[andrew 330i]

my wife & i drove to dayton, ohio (an hour a way) to test drive the closest XC90 V8 'sport'. this one is 'passion red' ... the only color 'exclusive' to the sport version. there are only 400 sports produced a year... i hope it meets up to my expectations.

the other color choices are:
- black sapphire metallic (no way!!! )
- electric silver (maybe)
- titanium grey metallic (nope)

i will report back with pics...

sport version details:

4.4 liter engine specially designed for the XC90 311 hp / 325 lb-ft @ 3,900 rpm
Dual continuously variable valve timing
Advanced emission control
All-road capability with a generous ground clearance of 8.6 inches
Six-speed Geartronic automatic transmission
Sport -Tuned Suspension and Steering
19" Vulcanis wheels with all-season tires
SPORT seats, steering wheel and leather gear shift knob
SPORT interior styling with alu-deco inlays and watch dial instruments
SPORT exhaust tips





UPDATE: (after test drive) ...

wow... i must say i was overly impressed with the volvo...


the positives:

- volvo safety...
- the ride was nice and crispy...
- all around the size was perfect...
- the seats & steering wheel are outstanding...
- all-season 19" tires
- wonderful sound system...
- a throaty engine & exhaust sound...
- no premium fuel required...
- a unique sport package (i won't see myself coming & going)...
- the color look so good in person (pics don't do it justice)...
- insurance rates... same as the crossfire...
- discounted from 54k to 42k...



the negatives: (the little things)

- daytime running lights...
- no tilt down passenger mirror when backing...
- no self dimming side mirrors...
- no front parking sensors...
- no area to house the gas cap when removed...
- the red paint shows finger prints very easily...
- the gas mileage 15/20 (but expected)...

as we all know... no vehicle is perfect... but an extremely strong contender... if not the one. i really liked it and so did my wife...









~ now narrowed down to the X5 4.8 sport... range rover hse sport... or the volvo XC90 V8 sport

[younghov85]

I drove an 06 XC90 about a year ago. I really liked the interior but the only flaw I found was the steering was very loose in comarison to my girl's BMW X3. Regarless it a wonderful SUV.

[SteveMD]

Big Volvo fan. Owned 5! Like the new 90 a lot but it is too small for my gang. I need a Suburban sized ride to haul everyone around.

[DrewKo]

Nice, nice, nice...very good looking car. Gas mileage is pretty tight though.

[Carnage]

Have you looked at the Audi Q7? I wasn't a big fan until I saw one in person yesterday. Very nice SUV.

[Greeney]

Q7s drive like boats imo.

[andrew 330i]

Originally Posted by Carnage

Have you looked at the Audi Q7? I wasn't a big fan until I saw one in person yesterday. Very nice SUV.

test drove a Q7 3.8 sportline...
this was a 3.8 sport line with factory 21s... (i would never do a black vehicle...but for a test drive it worked)...







it felt very large when driving it... my wife at 5'1" 99 lbs seemed lost behind the wheel...

probably ruled out.

[andrew 330i]

what do you think about this color in the sport V8?? its called electric silver. i don't feel the pics do the color justice.

[aapriadi]

Originally Posted by andrew 330i

what do you think about this color in the sport V8?? its called electric silver. i don't feel the pics do the color justice.

andrew, i actually always like xc90 in black..they look a lot more sinister
when are you free btw?! we really need to hang out

[sflgator]

Although the XC90 Sport sounds a lot better than the reg. XC90 V8, I've also heard the XC90's have reliability issues, their 3rd row is smaller than the Acura MDX's 3rd row, and they get horrible gas mileage.

We're getting my wife into a new SUV this Dec....we're currently looking at the BMW X5, the MB R350, and the Acura MDX. My wife is leaning toward the MB R350 since it's the largest with the most space, although we haven't test driven it yet. We test drove the X5 and love it, but admittedly, it's a bit on the small side. The MDX has the best crash ratings, it's the least expensive (although the leases aren't great), and all the high-tech features, but again, it's kind of small inside.

Any thoughts?

[uhaulball]

for an SUV. i really like the range rover sport. it looks the classiest and nicest interior imo. the MB is really sweet too.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by sflgator

Although the XC90 Sport sounds a lot better than the reg. XC90 V8, I've also heard the XC90's have reliability issues, their 3rd row is smaller than the Acura MDX's 3rd row, and they get horrible gas mileage.

We're getting my wife into a new SUV this Dec....we're currently looking at the BMW X5, the MB R350, and the Acura MDX. My wife is leaning toward the MB R350 since it's the largest with the most space, although we haven't test driven it yet. We test drove the X5 and love it, but admittedly, it's a bit on the small side. The MDX has the best crash ratings, it's the least expensive (although the leases aren't great), and all the high-tech features, but again, it's kind of small inside.

Any thoughts?

isn't R350 a mini-van?
For that money, she can get a fully loaded Oddysey and you can upgrade your little fart to an M3

[spacedogg]

Initial looks wise I think the Range Rover Sport looks the best, folllowed by the X5 and then the Volvo XC90.

Driving wise...I think you will be impressed by the X5...but somehow I think you guys will end up with the XC90...it really is a nice car and well designed. No wonder Jeremy Clarkson likes it so much.

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by dr325i

isn't R350 a mini-van?
For that money, she can get a fully loaded Oddysey and you can upgrade your little fart to an M3

Ok...repeat after me..."WE will NEVER drive a minivan." Seriously though...yes, the R350 is basically a minivan or an oversized station wagon, but that's what my wife likes about it. Plus, she currently drives a Honda Pilot, and feels like she wants an upgrade on the next one.

[Bimmerista]

Hey, we just signed up for an XC90 (the 3.2 version though). Nice SUV, safe, comfortable, price is right - on a lease cheaper than the MDX and all of the competition.

We come from and X3, so the XC90 was just the right size for a full-sized (3 rows) SUV, not too big. The R class is huge (longer than the GL) and the Q7 is as big as the standard version Yukon.

We pay as much for the XC90 as we would have for the 2007 X3 Volvo is really aggressive over here with both pricing and money factors.

Historically the Xc90s have had reliability issues, but their history has been comparable to that of the X5.

FYI the Range (R)over Sport does not have a 3rd row and Land Rover is dead last in reliablity ratings of all manufacturers Very risky to go for it even on a lease since you may very well be stuck in service most of the time.

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by Bimmerista

Hey, we just signed up for an XC90 (the 3.2 version though). Nice SUV, safe, comfortable, price is right - on a lease cheaper than the MDX and all of the competition.

We come from and X3, so the XC90 was just the right size for a full-sized (3 rows) SUV, not too big. The R class is huge (longer than the GL) and the Q7 is as big as the standard version Yukon.

We pay as much for the XC90 as we would have for the 2007 X3 Volvo is really aggressive over here with both pricing and money factors.

Historically the Xc90s have had reliability issues, but their history has been comparable to that of the X5.

FYI the Range (R)over Sport does not have a 3rd row and Land Rover is dead last in reliablity ratings of all manufacturers Very risky to go for it even on a lease since you may very well be stuck in service most of the time.

Yeah...wouldn't even consider the RR as reliability is similar to that of Jaguar.

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by sflgator

Ok...repeat after me..."WE will NEVER drive a minivan." Seriously though...yes, the R350 is basically a minivan or an oversized station wagon, but that's what my wife likes about it. Plus, she currently drives a Honda Pilot, and feels like she wants an upgrade on the next one.

Yep, I like that one, I am just hoping my wife does not spot it

[andrew 330i]

Originally Posted by spacedogg

Initial looks wise I think the Range Rover Sport looks the best, followed by the X5 and then the Volvo XC90.

Driving wise...I think you will be impressed by the X5...but somehow I think you guys will end up with the XC90...it really is a nice car and well designed.

agreed...

the issue is... the lease on the X5 V8 or RRS are over $1,000 per month (quite expensive)...

the volvo XC90 sport (only 400 made in '07)... about $675 per month...

not a real comparison b/t the cars but a nice suv for the wife... for the money.

thoughts??

[spacedogg]

Silver will be a low maintenance colour for the wifey.

That bright red is very interesting and unique...you'll be proud driving that around...but like you say...if finger prints show up easily (as they are going to do transporting the kids and what not)...then maybe it's not a good idea. You already own a white car...keeping that clean is hard enough. Would be nice to have a low maintenance exterior in your fleet, wouldn't you say? Even if that means going with a rather generic colour...

Didn't Volvo have since nice blue colour...kinda like Montego Blue...I think they called it Ocean's Blue???

EDIT: Nevermind...seems like they don't have that colour anymore...

BTW...is it my eyes or your photos? But it seems that Electric Silver has a bit of green tint to it...

[Bimmerista]

Silver FTW - looks good, does not attract too much unwanted popo attention and easy to maintain.

[BMW320i]

hey i drove the XC90 V8 but non-sport (i think) and i loooooved that car, was gonna open a thread but you beat me to it :mad:

one downside was that u have 2 shift in tiptronic, and you have to shift a while before redline cuz it responds slowly

but it was a cool ride, we races nissan armada, infiniti FX35, GMC yukon, the volvo beat them all

im gonna post videos of acceleration soon ...

[sflgator]

Originally Posted by BMW320i

hey i drove the XC90 V8 but non-sport (i think) and i loooooved that car, was gonna open a thread but you beat me to it :mad:

one downside was that u have 2 shift in tiptronic, and you have to shift a while before redline cuz it responds slowly

but it was a cool ride, we races nissan armada, infiniti FX35, GMC yukon, the volvo beat them all

im gonna post videos of acceleration soon ...

Please don't race other 2-ton+ SUVs in a Volvo XC90...that's just dumb.