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Interesting points howard.
Gibbons - this thread is one of the most important ones here on VolvoXC.COm. We don't want it to get too big because it makes it harder for our members to get the info they need. I'd like to close it off and lock it for the FAQ and re-start it again for those with additional questions the end of next week. That ok?
Well, you're the OP so I suppose you can change the topic if you want [thumbup]Quote:
Originally Posted by gibbons
My answer is - definitely! But I'm not sure I'm brave enough to keep the car when the extended warranty dies in 35k (kms). But it's important to remember that members of this forum mostly write about their problems, so it's hardly representative of the average experience. I'd be surprised if a Honda forum looked significantly different ('just thought I'd post to say another year has passed with nothing to report...')
Consumer Reports polls their members for detailed feedback, and their coverage of XC70s is good, suggesting they get quite a bit of feedback from owners (I know I submitted a questionnaire this year!). And they give the recent XC70s a pretty good score. From '04 no part of the car scores lower than average (the mid point between 'better' and 'worse').
In terms of comparing makes (of wagons and hatchbacks over the past three years) the XC70 is maybe 37% better than average (judging from a bar-graph) - the Subaru Outback non-turbo is slightly ahead (maybe 42%) but the turbo Outback is maybe 20% worse than the Volvo. As for customer satisfaction, 70% of XC70 owners said they'd buy the same again, against 71% of Outback owners. The median is 69.
What the CR analysis doesn't capture as far as I can see is cost of ownership outside of warranty - and I suspect this is where we take a pounding.
Edit: Sorry Forkster, I didn't see your post until after I'd sent mine. Maybe a new thread for Gibbons 'knowing what you know now' Q&A?
Extended warranties, maintenance plans etc. etc. is an extremely expensive form of insurance (= peace of mind).
The so called "motorplan" or "autoplan" - fully inclusive maintenance plan - is a brilliant invention by the motoring money men and marketing men ... and a double whammy against the consumer:
- The money men laugh all the way to the bank because you have paid a massive insurance premium, calculated at the worst possible scenario for the manufacturer, up-front for a few years worth of "zero" maintenance costs. If you finance the car, you are even suckered into paying interest on the loan of the insurance premium amount ... add it all together, and on average you end up paying double what you would have paid for the maintenance and repairs over the same period.
- The marketing men laugh all the way, because you have been scared out of your mind about the high maintenance costs after expiry of the "plan" - so you sell the car a short while before the insurance expires and buy a new car long before you otherwise would have considered it, and then the money men laugh again and then the marketing men and then ...
I had taken the chance on the "expensive" Volvo maintenance and repairs and to date, on a per km (mile) basis, my 850 has been one of the cheapest cars I had ever owned. My XC70 has not been as great but none of the stuff has been Volvo unique and I have friends with [reliable VW!?] vehicles that envy even my XC70 "low" cost of ownership.
The 850 has about 308.000 km, and still transports my son safely every day for about 110 kms round trip to work. My S60 [my daily transport] has only reached 74.000 km but I will NOT buy an extended warranty or autoplan after expiry at 100.000 kms, and I intend to take that one to 300.000+ km too. The XC - well, at just more than 122.000 km it is just run in and -- after a Gibbons inspired flush or two and an in-line transmission filter -- is as good as new inside and out. Yes, even if I have to spend a few grand, there is nothing much that I want to drive anyway, and if I look at the cost of any palatable replacement, I think I can see 300.000+ km on the XC too without effort and definitely without breaking the bank to the same extent as a replacement ... and for one brief moment I have the last laugh and not the motoring money and marketing men ...
Hi,Quote:
Originally Posted by JRL
Thanks for that. Will now investigate Haldex "sensor". Have you any idea of the part number? I'm sorry it's off the thread, but it might just get me going again. As for the legal info....Volvo say there is no record that the Haldex drive was checked/serviced by the "independent garage". All I've got is a stamp in the service record and the previous owner didn't transfer any bills, receipts etc. Pulls out another point though as to when the Haldex should be serviced. Haldex as described by VW Audi; say oil and filter MUST be changed every 20K miles. Volvo don't! Ah well, put it down to experience I supose.....only wish I could read the EMC's etc and service the damn thing myself! At least if I broke it I'd know!
Thanks for the lead.
John