Considering an XC90

MatDesign84 · Post by **MatDesign84** » 17 Apr 2011, 20:31

I wish I had friends with Porsches, anyway. That's really got me bummed, i'm kinda sorta thinking I want a Volvo SUV now for my family driver/grocery getter. That MPG is very surprising! Like I said. My 850 gets 22.3 mpg combined. It might start to get better now that I have replaced some vac leaks though.

Post by **Glencoeteen** » 17 Apr 2011, 21:13

the 2.5 is front wheel drive, all T6 and V8s are awd, The 03-mid 04 T6's have transmission problems, they are build by GM! so they tend to crap out like the 01 V/S had. and the V8 is a Yamaha built motor for Volvo. you best bet is to find an late model 04 with the T6 you will love it!

MatDesign84 · Post by **MatDesign84** » 18 Apr 2011, 06:45

Why do you suggest the 04 T6 model?

Excimer · Post by **Excimer** » 18 Apr 2011, 09:29

My understanding is that ALL T6 models have the ill-fated GM 4 speed. I would avoid all T6 based on this information. In fact, over on Swedespeed the motto is not if but when the tranny on the T6 will fail. I would favor any flavor of T5 and V8 though I would get an I6 over the T6. By the way the Cayenne is a legend in its own mind. Was not impressed with the air suspension (noisy pumps) and slow to compensate, electronics were a nightmare (spontaneous revision to German on the GPS no matter how many times it was programmed) very unimpressive interior build quality (headliner vibrated and resonated at certain speeds). And then there were the dealers and the service. Those guys wore more gold jewelry than an entire Zales store stocked. But they had great cappuccino. Last time I saw the Cayenne the 14 different computers had been removed from the vehicle and the motor was dissembled. Never again.

Post by **matthew1** » 18 Apr 2011, 09:34

Lots of good information in this topic. Here are anecdotes you should read before buying an XC90. Year + transmission = everything on these XC90s, to put it mildly.

Volvo Repair Database -> XC90 -> Volvo XC90 Transmission Problems [33 comments]
Volvo Repair Database -> XC90 -> Avoid XC90 T6 – Transmission Issues [13 comments]

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Apr 2011, 09:41

Avoid a T6 at all costs. My neighbor had an '03 and it ate 2 transmissions under warranty and was it was starting to go again when he sold it. Plus, the exhaust sounds pretty stupid on the T6 engine...a constant low drone when accelerating.

My uncle has an '08 3.2 XC90 that drives very nicely - in my opinion, it's a much better vehicle than my aunt's Lincoln Navigator (and much better-looking). On back roads in Maryland where it's pretty hilly and curvy, the transmission is a bit busy as one of the above posters said. But it's a very smooth Interstate cruiser.

The Acura MDX (earlier models - before they got ugly) are also great cars worth a look at, and absolutely amazing in snow. Gas mileage on the '03 was about the same - 18/24 from a 260-hp 3.5 V6.

MatDesign84 · Post by **MatDesign84** » 18 Apr 2011, 10:31

They are beautiful though (cayenne). I think if it came down to it, I would have a hard time choosing between the VW Toureg and the Volvo XC90 From my understanding the VW was better in EVERY single aspect over the Porsche. What kind of mileage does that T5 get compared to the V8? Were are talking about a heavy vehicle here! Wish Volvo made a pickup truck... Oh, no one has still answered how I can distinguish a FWD version over an AWD version. In addition, does the V8 and the T5 both come in an AWD version?

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Apr 2011, 10:37

The AWD says "AWD" on the back of the trunk under the engine type, and I have seen a 2.5T AWD version before - I don't know what years had what, though.

This is usually what I use:
http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/defau ... =XC90#used

Not the best, but gives you a general idea of what years came with what engine choices.

Excimer · Post by **Excimer** » 18 Apr 2011, 10:47

All V8's are AWD. I drove the Toureg (new) V6 hybrid within the past week (car shopping for mother). Way too many electronics for my taste. Things that did not need to be electronic were. Also the interior of this new generation is no where near as nice as the one before. They cheaped out on the wood and the console. Really not very impressive. Nice driver with controlled body movements but the inside was not as quiet as my V8 XC90.

Post by **Glencoeteen** » 18 Apr 2011, 12:23

Because they from my experience fixed the transmission problem, and I love the twin turbo inline 6
Power when you need it, its in between the 5cyl and the v8 and to me gets the best mpg. The 5cyl moves it down the hwy
But it works hard todo so. This is a suv not a 4door car

Considering an XC90

Re: Considering an XC90