Dear Volvo UK letter re XC60 MY19 options request

[Schnorbitz]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

Dear Volvo UK
As a long time Volvo Owner having purchased over 10 Volvo's in my life time, I would like to purchase my next Volvo to replace my 3 year old XC60 D5, but I am in the unfortunate position of living in almost the only part of the world that does not allow me to select the options that everybody else are allowed to select/purchase.

I am looking to purchase a XC60 Inscription Pro AWD with the below options all of which are currently NOT available in the UK:
1. T6 Engine (available in most other parts of the world)
2. Subwoofer (available just over the border in Ireland as an optional extra)
3. Gearshift Paddles (also available just over the border in Ireland as an optional extra)

Could I request that Volvo UK make these XC60 options that are already available in most of the world part of the UK MY19 configuration update

Can you ask for a 5 seat XC90 while you're at it, please?

[GuidoBrunetti]

According to a Google search, the population size of the Republic of Ireland is only 4.77 million whereas that of the United Kingdom is 65.6 million.

Perhaps the ROI market is so small that they don’t have many local staff and so decisions on model features are taken elsewhere, maybe even at HQ, whereas the Volvo UK staff have to justify their existence by pretending to understand UK market requirements (ie copy what BMW and Audi offer).

I can quite easily understand that Volvo might wish to restrict the range of interior options for all right hand drive markets versus those available for left hand drive so they don’t get left with unuseable components but that’s clearly not the case here.

[familymangreg]

Just had a quick look at the Swedish car configurator. I note you can option an all black steering wheel with the blonde interior, instead of the two tone one. If this option were available in the UK I'm sure I would spec blonde, but the two tone wheel just isn't my taste.

:wq

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by familymangreg

Just had a quick look at the Swedish car configurator. I note you can option an all black steering wheel with the blonde interior, instead of the two tone one. If this option were available in the UK I'm sure I would spec blonde, but the two tone wheel just isn't my taste.

:wq

That was exactly why I went for Amber - it comes with a normal colour wheel.....

[Philip Fisher]

Originally Posted by Schnorbitz

Can you ask for a 5 seat XC90 while you're at it, please?

I'll have one too.

23 months and 52k miles and my 6th and 7th seats have never been sat in......

Does anyone know what happens with the extra space in the 5 seater? Can you then get a spare wheel in the T8 if you only have the 5 seater?

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by GuidoBrunetti

......whereas the Volvo UK staff have to justify their existence by pretending to understand UK market requirements (ie copy what BMW and Audi offer).

Totally agree, which surely is why the T6 power unit should be available in the UK to allow Volvo UK to compete in the BHP range when you are up against a German 6 cylinder power unit. We all understand and "mainly" accept that Volvo will only manufacture 4 or 3 cylinder units but as they do produce a pretty useful T6 why not make it available.............after all the ICE element of the T8 is guess what .......... a T6. It is just the rear electric motors/battery/etc that make it a T8 - which clearly demonstrates that the T6 can be easily type approved for the UK!

[id5]

Originally Posted by GuidoBrunetti

...
Perhaps the ROI market is so small that they don’t have many local staff and so decisions on model features are taken elsewhere, maybe even at HQ, whereas the Volvo UK staff have to justify their existence by pretending to understand UK market requirements
...

I think you have it right there Guido, a jobsworth in the UK that they could just get rid of.

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by familymangreg

Just had a quick look at the Swedish car configurator. I note you can option an all black steering wheel with the blonde interior, instead of the two tone one. If this option were available in the UK I'm sure I would spec blonde, but the two tone wheel just isn't my taste.

:wq

I really like my blonde interior but hate the steering wheel. I looked at swapping it for a black one but it was stupidly expensive to do.

Also why no T5 engine on UK XC90s? It's available in the ROI so not a RHD issue. I really don't like diesels but I couldn't justify the price hike of a T6 over a D5 so ended up with a D5. Given the current backlash against diesels I would've thought offering the T5 engine would be a smart move.

And while I'm at it, I was able to order Adaptive Headlamps for my Momentum but now the only way to get them is to order the Pro variant of an R-Design or Inscription.

[NewVolvo]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

I really like my blonde interior but hate the steering wheel. I looked at swapping it for a black one but it was stupidly expensive to do.

Also why no T5 engine on UK XC90s? It's available in the ROI so not a RHD issue. I really don't like diesels but I couldn't justify the price hike of a T6 over a D5 so ended up with a D5. Given the current backlash against diesels I would've thought offering the T5 engine would be a smart move.

And while I'm at it, I was able to order Adaptive Headlamps for my Momentum but now the only way to get them is to order the Pro variant of an R-Design or Inscription.

But this is Volvo we are talking about and as we all know, Volvo UK are NOT the smartest on earth.....clearly!

Not offering all the colors, 5-seater version, Engines and various options......what the hell are they thinking?!

[reggie59]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Can you not just order from Ireland? And get the options you want? Or Germany or Belgium?

Subwoofer should be an easy add on after delivery if the wiring is there, paddles maybe not

That might work out expensive right now. Cars are relatively cheap in England due to the quick pound depreciation.

I bought a brand new car in Germany in 1997 when the pound went up quickly in no time making cars in Germany a bargain. Anyway, the was spec like a German car.. the dealer just added one essential extra... The rhd pack!