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[Andy B]

.....

my own personal thought is that they're not that reliable (omegas). my mates are always taking the mick for the stuff ive had to do to it compared with what they've not had to do  .
 ..... 

I've slagged my car off over the years, but it's only really stranded me a handful of times, the most notable was within weeks of buying the thing but I still had my Senator to bail it out. The crank sensor once failed SWMBO in 4 lanes of traffic in the middle of town, & I've replaced it since when it left us stuck at the side of a snow filled road with the tin tent in tow!  But in 11 years it's not been too bad. 

[Crazycarzowner]

I'd sooner have an XC90 than have the useless BMW X5, they sup fuel like its goin outa fashion and are less than useless off road,  but daddy of em all has to be the Range Rover .

[Nick W]

my own personal thought is that they're not that reliable (omegas). my mates are always taking the mick for the stuff ive had to do to it compared with what they've not had to do  .

I don't think they're  worse than any other similar car. There aren't really any major mechanical faults, just high maintenance niggles due to overcomplicated design which typical of a lot of German engineering. Oil leaks and the front suspension are top of the list. Otherwise you're looking at electrical faults, and all recent cars have those due to the massively complex and fully integrated electrical systems in them. As a mate says of his '02 Audi S6 - If it says Bosch on it, it WILL go wrong. Anyone who thinks the Omega front suspension is expensive to overhaul should check out the costs and work involved for an A6.

Large, complex cars are always expensive to own; that doesn't change when their actual value drops through the floor. After all, you could buy a respectable Bentley turbo for the price of a Corsa, but the running costs won't be the same!

[ted_one]

My neighbour is a senior exec for Volvo and he absolutely swears by them as he gets a new one every six months,but then I guess he would

[TheBoy]

My MV6 once famously left me stranded just outside Dijon

[2woody]

maybe 10% of the XC90s are 4x4 - just beware when you go look at them.

the 2wd variant seems popular

[05omegav6]

maybe 10% of the XC90s are 4x4 - just beware when you go look at them.

the 2wd variant seems cheaper

Fixed that I wonder how many people have bought one thinking they're four wheel drive, only realising that they're not when it's too late

[albitz]

One of my bosses a few years ago had some sort of Audi quattro.He had owned it for at least a couple of years when I mentioned it was four wheel drive.He argued until he was blue in the face that it wasnt.I eventually talked him into looking under the front and rear and pointed out the diffs/driveshafts.

[cem_devecioglu]

One of my bosses a few years ago had some sort of Audi quattro.He had owned it for at least a couple of years when I mentioned it was four wheel drive.He argued until he was blue in the face that it wasnt.I eventually talked him into looking under the front and rear and pointed out the diffs/driveshafts.

 

[cem_devecioglu]

xc90 good or bad not in the same league as omega..  and I found it pointless to drive those monsters in crowded city traffic.. if I was a farmer may be..
 
as for volvo.. they are above avg, quality cars without doubt.. but their impression not that attractive for me..

[ianu]

Indeed, ianu has one, and I believe he's very happy with it. Until he can afford a proper offroader, ie the best 4 x 4 x far

Indeed I have everyone, and I couldn't disagree more with iansoutham  . If you go to the volvoforums.org.uk website I'm a regular on there too  .
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=128046
http://www.volvoforums.org.uk/showthread.php?t=116739


A bit like this forum - you tend only to hear the horror stories about them. I've posted on there regularly it is the best car I've ever had  (but I love my Omega to bits too - although the 'mig' has probably been the most pita expensive car to run I've ever had I still love it  )
My Volvo has done 182k since new. Yes it's had issues - mostly covered by it's original warranty - otherwise everything else has been maintenance items in line with its mileage. Look me up on the forum and you'll see photos of my car up to its ears in mud and water, gleaming like new afterwards and still giving me 35 - 40 mpg.
Later ones are seem a bit more sensetive to electronic issues and gremlins - but most of the major mechanical weeknesses were ironed out.
I have mine serviced at a local indy (that does my Omega too) - but most of the straightforward routine maintenance can be done easily yourself and there is plenty of advice on the forum about how to (although it's not as well organised as this one in that respect  )
Yeah - I'd love a Range Rover - but I suspect the reality of what I could afford would shatter the dream (a bit like early 2nd hand Omega ownership does  )
Service history is vital - or save a bit to one side for some bills. Tyres on 17" rims allow £500 if you shop around (no different to the 'mig')
I love it - I'd recommend one any day 

Off road - your bottle will probably go before the car gives up in my experience 

Cheers
ian

[ianu]

maybe 10% of the XC90s are 4x4 - just beware when you go look at them.

the 2wd variant seems cheaper

Fixed that I wonder how many people have bought one thinking they're four wheel drive, only realising that they're not when it's too late

Don't think they do a 2wd XC90 (only if the AWD has packed up  ) - they should all be AWD i.e normally 95/5% split to the front wheels unless under load or losing traction to one of the wheels in which case it transfers drive to the other wheels as well (ish)....