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Volvo XC90 SUV

5080 messages,  Last post on Dec 05, 2012 at 4:04 PM

You are in the Volvo XC90 Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volvo XC90, SUV

Messages Page 94 of 508

#930 of 5080 re: helicopter sound by tidester

Jan 03, 2003 (10:19 pm)

Basically, the vehicle is acting like a resonance chamber. With the outside air streaming past an open window the air pressure is reduced (think Bernoulli principle). The response of the air inside the vehicle is to expand outward toward the region of low pressure.
 
Depending on the specifics (geometry, size, speed, etc.) of the vehicle and aperture the air rushing outward can "overshoot" resulting in the interior air pressure being even lower than the streaming air. At that point, the outside pressure is greater than the inside pressure and the airflow reverses with a rush of air into the vehicle.
 
The process repeats itself and you get the characteristic thumping sound.
 
tidester, host

#931 of 5080 Re: engine/transmission combination by ike10

Jan 03, 2003 (10:47 pm)

I've seen a few reviews that liked the 5 speed transmission(2.5T) better than the 4 speed(T6), but liked the added power of the T6... so maybe that is all they meant.

#932 of 5080 4crosshairs and T6 vs 2.5 by hahacky

Jan 03, 2003 (11:40 pm)

Could you give us your opinion on the T6 transmission/engine? Is the shifting smooth and quick (or is there the hunting for a gear that some reviewers have described)? How is the car in stop and go driving, especially from a stop? How did you adapt to the power assist steering? Finally, how is mileage?
 
I have several friends who test drove about 4-6 weeks ago and really did not like the T6, my test drives were too short to really know for certain which I preferred. In fact, the salesman had me get right on the highway with the T6 and had me use the 2.5T only on city streets for about 5 minutes. Seems like I just got to drive each car where they are best suited, perhaps not a great test. The 2.5T was definitely noisier (engine) but seemed better from a stop, the T6 had that sloppy steering that I did not care for but kicked some butt once on the highway.
 
If everyone with a T6 keeps saying that everything is peachy it will make me wonder whether volvo tweaked the shifting etc... after the early cars went out for the press/public to play with. Is this possible?

#933 of 5080 Also seeking more advice re: T6 vs 2.5T by dos511

Jan 04, 2003 (10:52 am)

I have a 2004 T6 on order for delivery May 2003. I like the 18 inch wheels (which according to the volvousa website you cannot get on the 2.5T) and I am willing to accept the lower gas mileage; however, after reading some of the postings on this site - I am concerned about the handling of the vehicle.
 
Motor Trend rated the T6 - SUV of the year, but they also commented on the handling, which Volvo indicated would be tweaked prior to general availability.
 
Does anyone have any more official information on what changes were made and/or are in the works for 2004?
 
Also - would the person that posted that s/he was going to anchor a Britax in the third row please fill me in on how that went?

#934 of 5080 5 vs. 6 by rkuehn

Jan 04, 2003 (1:49 pm)

If you compare equivalent vehicles then the T6 is virtually a no-cost option vs. 2.5T (although its being marketed as a premium). And why do you think that might be...?

#935 of 5080 T6 on order today by randyva

Jan 04, 2003 (4:45 pm)

We plunked down our deposit on a fully loaded T6 after a 45-min test drive (no salesman present) in a 2.5T and another half hour in a T6. Both got a good workout on highway and pothole-gravel roads, and both handled very very well. We liked the acceleration a bit better in the T6, and since we will be pulling a camper trailer on occasion, we went for the extra power. Shifts of the 4-speed trans were noticeable...hope Volvo comes up with something smoother by the time they build mine...but it was in no way objectionable. If you are buying most every option, as we did, the price difference is minimal. Total cost with tax and tags was just under $50k. The dealer, Don Beyer, says to expect delivery no later than June, though they are hoping for earlier. This is our first SUV--currently driving a Volvo 850R, and was not happy with the acceleration of other SUVs I tested. Now, I can't wait....June is a LONG time away. Sigh!!!

#936 of 5080 West coast deliveries by analyzethis

Jan 04, 2003 (8:48 pm)

At various times over the last month our dealership (both the salesperson and the sales manager) have indicated that our T6 was suppose to arrive between 12/27 and 12/29. On Saturday Dec 21, at 9:30 in the evening we received a call from the sales manager asking us if we had cancelled our order. We told him no and he proceeded to tell us that we would have our car in a few days. He went on to describe an XC90 that was a different color and one with an xtra package, the versatility package. We told him we needed some time to consider this, but in less than 24 hours we both visited the dealership to look at other colors and placed a call to him that we would accept the car exactly as he had described to us the evening before even though it was going to cost us $2,100 more. He again confirmed that we would have the car in a few days. We have not received any calls since then from the dealership and we have placed 2 calls with the sales manager. We were able to reach him during the 1st call (about 1 week ago and he said that he had no news and that he had not yet received the invoice for the car yet, he gave us the impression that somehow the invoice information is available once the car is processed at the dock). It is several days later and my husband is concerned that we will be playing this waiting game for weeks to come and he is worried that the dealer has sold the car to someone else. We would like any advice Volvomax or anyone else educated with this XC90 process could provide. Should we be concerned? Do the dealers once the cars are loaded on the containers and being shipped not have access to the location of the vehicles and estimated delivery dates. I know when one ships something via UPS or Fedx it is pretty easy to track the locations of the package as it moves across the coountry.
 
Thanks for your help.

#937 of 5080 re: west coast deliveries by ike10

Jan 04, 2003 (10:50 pm)

here's what i've learned (or at least been told by the local dealership)... the invoice is at the dealer when it is off the ship... at that point, they are able to sell the car (if you want to sign a purcahse contract before the car gets to the dealer). the time from the dock to the dealer can vary greatly, and it is difficult for the dealer to know exactly where the car is... supposedly, they use a few trucks that make multiple trips to first deliver to dealerships closest to the port of entry, and gradually work their way to further dealers, after returning for more cars to the port of entry. not sure if this is BS or not, but that is what our dealer told us. if you want a car they say is on the way, the only sure way to get it is to sign a purchase order for one they already have an invoice for (make sure you have a copy of the invoice, and that the VIN# matches the invoice on the purchase contract... if they back out of that one, it is fraud... not a good thing for reputable dealers
 
hope that helps

#938 of 5080 T6 Mileage/Trans/Handling/Steering/Acceleration by 4crosshairs

Jan 05, 2003 (12:04 am)

Mileage: On a long trip, I received about 18-19 mpg. As for city driving, it is really very hard for me to determine. A bunch of short trips such as to the local supermarket seem to bring the mileage way down to 11 mpg, but starting an engine and then driving a short ways with long stops a stoplights can eat up gas.
 
Gear Hunting: The only time I noticed gear hunting was while going up long ascents at specific speeds. It didn't happen very often. When it does, you can either speed up, slow down, or easily use the manual mode to temporarily prevent hunting. I understand that in the 5 speed, this can also happen. By the way, the transmission shifts into manual quite smoothly.
 
Handling: This is very subjective since I've never driven another SUV except for test drives. I've driven trucks and sedans. As for high speed cornering, for the speeds I am comfortable going, it felt secure ( and I am not a slow driver ). As I've grown more accustomed to it, I have been more aggresive even in city driving. High speed traction to the road is good. Braking is very good.
 
Steering: I adapted to the graduated power assisted steering quickly. It is nice at low speeds such as entering and traversing a parking lot. As you speed up, you definitely feel it firm up. You don't have to worry about sloppy steering.
 
Acceleration: It isn't a sports car, but I still gives me enough get go off the line to race ahead to cross lanes or simply get somewhere fast. Passing at high speeds is no problem. I easily passed 2 vehicles at a time wihhout worry. Of course, this again is subjective since you may be used to a real fast sports car and having 4 seconds of visibility. But for the rest of the crowd, the power is there. However, when I was at about 6 thousand feet, 30 deg Farenheit, going about 80 mph up a relatively steep mountain pass, there wasn't a lot of quick acceleration for passing. Though it didn't provide the typically noticable thrust, it did accelerate.
 
If anybody is interested in specifics, please ask.

#939 of 5080 Feedback would be great by sweetlilangel

Jan 05, 2003 (12:06 am)

Mother of 3 here and never owned a Volvo much less a new car, I must say however if this car is everything I have seen and read about I am in love..is 41K too much to shell out for safety? I have researched alot of the other vehicles in this class as well as the newer minivans and I must say the more I read about the XC 90 the more I like it. Safety is my biggest concern right now as getting over an accident almost a year ago in a Caravan, that and I have 3 very young children. Can anyone give me any info on what this vehicle is really like? I don't want the dealer's mumbo jumbo I know the specs by heart lol. Do you love the car... hate it? what would you change? Also I noticed alot of you talking about the possibility of very little discounts would this also apply to cash sales? What do I need to be looking for when I do go and purchase.. also strictly curiosity of course but should I wait for next years models, why or why not? I want a good solid safe car for my family and by my speculations and research this hits the bullseye. I am willing to pay a bit more for a good car.

Messages Page 94 of 508

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