopefully, they'll be on it when it arrives next month.
I previously asked this question (message #3138) but didn't get a lot of feedback so I thought I'd try again since it is still bothering me...
Since I took my XC90 in for "campaign 135" service, the volume on the audio system has significantly been reduced. I have to turn the volume up much higher than before in order to hear the stereo (or CDs for that matter). I mentioned this to the dealer and they acted like it was the first they heard of this issue. They say everything is functioning properly, but I know it has changed.
Anybody else have this issue? Maybe Volvomax is familiar with this issue.
I miss my great sound system. Thanks for any input you can provide.
I have no experience with the XC90 per se, but suggest you try this possible solution.
Park you car next to another XC90 with the premium sound system at the dealership, tune to the same stations and set the volume controls to the same level. If yours is indeed lower volume at the same settings, have them either check for an electrical drain and/or request that they replace the amplifier.
A friend of mine had a somewhat similar situation on his Mercedes. He speculated that the Bose amplifier was damaged by an electrical surge or short circuit when they were replacing and testing faulty xenon headlights, fog lights and windshield washers. The stereo still worked, but volume was noticably lower and there was static at higher volumes. He is a nuclear engineer, so he was pretty effective in arguing his case with the dealership. They wouldn't admit they had caused the problem, but once the amp was replaced, everything was back to normal.
Hope this is of some help.
P.S. Post your results. This will be a good test of whether Volvo is serious about customer satisfaction. It isn't a life or death problem, but it's certainly an annoyance on a $40k+ "premium" vehicle.
I guess it is possible to damage an amplifier during the upgrade or that the upgrade file may be corrupt, but after having 135 I initially felt like my system had been detuned also. What I found was that my stereo settings (equalizer,bass,treble...) had been reset to baseline. Since I've reset to my preferred levels the system does seem to have slightly more bass response then before.
Boosted equalizer settings will increase volume. Also boosting treble and bass will increase volume. Make sure your default setting for CD is Prologic II. For radio I would suggest 3-channel as the default. To me boosting the Centre setting (+3) and the Surround (+4) produces a noticeable difference. Also make sure the fader setting is not biased to the rear.
I am negotiating the purchase of a 2004 XC90 T6 and want cross rails for the roof. Are they available as a stand alone option and, if so, how much are they worth. This SUV is being selected over a RX330. Any comments? Josephc
I have the mudflaps on our T6 and I do not get a significant amount of dirt on the doors. IMHO I do not believe that running boards will keep the dirt off the doors. If anything, I believe you will find dirt on your slacks/pants/legs from brushing up against the running boards if you put those on.
I've enjoyed you're posts here and on Swedespeed. My wife and I were there the day before you (the 29th). I met Lev (who posts here regularly) at the SAS lounge in Chicago; he and his family picked their XC90 up on the 29th, too - they were great fun. He had the factory wrap up their vehicle with a ribbon and a bow for his wife. He should be home and posting soon, I would imagine.
We were gone for 12 days and had a great time. We opted to leave our little ones (ages 4 & 2) with Grandma & Grandpa. 12 days was a little too long for us (although the kids wouldn't have cared if we stayed another year). How old are your girls? How did they do on the trip? There was another family that we met at the SAS lounge that brought three kids (ages 8, 6 & 2, I think), and the kids were really great, but I could see the extra stress. We really had a good time for those two days or so with the other OSD folks we met; I wish I had gotten some of their e-mail addresses.
We turned the vehicle back in at the FDC and were able to order the mud flaps. Hopefully they are on, because the XC90 was loaded on the Atlantic Companion today!
bsk: I hope my XC90 and yours are bunking together on the trip across the Atlantic. I have not gotten final word that mine is on a ship.
Thanks for the kind words about my (occasionally obnoxious) posts.
My girls are 11 and 13. Much different than traveling with kids 4 and 2!! They enjoyed it. It did not feel very "foreign" to them, as so many folks speak English so well and there are no radical differences in culture that were apparent to them. They were anticipating more strangeness, they have said. (and since I've raised my kids to enjoy herring and fish cakes, even the food didn't seem strange to them)
it wouldhave been a much different trip without the kids. Better in some ways and worse in others. And they got a lot out of it. Hopefully, it mad ethe world a little smaller for them, and helped them understand that people are different, yet all the same.
schuhc: I agree re the dirt and the running boards. I mis-spoke when I said I wanted the running boards for their ability to keep mud off the doors. I meant the mud flaps. I want the running boards to make it a bit easier for my kids to climb into the back.
I did not order the running boards and mud flaps at the factory - can't remember how good the discount was. I figure I might have it done when I buy new wheels and tires (winter) and have it all done in October/November. Then again, maybe I'll have it done when I put a hitch (for the bike rack) on it.
Has anyone else noticed how poorly located the dipstick is in the T6? How are you supposed to check the oil with out burning your hand? I have already busted a knuckle trying to get it out without burning my hand on the upper hose or the metal frame around the radiator. Chris
My wife and I are considering a T6 to replace our 5 year old Mercedes ML 320. We loved the design and driving feel of the T6 and our lease is up next month. Our ML 320 has the same towing capacity as the T6 and we have a boat that along with the trailer and outboard engine weighs around 5000lbs (dry weight). It weighs more with a tank full of gas, so we have definitely pushed the envelope for our ML 320. But in 3 years of towing the boat and trailer from the ramp to a nearby storage area, we have never had a problem. The Merc has been amazing in that respect. It has a low range tranny setting that also is amazing at pulling the boat out of the water, with no spin or hesitation. My concern is probably obvious to you now. In towing this 22 footer which weighs 5000lbs-plus, will we be pushing the T6 volvo too much. Even though its 4 wheel drive, I don't think it has a low range setting-am I correct? Opinions are truly welcomed. Anyone pushing the envelope of towing for very short drives with their XC 90?
Again, not from personal experience, but friends of ours own a lake/ski home at Deep Creek Lake, about 3 hours from Washington DC. They were told by the dealer (Martens Volvo) NOT to attempt to tow their boat that distance with the XC90 T6. Short distances at less than highway speeds would be "O.K", but even that wasn't highly recommended. Their boat/trailer comes in at about 500 pounds less than the rated capacity of the T6.
As we have been shopping around for a future SUV replacement, it appears that FWD car-based SUV's like the XC90 are not generally recommended for heavy duty hauling. As expained to me, not only does boat hauling put strain on the engine, it puts more strain on a FWD based drivetrain than a RWD based one. Especially the XC90 which uses small displacement engines and turbocharges to achieve their power. The 3.2 - 3.5 liter V6's found in competitive models are somewhat better suited. But even the folks at Martens Volvo suggested we consider a V8 Touareg instead of an XC90 if we were going to be doing any boat hauling (Martens also sells VW's).
Have you considered the GX470? With its V8 and RWD, it should have similar or greater capabilities as your ML.
I just bought a new XC90 (2.5T AWD) and discovered that it didn't include a cover for the back cargo area. Although the Volvo web site and the latest XC90 brochure list the cargo cover as standard equipment, my dealer is telling me that it's an option I have to pay extra for. Does anyone here have any insight on this?
Yes, It seems to be dropped from the standard package, at least for the 7 seat option. Mine did not have it, as I believe 4 or 5 other that were picked-up at the FDC the same day as mine. I also remember postings from others, saying the same.
The price list I got from the dealership here in Germany for OSD / Military sales pricing on the 04 models indicated the rear cargo cover was a standard option only until Nov or Dec of 03 and then it became optional. On the 05 models it either becomes a standard option or is included in the new touring package...i can't remember which.
Has anyone purchased the Nav System with their XC90? Do you like it? I'm interested in it's functionality, intuitiveness, ease-of-use, and thoroughness of the maps.
I'm considering getting this option as I travel quite a bit. However, for $2000 I'm wondering how much better this system would be than an after-market one or something tied into my laptop. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
I was looking for a solution to allow me to use my kids' portable DVD player with the XC90 stereo system. I think I found my answer. The Beamit Wireless Music Adapter model #400FM by irock (www.myirock.com). Worked great even up to 25 feet outside of the vehicle. It plugs into the headphone jack of your device, in this case a portable DVD player and rebroadcasts on 88.1, 88.3, 88.5 or 88.7. I had the stereo set for Pro Logic sound, although I doubt I was getting true Pro Logic sound it still sounded great. The nice thing I like about it is the fact that it can run on two AAAs or an included car adapter. I paid 29.99 at Circuit City and after getting home found it cheaper on the net but after shipping it is an even sum game.
I have seen a dealer installed DVD system (in the front headrests). It uses the same technology to rebroadcast the signal.
However, the amplifiers and some additional boxes were installed under the front seats, taking up valuable "foot" room. It seemed that people on a second row will not have any room to put their feet into.
I purchased the NAV system with my XC90, in March 2003. I have used it very often and found it to be very useful and user friendly. If you have the extra cash, or go on different trips, it is certainly worth it.
In your case, you would really appreciate it, anyone who travels will love it, not only the directions, but other information is also available, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shopping centers etc., with phone numbers. The maps are pretty good ( I like being able to zoom ), the location of the NAV screen is perfect, it is fast and precise. It is a good investment and worth the money, on a SUV that is fun to drive.
Comments
Does the OSD process help with getting these options, or are we out of luck till 05
There are some changes from the 04 pricing. For a while Volvo was honoring the 04 pricing on 05 orders placed prior to the 05 pricing being made available.
gambiaman,
Shipping is included in the price of the car, they just don't break it out separately like they do on the regular US models.
The round trip tickets are good anywhere SAS flies.
Time line: 3 months from order to pick up in Europe. An additional 1-2 months to get the car from Europe to your dealer in the US.
The only 2005's that are available for pick up now or in Aug are the S40's/V50's. To get a 2005 you are looking at Sept/Oct.
jcarney,
sounds like a nice car.
X-plan is a good deal.
Volvo expedites the shipping and processing of sold units ahead of stock ones. It doesn't change the time to build though. It will make a diffewrence when the car hits port in the US.
Good Luck!
Thanks!
To me, you can't replace the excitement of ordering and receiving EXACTLY the color, equipment, options, of argueably the safest vehicle on the street in the real world.
My thoughts? I already forgot I ordered one. As long as it gets here just the way I wanted it....it won't matter if it comes on Santa's
sled. To me, it's a long term 200k mile, 15 year investment. It may look old in 2019, but it's a Volvo.
Is going to Sweden the only way to get 3k off the price? The volvo dealer ship told thats the discount I get for the OSD.
I've got say Im pretty damn excited about getting the XC90 you dont see to many on the roads here in Southern Cal.
No change in base price (31000, 2.5 FWD / 32500, 2.5 AWD / 36100, T6)
Versatility Package (7-seater) +400
Premium Package (2.5 only) +420
Premium Package (T6) changed to "Touring Package" +295 and adds luggage cover
Bi-Xenon lights +200
--- A few increases in some of the other minor options as well.
Also, the security package was deleted. Rain sensing windshield wipers, Home link, and Tire pressure monitoring system are now standard (but the less robust climate package is still the same price). Nautic Blue, Cypress Green & Black Sapphire colors deleted / replaced with Titanium Grey and Magic Blue Pearl (very nice looking).
No info on V-8 model obviously, but I ordered one anyway. I was told mine is the first OSD / military sales order for the V-8. That makes me a little nervous to get one of the first productions, but I'll chance it.
Thanks,
Dan
Our triplets are still in the hospital, and are due to come home later this week, or early next, and the XC90 accommodates our preferred car seat arrangement: 3 across the 2nd row, with the third row down for item storage. Many other SUVs and minivans offer a similar capability, but the XC90 provided the best combination of features, safety, luxury and value.
We bought with the following specs: Silver/Taupe 2.5 AWD with Premium, Versatility, and Climate, adding 18" wheels and Reverse Warning.
Before this, the Honda Pilot was our front-runner... but between the dealer markups on that vehicle, Volvo's more thorough safety resume, and the luxury features, we found that the XC90 was much more suited to our wants and needs. Depending on the depreciation of the XC90, it might even end up being a better overall value. But even if it's not, it's just as practical and a greater subjective value for us.
I was struck with how competent the 2.5 turbo engine was, compared to expectations after reading countless reviews. My daily driver was (until I traded it in for this vehicle) a BMW 330i, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and I found the overall drive of the XC90 very healthy and agile. Not athletic, but I didn't really expect it to be, since it was both an SUV and a Volvo. The 2.5 engine provided enough power to please me, and I found it smoother than the T6. Add to this its greater (though still lowish) fuel efficiency, and it was clear that the 2.5 was the engine for me.
Not going to say much about the safety features, since we all know them so well. The laundry list is long, and this is what sold the car, more than anything else.
I was also particularly impressed with the overall feel of the interior of the vehicle. The interior feels like polished stone. I love the lines and angles, and how solid most of the parts feel in your hand. The quality of the materials is overall quite high, I'd say, with the exception of the aluminum inserts, which fingerprint as easily as stainless steel kitchen appliances (and also aren't as solid, unfortunately). My wife thought the control console was very well designed and approachable. Unlike some others, we didn't mind the angle on the steering wheel, finding it instead substantive and easy to grip.
The Volvo seats could use a little more side bolstering... but I might be biased. :-) Having said that, though, the Volvo seats are excellent. I prefer leatherette to leather, but the Volvo leather is soft and of good quality. The lumbar support is appreciated.
Exterior design is very distinctive and overall quite good, although I don't like the bug-eyed front appearance; the car looks much better from the side and rear.
A few things I'd like to see in future model years, based on initial impressions:
- Improved gas mileage.
- Improved stereo user interface. Are all those buttons and knobs necessary?
- A little more storage space up front.
- Front cupholder lid seems to stick closed in every model I looked at.
- Better simulated wood. Or, you know, real wood.
- Ability to turn off day-time running lights.
My buying experience at Smythe Volvo in San Jose, CA was easy and professional, with no up-selling or last minute switches. I started off contacting them through the Internet, and this was very convenient, as my salesman was very responsive.
I intend to post driving impressions after a few thousand miles.
With respect to turning off the day-time running lamps. On the square 'panel' where the dial is, you will see a small screw head on the upper right corner. I have it under pretty good authority that a turn of this screw will turn off the daytime running lamps.
Clheit:
On my 04 T6 OSD we get the first 30k scheduled maintenance free. Not sure if they have changed that from when we bought it in December of 03. Double check that sign because, to the best of my knowledge, all service visits for Volvos are in 7,500 mile increments.
Free maintenance does apply to TDS cars.
The screw method will not work to turn off the DRL's on the newer Volvo's. Your dealer will have to do it. Only the halogen systems can be shut off. The bi-xenon ones can't.
Thanks
The dealers have the 2005 Overseas Delivery prices. I haven't checked to see if Volvo has put them on the volvocars website yet.
totally satisfies with the experience, though, admittedly, the car has not been delivered to the U.S. yet (I only dropped it off on Tuesday)
drove in a driving rain storm the first day I had it - loaded with 4 people and their luggage - the vehicle handled wonderfully - I never lost confidence in it though I was hitting some fairly deep puddles on the Swedish freeway heading south to Malmo
My only complaint - the weather!! :-) Sweden (and Denmark) have had about two weeks straight of rain. I can attest that the rain sensing wipers work GREAT! (that is an excellent option)
as to the weather - I'd rather have 65 degrees with intermittent rain than 85 degree sunshine when exploring a new city - I hate sitting in cafes in the sun when it's hot. And the low light makes for much better photos (except when you want a blue sky background, of course)
I found the car to have plenty of power, but the car I am comparing it to is a 96 Grand Caravan that is not the sporties driver on the road.
Speed Sentitive Power Steering is an excellent option. Buy it. I've driven the 2.5T with it and without it and there's no comparison.
And the factory tour is excellent as was the free lunch. That, alone, is worth a few hundred bucks. (hey, herring ain't cheap)
I would try to upgrade the Volvo free ticket to Economy Plus on SAS. YOu get two economy tickets from Volvo. If you can pay a few bucks (a few hundred) and upgrade to the next class of seating, do it. It is a long flight from the west c oast. Of course, maybe this is more important to me since I am 6 foot one and I have a bad hamstring, so sitting for a long time is no fun for me. Next time, I would upgrade my ticket and get seat assignments for my kids in the Economy row behind me. They are still small and don't need the leg (or butt) room.
If you can swing the time, do the overseas delivery. Though Gothenberg proper may not be "anything special," it is certainly a nice city, with convenient shopping near the hotel, no crime, good food, on the water, and there are areas nearby that are very unique: The coastal area north of Gothenberg seem like a very special place to go. From the pictures I saw, I'd highly recommended it - think coastal Maine with better museums and herring.
Thanks!
I drove down to Trelleborg and took the ferry to Rostock, FRG. That was a Monday night and was spending the night in Budapest on Wednesday night (with stops in Prague and Vienna). Marathon trip up to Koln on Thursday and Friday dropped the truck off in Brussles with about 1800 miles on it. Another good site if you are going to plot out your own trip is www.viamichelin.com
If you go towards Prague, go through Teplice during the DAYTIME!
Muffler rumble at stop: Idle seems high 800 - 850
Premium Sound rear channel crackle/static: Seems to change with movement. Volume also erratic with movement.
Short Squeal/Whistle when accelerating: can't tell if from trans or turbo
And, with respect to the V8, what transmission will be offered?
Is there any chance that there will be a stick shift version?
Before I bought, I asked several dealers and got the same answer from all. There will be almost no changes in the XC90 models between 2004 and 2005, but the price will increase slightly (I seemed to recall 3%). They don't know (or won't say) if there will be any mid-year changes. The only thing mentioned was the possible arrival of a V8 engine option in the spring of 2005.
What I heard from the dealers (5 different ones in the Bay Area) finalized my decision to buy now to get the free versatility pkg promotion and to lock in the 1.9% interest rate offer. Hey, it's free money, I'm getting a 2.1% rate on my savings account...
The V8 will come with a 6 speed Geartronic
No manual will be offered. At least not in the US.
I doubt one will be offered in Europe either.
The changes for 05 will be very minor. The Tire Pressur Monitoring system will not be offered at the start of the year. Nor will the power child door locks.
The V8 will arrive after the first of the year.
I like it. I like the color, the styling and the overall feel of the vehicle. Some issues I do have are minor, i.e. What to do with that cargo cover when going from two to three rows away from home? I wish I could listen to our portable DVD player over the sound system. The oil dipstick is hard to reach without burning your hand on the engine or metal frame around the radiator (really annoying). BTW, anyone else have that issue and is there a fix, like an after market dipstick that sticks out a little farther?
I get 20 MPG on my 2000 S70 in town so if I can get close to that (17-23 MPG) I will be pretty satisfied. The tranny, although many complain about the 4-speed, seems really smooth and transitions are hardly noticeable. It doesn't move quite like my car but it is twice the weight and I haven't pushed it much yet. Seats are great. Third row design is great. Power features work well.
Plan on going to synthetic at first service or maybe even earlier.
Overall happy and hope I have bought a vehicle to last many years and miles relatively worry free.
If you FADE sound to rear and listen to FM in Prologic mode how does it sound? Then switch to 3 channel mode and notice the difference. Also, with A/C on what is your RPM reading....
I'm trying to get a point of reference to my T6..
Thanks
Also, like any other surround sytem it is front biased. If you put your speakers to the back you won't like it.
My RPM reading, at an idle, was just below 800 with A/C off and just a hair above 800 with the A/C on.
The lug nuts on the 18" tires, are they supposed to be just a plain metal lug with some sort of white coating on them?
Thanks
for example, who has bought (Volvo OR other) running boards and liked them?
I know I want mud flaps and running boards, but haven't taken delivery of my XC90 yet. I drove it in Sweden and it took me less than one minute to want running boards - on my test dive I went through some mud and had mud on my front doors right away. And please don't start with me with the "it's an SUV" line of thinking. If I just spent an hour washing it (never mind if I've spent a bundle having it detailed), I'd like minimal mess after encountering a puddle.
But I am interested in who bought other running boards and why. I don't feel like searching the entire web for this, especially when I know we have folks with experience around.
We were at the FDC around the same time as you were (based on posts here and at Swedespeed). We didn't get the mudflaps at the FDC when we picked up the car (you may recall they had a "special" on them), but quickly came to the same conclusion that you did. We dropped off a very dirty XC90 at the FDC and ordered the mudflaps. Hopefully, they'll be on it when it arrives next month.
Since I took my XC90 in for "campaign 135" service, the volume on the audio system has significantly been reduced. I have to turn the volume up much higher than before in order to hear the stereo (or CDs for that matter). I mentioned this to the dealer and they acted like it was the first they heard of this issue. They say everything is functioning properly, but I know it has changed.
Anybody else have this issue? Maybe Volvomax is familiar with this issue.
I miss my great sound system. Thanks for any input you can provide.
Park you car next to another XC90 with the premium sound system at the dealership, tune to the same stations and set the volume controls to the same level. If yours is indeed lower volume at the same settings, have them either check for an electrical drain and/or request that they replace the amplifier.
A friend of mine had a somewhat similar situation on his Mercedes. He speculated that the Bose amplifier was damaged by an electrical surge or short circuit when they were replacing and testing faulty xenon headlights, fog lights and windshield washers. The stereo still worked, but volume was noticably lower and there was static at higher volumes. He is a nuclear engineer, so he was pretty effective in arguing his case with the dealership. They wouldn't admit they had caused the problem, but once the amp was replaced, everything was back to normal.
Hope this is of some help.
P.S. Post your results. This will be a good test of whether Volvo is serious about customer satisfaction. It isn't a life or death problem, but it's certainly an annoyance on a $40k+ "premium" vehicle.
Boosted equalizer settings will increase volume. Also boosting treble and bass will increase volume. Make sure your default setting for CD is Prologic II. For radio I would suggest 3-channel as the default. To me boosting the Centre setting (+3) and the Surround (+4) produces a noticeable difference. Also make sure the fader setting is not biased to the rear.
This SUV is being selected over a RX330. Any comments?
Josephc
I have the mudflaps on our T6 and I do not get a significant amount of dirt on the doors. IMHO I do not believe that running boards will keep the dirt off the doors. If anything, I believe you will find dirt on your slacks/pants/legs from brushing up against the running boards if you put those on.
I've enjoyed you're posts here and on Swedespeed. My wife and I were there the day before you (the 29th). I met Lev (who posts here regularly) at the SAS lounge in Chicago; he and his family picked their XC90 up on the 29th, too - they were great fun. He had the factory wrap up their vehicle with a ribbon and a bow for his wife. He should be home and posting soon, I would imagine.
We were gone for 12 days and had a great time. We opted to leave our little ones (ages 4 & 2) with Grandma & Grandpa. 12 days was a little too long for us (although the kids wouldn't have cared if we stayed another year). How old are your girls? How did they do on the trip? There was another family that we met at the SAS lounge that brought three kids (ages 8, 6 & 2, I think), and the kids were really great, but I could see the extra stress. We really had a good time for those two days or so with the other OSD folks we met; I wish I had gotten some of their e-mail addresses.
We turned the vehicle back in at the FDC and were able to order the mud flaps. Hopefully they are on, because the XC90 was loaded on the Atlantic Companion today!
Thanks for the kind words about my (occasionally obnoxious) posts.
My girls are 11 and 13. Much different than traveling with kids 4 and 2!! They enjoyed it. It did not feel very "foreign" to them, as so many folks speak English so well and there are no radical differences in culture that were apparent to them. They were anticipating more strangeness, they have said. (and since I've raised my kids to enjoy herring and fish cakes, even the food didn't seem strange to them)
it wouldhave been a much different trip without the kids. Better in some ways and worse in others. And they got a lot out of it. Hopefully, it mad ethe world a little smaller for them, and helped them understand that people are different, yet all the same.
schuhc: I agree re the dirt and the running boards. I mis-spoke when I said I wanted the running boards for their ability to keep mud off the doors. I meant the mud flaps. I want the running boards to make it a bit easier for my kids to climb into the back.
I did not order the running boards and mud flaps at the factory - can't remember how good the discount was. I figure I might have it done when I buy new wheels and tires (winter) and have it all done in October/November. Then again, maybe I'll have it done when I put a hitch (for the bike rack) on it.
Chris
As we have been shopping around for a future SUV replacement, it appears that FWD car-based SUV's like the XC90 are not generally recommended for heavy duty hauling. As expained to me, not only does boat hauling put strain on the engine, it puts more strain on a FWD based drivetrain than a RWD based one. Especially the XC90 which uses small displacement engines and turbocharges to achieve their power. The 3.2 - 3.5 liter V6's found in competitive models are somewhat better suited. But even the folks at Martens Volvo suggested we consider a V8 Touareg instead of an XC90 if we were going to be doing any boat hauling (Martens also sells VW's).
Have you considered the GX470? With its V8 and RWD, it should have similar or greater capabilities as your ML.
I also remember postings from others, saying the same.
I'm considering getting this option as I travel quite a bit. However, for $2000 I'm wondering how much better this system would be than an after-market one or something tied into my laptop. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Chris
Chris
However, the amplifiers and some additional boxes were installed under the front seats, taking up valuable "foot" room. It seemed that people on a second row will not have any room to put their feet into.
In your case, you would really appreciate it, anyone who travels will love it, not only the directions, but other information is also available, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shopping centers etc., with phone numbers. The maps are pretty good ( I like being able to zoom ), the location of the NAV screen is perfect, it is fast and precise. It is a good investment and worth the money, on a SUV that is fun to drive.