1 day left to change - to air or not to air?

[XC60Owner]

I've got only 1 day left to change the spec of my T8.

Happy with everything chosen except can't decide on air (have not included). Have read the recent thread on air. Sounds like most people have gone for it, but I just can't decide if it's worth the money.

Have driven cars with both and couldn't really notice much difference (if anything we preferred without air) but we tried a T8 without vs a D5 with.

Maybe we just preferred the T8 drive? Does anyone have a car without and are they happy with the ride? We can't test again as the dealer has sold car that had air.

Dilemmas, dilemmas ....

[FooMan]

I am very happy with my non-air T8, although I should point out that I have never had a Volvo or an SUV before. The T8 was twice the price of any of my previous cars so I don't have anything similar to compare it with. My previous cars have been BMW 3 series M Sports and Subaru Imprezzas so I am used to quite a stiff ride.

Hope that helps. I am so glad I didn't find these forums until after I got the car. If you test drove and liked what you have ordered, I would stick with it. What ever you get, it's a great car

[aab203]

I am happy that I haven't chosen it as an option, because:

• I've never had air before, so I can't miss what I've never experienced
• I drive mostly in London so the roads are typically decent(ish)
• I couldn't justify over £2k initial outlay and then potential expensive repair costs in the future. As I have a T8 (on order) my biggest long term cost concern is issues with the batteries
• I don't tow anything so no need to be concerned with balancing the car

[XC60Owner]

Originally Posted by FooMan

I am so glad I didn't find these forums until after I got the car.

Yes! I know where you are coming from.

[Philip Fisher]

I don't have air and I am happy with my decision. The ride and handling are fine IMHO.

[Lexman8]

I don't have air and I'm happy with that. From reading reviews, etc, it seems a marginal improvement at best and therefore hard to justify the outlay.

I had active suspension on my Merc and when it went wrong, it went wrong big time. Admittedly it was a more sophisticated, hydraulic-based system but I swore that I'd never have anything like it again.

Don't know your XC90 config but I reckon the Auxiliary Heater option would be a much better use of your money. Haven't been able to test mine in winter yet when it'll really come into its own but even on days like this, the ability to blow outside air through the car while it's parked using the remote app is very cool (pun intended).
_

[XC60Owner]

Originally Posted by Lexman8

Don't know your XC90 config but I reckon the Auxiliary Heater option would be a much better use of your money. Haven't been able to test mine in winter yet when it'll really come into its own but even on days like this, the ability to blow outside air through the car while it's parked using the remote app is very cool (pun intended).
_

It's standard on T8

[gaby]

If you plan to tow or fully load the cargo area, air suspension is a worthwhile option
since it will keep the car level. This makes a huge difference in driveablity,
I don't want a car without auto-leveling anymore.

[neon]

There has been a active discussion on swede speed about this. Backwards and forwards with everyone who bought air saying it is a must have or you will end up with a poor car etc. This is what I put, but bear in mind I will not be towing:

I have had air suspension on a previous Mercedes car, but that was 10 years ago when I bought the car, kept it 7 years and air suspension was unreliable and very costly to repair. The struts failed one after the other and other components and everytime I would walk outside and see my nice car sitting on the floor on one corner. In all the options I had on the car, I regretted that the most. I now have a car with standard suspension and do not miss it at all.
Granted "may" have improved and have no experience of Volvo, but would rather give it a miss.
Found the XC90 I test drove for a day on standard suspension to be more than acceptable for ride comfort (not sure about road noise) on our poorly UK roads.
So my "balanced" feedback to the original question would be when trying the two options out, bear in mind that down the road it "may well" fail more often than the standard suspension and if so will likely be expensive if it is kept beyond the warranty period.

[PerfidiousAlgernon]

Sorry to be a bit controversial, guys, but I can't believe that anybody who has driven air and non-air would ever order any XC90 without air. It's a chalk and cheese ride. I've had air on most of my last few Land Rovers and never had a problem with it. Anybody who wouldn't order air suspension on a Volvo because of anticipated reliability problems isn't saying much about Volvo reliability.