New member with S90 questions before taking the plunge

[Lexman8]

Originally Posted by Turboman6680

Yes, sorry, I should have made myself clear 're the pre heating. I meant just through the car being on. I take it, the car is locked whilst engine running? What do insurers think of this ? Can it be driven away if a window is broken?

Engine Remote Start (ERS) will only work if the car is locked and some other conditions are also met. It cannot be driven because although the engine is running, the gearbox and other systems are locked out.

The jury is out on the legality of using ERS on a public road (ie leaving the engine running on an unattended car).

Can seat, steering wheel, both screens all heat up on using this function?

Yes.

[St Evelyn]

I run a V90 D4 and occasionally use it to tow our 1500KG caravan - only occasionally as I generally use the wife's XC60 as she doesn't like to drive my car.

I traded in an S80 D3 for a 520D, which was quickly changed for the V90; I have to say that both the BMW & the V90 were streets ahead of the S80 for towing ability, but then they both have around 190BHP as opposed to the 163 I had in the S80. All 3 cars are more than capable of towing the 'van without issue - in fact, I find the V90 to be a more compliant ride when towing than the XC60 D5! Seems a little more settled on the road and don't notice the 40BHP deficit. Big bonus of the XC is that it's AWD against the S/V90 D4 being FWD - that said, I've not consciously felt a difference from that perspective, it's just nice knowing that all 4 wheels will give traction where necessary.

[cassell]

Hi,

Enjoy your new S90 when you get it, a good choice.

To echo what some others have said, I fitted a full set of Chinese mud flaps from ebay, they are exactly the same as genuine ones even down to the Volvo logo and part number embossed into them. Fitting is simple, they re-use the wheelarch liner torx screws and the best bit is the amount of money saved!

I tow a 1600kg caravan with my D4 without any problem, I previously used a phase 1 XC90 D5 and to be honest I reckon (apart from the obvious AWD difference) the V90 is a much smoother, quieter tow car. My average fuel consumption when running solo is 43mpg, this drops to just over 30mpg when towing.

I would question having an alternative make tow bar fitted by a 'fitting agent', the Volvo genuine electric folding tow bar with the associated towbar software upgrade is superb in both it's stowage and operation.
Remember that these cars are very technologically advanced and the thought of someone hacking into the electronics to wire up a tow bar is worrying. With the Volvo system the car senses when a trailer is coupled and gives such functions as caravan light checking, rear parking sensors disabled, cross traffic alert disabled, pilot assist disabled, gear changing adjusted to suit the additional weight etc etc.
If you have a rear camera fitted the towbar software upgrade even gives you a reversing alignment marker to guide your towball directly under your caravan hitch.

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Turboman6680

Thanks. Any drilling or bodging required ?

No drilling or bonding required, you just remove torx head screws from bottom of the wheel arch liner and refit them in the same holes with the mudflaps. A small torx bit on a ratchet or an Allan key type torx makes it a 5 minute job for each one. Or you can remove rear wheels to give more room.
(Limited space at rear wheels between tyre and wheel arch) front wheels can be turned out if the way.

[mr rusty]

Thanks - good to know. High 40s sounds achievable given where I mostly drive.

I think I should add that my mpg's are driving with a light foot in comfort mode. Haven't really tried economy. However, if you start using the performance available you will drop to low 40s pretty quick.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by Turboman6680

Thanks.

The Witter tow bar as described is £438 inc vat by my local tow bar specialist so quite a saving and I don't mind it being there, visible to all.

Yes, sorry, I should have made myself clear 're the pre heating. I meant just through the car being on. I take it, the car is locked whilst engine running? What do insurers think of this ? Can it be driven away if a window is broken?

Can seat, steering wheel, both screens all heat up on using this function?

It's a private lease. 14.5% discount from the dealers.

£400 is a substantial saving but it is as different as apple and orange. Having seen the awful mess made by an independent specialist company to a friend's Mercedes GL, I'm a bit wary of aftermarket fitting of this kind of thing.

Insurers must know that remote start is fitted to many of these cars, because it is standard fitting with VOC. Yes, the car stays locked and since there is no key present it cannot be driven away even if someone left the doors open. You would know if doors were not locked with no key present, because after a short while your VOC app on your phone would warn you. After entering a remote started car, with the key on your person, you still need to turn the start knob in order to release the steering and gearbox locks.

Not too sure about the screens being switched on when you remote start. You can set the car to start with steering wheel heat and seats on, by setting it to your profile and key so that it is the default start mode. Not sure about defrost mode, but I doubt it because that is a physical button on the console. You can try to set the climate control to demist and the blower on high and lock that into your profile of course. Trouble is that it all gets set for every cold start, which may be a nuisance when doing lots of short journeys.

I'm not sure whether the second key and driver can use the VOC app to set their own start profile as distinct for the primary driver's. My wife doesn't use the app, although she has her own profile linked to the key.

[Grumpybri]

I have the D5 AWD and can get 46 mpg driving like a gran, and if pushed drops to 37. Suspect you may get more out of a D4.
They are brilliant cars, very comfortable, secure and not the run of the mill. Mine gets lots of attention in the works car park with people asking what it is.

[nu11eaf]

Originally Posted by Quacker

Not too sure about the screens being switched on when you remote start. You can set the car to start with steering wheel heat and seats on, by setting it to your profile and key so that it is the default start mode. Not sure about defrost mode, but I doubt it because that is a physical button on the console. You can try to set the climate control to demist and the blower on high and lock that into your profile of course. Trouble is that it all gets set for every cold start, which may be a nuisance when doing lots of short journeys.

I'm not sure whether the second key and driver can use the VOC app to set their own start profile as distinct for the primary driver's. My wife doesn't use the app, although she has her own profile linked to the key.

The climate will come on at the last used setting on remote start and heated front and rear screens along with heated mirrors will also come on with remote start if set up in sensus, (or any normal start if temperature is low enough) as well as heated seats and steering wheel.
It's a sensus setting for all this on remote start not a profile setting, but in normal starts the saved profile settings will take over. I only ever use my buttonless key.

[simonjedrake]

Originally Posted by Wizzpop

I can vouch for the Volvo tow hitch. I have one on my V60. Nothing visible until it is deployed. That is done by a press of a button and a clip into place. Similar process when putting away. When deployed the car systems know it is there.

Likewise, i use it for my bike carrier and its the best ever towbar I have ever experienced - just a press of a button with no kneeling on wet driveways any more......

[Jcbrown]

Originally Posted by Turboman6680

I'm hoping to get mpg in mixed conditions of approaching 50 driving solo - am I being too hopeful?

Average mpg with 25K on the clock for my D4: 47mpg, so would say you are on the money. mixed driving: Solo, 2-up, 3-up + boot & rear jammed with luggage, long motorway slogs, stop start town, Dad's taxi, … Have seen over 70mpg on some early morning 100mile+ motorway trips (no traffic, long stretches of camera enforced 50MPH zone,). that drops considerably of course if I put it in dynamic and "push it through the twisties"

Enjoy it when you get it, you should not be disappointed. Still like getting in and driving mine after almost 2 years. Still get the occasional person saying something like "No way is that a Volvo", ...