Questions about buying a 2009 XC60 (Volvo newbie)

[TipToeTiger]

*I have accidentally posted this message in the technical topic forum before posting here. I can't figure out how to delete the old post, so apologies for that!*

Hi all,

I have my first child coming along in early January so I need to trade in my corsa for a family car that'll be safe for my family and fit a greyhound in the boot.

I have my eyes set on a Japanese import 2009 XC60 T6 73k miles. I had a couple questions around the XC60 and was hoping someone with some experience with the car could share their knowledge.

1. How much is the up keep on an older XC60? I have looked at prices of services and they seem to range from around £250-400. Does this price seem right?

2. Are there any common problems with the car I should look out for when viewing?

3. From what I have read online the T6 seems like a reliable engine as long as it is serviced once a year. The camchain seems to be more reliable over the cambelt as well. Have you had any issues with the T engines?

4. Being a Japanese import I was wondering if anyone has had any issues with insurance? I popped the licence plate of the car I wanted to look at into compare the market and it looks as though the website picks up that it is imported and all the details are correct. The best policy seemed to be from Admiral, so I wanted to check if anyone has had success taking out a policy with Admiral for an imported car?

5. Also being an import I will need to get the dash changed from Japanese to English (The speedo is already in MPH). Is this something I could purchase at a local Volvo garage? Or would I need to use volvodiagnostics?

6. I guess overall do you think a 2009 XC60 is a good family car? I am kinda going car mad at the moment so I feel my judgement is foggy

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

[TeamG]

I can only comment on number 5, but the answer to that is yes!

Transporting a young family and hound in infinitely greater safety than your Corsa is a given. Mine suits two large teenagers and three golden retrievers. Costs for everything will be more (servicing, parts, tyres, fuel etc). Get yourself a cheap OBD dongle and the car scanner app, so that you can at least read codes if anything flashes up.

[TipToeTiger]

Originally Posted by TeamG

I can only comment on number 5, but the answer to that is yes!

Transporting a young family and hound in infinitely greater safety than your Corsa is a given. Mine suits two large teenagers and three golden retrievers. Costs for everything will be more (servicing, parts, tyres, fuel etc). Get yourself a cheap OBD dongle and the car scanner app, so that you can at least read codes if anything flashes up.

Great thanks for the speedy reply! That is good to hear. How do you find getting the dogs in the boot? Do they jump up okay or do you have a ramp?

[Pidgeonpost]

Originally Posted by TipToeTiger

Great thanks for the speedy reply! That is good to hear. How do you find getting the dogs in the boot? Do they jump up okay or do you have a ramp?

Congrats on the Greyhound - and the baby BTW. Our Greyhound age 7 gets in and out of the boot of our V70 OK, and the sill height is slightly higher at 648mm than the V60 at 627mm according to Google.

[Steve 940]

Originally Posted by TipToeTiger

Great thanks for the speedy reply! That is good to hear. How do you find getting the dogs in the boot? Do they jump up okay or do you have a ramp?

Hi,

Just had a quick Google of XC60, I had a 2006 Audi A6 Allroad that's pretty similar, and our 2 labradoodles had no problem in hopping in.

We just had a long length of 'vet bed' matting long enough to cover whole boot floor and also rear bumper, dog nails on painted rear bumper is not good......

Anyway, got rid of Audi around a year ago as with so many electric gizmos, and general parts costs being extortionate, I have been cruising around in a retro '94 940 Wentworth Estate, rear sill much lower and as oldest hound is 13 now, she rather appreciates the lower entry/exit.

Hopefully some others who have experience of XC60might be able to assist on the maintenance side. I do recall seeing other posts on Japanese import Volvos on here in the past, so perhaps just Google Japanese Volvo import and hopefully that will give you some past threads from here. Think I recall one of them mentioning speedo, radio issues etc.

Cheers
Steve

[TipToeTiger]

Originally Posted by Steve 940

Hi,

Just had a quick Google of XC60, I had a 2006 Audi A6 Allroad that's pretty similar, and our 2 labradoodles had no problem in hopping in.

We just had a long length of 'vet bed' matting long enough to cover whole boot floor and also rear bumper, dog nails on painted rear bumper is not good......

Anyway, got rid of Audi around a year ago as with so many electric gizmos, and general parts costs being extortionate, I have been cruising around in a retro '94 940 Wentworth Estate, rear sill much lower and as oldest hound is 13 now, she rather appreciates the lower entry/exit.

Hopefully some others who have experience of XC60might be able to assist on the maintenance side. I do recall seeing other posts on Japanese import Volvos on here in the past, so perhaps just Google Japanese Volvo import and hopefully that will give you some past threads from here. Think I recall one of them mentioning speedo, radio issues etc.

Cheers
Steve

Thanks, yeah I think a blanket or cover is a must to stop the paint work getting scartch. I have seen you can buy little ramps to help the doggos get in the boot as well so could be an option.

[Sotosound]

An XC60 will be far more costly to run than a Corsa.

In short, you're moving from a small supermini to a luxury turbocharged SUV.

Putting aside considerations of reliability and basic servicing costs, costs for everything else will be up a notch or three over the Corsa.

For a start, according to Autotrader, annual VED for the T6 is £630.

Part of the additional cost will be simply because the XC60 is a AWD SUV, which commands a higher resale price and uses more fuel than a FWD non-SUV such as a V70.

My guess is that a V70 would also take your Greyhound (unless it's actually a bus) and cost less to buy and run. If you have a set budget for the purchase then that budget would buy a newer V70.

You've probably examined this angle, however.

[Ulrikas PA]

Originally Posted by Steve 940

Hi,

Just had a quick Google of XC60, I had a 2006 Audi A6 Allroad that's pretty similar, and our 2 labradoodles had no problem in hopping in.

Cheers
Steve

I had the same Audi and when I got fed up with the air suspension for the final time, I bought a V60 rather than an XC60. The XC60 is a few inches higher for doggies to jump into. I wouldn't bother with a ramp from last experience, but plonk the front paws together on the boot lip then hawyk their back end up afterwards if it's too high to jump. Always worked for our Irish Wolfhound

[Clan]

Originally Posted by Sotosound

An XC60 will be far more costly to run than a Corsa.

In short, you're moving from a small supermini to a luxury turbocharged SUV.

Putting aside considerations of reliability and basic servicing costs, costs for everything else will be up a notch or three over the Corsa.

For a start, according to Autotrader, annual VED for the T6 is £630.

Part of the additional cost will be simply because the XC60 is a AWD SUV, which commands a higher resale price and uses more fuel than a FWD non-SUV such as a V70.

My guess is that a V70 would also take your Greyhound (unless it's actually a bus) and cost less to buy and run. If you have a set budget for the purchase then that budget would buy a newer V70.

You've probably examined this angle, however.

you can get a bumper protector from Volvo which goes on top the bumper to protect the paintwork from claws

[Sotosound]

Whatever you decide to do, please can you let us know how you get on and what you buy?