[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

I think optioning a car (when you get lots of choices !) is like building a house - you never get everything "just" right ! Maybe I got a bit too friendly with ticking boxes...<p>June 9, we should see some iPhone announcements I hope... (Apple developer conference keynote). I am a Apple fan - had one since the Mac SE..<p>Did anyone get back to you about the subwoofer ?<p><br><BR><BR>
<i>Modified by notthestig at 10:56 PM 5-13-2008</i>

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

<p>I havent done anything about it. I have altered the moulded highish re tray protector though. <p>You must have or be close getting your car by now. thus far i have done 340kms all in city traffic and the gauge is on the half way mark. today i will set about reading the manual and getting the settings working. also i have to put together a playlist for the ipod and check that out. <p>Cheers<br>Hatdriver<p>

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

No pics yet ?<p>Still waiting to hear about my car but I will shoot off a email tonight !<p>Just wondering, I don't suppose your car has "Electrically foldable rear head restraints" or included the "Rear centre armrest with cupholders and storage compartment" (which was previously listed as a option), did it ? I was checking the <A HREF="http://www.volvocars.com/au/models/xc70/Pages/FeaturesOptions.aspx" TARGET="_blank">http://www.volvocars.com/au/mo....aspx</A> web page and they are supposed to be standard in the XC70 but I think it may be a error in the listing ?<p>

 

[notthestig]

Re: (notthestig)

Well, I have my car...<p>Post here: <A HREF="http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=99433" TARGET="_blank">http://forums.swedespeed.com/zerothread?id=99433</A>

 

[djinyourface]

i wish i was with u guys in aussie...i wanna live there ha...make me jealous...wats it like over there

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

<p>Your car is a twin of mine (minus about fifty accessory options) but most obviously the crossed aluminium trim and the sunroof. The photo's are great. With your photo's just saw a a picture, for the first time, of the dark fineline and I must say that looks good. Oh well another blue. Very much envious of your options - seems like you have put a great package together. I still havent read the book, hence havent tried the options i did get - its been raining over her and the rainsensors havent come on automatically and i am unsure if the interior air quality is even working either - been busy lately, attempting to avoid clients ripping out my pancreas (or worse) so havent even given the car its first wash. I have had a apple time capsule (still wrapped) sitting in my office for three weeks. will wash, shammy and photographs though. <p><br>Something i would like to know though, do you think the laminated glass is noticeable and if so by about how many notches on the radio?? I was seriously thinking about that one too (oh well). <p>though we are somewhat biased i reckon the white's is the best colour in the range (seashell is my second choice and glad i didnt get the grey as my wife saw one in the showroom and didnt get it). <p>Something i think i noticed though having done about 2200 kms and up to my third tank of diesel is that i really think its loosening up a bit or something and i am getting more mileage to the tank. <p>Pros - After driving the 2.5 subie the get up and go this thing has got is welcome. <br>Cons - cant get the car off the wife. <p>In short still discovering the car, your photo's informed me the rear centre headrest lifts. <p>Cheers<br>Hatdriver.<p><br>

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Hatdriver</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><p>Your car is a twin of mine (minus about fifty accessory options) but most obviously the crossed aluminium trim and the sunroof. The photo's are great. With your photo's just saw a a picture, for the first time, of the dark fineline and I must say that looks good. Oh well another blue. Very much envious of your options - seems like you have put a great package together. I still havent read the book, hence havent tried the options i did get - its been raining over her and the rainsensors havent come on automatically and i am unsure if the interior air quality is even working either - been busy lately, attempting to avoid clients ripping out my pancreas (or worse) so havent even given the car its first wash. I have had a apple time capsule (still wrapped) sitting in my office for three weeks. will wash, shammy and photographs though. <p><br>Something i would like to know though, do you think the laminated glass is noticeable and if so by about how many notches on the radio?? I was seriously thinking about that one too (oh well). <p>though we are somewhat biased i reckon the white's is the best colour in the range (seashell is my second choice and glad i didnt get the grey as my wife saw one in the showroom and didnt get it). <p>Something i think i noticed though having done about 2200 kms and up to my third tank of diesel is that i really think its loosening up a bit or something and i am getting more mileage to the tank. <p>Pros - After driving the 2.5 subie the get up and go this thing has got is welcome. <br>Cons - cant get the car off the wife. <p>In short still discovering the car, your photo's informed me the rear centre headrest lifts. <p>Cheers<br>Hatdriver.<p><br></TD></TR></TABLE><p>Good to hear from you and great to hear the car is going well. I haven't done as many kms as you yet but I expect that it will take 5000kms to loosen up. You must be busy from what you say ! What is your average fuel consumption shown in your trip computer ?<p>I would have preferred to have that Fineline trim but the dealer didn't have any cars to swap with as my car came with wood (and I don't like wood...) - that is the only thing I would like to change. Seems bizarre that I couldn't get it swapped in the factory. <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/zeroforum_graphics/screwy.gif" BORDER="0"> <p>Auto wipers work well - you just push the button on the wiper stalk so you get a little wiper symbol in the RH gauge insert so you know it is active. You need to turn it on each time you start the car. You adjust the sensitivity with the thumb wheel.<p>White is the new Black (or Silver) in Europe - yes, I think the new XC looks great in White too.<p>Laminated Glass - I don't really know how much difference it makes without being able to do a back to back test but my helpful dealer doesn't confirm it is "a bit" quieter (he wasn't just saying that either to sell me the option either !). I do find the car very quiet while cruising though.<p>The only downer is finding something that isn't working - The LHF power window illumination doesn't work ! - oh well, I guess that isn't something that they would be able to pickup in the PDI ! <p>Look forward to seeing your pics too !<p>

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

<p>Hi NTS,<p>I am nudging 3000kms with a 9.7 l/100 average. the majority of driving is in sydney with four longish trips, one to the hunter valley, two to gosford and back and one to Katoomba. i suppose a pretty good mix of freeway and city driving (when i say city i mean stop-start and heavy traffic for most the time). I am spending about the same money on fuel as when i had my 2.5 lt subie. In short, given the 1.8 tonne around me I am very very happy with the fuel economy on this size & weight vehicle. However from reading the us site i figure that petrol owners do not have the same satisfaction. I cant understand the us reluctance to go down the diesel road. Costs of retraining a continent of mechanics is one i suppose and the other cheap petrol. <p>Today is the day, i will wash, vacuum, polish the xc and take some pictures (in between football games this morning and this afternoon). <p>the tip with the wipers was handy as it rained all this week. <p>to think its one of the best value cars on the market - all round. <p>Cheers<br>hatdriver<p>

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

Yes, loving mine now too. Did 700kms today (easily !) and I am sure I could it feel it having loosened up a bit now as it does get up and go when you go out to overtake. I have just passed 2000kms and the average shows 8.6l/100kms but I think I do less commuting than you !<p>As it rained and drizzled most of the day, I am appreciating the autowipers a LOT !<p>My car is filthy - may take some more pics like it is ! - You do appreciate that you don't get dirty hands with the electric tailgate <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/smile.gif" BORDER="0"><p>From some other posts, I see we have 15k service intervals but in Europe it is 30k ! - strange eh ?<p>I guess those chasing status would disagree, but I am quite pleased I got the XC and not a new X5. <p>Pics soon HD ?<p>

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

Hi,<p>I tried and failed to get photo's onto the SS site direct. so went your way with flicr. I copied and pasted what <br>what was on the site site address when all the photo's were in the site paste below. i havent tried it so hope it works. i will leave the site up on my computer until i here from you. if you cant see them can you let me know the steps to save. <p>The auto wipers are the best. its been raining here for two weeks and turning the wipers off and on in drizzly rain drives me crackers. <p>Had mine off road on a 20 acre lot the other day and went to the back along a very very deep pot hole muddy water filled track. No probs but I kind of think the subie might be a tad better in really rough conditions. when i say deep i had to let the car down real light as it bottomed a couple of times. I felt the back come around marginally once. having compared the subie i am not sure it would have made it given the depth of the potholes and this his a much higher car.<p>i am on 9.8 l/100 at the moment with the majority of the 3k in the city. <p>I forgot you have the le so bigger and different wheels as well. i will have another look at your photo's. <p>Just a word of caution the fuel reader is not real reliable. I didnt run out but nearly did. It went from 100kms left to 0 in about 50kms. Actually amazing it didnt run out given the gauge was on 0 kms left for about 5 kms until i could get off the motorway into a servo. <p>Re the BMW i can see the new model dating real quick. I mean it takes a seasoned eye to tell the difference bwn the so called brand new model and a x5 thats 10 years old. holden did this with the hq and MB have come in with a new shape and i think that BMW should have done the X5 its due and did the same. I mean it is different, longer / wider but it still looks the same. <p>the beauty about the volvo is that the client knows its entry level luxury so I dont have to park it around the corner plus its handy if they're upset with me as i can make a speedy getaway. <p><br>Cheers<br>Hatdriver<p><A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/?saved=1" TARGET="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/?saved=1</A><br><BR><BR>
<i>Modified by Hatdriver at 4:23 PM 6-17-2008</i>

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

<p>Hi NTS,<p>just experimented:<p>try this link instead:<p><A HREF="http://www.flickr.com/photos/[email protected]/2587825563" TARGET="_blank">http://www.flickr.com/photos/2...25563</A>/<p>Cheers <br>Hatdriver

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

You have done well !<p>I found issues with uploading to SS so the flickr option was indeed the easiest. You can even just email your pics direct to flickr via the address you get for your site making it ultra easy to add more.<p>Thanks for the fuel reading advice - my last car was worse than that actually as I regularly went from 150kms until empty to 0kms after only 50 !<p>Yes, a Volvo is a lot more discrete than other "luxury" options. I prefer that I am seen as a bit eccentric rather than some badge snob ! Helps when visiting farmers...<p>Nice to see the RSE screens. Where is the player ?<p>I have noticed your seatback pockets are completely different to mine - I have the perforated leather and not the netting you appear to have. Quite strange. I will post some more pics later as although I have uploaded a heap, I have still missed some areas !<p><br> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/embeer.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/embeer.gif" BORDER="0"> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/embeer.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

Hi,<p>wonder if the netting on the seats in mine has something to do with it not being a le??<p>the player is in the centre console - its fitted so that the 8x8x3" player is fixed to the side of the interior console. works well actually. while volvo market the rse as being capable of game console input and indeed there is a video input/sound jack (which no other manufacturer has to my knowledge) the fuses keep blowing when you hook up the inverter to the cigarette lighter (because the Playstation is 240v needed the inverter to jump it from 9v to 240v). so i dont know how they powered the one in their little marketing movie clip or what game console they were using but it turns out the dvd player is on the same fuse as the cigarette lighter hence the blown fuses I suspect. so i am stuck with movies which is still pretty good. <p>Cheers<br>Hatdriver

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

I have uploaded a couple of pics showing my seat pockets. I would guess it is either because I have the vented seats or because you have the RSE. I am a long way from the dealer so I can't see what is standard. I really doubt it is a LE thing as it is just a package of discounted options (with nothing unique) after all...<p>Pity about your RSE game console connection. Have you tried any other input like a videocamera to see if that works OK ?<p><BR><BR>
<i>Modified by notthestig at 5:24 AM 6-22-2008</i>

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Hatdriver</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote"><br>Just a word of caution the fuel reader is not real reliable. I didnt run out but nearly did. It went from 100kms left to 0 in about 50kms. Actually amazing it didnt run out given the gauge was on 0 kms left for about 5 kms until i could get off the motorway into a servo. </TD></TR></TABLE><p>Tested this out myself yesterday. I was 80km from where I was heading and the trip computer said 80kms until empty. My GPS counted down and everything was going OK until I was 20km away (trip computer also said 20kms until empty), when it just went "---" just shortly thereafter ! No 10kms warning and I was still 18kms away !<p>Kept going and when I filled up I got 67 litres in (871kms) so I must have been close...

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (notthestig)

Hi NTS,<p>when total confusion reigned I read the book. It actually details that the kms to empty sign will go to -- when (after 21) the 20km point is reached. I expect that you had that slightly sweaty, uneasy feeling I recently experienced!! Not a good feeling when you think you're running on empty but its actually just the way the gauge goes, i.e. 20kms and then empty. <p>I assume that you commenced the 871kms trip with a full tank and that it was a no hills run?? Anyways 871kms is a great range. <p>Also slowly swinging the mrs. from a c class estate over to a xc70 and i rather think when she takes the 200 kompressor for a run the comparison with the xc d5 should swing it. <p>I was having a look at the aussie volvo site the other day and i kind of think that the cars have gone up in price. I did notice also, that the dark fineline is only available for the petrol and d5 se but NOT the le It is odd but its there in black and white its just not offered/available. that is weird. <p>Have you seen the interior of the new oceanrace xc70 yet??<p>cheers<br>Hatdriver.

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Hatdriver)

Hattie,<p>Thanks for the info on the trip computer display - I hadn't read that... Yes, I was a bit anxious driving on empty. Once you get to zero (under 20kms to go), there must be about 4-5 litres left at the most !<p>Have you had the package from Volvo ? (some pics in my gallery) ?<p>That 871kms was wrong - actually 821 - ho ho ho - mistake my way ! That did include some commuting and running around town but mainly trips (with hills !). It wasn't as superfull as when I filled up (to get the 67 litres in) so I will see what I get next time.<p>The C Class estate was a close thing for me. I needed that ground clearance though. Bit small inside and certainly not any cheaper if you get the diesel...<p>There is supposed to be a July 1 price increase as well as some decontenting in various models (the XC90 lost its standard third row A/C) but I couldn't see anything yet. The website is error filled though as it lists that the XC70 has electric folding rear headrests ! <p>Yes, indeed, get a LE and you get wood - I was able to get the dealer to change it over to what they had on other cars instock but I would have much preferred that fineline trim....<p>Haven't seen the oceanrace - have you a link ?<p> <IMG NAME="icon" SRC="http://www.vwvortex.com/vwbb/embeer.gif" BORDER="0">

 

[Trentyn]

hey guys, this was a great read!! just wanted to add that our xc90 had the DVD player (roof mounted alpine unit) installed before we bought it new (only has 3k's on it when i picked it up) but due to a faulty install needed to be completely replaced, it blew 3 fuses (yes connected to 12V cigarrette lighters too).

 

[notthestig]

Re: (Trentyn)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD><i>Quote, originally posted by <b>Trentyn</b> »</i></TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey guys, this was a great read!! just wanted to add that our xc90 had the DVD player (roof mounted alpine unit) installed before we bought it new (only has 3k's on it when i picked it up) but due to a faulty install needed to be completely replaced, it blew 3 fuses (yes connected to 12V cigarrette lighters too).</TD></TR></TABLE><p>Got any pics ? - The Sport has a different interior doesn't it ?

 

[Hatdriver]

Re: (Trentyn)

Hi Trentyn,<p>How is it that everyone on this site has got an accessory shop on wheels except me!!<p>is yours the d5, petrol or V8 and is it metallic black or black. I had a look at the 90 and whilst it is about the same length and maybe a tad wider i just wanted a jacked up wagon as i have to whip around philip street and do a lot of metro driving. <p>i wonder if volvo will go the way of merc & bmw and with the next 90 bring out an even bigger car. i pretty much think so given that is exactly what they did with the xc70. i dont mind though given that is the reason i bought it. i do a lot of country driving and it is disquietening to know that i am sharing the road with a bunch of geriatric drivers who think nothing of throwing down a handful of pills and then getting onto the highway and doing (80 kph in a 100kph for 5-6 hours or least until lunch when they have to throw down more pills. You would not believe how many cars i have seen turned over etc with the roadway usually strewn with those ugly pastel colored crocheyed pillows. i speak to a lot of accident police and i asked them once which is the safest vehicle to which I received the reply, get a lamp pole or a tree. I am a bit slow but after a few seconds caught on and pursued my original question (not wanting to look too stupid) and they all say get 'high and heavy'. so you have done well getting the 90 given the built in safety features and it is 'high and heavy'. high so you dont go under and heavy is just a physics thing. i have had a few near misses over the years on the road (most which relate to old fogies hence my remark above) and in all seriousness i do actually feel safer in the xc. of course, there is also the comfort and space.....<p>I really liked the black xc70 and if i can get two at the same time then it will definitely be the black. having said that i really like my white. its just that the black shows off the chrome much better. <p>was the dvd a genuine volvo accessory as i think the roof mounted ones were an option. i got the built in as i had dreams of fitting a ps2. I think they those swedes havent quiet got the electrics right and i could see how they might overlook something like an inverter fitted to a lighter to make the ps2 work. would have liked to be there though when the guys putting the promo movie together tried to get ps2 to work on the built in rse. I bet pounds to pence there were some urgent calls to the factory so those two little kids in the back got that thing working. <p>Cheers<br>Hatdriver<p>ps hope you arent a pensioner!!