From XC60 to Porsche Macan or BMW X3?

[volvorocks]

Originally Posted by NigelDay

Have you thought of a (current) XC60 D5 with ALL the option boxes ticked (including the Inscription leather) ? I reckon this would come in at less than £45k for cash. Old model, yes, but it would take some beating for 'go anywhere' and comfort.

..with of course Polestar optimisation for the extra driving thrill us 50+ blokes are nowadays needing...

Regards

[Arianne]

We lost 1-0

I'll take Brendon Rogers or David Moyes right now. Losing is one thing, losing and playing so badly in the first half is what is so awful. I feel sorry for those fans who travelled eight hours each way to see that!

I'm grieving.

Arianne

[GMcL]

It's because I had to go out. Newcastle always do well when I'm not watching.
Stats showed 69%-31% possession split. Still, you had a nice run down the 68 then across Otterburn and through Ponteland passed the airport.

[Arianne]

Originally Posted by GMcL

It's because I had to go out. Newcastle always do well when I'm not watching.
Stats showed 69%-31% possession split. Still, you had a nice run down the 68 then across Otterburn and through Ponteland passed the airport.

We did indeed. Parked at the P&R just after the airport and caught the Metro into the city centre. The lad drove up and I drove back. Sadly for me, it was dark and the roads were streaming with the heavy rain. But ultimately a good day if one ignores the score and performance. St James Park is a fabulous stadium.

Arianne

[Arianne]

Originally Posted by NigelDay

You mentioned March 2017 'plate' as your change-over date. Is this to avoid the new VED rates coming in April 2017 (with the extra penalty for cars over £40k) ?
The problem is that the new Q5, X3 and XC60 will be 'launched' over the next 12/18 months (???) which collides with your date, AND there is always the issue with new releases of (a) minimal discounts, (b) long waiting lists and (c) delayed arrival of test-drive stock into UK showrooms. Remember the 'worldwide launch' of the XC90 in September 2014 ? UK dealers did not get their stock in until (I think) May 2015, but many folk had already placed orders before even seeing it. Now most of us would never buy a car without a test drive, so you really have a difficult decision to take -- unless of course you could delay changing for a further 12 months.
Have you thought of a (current) XC60 D5 with ALL the option boxes ticked (including the Inscription leather) ? I reckon this would come in at less than £45k for cash. Old model, yes, but it would take some beating for 'go anywhere' and comfort.

What you say is true. I was talking to my son today while we were driving across the border and he also mentioned the change to the Q5 and the conflict with my plans to change in March 17. As he said, the likelihood is that the design theme for the next Q5 will follow the front of the latest Q7 and I can't bear that.

I think we will pop along to a BMW dealer either in Edinburgh, Newcastle or Carlisle and test drive the X4 in either 30d or 35d M-sport spec. The trouble now is that we've just sent our two licences away for renewal so that's that for test drives until they come back! There is absolutely no way that I will buy a new car again without test driving the exact engine, gearbox and suspension setup. We only drove the D5 AWD XC60 before ordering the VEA version, basing our decision on the performance data. This is never the whole story. When I say we, I mean me! Mrs A has banned me from doing that again. She says she might not know much about cars, instead being heavily swayed by their looks, but she says she knows only a twot (or her husband) would order a new car without test driving it first.

once we have test driven the X4 I will report back. But it will be a few weeks yet.

Thanks again Nigel.

Arianne.

PS. A fully loaded current XC60 ticks some of the boxes but the geartronic box and suspension are not quite what I am seeking next time.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Arianne

Finally, the XC90. Like you, I agree it's a nice car. And so do the magazines. I think it looks classy inside and out and it's grown on me since launch. But we no longer really need the 7-seat layout, all that space (which translates into weight and blunts the driving performance and thrill). In other circumstances I would be tempted by what is a very good Volvo although I remain unconvinced about Volvo's decision to drop 4cyl diesels into all the models. And in the Volvo's case, a T6 isn't an option as the fuel economy is dire once the battery pack has been exhausted (25 mile range, if I recall correctly)..

Best wishes.

Arianne

The new XC90 D5 weighs almost the same as the XC60 D5 and has the same 0-62 time thanks to the power to weight ratio so it feels very lively despite the size. It is a very big car though, not so noticeable driving on the road but it is when you come to park it, and of course it is more expensive than an XC60 sized car.

I can't think of another XC60 size car that is as good looking as the car you already have. Difficult choice.

I did drive both D4 and D5 versions of the XC60 and I thought the D4 was perfectly adequate but the sound and power of the D5 combined with AWD were just sublime and I just couldn't stop myself buying one.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by Arianne

There is absolutely no way that I will buy a new car again without test driving the exact engine, gearbox and suspension setup. We only drove the D5 AWD XC60 before ordering the VEA version, basing our decision on the performance data. This is never the whole story. When I say we, I mean me! Mrs A has banned me from doing that again. She says she might not know much about cars, instead being heavily swayed by their looks, but she says she knows only a twot (or her husband) would order a new car without test driving it first.

Arianne.

PS. A fully loaded current XC60 ticks some of the boxes but the geartronic box and suspension are not quite what I am seeking next time.

Having also gone through the same decision making process that you undertook when I was in the market for a new SUV last Spring, a fully loaded D5 XC60 AWD with 4C & Polestar just ticked every box. Then with my VOC affinity discount and every other discount possible I ended up with c20% off a £55k car.
And have not looked back one iota.
Like myself, you & Mrs A must have a car that looks the part & feels in the bracket it is designed for. Also you have to love your car which when you where on this forum falling in love with your as yet unborn new car, I did several times have to stop myself from reminding you it was an untested engine as I could not bear to dampen your constant enthusiasm.
At least the new Shape XC60 in several years tine wil have a sorted engine by them............!
Regarding your other choices, I so loved the BMW 330/335 engines, they do sound the business.......but everything else about the car itself is so in your face - not for me.

[GMcL]

Originally Posted by Arianne

St James Park is a fabulous stadium.

Aye, we're just waiting for a team to deliver and fulfil the expectation (since 1969, the year I was born).
I took my son to his first game aged 9 in 2001 vs Liverpool on New Year's Day.
That free standing cantilever roof is the largest in Europe at 64.5 metres and build using the ash from the nearby Blyth Power Station (late 1990's, I worked for National Power at the time).

[MikeIOW]

Originally Posted by Arianne

We lost 1-0

I'll take Brendon Rogers or David Moyes right now. Losing is one thing, losing and playing so badly in the first half is what is so awful. I feel sorry for those fans who travelled eight hours each way to see that!

I'm grieving.

Arianne

Must say it isn't bad living in Leicester these days ;-)
Especially when my boss is a season-ticket Gooner, two others in the team from ManU & two Scousers....it's a most entertaining season

[St James]

For me, the Polestar transforms the Geartronic so much to the point of it feeling and driving like it's a totally different beast to the standard gearbox.

At least that's my experience from the boxes in the loan cars I've had when it's been at the Dealer.

My primary issue with the choices is the purchasing from new - it brings many cars into the equation that wouldn't get a look in from a financial perspective if you were to simply look at a 6-12 month old top-spec model (I never buy PCP, so residuals aren't in the calculation for me).

For example, when I was looking, my choice eventually came down to X3, XC60 and Touareg - I know the latter is much bigger than the other two, but I love the look of them and they have classy interiors (if a little boring, but I don't want a funfair when driving, I want function that looks good).

The problem I had was I wasn't considering brand new, I was looking at anything from 6-12 months, and at that age, the cheapest Touareg I could get with anything like a decent spec was £35k vs a new price (online broker) of £42k.

The cheapest X3 I could get was £34k (2 litre diesel, 3 litre was more like £38k) vs a new price (online broker) of £41k (mid £40s for the 3.0D).

Yes, the Touareg had the 3L V6 block (one of the reasons I like them, 550nm torque!), which would have been nice.

However, the XC60, unbelievably loaded (way more than either of the others), was £29k vs a new price (online broker) of £40k.

When I considered the value offered by Volvo, but the quality as well, the 5-pot thrum , the ability to Polestar and maintain warranty, etc, etc. it just became a no-brainer.

For me anyway.

I think in your position, I would edge towards a new Audi SQ5 via a broker; there are some amazing deals out there.