[JGEM]

After almost 10 years with my 2009 XC60 D5 AWD I’ve just upgraded to a 2014 XC60 D5 AWD

First impressions are favourable, extra power, smoother, less turbo lag (my 2009 was a single turbo) and a few less rattles!

Interesting though to see a few cost cutting measures compared to 2009. No compass in the rear view mirror and the little storage pocket on the front of the driver’s seat squab has gone.

I got the car for a good price, NZ$10,000 (207,000km and full dealer service history with one owner) but it has got a few scratches and minor dings. Another downside of a good price was that it was absolutely filthy. I spent most of Saturday giving the car a comprehensive clean.

Also, it looks like the previous owner spilt something corrosive in the cargo area and it has eaten away at the carpet on the boot floor and sides so I’m off to the wrecker to source replacement bits this week.

The top of the rear bumper on the 2014 XC60 is a painted inset piece the same as the body colour . Mine has a few scratches but it appears to be an identical size to the black plastic insert on the earlier XC60s so I’m thinking of getting a black plastic one at my local wrecker as it’s more practical. I’m often heaving heavy bags of garden waste into the XC60 and sliding them across the top of the bumper and the black plastic bumper top is a lot more forgiving than a painted surface. Not exactly sure what holds the bumper top insert in place, I assume it’s just pressed in clips or similar.

Another small problem is that my VIDA copy is no good now, being 2013A it can’t accept the VIN of my 2014 build car so I need to upgrade to 2014D. Hopefully the upgrade is not too traumatic.