1st Impressions of my new XC60 T5

[macklij]

My first impressions are a mixed bag. To be fair, I only got my XC60 T5 two days ago and I have been too busy to play much. I have only driven it home from the dealer and played in the drive.

1. Build time was quick. Order 11 August. Delivered Friday.

2. Fusion red is lovely. Car looks generally fabulous.

3. Slight misalignment on driver's side rear door. Makes the chrome trims look slightly out of line, but the door isn't fully flush with the rear wing. Poor quality control.

4. Initially unimpressed with Harmon/Kardon audio. On further exploration this evening it looks like the sub-woofer isn't working. Adjusting it up and down makes no difference whatsoever. Maybe than is why the sound is 'thin'. Does anyone know where the sub is located, and where it ports into the cabin, so I can try and have a listen more closely?


Thanks

[RobQuads]

Originally Posted by Crockers

When I think of petrol v diesel I keep coming up with the following phrases / words
Quieter
Smoother
£3400 cheaper
Not the fuel of Satan

Whats fascinating is that very quickly the price difference becomes way closer 2nd hand, even in the 1 year olds some of them are roughly equally priced (maybe due to having 5 times diesels available?

For me too I would prefer the Petrol I think but if the prices are even not sure i can stomach the lower fuel consumption so will be interesting to see how you get on. Couple K difference second hand and petrol wins

[macklij]

Originally Posted by macklij

4. Initially unimpressed with Harman/Kardon audio. On further exploration this evening it looks like the sub-woofer isn't working. Adjusting it up and down makes no difference whatsoever. Maybe than is why the sound is 'thin'. Does anyone know where the sub is located, and where it ports into the cabin, so I can try and have a listen more closely?

I played a little more today. The sub-woofer is working (phew). It's just that many songs have a bass cut-off that is too high for the sub to actually kick in at all.

I was surprised that even apparently bass heavy songs like Black Eyed Peas 'Where is the love?', don't extend down to really low bass frequencies where the sub is active. Today I tried Lorde's 'Royals' - that kicked the sub into life

So full marks for Volvo and Harman for not succumbing to the bass heavy brigade. Overall, the HK stereo is good, but to be honest it's not a vast improvement on the Premium Sound I had in my V50 (sold today) except for graphical bells and whistles. I can't remember how much that was; but certainly over £600 in 2006, so probably the in same ballpark as Harman/Kardon now.

[WhatNext?]

4. Initially unimpressed with Harmon/Kardon audio. On further exploration this evening it looks like the sub-woofer isn't working. Adjusting it up and down makes no difference whatsoever. Maybe than is why the sound is 'thin'. Does anyone know where the sub is located, and where it ports into the cabin, so I can try and have a listen more closely?


Interesting ... I was also a bit unimpressed having never listened to the HK prior to purchase. Thought the standard system was good, but not quite as good as the one in my old Merc, so ordered the HK option


Having tested mine today, I can confirm the sub-woofer option does not appear to make any difference on mine too. I'm waiting for it to be booked in.


Another issue I noted is the wipers does not always go back fully ... some time it goes back to about 95%, then 2 seconds later goes back completely. At other times it just stays at the 95 % position (ie. I can see it just above the bonnet line). Can anyone confirm if this is normal behaviour?

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by Bloke69

Another issue I noted is the wipers does not always go back fully ... some time it goes back to about 95%, then 2 seconds later goes back completely. At other times it just stays at the 95 % position (ie. I can see it just above the bonnet line). Can anyone confirm if this is normal behaviour?

I have also noticed this and am trying to find any logic behind why this happens.
In all times I have had the wipers in the Auto-rain sensor mode when this happens.

[macklij]

Originally Posted by Bloke69

Having tested mine today, I can confirm does the sub-woofer option does not appear to make any difference on mine too. I'm waiting for it to be booked in.

Before you book it in, try a few different songs if you haven't already. Sometimes the obvious 'bassy' tunes don't actually have low enough frequencies to activate the sub. I found a couple of songs where changing the subwoofer control from minimum to maximum did make a difference, so my sub is definitely working.

[PaulBendall]

For a track that really challenges a music system, requiring control with deep bass I always try out Leftfield's, 21st Century Poem, from Leftism. The song is 5 minutes 45 seconds long and has some significant bass and treble with stereo movement. The track appears to end at 4 minutes 38 seconds as all goes quiet until 5 minutes and 9 seconds where deep bass kicks in building in intensity. Only good systems can play it without booming or distortion.

Having said all that I have yet to try it out on my XC60 B&W system.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by PaulBendall

For a track that really challenges a music system, requiring control with deep bass I always try out Leftfield's, 21st Century Poem, from Leftism. The song is 5 minutes 45 seconds long and has some significant bass and treble with stereo movement. The track appears to end at 4 minutes 38 seconds as all goes quiet until 5 minutes and 9 seconds where deep bass kicks in building in intensity. Only good systems can play it without booming or distortion.

Having said all that I have yet to try it out on my XC60 B&W system.

Just listening to this track now, love the way the music builds and fades throughout.
Will try it in the car tomorrow.........

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by PaulBendall

For a track that really challenges a music system, requiring control with deep bass I always try out Leftfield's, 21st Century Poem, from Leftism. The song is 5 minutes 45 seconds long and has some significant bass and treble with stereo movement. The track appears to end at 4 minutes 38 seconds as all goes quiet until 5 minutes and 9 seconds where deep bass kicks in building in intensity. Only good systems can play it without booming or distortion.

Having said all that I have yet to try it out on my XC60 B&W system.

Mmm listened to it, I see where you are coming from regarding stereo effect, base etc, but glad I dont share a long journey in your car though, but hey ho we all have different tastes in music and you would probably not like mine.

Some people even went out and bought the birdie song, they actually parted with real money for it, AND for the Floral dance by Terry Wogan. (any other songs to add to these folks)
🙏🙉☺

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by simonjedrake

Just listening to this track now, love the way the music builds and fades throughout.
Will try it in the car tomorrow.........

Excellent track to test the sub-woofer, I am sure my car was literally bouncing on its air suspension for the last 30 odd seconds ........ and was delighted to report that my sub-woofer ha passed it’s test.

My previous track to test a car’s sound system was by Metallica called “All nightmares long” from the album Death Magnetic which again might not be Nulleaf’s choice............