Considering S90

[pinheadplanet]

Hi All,

Are there really no threads about S90's on here? I did a search of S90 and it returned 'no results found'!

Anyway, I am considering buying an S90 but unfortunately the model/colour scheme I want is only available at a Car Supermarket and those places don't have the best reputation really.

I took the car for a test drive and everything was fine until I got up to 70 mph when the car started juddering/shaking through the steering wheel. It got worse the faster you went.

Is this just a case of wheel balancing or could it be indicative of something worse?

I know the car comes with 3 months warranty but the store is over 100 miles from where I live and having to take it back would be a complete nightmare, plus there's always the chance of them saying something like maybe I hit the kerb and caused the damage!

My fear comes from the fact that it's a 16 plate car with 2 owners, yet the last owner took ownership at the end of April 2019 so that means they're selling it on after only 11 weeks or so. It could just be the case they didn't like it/it was too big etc etc but it makes me wary.

It seems it was a lease car before as it has Paragon Lease Solutions as the PDI & a BCA Lease Solutions stamp in the service book. I'm guessing it was a Directors car as it has a huge spec (over £12k of extras) and it had a private plate. It only has 10k miles on it.

On the basis of "It's a car, it can be fixed, it's under warranty" do I go ahead?
Thanks
Kelv

[john.wigley]

Good morning, 'pinheadplanet'. I fear that you are posting in the forum which includes the original S90, a later incarnation of the 960 produced in the late '90s.

A forum including the 'new' S90, which is of interest to you, may be found towards the bottom of the main page. A post in that forum will, I am sure, elicit the information that you require.

Regards. John.

[pinheadplanet]

My Apologies, Thanks.

Admin please close this down, I cannot see a delete button.

[Laird Scooby]

What John said and a link to get you started : https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=202

Not sure on the newer S90 but the original was pretty rare in this country. Aside from the suspected wheel balance problem, i'd avoid lease cars like the plague.

The lease copmpany only pays for the absolute minimum service work, not for the "extras" that should be part of a service such as lubricating the locks, hinges, latches, sunroof seals and other little "attentions to detail" that can make the difference between a totally trouble free car and one that constantly has niggles such as lock barrels sticking, latches being worn causing false alarms on the alarm system and so on.

[SteveP]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

The lease copmpany only pays for the absolute minimum service work

I'd normally agree but given the car in question has only done 10k miles, I wouldn't expect it to be too much to worry about.

[rwdkev]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

.....not for the "extras" that should be part of a service such as lubricating the locks, hinges, latches, sunroof seals and other little "attentions to detail" that can make the difference between a totally trouble free car and one that constantly has niggles such as lock barrels sticking, latches being worn causing false alarms on the alarm system and so on.

I totally agree with you Dave - you're a man after my own heart!!

There's a very big difference between an independent "service" and a proper Volvo dealer service as itemised by the Volvo check list. For all my Volvo's over the last 30 years I've always made a point of getting hold of the proper service check lists. Most of the items stipulated are indeed check / adjust if necessary / lubricate. Like you say, locks, latches and hinges are a good examples of things that can cause problems if neglected.

[pinheadplanet]

Originally Posted by Laird Scooby

What John said and a link to get you started : https://www.volvoforums.org.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=202

The lease copmpany only pays for the absolute minimum service work.

Sorry I should just clear this up. Paragon Lease Co did the PDI and BCA lease did the first service at 1600 miles. After that it was serviced a year later by Paul Rigby Volvo in Birmingham at 6000 miles.

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by pinheadplanet

Sorry I should just clear this up. Paragon Lease Co did the PDI and BCA lease did the first service at 1600 miles. After that it was serviced a year later by Paul Rigby Volvo in Birmingham at 6000 miles.

Doesn't make any difference if it was still under lease, even main dealers won't do all the "nice bits". I've worked in a main dealers not far from you and every time a lease car came in for service, i was specifically reminded and instructed NOT to do the full works of locks, latches, hinges, screenwash, sunroof and so on.

Turns out this is common practice with lease cars, absolute bare minimum servicing. Doesn't matter what make/model etc, no frills. Ever!

The worrying bit for me more than anything is the current owner has only had it under 3 months. Either they bought it to sell on at a modest profit quickly or they've found an underlying fault that is the reason the lease company got shot of it in the first place. At one time, lease cars were a 3 year/70k mile contract so on that basis, why is it now in the private market? Granted it's approaching 3 years old (maybe already 3 years old) but it's very low mileage. Yes, it could have been a directors car and only used from his home to his self-built business 2 miles away and high days and holidays and the occasional business trip but it still seems unbelievably low mileage.

Obviously there could be legitimate reasons and it might be a genuine car, i'm only trying to point out some of the possible pitfalls so you can go into the deal with both eyes open.

Might be worth getting the seller to have the wheels balanced and then another test drive, if it still shakes walk away.

[pinheadplanet]

Yeah, that's where were at. Car Shop are supposed to be fixing it and then I'll test drive it again, but I can see my online reserve on the vehicle has been removed and it's 'for sale' again on their website. I emailed the sales person but got no reply, seems to be the way of things with them!

[Laird Scooby]

Originally Posted by pinheadplanet

Yeah, that's where were at. Car Shop are supposed to be fixing it and then I'll test drive it again, but I can see my online reserve on the vehicle has been removed and it's 'for sale' again on their website. I emailed the sales person but got no reply, seems to be the way of things with them!

That smells wrong to me! Almost as if they know what the problem is and that balancing the wheels won't sort it so it's easier to find another mug to pay the £21k they want for it, assuming it's this one :

https://www.carshop.co.uk/used-car/VOLVO/S90/KW16YLM

I think there's something in the law now that cars over a certain value must have a longer warranty than 3 months, it may even still be covered by a Volvo warranty so worth checking those things out. Maybe a phone call to the sales manager to find out why your online reservation has disappeared although i noticed a button on the screen that said reserve for 5 days so maybe it's just expired.