Auxiliary fuel-fired heater vs. Remote Start

[jmot]

Originally Posted by nu11eaf

You can set up your XC90 so the heated seats, steering wheel heat, front and rear screen heaters and mirrors come on automatically when engine started if ambient temp is low enough to require them, this also works when using romote start, the cabin heater or aircon comes on to last setting. I think the trigger point is around 9 degrees for the seats, screens etc,

Oh nice info thanks. The whole process for ordering our xc90 has been rather disjointed as found a crazy good lease deal on whatcar from dealer 50+ miles away. Test drove at local volvo who's salesman was utterly useless. Provided us no proper info. Everything about the car we've basically learnt off internet lol. Getting delivered to house in March.

Volvo support via Facebook were unable to answer this question and selling dealer provided nothing but a "yes" so thanks for your detailed answer, appreciate it.

[shortword]

Originally Posted by jmot

Oh nice info thanks. The whole process for ordering our xc90 has been rather disjointed as found a crazy good lease deal on whatcar from dealer 50+ miles away. Test drove at local volvo who's salesman was utterly useless. Provided us no proper info. Everything about the car we've basically learnt off internet lol. Getting delivered to house in March.

Volvo support via Facebook were unable to answer this question and selling dealer provided nothing but a "yes" so thanks for your detailed answer, appreciate it.

You can set a timer for the car to pre-heat to in the 'Parking Climate' section of Sensus. I've got it set for 07:30 Mon-Fri and we always get into a nice warm car every morning!

[russellsg]

I just took delivery of my Volvo XC90 with the fuel fired heater and it is definitely worth it. You can set a timer and it also means passengers can sit in the car and stay warm without the engine running. You don't want to be running the engine to stay warm in a confined space. That has to be a good thing.

Only annoying thing about it is that I don't think you can adjust the comfort temperature which seems to be set at 20 degrees centigrade.

Not sure I understand the comments where people say that you don't really need it in the UK. I live in Harrogate and it is cold 8 months of the year but maybe that is because I have just been in Singapore for the last few years.

[neon]

I find it a useful option, but not sure it is £1200 useful especially as I found I could not use it quite a lot due to low battery warnings. There was a workaround by using remote start and then switching it on in this situation, but hardly ideal after spending all that money for it.
I would check out if it is ok to use it in a confined space as it is still using the fuel and creating fumes.

What I have not really considered is the benefits for faster heating and warming the engine.

[AB-UK]

Originally Posted by russellsg

but maybe that is because I have just been in Singapore for the last few years.

You think!!!!!!

Jealous!

[Lexman8]

After my initial comms problems were fixed, the aux heater has worked perfectly. Apart form the cabin heat, I particularly like how it reduces diesel clatter from a cold engine and enables stop/start to work almost immediately.

I'm still using it now on some of these cool mornings. Just 10 mins use is enough to make a difference.
_

[Quacker]

Beware about using it in confined spaces because it combusts diesel fuel just like the engine and has an exhaust. As far as I know these things are not covered by emission regulations and I suspect they may pollute more than the car engine by a significant margin.
I can't understand why it is an extra cost option. Apart from the timer and remote control, both my Q7 and Range Rover had it as standard and I'm fairly sure that the X5 did too. All these just worked automatically in cold weather for a rapid rise in cabin temperature. Also when cabin heat was required when the engine was off and the residual coolant heat low.
£1200 is taking the pee just a bit, but that's where car manufacturers make their highest margins. In the extras.

I mean, just look at a Bentley Bentayga with a typical £70,000 worth of extras on top of its basic price. That's the purchase price of a very very high spec XC90 with all the extras imaginable, or a well specified Range Rover sport complete and on the road, in OPTIONAL EXTRAS!!! They rely on people not being concerned with and having no real concept of the real value of money.

[skyefarmer]

Winter here again and was enjoying this thread. I have one question about the aux. heater on my MY17 XC90 - can I start it from the key fob? I've read SwissXC90 mention before that he has used 'three clicks on the remote' to start his, but I can't see that option in my manual. The VOC app works well when I'm in town, but on Skye, there's no mobile signal where I live...

[Considered1]

Originally Posted by skyefarmer

The VOC app works well when I'm in town, but on Skye, there's no mobile signal where I live...

We're the same here very patchy signal esp indoors. I moved to EE for mobile and there WIFI Calling feature works well. Started the car no problem. Other networks will probably offer something similar now but not tried them and dont work for EE

[familymangreg]

Originally Posted by Considered1

We're the same here very patchy signal esp indoors. I moved to EE for mobile and there WIFI Calling feature works well. Started the car no problem. Other networks will probably offer something similar now but not tried them and dont work for EE

Note that all VoC features work over your phones internet connection, so as long as you either have an internet connection via cellular connection, or you are on Wifi, VoC will work. That is, you could switch off mobile data on your phone, and as long as you have a Wifi connection, VoC will work.

I use VoC on my iPad which I don't even have a SIM card in at present.

:wq