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Car Forum / Volvo Cars / January 2006Volvo XC70 2006
I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. Couple questions: - are there any crash-test results available ? - how does the AWD system really work in XC70, especially comapring to cars like Audi or Subaru ? Finally, although it may sounds foolish, what do you guys think about XC70 2006 ? Thank you, Marek. > I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. > Couple questions: > - are there any crash-test results available ? http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/ http://www.iihs.org/ Rick "Marek \(toronto\)" <mark/@/tradition/./ca> wrote: > I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. > Couple questions: > - are there any crash-test results available ? Yes, it got the highest crash test ratings. http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/testing/ncap/Index2.cfm > - how does the AWD system really work in XC70, especially comapring to cars > like Audi or Subaru ? It is the Haldex system and is electronic, not viscous. Not sure about the others. > Finally, although it may sounds foolish, what do you guys think about XC70 > 2006 ? I have a '01 XC70 and love it. It has undergone some minor improvements since then.  SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html >I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. > Couple questions: > - are there any crash-test results available ? Swedish insurance company Folksam grades the V70 30 % better then the average car (in Sweden) in actual crashes. AWD is greatly improved over the original versions in earliest XCs. Uneven tyre tread wear no longer upsets it. All the best, Peter. 700/900/90 Register Keeper, Volvo Owners Club (UK). >I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. > Couple questions: [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > Thank you, > Marek. > I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. > Couple questions: [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > Thank you, > Marek. Well, I have an '03 XC70 and to be very truthful with you, it is my first and LAST AWD vehicle. Too finicky with tire sizes. That viscous drive is a $3000,00 item to replace. I would spend your money (A little joke there) on a heavily upgraded regular FWD. Parenthetically, I HATE Nivomats. Stay away from certain options, like the Auto Rain detector...NIGHTmare!!! The ground clearance is nice, but my idea of offroading is pulling off of The Strip and into Spago. That is a fresh approach that might indeed chnage my direction. Our FWD candidate is Acura TL. Amazing car and saves some $ comparing to Volvo. Thank a lot. > > I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. > > Couple questions: [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > detector...NIGHTmare!!! The ground clearance is nice, but my idea of > offroading is pulling off of The Strip and into Spago. >> I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. >> Couple questions: [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > ground clearance is nice, but my idea of offroading is pulling off of The > Strip and into Spago. Are you right informed? Isnt your Volvo equipped with the Haldex system instead of the older visco drive system? /aw Sure, if I'm informed correctly, I have the Haldex unit. BUT, my owners manual still state to replace tires in pairs and to rotate tires in the REALLY old fashioned front to back method. That is stated in BOLD type in the manual. As of about 20 years ago, the current knowlege of radial ply tires is that they do not need to be rotated front-to-back. They may be "X" rotated. The old thinking about front to back, and rotating in the same direction came to bear when Pirelli was still using cotton ply's during the late 1940's. The Haldex unit "MIGHT" be a little less vulnerable to differing tire sizes and pressures, but I still wouldn't buy another AWD Volvo...under ANY circumstances...unless some Arabs were holding a knife to my neck... >>>I am very close to buy this car and in the process of making decision. >>>Couple questions: [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > > /aw > Sure, if I'm informed correctly, I have the Haldex unit. BUT, my owners > manual still state to replace tires in pairs and to rotate tires in the > REALLY old fashioned front to back method. That is stated in BOLD type in > the manual. I think this is stated in any volvo owners manual regardless of model and year or transmission type. What is the idea of "X" rotate tires? Some tires have threads that is meant for only one direction. > As of about 20 years ago, the current knowlege of radial ply tires is that > they do not need to be rotated front-to-back. They may be "X" rotated. [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > sizes and pressures, but I still wouldn't buy another AWD Volvo...under > ANY circumstances...unless some Arabs were holding a knife to my neck... About the AWD system (AOC) on the XC70 2003 it is stated in VADIS that "The system is not sensitive to differences between tyres (when driving with a spare wheel for example)" Regards Per Hauge True, there is no need to rotate the tyres if you have a Volvo with a Haldex system. I would still recommend to either rotate or to put the most worn tyres at the front. That is not because of any driveline wear problem though, it is simply the that the car handling will be the safest this way. /Staffan > True, there is no need to rotate the tyres if you have a Volvo with a > Haldex system. > > I would still recommend to either rotate or to put the most worn tyres > at the front. That is not because of any driveline wear problem though, > it is simply the that the car handling will be the safest this way. An AWD car is still FWD most of the time. Especially with Haldex, it is completely FWD until the Haldex system senses some slippage. As most everyone knows, FWD cars wear out the front times much faster than the rear and AWD is no exception. The safest combination is for all 4 tires to have the same tread. The only way to achieve this is to rotate often. SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html > An AWD car is still FWD most of the time. Especially with Haldex, it is > completely FWD until the Haldex system senses some slippage. As most AWD just means "full time 4WD" generally with no hi-lo range transfer case. It doesn't imply what are the primary driving wheels, although new Volvos are in fact primarily front-wheel-driven (R-models may be different). Subaru AWD models are 50/50 front/rear torque split all the time. AWD Chryslers and Dodges are rear-wheel-driven until the rear end slips. Depends on the system design and engine orientation more than anything else. -Andrew > Subaru AWD models are 50/50 front/rear torque split all the time. WRONG. Subarus are 80& FWD and 20% RWD until slippage occurs. Then the RWD percentage goes up. Some may vary, but my Subaru Legacy was 80/20. Torque steer was a major problem. May my Subaru Legacy rest in peace, or many rusty pieces. > AWD just means "full time 4WD" AWD is not 4WD. 4WD is doesn't use viscous or Haldex coupling. AWD transfers power to the axle with the most traction when slippage occurs but not before. Off roaders don't like AWD because it is basically 2WD, it just shifts which axle is getting the power. 4WD is full time and rotates both axles at the same velocity. SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html > > Subaru AWD models are 50/50 front/rear torque split all the time. > > WRONG. Subarus are 80& FWD and 20% RWD until slippage occurs. Then the > RWD percentage goes up. Some may vary, but my Subaru Legacy was 80/20. > Torque steer was a major problem. May my Subaru Legacy rest in peace, > or many rusty pieces. I stand corrected. Subaru uses 3 different AWD systems. Continuous AWD: Subaru manual transmissions use Continuous AWD, normally 50/50 front-to-back power split and use a mechanical viscous center differential to to vary the power split when there is a loss of traction. Active AWD: Subaru's automatic transmission use Active AWD, mostly front wheel drive and uses traction sensing computer input to electronically vary the front to rear power split via a hydraulic multi-plate transfer clutch. This is what my Legacy had except it was viscous. VTD AWD (variable torque distribution). New in 2001, VTD transfers powers front to back electronically. The power split is 45/55 front/rear and the rear wheel bias is designed for a more luxury car feel as opposed to the front bias of the Active AWD system. Usually 45/55 front to back split but that varies according to wheel slippage. Apparently before they came up with the VTD system, they realized that torque steer is not very pleasant. SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html > Continuous AWD: Subaru manual transmissions use Continuous AWD, normally > 50/50 front-to-back power split and use a mechanical viscous center > differential to to vary the power split when there is a loss of traction. Yeah, I was talking about the continuous and VDC/VTD systems. Unless it was a hybrid or my left foot got chopped off, I'd never own an automatic car, so the 80/20 system is of no consequence to me (I forgot it even existed). I think Subaru is actually getting rid of the 80/20 system with automatics and moving everything towards VDC/VTD. -Andrew Marek, the AWD works great when you need it. I have been in the NC and PA mountains during snow storms and hazardous driving conditions and my 2001 XC drives great. I don't know about the 2006 but I do know I will never buy another Volvo. I have owned two Volvos over the past 13 years. I purchased them new and it seems that every time you take them in for service it is $800-$1000. I just took my XC in last month for a small oil leak and to repair that issues and two or three other problems the shop found cost me $900. The car is paid for and I don't want to but I may end up selling it and buying a Honda Pilot. I love my XC and have 109K miles on it but I will end up putting 3K a year into it to keep it running well. Honda's just don't require that level of up-keep. Get the Consumer Reports new car report on the XC before you purchase. Good luck!! My 03 XC just went out of warranty, and guess what? On my trip into the dealer, they found that my rear suspension had a degree too much negative camber. Surprise! You know...it's astonishing how volvo builds a car with no suspension adjustment. When they took me into the svc. dept and showed the results of the "laser" check, I almost exploded right there on the spot. The alignment guy said nonchalantly that "something might be bent". sh.t!!! You can't even adjust the camber from the top of the strut-towers like on older Volvos. I've had Volvos since 1967 (A 123 G.T.) but this is definitely my last one! Two of the agents in my office have optioned-out Crown Victorias that are both a few years old, each with over 250K, and except for normal maintenance, nothing has gone wrong. Last Summer, my A.C. went out twice. My C.V. joints on the left side are beginning to make a creaking noise, my front camber is not adjustable, my sunroof has had to have adjustments twice and I never use the damned thing, my glovebox door is rattling and I hardly ever use it, it's as inconvenient as hell to change the cabin filter...Oh, by the way, concerning the cabin filter, I had to rent a car for five days when this XC was in for service and I got a Dodge Something (Stratus? I can't remember), and I read the manual and all you have to do to change the cabin filter is to depress the tab on the glove compartment door to make the door drop down all the way, lift a flap and remove the old filter...NOT a $75.00 job at the dealer like with a Volvo, and if you do it yourself, you don't have to get on your knees on the ground to change it. Every day I have to pull up on the driver's window button because the glass keeps working it's way down. I might even be overstating it when I say that I probably put my window down twice a month. Yesterday, my alarm went ass-over-teacups as the lights wouldn't stop flashing. My engine mount stabilizer bracket is toast. The cheap plastic cover that covers the bolt on the windshield wiper arm snapped off and flew by the car while I was on the freeway last week. The body-colored door trim on the right front just fell off. I'm going in for the clips today...that is if you can install them from the OUTside of the door. Probably not. Now I'm getting this message that the Location bulb is burned out, and it isn't. BUT LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE.... Eat your hearts out, all of you Lexus and Infinity drivers... MY radiator has prem-air!!! > Marek, the AWD works great when you need it. I have been in the NC and > PA mountains during snow storms and hazardous driving conditions and my [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > of up-keep. Get the Consumer Reports new car report on the XC before > you purchase. Good luck!! <jbincyberia@cox.nospam.net> wrote: > My 03 XC just went out of warranty, and guess what? On my trip into the > dealer, they found that my rear suspension had a degree too much > negative camber. Surprise! You know...it's astonishing how volvo builds > a car with no suspension adjustment. They uses shims to do the adjustment and have for a while. Hence adjustment is seldom necessary. Most other better makes do this also. I love my '01 V70 XC, not problems. SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html > <jbincyberia@cox.nospam.net> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > I love my '01 V70 XC, not problems. They only use shims for toe in the rear. Camber is not adjustable except by replacing the radius-rod type angled struts with a different length. Actually, most "better" makes use an eccentric on the inner end of those same rods to adjust camber. <jbincyberia@cox.nospam.net> wrote: > Location bulb is burned out, and it isn't. Some lenses have two bulbs. I have the message that a locations lamp is burned out and it is because one of the two lamps in the left tail lamp is burned out. You have to look twice to notice it. If all bulbs are burning, then you have a filament mismatch. If you read the manual, you are supposed to change bulbs in pairs to prevent this. SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html > <jbincyberia@cox.nospam.net> wrote: > [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > burning, then you have a filament mismatch. If you read the manual, you > are supposed to change bulbs in pairs to prevent this. I was told that the locator lamp is the small bulb or LED is what is at the gear shift lever to tell you what gear that you're in. In fact, in the owners' manual, the only place that locator term is used has to do with the shift lever. I have no exterior bulbs burned out. The message center only gives the message when the whether is cold...like when it's 50 degrees in the garage in the morning. Never comes on at any other time. In my old '01 Cross Country manual, because I gather that is year that you have, the section for the replacement of bulbs between pages 112 to 117 makes NO mention of replacing bulbs in pairs. And the list of bulbs on page 141 makes no mention of a locator lamp, nor does the '03 manual make any statement of that. When I went into the dealer the other day, I specifically asked if there could be a resistance between two kinds of bulbs and was told by the service manager (Not the service writer) that that is something that went out with the old bulb sensor type that was used until about ten years ago. Plus, I haven't replaced a bulb yet. Watch them all burn out when I get on the road to L.A. this afternoon! I'm in a quandry as to whether or not the dealer actually knows what they're talking about. > I was told that the locator lamp is the small bulb or LED is what is at > the gear shift lever to tell you what gear that you're in. In fact, in [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > I'm in a quandry as to whether or not the dealer actually knows what > they're talking about. It sounds like you got good information from the Service Manager. The current balance type bulb failure sensor started disappearing with the redesign of the 760 in 1988. The 240 and 740/940 kept the balance type sensor until they went out of production, but all Volvos designed since have had a current sensing type failure relay in the rear for the rear bulbs (brake and tail) and another in front for the headlight low beam. It isn't necessary to replace bulbs in pairs to keep the failure light off with this system, but I've found that similar bulbs subject to similar use have very similar lifetimes - if one brake bulb fails, the other is usually not too far behind, so replacing them in pairs is a good idea. The high mount brake light which uses LEDs (since 1998) have proven to be quite durable. On the downside it's really hard to change brake light bulbs the new style V70. There just isn't room to get your hand in there properly (at least on my dad's '01), so changing takes a lot more time than it should. SignatureMike F. Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont. Replace tt with t (twice!) and remove parentheses to email me directly. (But I check the newsgroup more often than this email address.) >>I was told that the locator lamp is the small bulb or LED is what is at >>the gear shift lever to tell you what gear that you're in. In fact, in [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > least on my dad's '01), so changing takes a lot more time than it > should. You're absolutely right about replacing bulbs in pairs. I've done it that way for decades. It seems that by the time that one bulb burns out, the other one already has that sooty coating on the inside of the glass. I wonder why Volvo hasn't gone to LED tail lights yet. Regarding the changing of the bulbs...they are in a wierdly placement, especially having to remove the rear speakers to get to a couple of the other bulbs. It's almost as bad as having to remove the sub-woofer to get to the spare and trying to figure out how to unplug it to get it out of the way. Luckily there is enough slack in the wiring to gingerly lift it out of the way. I wasn't able to figure out how to disconnect the sub as the manual tells you to do, since on that day it was as hot as blazes and sweat was dripping into my eyes. > >>I was told that the locator lamp is the small bulb or LED is what is at > >>the gear shift lever to tell you what gear that you're in. In fact, in > >>the owners' manual, the only place that locator term is used has to do > >>with the shift lever. My '01 XC70 had a "rear locator lamp" burned out and it was the upper left tail light. There are two tail lights on either side and my upper one was burned out on the left side. When I replaced it the message went away. SignatureCheers, Steve Henning in Reading, PA, USA Owned '67,'68,'71,'74,'79,'81,'87,'93,'95 & '01 Volvos. The '67,'74,'79,'87,'95 and '01 through European Delivery. http://home.earthlink.net/~rhodyman/volvo.html >>>>I was told that the locator lamp is the small bulb or LED is what is at >>>>the gear shift lever to tell you what gear that you're in. In fact, in [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > one was burned out on the left side. When I replaced it the message > went away. Thanks, Steve... I'm going to check all the tail lights today, right I get done replacing the batteries in all of the smoke detectors in the house. Happy New Year to You and Yours. > a car with no suspension adjustment. When they took me into the svc. <snip> > "something might be bent". sh.t!!! You can't even adjust the camber > from the top of the strut-towers like on older Volvos. I've had Volvos Sure you can if you're willing to void the warranty. I suspect the strut mounting holes can be enlarged and the strut nuts clamped down using larger washers. That's been done with many car models which have little or "no" room for adjustment. > agents in my office have optioned-out Crown Victorias that are both a > few years old, each with over 250K, and except for normal maintenance, > nothing has gone wrong. Last Summer, my A.C. went out twice. My C.V. Crown Vic is a good car. Sort of like a big Volvo 960 with a V-8 instead of the I-6. I suspect you can find ex-cop cars for not too much, and the cop cars get all of the handling goodies by default. Also look at the Chyrsler/Dodge LX cars (Chargnum300). -Andrew >>agents in my office have optioned-out Crown Victorias that are both a >>few years old, each with over 250K, and except for normal maintenance, >>nothing has gone wrong. Last Summer, my A.C. went out twice. My C.V. The Crown Vic/Mercury Marquis/Town Car is capable of very high mileage use with minimal repairs. Cop cars and Town Car "Limos" routinely put over a half million miles on them. John >>> agents in my office have optioned-out Crown Victorias that are both a >>> few years old, each with over 250K, and except for normal [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > John You're absolutely right. I know the owner of Music Express limo service in L.A. and they say that occasionally they will turn a three year old T.C. with 600,000 miles that has only had normal maintenance. Same with Charlie's here in Las Vegas. Somethmes during the Summer, they'll idle those cars for two hours at a time several times a day keeping them cool for customers. Believe me, those cars are driven hard! When you have to be on time and if the driver is late, it comes out of his pocket not to mention an irate customer that may never use them again. >>a car with no suspension adjustment. When they took me into the svc. > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > -Andrew I'm already out of warranty. Plus, it would be easier to adjust front camber by just enlarging the upper bolt holes in the lower mounting point of the strut. And the thought of buying a 250K old police car? You should have been a stand-up comedian. I can buy an optioned Crown Vic for about 20K less than another Cross Country. The police interceptor package is available for about $500.00 if the dealer is willing to go through the trouble of ordering it for me. The Town Car Touring suspension is basically the same as the Crown Victoria police suspension. Believe me it turns the handling of the T.C. from night to day. I understand your frustration but 1degree is minor ,my old Fairlane was several degrees negative on one side and several degrees positive on the other from new .I had to put in a kit to correct it .An old Chrysler was half an inch longer on one side had to pack the back shackles to align the axle.Correct me please but is one degree a big deal ,what happens when your in the car for example ,does the alignment change ? It should and was the mechanic able to show you his results ?Many are the mechanics who would milk us if they could they dont see a customer the see a wallet coming towards them when you walk in .I lived in Tasmania for almost eight years and the tricks and deceit from the Ford dealers amazed me let alone the little garages .One mechanic punctured the brake booster on cars that came in so he could replace the hissing sound with a new booster as well he was caught changing parts to use on his own cars .The worst one was caught painting old pads to look like new ones ,he was filmed doing it and shown on national television .I am an ex cabbie 25 years was enough and the tricks I have seen made me learn how to do things my self I had to so the Volvo is a sweet car to me we have three of them .P\S another (trick )was to put pads into auto Trans fluid to stop them squeaking ,they didn't brake well after that either . >> a car with no suspension adjustment. When they took me into the svc. > <snip> [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] > > -Andrew Fisrt of all, I would like to thank everybody who added a penny or two. It was a great experience to ready your comments and recommendations. Apparently my post has created long and interesting converstaion. Now, a little on the subject : after considering all pros and cons I eventually ended with a 3 year lease on XC70/2006. By now I've beed driving this car for a month and I must say clearly: every day I love it more. The 2.5T/208HP engine gives me a lot of confidence. And Haldex AWD works just great. This winter in Toronto is very mild but I have already experieced extremely bad days with a lot of snow, ice and rain altogether. Driving in such conditions was like adream. You cannot compare it to FWD. There are few things I'd wish volvo improves in their next version. Perhaps the most important is not the best blind spot visibility and steering, which is a little on the heavy site. So far so good. Once again, great thanks for your help. Marek. |
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