Possibly buying an XC60

[Ullevi]

Hi all,newbie here!

I am a Volvo virgin and am seriously looking at getting a XC60 later on in the year.

Reading this forum however is making me rather nervous with regards to AWB failures in the XC90.

Do you feel this is something I should worry about?Does the XC60 have an AWD failure light or has the AWD system been modified?

Also,in regards to engines,I have searched the forum and found very useful info,but the posts mainly relate to the diesel engines.I am looking to get the 3L T6,does anyone have any info on what that engine is like?(Thirsty,I know!)

Thanks in advance,Vince.

[RoyMacDonald]

Originally Posted by Ullevi

Hi all,newbie here!

I am a Volvo virgin and am seriously looking at getting a XC60 later on in the year.

Reading this forum however is making me rather nervous with regards to AWB failures in the XC90.

Do you feel this is something I should worry about?Does the XC60 have an AWD failure light or has the AWD system been modified?

Also,in regards to engines,I have searched the forum and found very useful info,but the posts mainly relate to the diesel engines.I am looking to get the 3L T6,does anyone have any info on what that engine is like?(Thirsty,I know!)

Thanks in advance,Vince.

Have you checked out the tax as well on that model? Could be expensive.

Don't look at the no of posts, look at the no of people who have had a failure. I think it's about between 5 and 10. Out of the 40,000 XC90's sold in the UK since launch I'd expect to see more people posting if it was a major problem. Also remember that the AWD is fitted on far more vehicles than the XC90. Definatly on the XC70 and I think also on an S80 model and some of the sportier cars. Also the repair cost seems not too expensive ( about £250) as long as you go to a garage that's capable of dismantling it and dosn't try and get you to pay for other bits as well. I assume all XC60's are going to be under warrenty still as well.

Very nice looking car I must say.

All the best.

Roy

[Clan]

Originally Posted by RoyMacDonald

Have you checked out the tax as well on that model? Could be expensive.

Don't look at the no of posts, look at the no of people who have had a failure. I think it's about between 5 and 10. Out of the 40,000 XC90's sold in the UK since launch I'd expect to see more people posting if it was a major problem. Also remember that the AWD is fitted on far more vehicles than the XC90. Definatly on the XC70 and I think also on an S80 model and some of the sportier cars. Also the repair cost seems not too expensive ( about £250) as long as you go to a garage that's capable of dismantling it and dosn't try and get you to pay for other bits as well. I assume all XC60's are going to be under warrenty still as well.

Very nice looking car I must say.

All the best.

Roy

Also the final drives and angle gears have been redesigned since 2007 , not because of any faults but to rationalise them into the ford umbrella ...

[RoyMacDonald]

Thanks for the reminder Clan.

Yes mine has the 2002 version. It was redesigned in 2006 and in 2008. I guess for the reasons Clan mentioned.

Roy

[Dave Brown]

Originally Posted by Ullevi

Hi all,newbie here!

I am a Volvo virgin and am seriously looking at getting a XC60 later on in the year.

Reading this forum however is making me rather nervous with regards to AWB failures in the XC90.

Do you feel this is something I should worry about?Does the XC60 have an AWD failure light or has the AWD system been modified?

Also,in regards to engines,I have searched the forum and found very useful info,but the posts mainly relate to the diesel engines.I am looking to get the 3L T6,does anyone have any info on what that engine is like?(Thirsty,I know!)

Thanks in advance,Vince.

Hi Vince,

I ran an XC60 T6 SE LUX for about six weeks in the autumn
The new T6 is a really good unit, so much better than the old 2.9 T6 found in early XC90 & S80
Very smooth and fluid delivery, makes a nice noise which is a bonus,
Its an easier unit to get on with than the 3.2 I've got at the moment, MPG wise after the initial "lets see what this will do" phase that gave 5.8MPG it settled down to just under 20, brochure says 23.7 combined and I think on a run thats achievable.
For reference I get 17 average from 3.2 as it doesn't pick up as well & needs some persuasion to get going sometimes.

Very impressed with the car overall & we are having a T6 to replace the XC70 late spring as soon as I find one I like the specification of.

Some people I know have and will again mention RFL being expensive but isnt it relative?
This car is going to cost you £35-40K, why compromise over an extra £190 a year if its what you want?

Dave

[RoyMacDonald]

I thought this list of cars that use the Haldax AWD might be of interest......http://www.haldex.com/en-GB/Europe/A...s--Car-models/

32 models so far.

Roy

[RoyMacDonald]

Useful facts?

The Haldax AWD was first used on the Audi TT in 1998.

AWD 1.......1998 to 2002 (1998 to 2002 XC70 ?)
AWD 2.......2002 to 2005 (2002 to 2006 in the XC90)
AWD 3.......2005 to 2007 (2006 to 2008 in the XC90)
AWD 4.......2007 onwards. (2008 onwards in the xC90)

Roy

[Ullevi]

Many thanks for your reassurances and thanks,Dave for letting me know about your experience with the T6 model.

Thirsty,it certainly is,but as long as you go in with your eyes open and are not too fussed re economy then that's fair enough.I am a little surprised Volvo have not gone down the route of SAABs Bioethanol route,E85 or whatever they call it,although supply is a real problem in the UK.

Once again,thanks,and I'll keep you posted.Likely I'll get a test drive organized later on in the year,but I suspect it'll be a diesel powered XC60 as the T6 will be harder to find.

[RoyMacDonald]

[QUOTE=Ullevi;475569]I am a little surprised Volvo have not gone down the route of SAABs Bioethanol route,E85 or whatever they call it,although supply is a real problem in the UK.

QUOTE]

Volvo have, but I don't get it as bioethanol is 40% less efficient than petrol so by the time you add in all the extra tranportation and storage costs and extra garages that would be needed, to say nothing of all the land that would be taken out of food production and the cost of the food that had to compete at oil prices if there was a major switch to bioethanol. I seems to me that it's not a green soulution at all.

Roy

[RoyMacDonald]

Haldex have just announced that they've just produced their two millionth coupling.

Roy