|
|
|
Hi all,
I am looking at an AWD or light 4WD vehicle. We are planning a road trip to the Snowy Mountains. I will be driving my Nissan Patrol and my son will be driving the to buy AWD. The Nissan Xtrail is apparently a great car. It ticks many boxes. Although the Nissan ticks many boxes, it's the out side that I really do not like. To be honest, I find them very boring. But with a little lift, bigger tires etc they can be made Okay-ish. The inside of the Xtrail is not much better....The Subaru Forester is on the cards too.
I have always loved Volvo wagon's and I like the XC70 and XC90. I am looking at the earlier models. Somewhere between 2000 and 2005-ish. (That's the same for the Xtrail.)
Do you know anything about these things? Can you please tell me all about it?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I can't help with the Volvo and apologise for going off at a tangent but did you consider the Toyota Hilux Surf / 4Runner? Very capable on poor roads and in difficult driving conditions, don't break easily and are affordable. Interiors are a bit pedestrian but that's not too much of a compromise.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks mate. I like a Surf/Hilux/4Runner and know them very well. I only need a light 4WD. I have the Patrol for more serious work. Something more luxurious is what I am after.
|
|
|
|
Paul Y
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,948
|
|
|
Not owned one but my brother had a XC90 for a number of years. Seemed reliable enough until we had a really bad winter a few years ago and he then realised that the 4x4 had packed up. Seems to be a common fault so worth checking for if you go this route. P.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Only ever driven new or practically new vehicles and liked them a lot ( demonstrator delivery) and very capable in most road conditions, we weren’t allowed to go off-roading but they were good enough that I thought I might like one The only thing I do remember that when a long term demo came back( just over a year old and 50k ish miles) the interior had taken a hammering, although whether that was build quality or the usual it’s not my car treatment I couldn’t say, a lot of it was broken clips etc I too seem to remember there were AWD drive issues as well
|
|
|
|
OGDB
Part of things
Posts: 544
|
|
|
I bought my first Volvo last year and I absolutely love it, it makes me wonder why I haven’t bought one before and I can honestly say I will certainly buy another. Performance wise I feel mine is fantastic, space in them rivals most vans I’ve had, comfort is most probably the best I’ve had and the driving experience is just a very pleasant one. They seem to be an ideal compromise of needing a bit of everything.That said I intentionally avoided the AWD models due to the way they catastrophically fail. Or so I’m told.
My information was relevant to the V70R models, however the XC90 may well be different. I do really like the XC90 and they seem to have come down in price significantly over the years which is also part of an appeal factor for me.
What model are you interested in? The T6 is so appealing to me but I know fully well the fuel costs won’t be.
Also going off on a tangent I’ve owned all sorts of things and the best 4x4 vehicles I’ve had bar none are 90s Mitsubishi’s. With a decent set of tyres mine used to go pretty much anywhere at our local site with no great trouble. The only time they came unstuck was due to the larger wheel base when things like SJs and Defenders would come into their own. My last one was an import challenger which I paid the grand sum of £400 for.
So in answer to your question, I was put off of buying an AWD Volvo because of the horror stories on the internet, which, are most certainly blown out of all proportion and not a real worry, much like IMS on a Porsche and a Head gasket on a K-series. There are a lot of spares or repairs XC90s online for sale, but the majority of them have mega miles on them. Buy with your eyes wide open and you should be ok.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I have a xc90. It's a great motor. Negative points are 27mpg and limited turning circle. You need ro watch the road tax as some years spiked to 550 around 06. The thing to watch for is the haldex. It's the control for the 4wd. Join this gang www.volvoforums.org.uk/Cheers jed
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Had an XC70 hire car in Canada in the winter some years back. Lots of snow, -18degC, you get the idea. Awesome vehicle. Obviously can't comment on long term reliability though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thanks mate. I like a Surf/Hilux/4Runner and know them very well. I only need a light 4WD. I have the Patrol for more serious work. Something more luxurious is what I am after. It's probably going to tick the luxury boxes but if you're talking kerb weight (?) the XC90 is significantly heavier than the Surf, probably battery weight.
|
|
|
|
OGDB
Part of things
Posts: 544
|
|
|
I have a xc90. It's a great motor. Negative points are 27mpg and limited turning circle. You need ro watch the road tax as some years spiked to 550 around 06. The thing to watch for is the haldex. It's the control for the 4wd. Join this gang www.volvoforums.org.uk/Cheers jed I can certainly agree that the turning circle on my volvo is painful. Makes parking into those tighter spots a nightmare.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
They fixed it on the mk2 s80 I had. But changed to the xc90 and its poor. Its cos the engine and autobox are so wide.
|
|
|
|
norm75
Part of things
Posts: 658
|
|
|
Wife's business partner has had an xc90 for around 10 years. It's a comfortable and capable car, but as mentioned the haldex system can go wrong and leave it in 2 wheel drive (this happened to hers) They also have auto box problems, and various cem and built in audio problems as most modern volvos suffer from.
I'm on my 4th Volvo (not 4wd) and did consider one, but having owned a Subaru Impreza for 12 years and having hardly any issues with it I would say get a forrester xt. Yes they will only seat 5, but boot should be big enough, and with the right tyres on capable off road. Or maybe have a look at Subaru Legacy outback. AVOID DIESELS RHOUGH.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The XC90 is a nice enough car, but not really something that sees a great deal of use for off road stuff asides maybe towong a horse box across a grassy field.
I believe it's a quirk of their AWD system that they're front wheel drive only in reverse.
I'd also consider a diesel E53 X5 as they have a better 4WD layout.
Personally I've a lot of love for Td5 Discoverys, the other half and I have one each. Both purchased for less than £500 in need of a bit of work, and both have proved to be a lot of car for the money. Spend a bit more and you can get something rather decent if you're prepared to be picky and wait for a gppd one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Road Tax in Australia is what we call Rego (Registration) it's calculated on the amound of Cylinders. 3 and 4 Cylinder cars is about $340 for 6 Mths. (Queensland) 5 and 6 Cyl about $470 for 6 Mths.(I thought) 7? and 8 Cyl about $590 for 6 Mths.(I thought) Could me more could be less. It doesn't matter how old your car is unless you get the historic rego. But that's something all together. This is a bit of a silly system as my 2013 3 Cyl Suzuki Alto is the same in rego costs as my wifes 2006 Honda Odyssey wich uses more fuel, is heavier etc. Anyway, I am not in a hurry and saw a really nice Volvo www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/595941827935369/But I am happy to look at others. The LR looks good too
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
There about 10 CX90's for sale under the $5000 and about 8 of them have automatic gearbox problems. That's a bit of a worry. Secondhand car here in Australia are in comparison to GB very expensive. On the up side I hardly ever look for rust on a car as most car have no or very little rust. High KM's is the norm on older cars.
What I am worried about is these 3 lights in the LR. I have read so much horror stories about that as well. I haven't looked into the BMW X5 yet. I haven't read many horror stories about the Xtrail and Forester/Outback.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
unless you're mudding on knobblies I wouldn't get hung up on the awd, good winters on a V70 will get you most places with a significant saving in potential bills and running costs.
|
|
|
|
Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
|
|
|
unless you're mudding on knobblies I wouldn't get hung up on the awd, good winters on a V70 will get you most places with a significant saving in potential bills and running costs. Can you even get winter tyres in Australia?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In the UK you really don't see many old XC90s any more, just like you don't see the original BMW X5's any more. Too much complexity has ruled them off our roads I think.
I'd go for the Hilux Surf option as mentioned above for sanity. Anything else is just vanity ;->
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
I considered an XC90 recently when looking for an interesting/cheap daily. In theory they ticked all the boxes but they all seemed to have, or have had at some stage, gearbox problems.
|
|
|
|
thomfr
Part of things
Trying to assemble the Duett again..
Posts: 641
|
|
|
Hello, Void automatics and check the haldex 4wd ,they are known for driveshaft vibrations at higher milages. Emmision stuff on engines van block resulting in bad running or even engine damage if not corrected. They are great when looked after but a Forester is stronger and easier (if you van live with the looks). Thom (Volvo carnut but only 2wd)
|
|
73' Alfa Giulia Super 64' Volvo Duett 65' Volvo Duett 67' Volvo Amazon 123GT 09' Ford Focus 1.8 06' Citroen C4 Exclusive
71' Benelli Motorella 65' Cyrus Speciaal
The difference between men and boys is the price of their toys
|
|
|