As title, looking at an 09/10 plate xc90. Anyone have any experience with them? are they any good? Need a 4x4 as I live in the sticks, need boot space for 3 dogs and potential to tow (2 horses).
The only experience I have of them was when a chap I shoot with bought one. We were crossing a rather boggy field, me in my old Jeep Grand Cherokee, a couple of Discos, Honda CRV, Nissan piuckup, and we all got on ok. It was real slippy but flat. The XC90 just sit there spinning its wheels and sank up to the axles. We had to get the farmer to tow him out with a tractor. I drove back down to him whilst he sat there and drove around him in my Jeep with no problems. I managed to stop, chat, and then set off again. When the vehicle got back to the tarmac it wouldn't move. The electrics had a hissy fit and shut down. It was recovered on a tow truck. He chucked it back at the dealer and never drove it again. We are currently looking to get a 7 seater as my current Nissan Xtrail (fantastic off road and 45mpg) doesn't have space in the back for all the kids. I really want a 7 seat 4WD and looked at the XC90. People on Mumsnet seem to rate them highly but a common comment seems to be that they are not too clever on fuel, about 25-27mpg seems to be the norm. My mates just sold his 2004 Disco and he has had quite lot of problems with electrical stuff going wrong. I think we'll keep the Xtrail and buy an Alhambra for the kids.
Ta, I don't really need proper off road just the towing facility with occasional forays into paddocks, events etc; I live in the sticks and whilst it isn't horrendous I need to get home in the snow. Don't need a 7 seat per se just a big enough vehicle to carry dogs and kit. I love the defender but do too many miles the missus wants a disco but I know of all the problems, she wont have another Subaru, and I refuse to go back too spending £1500 pr month on leasing Audi's and L200's.
We've had two of them, no problems with either of them. As you said if our not looking to go greenlaning in them the occasional foray into paddocks shouldn't cause to many problems, not sure about towing though, if I was you I'd get one with a tow bar fitted as I knw Volvo figments cost an absolute fortune.
