Removng roof rails.

[trzesnk]

... and cosmetically OK? Does this makes the car less noisy? Or from the other side: Does roof rails increase noise substantially when driving fast? At what speed you begin to hear them? What about scorpions? Are they more noisy comparing to "normal", V70 tyres? I took laminated side windows. My dealer told me, that they reduce noise significantly. True?

regards to all of XC enthusiasts

trzesnk

Should have mine within a week http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[Gundo]

You pose some interesting questions...which to me, suggest a market need that Volvo is not willing to build a product for, which is adding AWD to the V70 without making it a Cross Country.

As for removing the roof rails, good luck - They are in a special track that is covered with a black plastic trim piece.  If you remove the rails, the mounting points will be exposed.  The dealer may have solid pieces to replace, but I would check first.  Seems to me that the V70 trim pieces would fit, as the roof line and trim sizes appear identical.

On the tires, yes, they are more noisy than a street tire.  That is the trade-off you make for extra traction.  If you want quiet, I am sure there are a nice set of street tires with the same size that you could mount.

And yes, the laminated windows do make a difference.  Not sure I would call it dramatic, but there is a difference. I drove both models at the dealer, and could hear and slightly less noise with the laminated windows.

Also note that because the XC has 8 inches of ground clearance, there will be more wind noise.  Something about the higher the vehicle, the more effective frontal surface area and wind resistance. So you could probably lower your new XC to avoid that noise...

[trzesnk]

Thank you for your answers and comments.

I have a reason to ask those strange questions.
There is V70 AWD available in Europe. I decided for XC because of the ground clearance, and I understand tradeoffs. From another point of view 90% of my driving is on asphalt roads and long distance (and quite high speed). I actually need extra road clearance 2 - 3 weekends per month. That is why I will not lower my XC  http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
The roof rails I am using twice a year, that is why I am thinking about removing them for my everyday driving - if that makes significant difference.
I am driving 940 now, which aerodynamics is not ... perfect, so I hope for a positive change from the noise point of view anyhow.

trzesnk

[trysha]

The V70 AWD is available in the US as well.

It was not available in the 2001 version, but is available in the 2002.

Actually, when i went to volvo to get my car, i was originally wanting a V70 R AWD or V70 AWD, i was saddened that they didn't make them for that model year.

I like the ground clearance of my XC, as my last two cars have both suffered underbody damage.

I do with it was less "ruggedized", sometimes when i see other V70s on the road i wish that i could replace the plastic body panels with the ones from the standard V70 - you would have the AWD, the height, and the sportier look. but that would kill resale value and cost way too much for the small cosmetic aspect.

[kaminaga]

Hi, all

The following images show the XC without the roof rails.
One of the our club member has removed roof rails recently.

http://members14.tsukaeru.net/kboyxc/861S1.jpg

http://members14.tsukaeru.net/kboyxc/901S2.jpg

[Gundo]

Kaminagasan - those are pretty nice wheels on that XC you posted - must be a big job to keep the brake dust from collecting on them...

Any chance you have a photo that shows the top of the car?  I would love to see the way your fellow club member handled covering the mounting points

Thanks!

[Gundo]

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td>Quote (trysha @ May 06 2002,18:30)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">&quot;The V70 AWD is available in the US as well.&quot;[/QUOTE]<span id='postcolor'>
Trysha is certainly right and I stand corrected. &nbsp;I have yet to see a V70 AWD on the road and though for sure that Volvo had passed on the model once again. &nbsp;

One point of interest though, here in the States, the base price of a V70 AWD is &#036;35,975, while the base XC is &#036;36,500. &nbsp;There is no meaningful difference between the cars, except body clading, grill, rims and tire size and possibly the ride height. &nbsp;If you order the V70 AWD, Volvo includes the cold weather package at no charge - a &#036;450 option on the XC.

An interesting option...

http://new.volvocars.com/models/V70/v70_specs.asp

[kaminaga]

Gundo-san;
Here is a roof top photo. Can you see the covering points ?

http://v70xc.tripod.co.jp/96S.jpg

[Art]

Very nice Kaminaga-San,

Does this particular member use the T-Track load bars for rack accessories and such? Personally I prefer the look of the roof rails myself. I find that it imparts sort of a rugged trait to the XC. However, after seeing the Kaminaga-san&#39;s photos, I must admit that the car does look quite handsome without them. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

BTW, Kaminaga-san, what is that antenna looking device attached to the XC&#39;s front bumper in the previous photo?

Nice touch also with the brake caliper paint. &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

[coastal]

Yeah, I&#39;d have to agree with Art. I prefer the look of the XC with the rails, but have to admit it looks better than I was expecting without.

Thanks for the pics Kaminaga.

[kaminaga]

Hi Art-san;
I also prefer the look of the roof rails.
&gt;what is that antenna looking device attached to the XC&#39;s front bumper in the previous photo?

That antenna looking device is a corner pole. Here is a photo.

http://members14.tsukaeru.net/kboyxc/4_4_02-411.jpg

[tlcxc]

at the risk of sounding stupid - what is a corner pole?

[coastal]

Me thinks it helps them see the corners when squishing their big XC&#39;s into the smaller Japanese parking spots.

Could be wrong though. http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

[kaminaga]

coastal;
Thank you for your post about corner pole. As mentioned above it helps driver to see the corner of the car. In the United States or Canada, I think, no one need the coner pole. Japanese parking spots and some roads are very narrow.

[Ron3KL]

kaminaga, did the person who removed the roof rails have to add new cover strips and if so what did they cost?

In Australia the 850 always came with roof rails. When I visited the UK I saw an 850 without the rails so &nbsp;I got the part numbers of the cover strips.

When I returned to Australia my dealer quoted me AU&#036;400 for the strips to be imported here. That&#39;s about US&#036;200&#33;

I kept the roof rails on &nbsp;http://xc70.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

I would still like to remove the rails from my XC.

[kaminaga]

Hi, Ron3KL;
&gt;kaminaga, did the person who removed the roof rails have to add new cover strips and if so what did they cost?

He installed new cover strips. One strip cost is about US&#036;154 (20,000Yen). He told me that the strips were already painted, therefore he just put the strips after removing roof rails.

[Ron3KL]

US&#036;154&#33;

Let me see...
2 roof rails, thats US&#036;308
1 Australian &#036; = US 55c, that&#39;s AU&#036;560
Probably need to add 10% tax, an extra AU&#036;56
Optimistically I&#39;m looking at AU&#036;616...

Probably cost more for the V.O.R. blue, although black or silver would probably suit.

That&#39;s a lot of money not to have something on your car.