Should I buy an XC90?

[Cha76]

Good morning,

Should I buy a XC90? I have a budget of up to 9k and I have always admired the XC90. But with so many different models, what ones should I avoid. And at what kind of mileage do you need to start spending on expensive parts ie timing belts and the like.

Thanks.

[aland]

I can only advise based on my 2008 D5 manual, bought on around 120k miles 5 years ago and now on 165k.
In that time, other than servicing, it's needed the rear self-leveling shocks and the swirl flaps replacing - a common issue on the Euro 4 / 185 engine. I did all the work myself to keep the cost down.
I've also replaced most of the front suspension bushes, ball-joints and brakes to sort creaks, a knock and pulling to one side under braking - most of these were annoyances rather than essential.

The DMF flywheel is starting to get rattly when cold, and I'll replace that and the clutch when it gets worse / I have time.
The automatic version doesn't suffer from this AFAIK.

As to what to avoid - depends on your preference of economy vs performance.
The rare V8 has the best performance but the worst MPG. The T6 petrol is known to have a rubbish gearbox (both only available in automatic). The rare 3.2 non-T6 has a better gearbox.
The D5 is most common, available in auto and manual, and provided it has good history and does not drink oil (a few threads about for that) is usually a good bet. They are more thirsty pushing around a 2.2 tonne brick though, compared to the same engine is say a V70.
Early examples suffered from loss of drive to the rear axle, but that was fixed around 2007 and later.

[ian ferguson]

just to add to the above, you should avoid the higher rood tax version which is around 2006

[aland]

Originally Posted by ian ferguson

just to add to the above, you should avoid the higher rood tax version which is around 2006

True. IIRC my 2008 car was a lower tax band for the manual version compared with the automatic one.

[Cha76]

Hi Aland,
thanks for your reply. The model I’m thinking about is a 59 plate 2.4 d5 active geartronic automatic 66k. I’ve currently got a zafira at the moment and I hate it but the kids are getting bigger now and I just like how the Volvo looks. So I am just looking for advice on rough running costs. I do around 150 mls a week,mostly motorway.

Thanks

[SwissXC90]

Originally Posted by Cha76

So I am just looking for advice on rough running costs. I do around 150 mls a week,mostly motorway.

If I understand the UK system properly, "59 plate" means it is likely a MY2009 vehicle, which is same as mine. The D5 diesel of this era is EURO4.

Fuel on a EURO4 D5 diesel averages at 10L/100km, which is 28 MPG.

Mechanical issues can be costly, like any car, and can negate any lower fuel consumption and road charges for earlier models

Add to that all your usual annual charges and an annual service

[Cha76]

So what are the better spec cars.? What kind of mileage do the big cost items start to need replacing.? Automatic or manual ? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks in advance.

[Bonefishblues]

Volvo owner, wandered around the forum for a while, and I think, on balance, I would answer 'no, you shouldn't'. Great cars, but my subjective impression is that they are rather frangible, and potentially expensively so.

[Tannaton]

The “active” models are a basic spec which I would avoid, the fake leather seat covers are prone to wearing through - however if you find a good one they have lower residual values so are better value second hand.

I would avoid R Design models also, again the spec can be low but they have big, sporty wheels and a set of tyres can cost twice as much as on the active models that have 17” wheels...

SE, SE LUX and Executive models have good spec, Sat nav was an expensive option so is not as common as you might expect - if you want it look carefully.

One final point, statistically and in practice the XC90 is the safest car on the UK roads to taxi your children around it.... no one has ever been killed in one in since it was introduced in 2003, either as a driver or passenger, that is really quite remarkable.

Auto models give the best drive but manuals are more economical.

[XJSDriver]

Also worth bearing in mind that spares are plentiful as this model has been long running if and when things do go wrong; if you or a mate can do the maintenance (lots of videos plus Vida diagnostics) then this can be a far less expensive car to run than many other premium models.
If you cannot do the maintenance or do not have a friendly indie then Bonefishblues is likely correct as things will go wrong, but if you can wield a set of spanners I would go for it - if you like the car of course!