Some pics of my XC90

[Torshen]

Now that I've finally got the 22" rims on, here are some pics of mine, including the illuminated side running boards, which are more subtle than I was expecting but still nice. Do wish they could stay on while driving, though. Maybe I should slip the mechanic a bit of cash next time I'm at a dealership

[Quacker]

Very nice wheels.
Not sure about the running boards. I find that the seat of the XC90 is much further than average from the outside edge of the sill. On almost all other cars, including my rather bigger Ford Ranger pickup, I can swing my legs out and straight to the floor, but on this car I have to reach much further and the back of my legs tend to rub on the sill. This is unfortunate because unlike some other cars, the doors of the XC90 don't completely cover the bottom of the sill.

Particularly good in this respect is the Ford Edge where they certainly thought of this at the design stage.

I've a feeling that with the running boards sticking out even further from the sill of your car, you and your passengers will be cleaning the lights every time you enter and exit, by means of the back of your legs.

Tell me I'm wrong! Perhaps they electrically retract under the car like the ones I've seen on the Jaguar F-Pace? Come to think of it that would not help, because those extent every time a door opens.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by Quacker

... on this car I have to reach much further and the back of my legs tend to rub on the sill. This is unfortunate because unlike some other cars, the doors of the XC90 don't completely cover the bottom of the sill.

Volvo seems to be aware of this problem, in the new XC60 the sill is integrated in the door as explained in this video at 1:35m:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Og9oWeeoY
Perhaps this also allows to get in (or out) with less rubbing on the leather as you slide in/out.

[neon]

Originally Posted by gaby

Volvo seems to be aware of this problem, in the new XC60 the sill is integrated in the door as explained in this video at 1:35m:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6Og9oWeeoY
Perhaps this also allows to get in (or out) with less rubbing on the leather as you slide in/out.

Yes I am 6' and I just cannot get in or out of the XC90 without sliding on the seats. The XC60 looks a real nice car, they should sell loads if buyers are willing to pay the extra £££ over the previous one.

[Torshen]

Originally Posted by Quacker

I've a feeling that with the running boards sticking out even further from the sill of your car, you and your passengers will be cleaning the lights every time you enter and exit, by means of the back of your legs.

See attached pic for sense of scale compared to the car - I'm a pretty large chap so unlikely to have much trouble reaching anything with my legs

For the others though, I think they're putting their feet onto the running board first whether entering or exiting, so the point is that they don't put their feet straight down to the ground (or straight into the car when entering). The running board is a halfway house to break up the manoeuvre.

[NandM]

Have the others tried the running board and do they find it useful?

Depending on how my others find getting in and out, I may get it retro fitted.

[Torshen]

Originally Posted by NandM

Have the others tried the running board and do they find it useful?

Depending on how my others find getting in and out, I may get it retro fitted.

Wasn't actually sure, so just went to ask the wife. Her answer: "I've been avoiding it because I thought you didn't want dirty marks on it?" :/

What I actually said was that I'd noticed we were already getting dirty marks on the illuminated treadplates, bit of a breakdown in communication there. So to summarise, more data is required

Although we both think it'll be useful for the nipper once she's old enough (currently 9 months).

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Torshen

See attached pic for sense of scale compared to the car - I'm a pretty large chap so unlikely to have much trouble reaching anything with my legs

For the others though, I think they're putting their feet onto the running board first whether entering or exiting, so the point is that they don't put their feet straight down to the ground (or straight into the car when entering). The running board is a halfway house to break up the manoeuvre.

If anyone can reach the ground easily, you can.

Certainly if I thought that they were useful as an intermediate step to actually help avoid the sill, I'd be interested.

On a related note, mine has mudflaps, but there is a gap above the flaps that still allows dirt from the protruding tyre up the side of the panel towards the wing mirror. I was thinking that running boards might help keep dirt away from the vertical panels generally, supplementing the mudflaps, but I'd still have that gap above the flaps. I noticed this yesterday when washing the car.

[Xc90d4]

Handy for the kids, but like posted above It probably makes it more awkward for me to get out without touching the back of my leg on the sill

[pagan8c]

Very nice wheels and the interior is like mine only I have the dark wood trim. Always a pleasant place to be sat on a long journey