Is it getting too expensive?
 

I have an xc90 59 plate 87k on clock. I took it to indi Volvo garage to find out what needed sorting.

1) swirl arm disconnected so needs fixing. Was fixed about 2 years ago clearly bodge job. 400 kit plus fitting
2) needs new front discs and pads. Replaced around 1 and half ago. 160 plus fitting
3) needs two front tyres. Excessive inner wear. Replaced 1 and half ago. 170 for budget tyres. Also had alignment done when had tyres done but clearly not done well.
4) replacement wheel bearing 85 quid

Then suggested Haldex oil and filter. Gear box oil replacing. So probably another 300.

It’s just had bam belt kit and all replaced at 380. I like the car but feel
It is costing too much to keep given its poor mpg. What would people do? Seen an ok xc70 near not as good for towing but better fuel and 60k on clock.

Lastly play in both from shocks so not sure how much that will cost to repair.

Get the swirl arm and tyres done and perhaps budget for the brakes and bearing if they can wait a few months; same for oil changes - good to have done but you are lowish mileage so can wait another 10k before doing - perhaps next year. I changed my gearbox oil at 92k.

So in the great scheme of things not huge - any modern car now costs 1000+ per annum to service and if your Volvo is otherwise all good I would keep as lovely car to own and drive.

Add up the cost of the required repairs - if you can buy a reliable car for the same amount or less, then get rid. If you can't, then economically it's best to hang on.

The fundamental bottom line is that these are big, complex, thirsty SUVs that cost up to 50 grand when they were new. Just because they're a few years old doesn't make them any cheaper to maintain or fill the tank. If you're squirming at the cost then a large complex premium SUV isn't the car for you. They cost what they cost to maintain and run, and there are no shortcuts.

As for the XC70, sooner or later that's liable to need everything that your current car does, and the work isn't liable to be any cheaper. If you can buy the XC70 for the cost of the repairs on the 90 then go for it, if you can't then it makes no sense to consider it.

I smell the garage is a little too eager with replacing parts. Typical when they see coming a new customer. Doesn't mean they are shady, but I'll be careful - and come here asking. They always suggest brakes because they make money on these. May take a picture through the wheel spokes and post it. Play in shocks it's a good one, never heard that before - that's why I'm saying to be careful. Bearing at 85 is way too cheap and suspect. The part you'll get at this price will fail in 6 moths. Careful with gearbox oil, do it only at Volvo specialist, random places will flush and cause troubles, and may use inadequate oil. Haldex does need serviced. At 380 for the belt, try finding out which parts were used, inexpensive ones fail all of a sudden after short time.

No telling if its reliable or not till youve had it a short while.

I generally work on the premise, its better the devil you know, your repairs are not that vast, not like say gearbox issues etc.

And with that in mind, its only expensive if you cannot afford it, for me, just a blooming oil change is expensive, dont know why i thought a Volvo was a great idea lol

Hi ....My advice is stop worrying and maybe check out an alternative indie Volvo engineer and see how that compares to your now quotes and compare what they say needs doing.

I would have the swirl flaps done first and the proper repair not the chain split pin bodge.....from a decent indie this should cost you no more than £ 320.00 Inc VAT. I had this done on mine and it pulls like a cart horse now.

You have to remember your car is now 11 years old!....You chose your 11 year old for a reason and the miles on it are baby miles take it from me.

Is there another 11 year old car you'd rather drive?

The main things to consider are ...

Do I love this car??

Do I love it enough to keep it?

If I have a bill for £800 and decide to let it go what could I buy alternatively and would I be happy with my new purchase?......

I would say .....No .... I think not.

XC90 ' s are not cheap to run.... but you knew that before you bought it......The miles on yours are baby miles....

Fix it ....Love it....And look after it and it will give it back..

My MY2008 which i've had from a 6 year old is the high road tax 185 version .....gives me 28.5 mpg.....but 35 ish on a run.

Would I change that and fork out £25k for a newer model with new faults?.......Never!!!

Can you envisage yourself driving anything else?..No?

Then keep and enjoy☺

The XC range isn't my bag so my knowledge on it is little, however there are a few points i do know :

Tyrs shold be replaced as a SET of FOUR, budget tyres are likely to cause grip problems and aren't advisable. (This is because of the Haldex action, not that all budget tyres have poor grip).

The Haldex unit is like a small automatic gearbox in its own right - therefore it should be serviced at the same time as the gearbox is serviced - both every 24k miles i believe.

Brake discs and pads as someone else commented are frequently picked on as they're not something the average driver will check.
I remember once having a pair of tyres fitted many moons ago and the Fik-Wit Fitter tried telling me i needed new discs and pads because they were blue - sure they were when he stood in front of them in his BLUE overalls!
They were new only a week or two previously and hadn't had any chance to overheat, never mind wear out!

The XC70 you mention is mechanically very similar to what you already have but the biggest problem with it is that it was somebody elses problem before it was sold. You don't know WHY it was sold - potentially for all the reasons you cite with yours and maybe more that will need doing imminently if you purchase it.

Someone else (think it was Bashy) suggested the "Devil you know" is best kept, totally agree on that point! Get advice from either another Volvo indie, a Volvo dealer or similar, different to wherever you're taking it at present, find out what really needs doing and the urgency of each thing then prioritise as necessary.

As another pointed out, they're expensive cars to run because of the complexity, you may be better in the long run selling it and buying an older 9xx which is a much simpler car to maintain and not so heavy on tyres etc. Also do you do a lot of towing? that could be the cause of your heavy inner tyre wear on the front if the back end has drooped while towing, allowing the front wheels too little weight and alterning the camber angle.

Of course there are, Borg and Beck discs and pads off ebay are £105 and take and hour or two to fit yourself with basic tools.

Part worn pair of tyres, loads about at £80 ish and not bottom budget ditch finders either.

Some things can't be done cheaply I agree, but if you're willing to do even a little leg work or even better a bit of spanner work, then they really aren't that bad.

Seriously? Just no. The only thing to do is get the same size on all four corners.

The XC90 I just bought had a single tyre fitted by the Volvo dealer in January where it was purchased from and maintained from new by previous owner, so that little nugget clearly doesn't come from Volvo.

This was the recommendation for the old (upto about 2003) AWD cars if I remember.
The OP will be fine with whatever he choses to fit.

Then again, I drive a 2WD V70 - so may be wrong.

As Reggit says, you do not need to replace all 4 at same time as you have a Haldex 4 wheel drive. Ideally replace in pairs but I am not sure even this is essential.