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The 04.5 S40 will be here in 2 mos.
The 240's interior got better, but the a/c never did.
Still it was a great car once Volvo sorted out the problems with the first year fuel injection system. Bosch Firetronic I think my dad used to say he called it. They got it 6 months before I was born and I learned to drive stick on it before my dad got rid of it. No power steering but could pull a U-turn just about anywhere. Also, I could hear them coming home at night from a mile away when I got older.
Another sound we are hearing is a new one. At about 1500 RPM if we are cruising under no load the engine/drive train willsometimes, not always, shudder as though about to stall (which it doesn't). The sound is like all of a sudden driving over a rumble strip on the shoulder of the interstate. Any ideas?
I am currently in the market for a vehicle and the XC-70 is at the top of my list. I test drove one last weekend and was very impressed. I am currently driving a GMC Envoy so the ride and comfort difference is enormous. The XC was so plush, smooth over bumps without the swaying side to side that I am used to. And the seats - wow! I do have a few questions though if this forum can possibly help me out?
I am thinking of getting a XC-70 with the premium and touring packages.
1 - Is the $1200 radio upgrade worth it? It sounds like it would be, but dealer did not have upgraded radio for me to listen to.
2 - There is a $600-ish option for a "better" traction control system. Is that worth it? It sounds like the AWD system that the car comes standard with would be fine.
3 - I forgot to look and the brochure is not helpful but is there a hitch provided with the vehicle? And if so, does anyone know what size it is?
4 - According to what I read on the Volvo website, the heated seats automatically turn off once they have "warmed up". Does anyone know how long they stay on? And how warm do they get? I did notice that there is not high/low setting for them.
Is there any way of keeping them on? I sometimes like to have the heated seats on for quite a while, it feels great on my back.
4 - Does the laminated glass that comes with the touring package make a big difference in wind/road noise? That is one thing that REALLY bothers me with my Envoy is on the freeways the wind buffeting noise drives me to distraction - it is sooo loud!
5 - Does Volvo provide a 24-hour test drive or something akin to that? It was very difficult to fully evaluate the vehicle on a 10-minute drive with the salesman in the front seat telling me where to turn. If not 24-hour, then has anyone had luck getting Volvo to let them take the car out on their own for an hour or so?
Sorry for the long posting! Thanks for any and all help!
2 DSTC, depends on where you live, most palces its overkill unless your an aggressive driver.
3 Hitch is a dealer item, the XC70 will tow 3300 lbs w/ the hitch. No other mods are necessary.
4 My S60R has the laminate, I love the difference it provides, also the fact that your stuff is more secure in the car.
5 Volvo Cars doesn't offer a 24 hr test drive. You might be able to talk your dealer into it but some dealer insurance policies forbid having the cars out overnight. Most Volvo dealers use Volvo's as loaner cars for service, you might be able to drive one of those cars.
1. I’m pretty satisfied with the regular radio. The bass is tight and undistorted and the treble sounds very clear. There is also a “hidden equalizer” that you can modify to tune the radio to your preference. Search for how to get to the hidden equalizer on the web. Bottom line: Save your $1200; the HU-613 is good for any stock system and certainly beats out the stock stereo in a 3-series BMW.
2. Diehard XC70 owners would say if you’re buying the XC70 because of its safety features, why would you skimp and not option for the DSTC? The problem with DSTC is that many cars on the dealer lots do not have that option. If you want a XC70 with DSTC, you’ll most likely have to special order it. If it was me, I would divert the upgraded stereo money towards DSTC.
3. Look at Volvomax’s response.
4. During my 2.5 hrs Sunday drive, I had the heated seats on from the time I put the key into the ignition to arriving at my destination. At no point did the heated seats turn off by itself. I also found that they temp setting on the seat warmers are not as hot as I like; however, I heard you can easily raise the temp setting by asking your dealer to modify the VADIS settings for the heated seats. Can’t answer your question regarding laminated glass since I do not have it.
5. Volvomax would know better than me.
All in all, I’m very happy with my XC70. The first week I got my car, it snowed over a foot in my area and the XC70 went places where other cars could not tread. I would stop in the middle of a hill just to test out the AWD and it worked beautifully! If I had to do it all over again, I would definitely invest in DSTC.
Warm regards,
Nobee
2004 XC 70, Metallic gold, Premium pkg, reverse radar, 12-volt in rear, auto-dim rear-view mirror, wood steering wheel, IAQS, cross-bars with ski rack
Interesting about the heated seats. I'm glad to hear that they do not turn off on their own. I too had read about the fact that they are not very hot and that you can get that adjusted with the VADIS settings.
Thanks Nobee for the tip on the "hidden equalizer". Good info to know! I did notice that the radio had no way of changing that like my Envoy does.
Since the key is in the ignition the remote is disabled.
You should take your car to your Volvo retailer right away and let them look at it.
mike
Seat of the pants, I didn't notice a difference in acceleration between the two...off the line or at freeway speeds.
My guess is the low pressure turbo merely compensates for the added weight of the AWD hardware. One thing I did notice...my V70 is more nimble than the XC70.
I owned an AWD Buick Rendezvous for 2 1/2 years and, laugh as you may, it has a superior AWD system...which I was able to force into action a grand total of 3 times (and I mean force, as in goose the throttle from a standing start on a slick road).
I don't think I'll ever buy another AWD vehicle...it's just not worth the added cost, added weigh, added maintenance, harsher ride, and less nimble handling.
A little off-topic, Volvomax, but what did you make of the 850 series when it first came to America back in 1993? Did you think it was a good car then? I have one of the original '93 GLTs and it's still running strong at 103k miles.
Royal Family, afternoon tea, etc. Volvo UK evidently got more flak than Volvo North America did. Which is surprising considering the nabobs who call themselves consumer activists here. Guess Nader's too busy running for President.
850's
Probably no exageration that its the car that saved Volvo. Plus it pissed off entire legions of Volvo faithful with its fwd platform. The early ones's had the typical new model teething problems but overall very robust,safe, economical cars.
Anyone know where continentals are made? Check the side wall if you own them. The last two sets I owned were made in Germany. They were the Conti-Contact H rated tires. Excellent tires with even wear. Great in the rain, marginal in the snow.
My opinion of the Michelins: slick in the rain for acceleration and braking, and poor in the snow.
The opinion given about how much harder you can push the Michelins over the Conti's, especially at speed, is bull (in my opinion;). Made in Germany, goes really fast in Germany. Continental is the OEM tire for high-end German cars, even in Germany.
Hope this helps those looking for replacement tires.
For someone looking for a good replacement tire, and not caring about ultimate grip the Conti's make a good choice.
Also, as there are different levels of Michelins, the same holds for Continental. What the put on Porsche's isn't necessarily what the put on Volvo's.
Being that my wife does not autocross our T5 with the kids in the back I am very happy with the Conti Extreme Contacts I put on a few months ago. The only thing that I am still feeling out is weather the more "weather capable" type tread they have might have cost me .5 to 1 mpg.
Given your VA address and ready access to military auto service shops I sincerely hope you aren't crunching any numbers for the Defense Department ("what the heck, we'll just harden up the driver's side on our Hummers; the Iraqis shoot only at the driver anyway")
By the way, I saw pics of the Saab 9-7X here on Edmunds...it looks just like the Chevy Trailblazer it really is!
Right now all there are just rumors floating around.
Look for monochrome treatments on the bumpers and moldings(finally), as well as changes to the dash and interior.
No info on engine changes although there is a rumor going around that Volvo will not import the V70R for 2005.
Any idea when the 2005 V70s might start to be available for Overseas delivery?
After months of pondering and financial wizardry, I finally got up the nerve to put my $2k deposit down on a V70 - only to find out that they stopped taking factory orders for 2004 V70 build-to-order configurations *this past Monday*! The kind lady I spoke to at the Overseas Delivery Center explained that the packages and pricing for 2005 aren't available yet.
I was hoping to pick my car up in early August - think it might still be a possibility?
Does Volvo North America intentionally delay the release of the 2005 models until later in 2004? If the Europeans will get the 2005 model in late July (from all the unofficial rumors I hear), I don't see why I can't get a USA spec version "fresh from the factory", if I'm actually going to actually travel there.
US dealers should recieve OSD order info for 2005 models by early May. This would give you enough time to get a wagon in August.
VCNA is scheduling release of some of its 2005 cars for late August Sept.
The 2005 V50 is scheduled for July, as is thw 2005 S40.
The remaining models release time will depend on dealer inventories of 2004's.
Historically, Volvo's release times are late Sept, October for the next model yr.
This past yr Volvo launched their 2004's in June.
Hardly anyone wants a manual Volvo of any kind let alone a wagon.
A manual would make the T5 more fun to drive, but otherwise gains would be minimal.
Would I encounter in manual the same sort of worrying/bothersome "hesitation" or "delay" that so many complain of in their automatics?
I'm specifically interested in what sorts of specifications I might have available (an '05 model already? a 2.4T with a manual tranny?) through the program. And, of course, a ballpark idea about savings over American MSRP.
So no 2.5T manuals.
2005's will be available in July-august for some models.
Savings 8-10% below US MSRP.
The "hesitation" is in the electronic throttle.
You can mitigate its effects by staying in a lower gear. Either with the manual or Geartronic functions.