XC90 Gen I - 3.2 or V8, or XC70 T6
 

Hi everyone, I'm thinking of buying a second XC90 Gen I and specifically a 2010/2011 V8 R-Design.

I've owned a few Volvo's and had a 2013 XC90 D5 R-Design in NZ which I loved (see picture) so when we landed back in the UK in 2020 I drove a 2012 Honda CRV for 6 months then purchased a 2019 XC60 Inscription Pro. It was ok to begin with but after 6 months I started to hate it. I hated fiddling with Sensus just to change the temp, fan, etc, hated the poor visibility provided by the high sports car waist line, hated the vague handling which I put down to the air suspension, and in the end traded it in on an Audi A4 Avant S-Line which I still like but is a bit soulless compared to a Volvo.

I only drive <5k miles per year and 95% of that is short trips to the supermarket or as a taxi service for my kids, so I've eliminated Diesels from contention for my next purchase as EGR/DPF and maintenance issues aren't worth the risk IMO.

I'm also a bit of a petrol-head so figure 'why not' when it comes to the question of which petrol engine to go for given the fuel consumption is almost identical between the 3.2 and the V8, and who wouldn't want a Yamaha V8 under the bonnet.

Q: Would the 3.2 be just as good as there's many more around? Or,

I don't really need 7 seats but 600+ litres of load space is one of the things I'm looking for so would a 2014/15 XC70 T6 be a better choice with the updated safety features?

In terms of reliability - I wouldn't have thought there is much to choose between the V8 and 3.2. There are quite a few members on here with them and I can't recall reading anything engine specific which would be a worry.

So I'd got for a V8, why not, I think there are more UK registered V8's about than 3.2's.

Just check the cost of road tax first....

V8 = 735 GBP this year. I've just had the DVLA go through my wallet again.

Not the 'best' car I've ever owned but the most fun to drive and definitely the best engine. For a weighty car, the acceleration is consistent and effortless, with the added bonus of not sounding like a bread van.

However, you'll also want to either own your own mineral rights or hold majority shares in a major oil producer..

Awesome feedback, thanks for taking the time. 735 GBP p.a. might be a show stopper, but I guess that has to be weighed up against insurance and maintenance costs. Will crunch the numbers and see where it goes.

No problem, you're welcome.

If it helps, my servicing and maintenance costs over the 5-6 years that I've owned the V8 have been broadly inline with those of the D5 XC90 and XC70 that I had previously (brakes, tyres, bushes, ABS rings etc.).

Where the V8 pulls ahead slightly is there's no cambelt (it has a "fitted for life" timing chain) due at any time. And in my case, I've had no engine problems whatsoever. A set of plugs is about 100 GBP now but they have a decent service interval of 75k miles.

Ok, thanks again and on the the next question. Do you think it's worth holding out for a R-Design, and do you think this 2011 XC90 R-Design import is worth looking at for the asking money?

I had a quick chat with Graham the other day and it was a Grade 4 from auction, seems pretty well spec'd with Premium Sound, but with moderate mileage and little to no service history I'm wondering if you think it's too risky, though it sounds like there's little that goes wrong that I won't find with a good inspection and the Japanese do tend to look after their cars.

Thoughts?

Tricky one. I believe that this seller has a good reputation and on that alone I'd be inclined to think that it isn't a pup. However, at that price, I'd really want to have seen a comprehensive service and maintenance record. No XC90 is inexpensive to run, they chew through brake and some suspension components at quite a fair rate and if the previous owners haven't stayed on top of that then you stand to inherit that expense. That said, if you're happy to put aside a war chest of 1500 to 2k on top of the purchase price then you should be covered.

Main thing is a decent test drive, hot and cold. You really don't want to be paying that kind of money only to find that you have gearbox or 4WD problems.

Finally, a matter of personal taste and experience; I bought the 'sport' variant, the original designation for R-Design. I quickly regretted that, especially with the state of the roads in rural East Anglia. It was a very harsh ride compared to my previous SE Lux D5 and a friend's D5 executive. In the end, I spent nearly 2k on new suspension components in order to 'delete' the Sport/R-Design suspension option. It was that, or get rid of it. Your tastes in suspension setup may vary of course. But if you were asking me, at that level of spend I wouldn't touch an R-Design again, I'd take a good 3.2 Executive ahead of that.

Just to second what has been said already, the sport suspension will be a nightmare on the roads today -- especially if it is, as is likely by now, fairly worn. The standard suspension (in good condition) really is the way to go with these. I'd also highly recommend sticking to 17 or 18 inch wheels max. This is not a sports car.
But, to each their own, I suppose.

Hi.
If you need any help with insurance at all for any model you're looking at then please feel free to drop me a line.
Regards,
Dan.

Ok, thanks for the advice guys, I really appreciate it, forums and members like you guys make a huge difference. With respect to ride I don't recall being disappointed in the D5 R-Design I had in NZ, but I was seriously disappointed with the air suspension and vague steering feel of the 2019 XC60 Inscription Pro I had here.

I think I need to drive a SE/Exec before making my mind up and will take on board advise about wheel size too. Perhaps 18's on the R-Design with XL tyres might be a good compromise.

With respect to the import R-Design thats on it's way, the dealer is also an indie Volvo specialist so if there's anything that is ok now but going to need done in 10k miles I guess could negotiate some pre-emptive work at a discounted price before I drive away. Depends on how thorough they are when they get it I guess, and what they do. At 100k with no service history I'd want all fluids end to end for a start.

In terms of R vs SE/ExecI'm not a big fan of wood veneers so I'd need to find an SE/Exec with the brushed aluminium trim pack if I go that way, but they are around.

The last option is to import one myself, something I've already done with a W8 Passat some years ago, but that can be a roll of the dice too.