[Closed] Volvo XC90 (classic shape) bikes in the back?

I've looked at a few lately and with the seats down I think a bike would fit with wheels on. Google the bills you can get with these early ones before you buy . Kind of put me off them

I've got an old-ish one (61 plate) and can fit my 27.5 MTB (Merida Big 7) in the back with the seats down. Its a bit of a fiddle, but works. You could probably use 1 back seat if needed.

I've also got a tow-bar mounted Thule jobbie which isOK but not great (it grounds out, and the heat from the exhaust has partially melted it) and I've also used roof-bars which are fine, but its quite hard to get the bikes up there. Its a bit of an art getting them on.

We've driven it ~ 90,000 miles now, so if you have any questions fire away.

Rob

Cheers, looking at an 2005 manual at the moment as a cheap(ish) bike and outdoor transport to save putting so many miles / mud on my S60R. Rob do you have the D5? (if so I assume later 205bhp version)  if so what sort of mpg is it returning?

Looking at a manual which is the M66 6 speed which is pretty bombproof compared to the Aisin autos. All volvos are pretty spendy if something major goes wrong but with regular servicing then my last two before the current one was still going strong at 170+k miles. What I particular put you off Chris?

I was wondering if the roof was an option for putting the bikes on or if it would be too high as I much prefer putting them on the roof than in the boot and I can transfer the racks from my S60 to the XC90 with just different adapters.

I've stayed in hotel rooms smaller than the boot of my XC90!

Flash - IIRC you are a Volvo enthusiast/ have had several? Would you recommend the XC90? I've had a V70 T5, S40 T5 AWD, S60 T5 and now an S60R, I haven't driven an XC90 but I assume it just drives like any other P2 Volvo platform?

It's a bit more wallowing, given the extra height and bulk, and hardly a 'sporty' drive.

However, it's about as comfy a car as I've been in, is sublime over long distances and has the aforementioned Bermuda Triangle of a boot. And, one thing where the older ones are better, split tailgate!

If you need/want a big, comfy, safe car, I really can't fault it.

Cheers Flash, thats pretty much what I expected to hear. I've got the S60R for sporty for when I want to not have to slow down for roundabouts or upset Audi A3's at the lights... the XC90 will be for hauling bikes around the country to save piling miles on the R.

We have a 2005MY 163bhp Auto D5 with pretty much all the toys (DVD, side steps, roof bars, tow ball). We got it in 2010 with 100,000 miles on and it's now on 153000 miles and going strong (there I jinxed it).

Fabulous car for a family. Ridiculously comfy seats...like in all old Volvos.

Flash is right, they are a wallowy, they are a car to waft in, not a car to throw round roundabouts.

Ours is likely for sale in a months time as I changed jobs last year and am doing about 30,000 miles annually. I am currently using the XC90 mainly as the BMW i3 we also have is too nice to kill the value of by throwing miles onto it.

I am probably going to get a Vauxhall Grandland as a company car in april. The XC90 has been brilliant over the 8 years we have owned.

On an Alps trip we had 10 AM bikes in the back of an XC90!! Wheels off obvs, but all wheels were in there too!

My second (old shape) XC90 is going back at the end of a 4 yr lease next month. Very happy with both of them, and getting an XC40 for the missus to replace it ( Posh First Edition model, as it’s cheaper on a Lease than the cheaper models bizarrely!)

I had an xc90 and could get both roadie and CXer in seats down lying flat.

Bulk of a vehicle and expensive to own, much too big and D5 auto drinks fuel like you wouldn’t believe.

I’d be inclined to go for an XC70 of some sort🚗

On an Alps trip we had 10 AM bikes in the back of an XC90!! Wheels off obvs, but all wheels were in there too!

Forks off and stripped down to bare frames?

My large Aeris will go in the back wheels on, with the seat post down, but the boot floor is high, wide bars and larger wheels make it a bit of a struggle, it doesn't slide in easily. Even though the boot is huge, the bike lies in there in the same way as one of those people that manages to sleep on both sides of the bed simultaneously, everything else needs to be arranged around it. Completely different story loading up with luggage, bikesnowadays  just seem to be bigger than they used to be.

No, wheels & pedals off, all stood up. Might have turned bars, can’t remember, but it was bloody impressive! I’ve also had a 3 seater leather sofa in the back with the door closed.

Xc70 is the best Volvo

Higher than V70, beautiful wafty ride and great in winter

XC90 only good if 7 seats must, otherwise too big and heavy so too thirsty if doing decent mileage

Volvo's = very nice

I fit large MTB or 58cm road bike in xc70 without removing any wheels.

Classic meaning old?

Classic meaning P2 platform based version (generally pre-facelift) rather second generation SPA platform based version (post 2014)

Also can anyone give me some real world MPG's for their XC90's? The S60R is thirsty- averages 20-22mpg on VPower as a daily and only gets to high 20's on motorway trips. Can't imagine an D5 can be worse than that!

I would have considered an XC70 but Ms O_h_h wants something higher and more SUV line and I'm happy to compromise on an XC90

D5 auto generally 31mpg. Up to 38 on long journeys

D5 Auto, Euro III, sometimes considered a bit better economy than later cars, similar to Dans- have squeezed 550 miles out of a tank cruising on French motorways. Computer currently showing 28.0mpg.

If I drive round town in it, short trips, high teens.

To be honest, I don't think the older cars are worth buying now, even as a banger. The cost of maintaining them is quite high and the bork factor could be a killer- ours needs something done most years, whether it be brakes, steering, suspension, which adds up surprisingly quickly even at an independent. Add to fuel costs, unless there's an overwhelming reason to buy one ie a family and lots of long distance cruising, there's probably better cars better suited to you out there.

We've taken ours from low mileage Volvo Selekt territory, through to 170k, and probably should have got rid of it a couple of years back, but everyone in the family loves the ride, comfort and space, and it's pretty much worthless now.

I've never worked out the actual mileage, but the trip computer never gets above about 31mpg. As others have said, unless you need 7 seats, or big load carrying (coincidentally we're currently using ours to move offices) then its probably overkill.

On the whole its been pretty reliable. We've had 3 "major" things go wrong, but only actually been let-down by the car once:

1. The radiator failed. The Volvo dealership wanted ~£900 and couldn't get one in time for us to go on holiday. Local garage fitted a pattern part next day for £425. That was the last time I went to the main dealer.

2. Wheel angle sensor needed replacing. It just gave a naggy warning about anti-skid being disabled. Not sure that I ever noticed, or would have noticed. That was another ~£450.

3. The emissions filter sensor died whilst driving, resulting in "limp-home" mode (and a cancelled trip to the Peak). This was relatively cheap to fix.

One thing I have noticed is that we get through a lot of light-bulbs. Fortunately replacing them is a doddle. Probably the best bit of design on the car.

Bikes on the roof is OK. My technique is to put the wheels in the track with the bike flat, grab the roof-bar with one hand (bike with the other), put a foot in the rear door well, and pull myself up. Dead easy with my roadie, more of a pain with the alloy full-sus! Note - Don't try this in road cleats!

On the down-side

* Its big. I find parking a pain. As you enter any parking space you can no longer see any white lines. Mine doesn't have front sensors, and no matter how far forward I go, there's always a foot spare (See Hofstaders Rule).

* Its not actually all that roomy inside. There was probably more passenger space in our Galaxy. That said, we've driven to the Alps several times (including sleeping in the car) and it was OK.

* You can never tell if the 4 wheel drive is working/going to work. Earlier models had some recurrent problem with this, and the Volvo forums are full of techniques to tell if the rear-wheel drive actually works. I've not tried them, and in snow (both with and without winter tyres) its been pretty good.

Rob

Thanks for all the feedback. It's mainly going to be used for longer drives / bike trips / holiday days so sound the be much driving around town that said I was hoping for more high 30's / low 40's mpg on longer trips as j thought the D5 was meant to be reasonable on fuel. Oh well it has to be better than the S60R!

I use my D5 on lots of long trips. With the older 5sp Aisin Warner gearbox there is a huge jump in MPG over 50mph as then the gearbox locks up so you are not loosing energy to the torque convertor. Typically on a long run (ie Yorkshire to France or London down the A1 when there is no other traffic) I get about 500 miles from a full tank. Around town the car drinks fuel like you would expect.

Well... back to the drawing board. Found a manual Ocean Race, full main dealer service history at a independent traders. Spoke to the Volvo garage that had gone the servicing and it's wanted for nothing, absolutely everything had been done. Ad said it had a few marks on the body work which I wasn't that worried about... Went to look at it yesterday and it was a state, mechanically it might have been fine but I dont think there was a panel on it that didn't have some kind of dent, dink, scratch or scrape. Inside didn't look like it had been well loved either.

Went and looked at a 60k mile one the same age and it was immaculate, shame it was nearly 3 times the price...

Will have to keep looking...

Try an XC60? Bit smaller, better fuel economy. Can still fit a full bike in the back without taking anything off. Can fit multiple bikes in with the wheels off.

We had an ocean race - auto.  Had it for 4.5 years.  Cost nothing except servicing.  Trips to alps skiing every year and Cornwall every summer.  Brilliantly comfortable ok on mpg.  Now have a disco - can’t exactly say it’s been ‘cost nothing except servicing’.....

Have had a 61 plate D5 auto for 2 and a half years. Tis a great car. Can and do so regularly, fit an xl s150s in the back with all the seats down. Have to wrestle it a bit, especially with the 29er wheels, but it does go, comfortably. Talking of comfort, best car ever for that. Does 30mpg locally, 35-38 on long runs. Last service showed up play in the steering rack, so may be trading it in come November. May go for a newish Passat, pretty cavernous and (hopefully) cheaper to run.

I *really* want the 60k mile ocean race manual I looked at but I think it’ll end  having to be a couple of grand of cheap 163bhp 04ish plate to see if we use it and like it first sadly.

So if anyone sees a bargain let me know!