Should I buy an 'old model' XC60?
Discussion
Never thought I'd be a Volvo owner (my heart and money have been invested in BMWs for thirty years) but now I need a comfortable 4x4 to take my wife, Labrador and I to the French Alps a couple of times each winter. For the rest of the year it will be my wife's car doing shopping trips etc. My son has pointed out that there are great deals to be had on year old high spec XC60s. As I'm soon to retire and have another car I'll be keeping the 4x4 for 8-10 yrs.
Any advice? Specs to avoid?
Any advice? Specs to avoid?
Parents have one, and it seems a good car. They went for the D4 (4 cylinder, 190hp, 8 speed auto) having come from the D5 in a 2007 V70. Very smooth, and the 8 speed auto (possibly a ZF unit?) is lightyears ahead of the V70 autobox.
They've got a pretty good spec, NAV, Harmon Kardon, Heated Steering wheel etc. and it makes it a rather comfortable car to be in. Driving position is good and the turning circle (according to Mum) is a revelation compared with the V70 it replaced. As far as I can work out, they are very happy with it, and chose it over the Q5 2.0 TDI or X3 20d.
They've got a pretty good spec, NAV, Harmon Kardon, Heated Steering wheel etc. and it makes it a rather comfortable car to be in. Driving position is good and the turning circle (according to Mum) is a revelation compared with the V70 it replaced. As far as I can work out, they are very happy with it, and chose it over the Q5 2.0 TDI or X3 20d.
I should add that the D5 still carries over the old autobox though does give more power than previously (220 ish?). I think the difference is probably mitigated by the slower gearbox/fewer ratios (190bhp 8 speed modern box vs 220 6 speed older box), however if you really want 4x4 you'll need to go for the D5 as 4 wheel drive wasn't available on the D4. That being said a set of winter tyres and you'll have a far more capable winter car with the front wheel drive D4 vs a summer tyre'd D5 with 4 wheel drive!
We're on our second XC60 - latest is a 2016 R Design Lux Nav D5 AWD Auto with winter pack, front parking sensors, rear camera etc. It's a very good Ski bus - We had a manual before and whilst more economical I think the ease of use with the Auto is worthwhile. The last one was a 2013 which we had for three years and literally nothing went wrong with it. Had a service contract at purchase and it just did it's job without any fuss.
Interested to look at the new one - which I like the look of, or maybe upgrade to an XC90 next time round as the offspring are getting bigger than the adults in the front now.
Interested to look at the new one - which I like the look of, or maybe upgrade to an XC90 next time round as the offspring are getting bigger than the adults in the front now.
They're nice cars but not massive inside (I have an XC90 - just switched from mk1 to mk2 - and a good mate has an XC60. Massive difference in space, possibly as you'd expect).
The reason there are great deals is that the new XC60 has just been released. If you're not seriously budget constrained, my advice would be to go to a dealer and try both. The new XC90 is leagues better than the old one, and I am pretty certain the same will be true of the XC60 - I also think they look a lot better. If you're going to be keeping it a long time, I'd seriously consider the new model.
The reason there are great deals is that the new XC60 has just been released. If you're not seriously budget constrained, my advice would be to go to a dealer and try both. The new XC90 is leagues better than the old one, and I am pretty certain the same will be true of the XC60 - I also think they look a lot better. If you're going to be keeping it a long time, I'd seriously consider the new model.
After_Shock said:
beancounter said:
Thanks guys for all your advice which has been invaluable. We've decided not to buy what now feels like an obsolete car. The discounts available don't yet reflect the fact that the new model is imminent.
What kind of discounts are being offered?Wife has a year old (just got for first service) AWD D5. When we bought ours there was a D4 FWD which has the VEA 4 pot engine and 8 speed gearbox, and a D4 and D5 AWD that use the old 5 pot engine and the 6 speed AW box in two different states of tune. The D4 FWD has almost identical performance to the D5 AWD due to the improved box and lower weight. She bought a manual and it's a pain in the arse.
I quite enjoy having AWD, for a fat heavy bus you can pull out of junctions with impressive rapidity due to the extra traction. I find the ride quite firm even in our SE Lux, but that's probably required to control so much mass with a high centre of gravity. I cannot see the point in the R-Design or whatever the f
k it's called, it's never ever ever ever ever going to be even remotely sporty so why spoil the ride to convince yourself it is.
I like the car a whole lot more than I expected to, although even as a D5 it's sluggish and accelerates very slowly over 80 ish. If it was mine I'd pay for the Polestar remap to try and get some more mid range torque. I'd also try and find one with the premium audio as the standard "High Performance" audio is actually pretty rubbish by Volvo standards and nowhere near as good as the standard system on our 2004 V70.
They are a bargain right now, but the new one looks to be a massive improvement in every area so you need to consider if you'll be dissatisfied in a couple of years and wipe out any initial purchase saving by swapping cars earlier
Joking aside if you have the money I'd buy the new car. The amortised cost difference over 8-10 years will be sod all and you'll get a much better car. I personally suspect that long term reliability and robustness of the new car will be better, as it'll have no Ford bits in it unlike the Mondeo based old XC60.
I quite enjoy having AWD, for a fat heavy bus you can pull out of junctions with impressive rapidity due to the extra traction. I find the ride quite firm even in our SE Lux, but that's probably required to control so much mass with a high centre of gravity. I cannot see the point in the R-Design or whatever the f
k it's called, it's never ever ever ever ever going to be even remotely sporty so why spoil the ride to convince yourself it is.I like the car a whole lot more than I expected to, although even as a D5 it's sluggish and accelerates very slowly over 80 ish. If it was mine I'd pay for the Polestar remap to try and get some more mid range torque. I'd also try and find one with the premium audio as the standard "High Performance" audio is actually pretty rubbish by Volvo standards and nowhere near as good as the standard system on our 2004 V70.
They are a bargain right now, but the new one looks to be a massive improvement in every area so you need to consider if you'll be dissatisfied in a couple of years and wipe out any initial purchase saving by swapping cars earlier
Joking aside if you have the money I'd buy the new car. The amortised cost difference over 8-10 years will be sod all and you'll get a much better car. I personally suspect that long term reliability and robustness of the new car will be better, as it'll have no Ford bits in it unlike the Mondeo based old XC60.
Edited by dme123 on Wednesday 3rd May 11:40
Deerfoot said:
My old XC60 was a D5 manual and the gear ratios were poor, my wife found it really hard to drive it smoothly around town.
The D5 suits an auto. Our present V60 D5 auto is really quite nice...
Just ordered a new XC60 on the 2 year PCP . End of line. Has the later 190 bhp and 8 speed box. Build date was pre-ordered by my local dealer so had a couple to choice from. Went for a D4 Auto R design with Nav in bursting blue. Was just under 39k with extras, although they were dealer specced and got it for 30k . Discounts are stupid at the moment. 2 years interest free on the PCP , with 3 years service package as well. Decent px on our XC60 and after 2 years, if it behaves , we will buy it for 17K. Really cant question the deal and looking forward to the car. Build is this week, so maybe 3 weeks time.
Justin S said:
Just ordered a new XC60 on the 2 year PCP . End of line. Has the later 190 bhp and 8 speed box. Build date was pre-ordered by my local dealer so had a couple to choice from. Went for a D4 Auto R design with Nav in bursting blue. Was just under 39k with extras, although they were dealer specced and got it for 30k . Discounts are stupid at the moment. 2 years interest free on the PCP , with 3 years service package as well. Decent px on our XC60 and after 2 years, if it behaves , we will buy it for 17K. Really cant question the deal and looking forward to the car. Build is this week, so maybe 3 weeks time.
£39K sounds like a lot. £30k more palatable.An earlier contributor has mentioned that the old model was built on a Mondeo platform, nothing wrong with that as that platform was in fact an earlier, pre. Ford ownership Volvo design. i believe that the only common Ford parts were suspension components shared with the concurrent Mondeo.
I would be more concerned with the vast number of Chinese components in the current models.......
Don.
I would be more concerned with the vast number of Chinese components in the current models.......
Don.
norchi said:
An earlier contributor has mentioned that the old model was built on a Mondeo platform, nothing wrong with that as that platform was in fact an earlier, pre. Ford ownership Volvo design. i believe that the only common Ford parts were suspension components shared with the concurrent Mondeo.
I would be more concerned with the vast number of Chinese components in the current models.......
Don.
From my experience every little thing that fails on a Ford era Volvo has a "FoMoCo" stamp on it. This includes dampers that are shagged out at 90k.I would be more concerned with the vast number of Chinese components in the current models.......
Don.
All the actual Volvo bits are fine!
dme123 said:
From my experience every little thing that fails on a Ford era Volvo has a "FoMoCo" stamp on it. This includes dampers that are shagged out at 90k.
All the actual Volvo bits are fine!
Well the failures in the last 3 years of D5 ownership has been :All the actual Volvo bits are fine!
Windscreen bonding ................... Volvo manufacture defect
Turbo boost hose failure, requiring 'updated' £460 worth of hardpipes as known failure. Volvo design defect ?
Aux belt tensioner failure......... Parts for the D5 . Apparently they made many version and they failed........ Volvo defect.
I would hazard a guess that most dampers on any car would be knackered at 90k miles . I guess the difference between knowing internally they are worn or that they leak oil is a visible failure . I wouldnt expect dampers to still be great at that mileage.
From the way things are made these days, most stuff is manufactured in the far east. I bought some replacement MK light switches for the house the other day and low and behold , they had made in china on them. They havent blown up or broken as yet, so impending doom by some will be expected.
My wife and father in law both have XC60s both FWD and both manual. My wife's car is now 4 years old and has been faultless and is now on 55k. Father in law is on his second one which he bought last Xmas he got £2000 off and 0% finance. His previous one on 09 plate was fault free too.
Gassing Station | Volvo & Polestar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff