48 replies to this topic

[JollyGiant]

Because of my back problem (now found out that i have 2 bulging discs at L3&4) I am finding it harder to drive my Passat TDI Sport...

I borrowed a Volvo XC90 2.9 petrol twin turbo today and...................... Wow prob the nicest big car I've ever driven and the most important bit is that it was easy to get in and out of and I could get really comfy in it too.

Being 6ft 6 I need a big car to get in and out of without knackering my back.

Any body else had one of these???

If running costs??

Or another 4X4 options poss???

I need.....................

4X4 or something big?

Fully adjustable lecky seats.

2.5 diesel or around 35mpg+???

Budget of upto £13,000!!

Edited by Jolly Giant, 04 April 2009 - 07:54 am.

[Baron]

I had a Volvo XC90 2.4 TDI geartronic 185 bhp, the current diesel engine. Very nice car, comfy, practical but fuel econimy I found a bit lacking. 27mpg in town and 32mpg on motorway. Also, pulling away from a standstill into a gap in the traffic was scary! Aparently, because of the cars weight and engine torque initial acceleration is reduced to protect the gearbox resulting in your scary slightly later than planned arrival into the gap in the traffic!! I got so hacked off with it I sold it and now have a lovely VW Toe Rag with a 3.6 litre V6 petrol engine that gets you to places before you set off.....brill. The price to pay (there always is one of course) is 18mpg in town and 24mpg on the motorway....but what a ride

Edited by Baron, 03 April 2009 - 07:05 pm.

[JollyGiant]

I had a Volvo XC90 2.4 TDI geartronic 185 bhp, the current diesel engine. Very nice car, comfy, practical but fuel econimy I found a bit lacking. 27mpg in town and 32mpg on motorway. Also, pulling away from a standstill into a gap in the traffic was scary! Aparently, because of the cars weight and engine torque initial acceleration is reduced to protect the gearbox resulting in your scary slightly later than planned arrival into the gap in the traffic!! I got so hacked off with it I sold it and now have a lovely VW Toe Rag with a 3.6 litre V6 petrol engine that gets you to places before you set off.....brill. The price to pay (there always is one of course) is 18mpg in town and 24mpg on the motorway....but what a ride

Even using the tip-tronic gears???

Yeah the main concern is the MPG!!

Normal running cost are prob around the same as my Passat...........£450 for a cam belt change and £250 for a major service

[Bulldog]

About 3 yrs ago I had a volvo out for a 24hr test and took it back after 2 hours as I hated it so much!

I then bought a 4 month old Jeep Grand Cherokee which I get on fine with. Many will pick holes in this choice (and there are somet to be picked) but on the other hand, it has a 3.0L Mercedes diesel which will get it to 60mph in 9 seconds when needed, Jeep has a good reputation in off-road vehicles (not that i go off-road much) and it has permanent all wheel drive (and 40k miles to a set of tyres), it has full leather and very electric seats and has bags of room in the back. It is also less than 1.83m high which seems to be a brreak point on Britanny Ferries at least although i don't know if that is a price break or just to check amount of space available for high vehicles. I've never had any trouble with it in 60k miles and no signs of ageing other than that which Jeep built into the design. It isn't a 7 seater but I didn't want one, 5 is enough for me. I would recommend one and the price of a 2nd hand one in this climate has to be good.

[JollyGiant]

Forgot to add the biget I'm on???

It's £13,000

[ChrisG]

Yeah, there's a lot to be said for an MPV. It'll get better fuel economy and handle better than a a 4x4 due to weighing a lot less, and they're a fair bit cheaper, but still has the high roof and upright seating position of a 4x4

[JollyGiant]

Just looked on Parkers and the MPV's tend to give around the same mpg 25-35mpg for a smaller engine and less BHP...

VW Sharan 2.8 V6 200 bhp= 24 mpg

1.9 TDI 113bhp= 36 mpg and prob guttless???

My Passat has 138bhp and the Sharan weighs more than the Passat. The Sharan prob weighs about 300kg less than the Volvo

Volvo XC90 2.5 diesel 170 BHP=35mpg


IMHO on the styling of MPV's they all look like you've sold your motoring soul to please the wife and kids

Where as the soft roader looks slightly better in my view but please prove me wrong!!

Edited by Jolly Giant, 04 April 2009 - 12:07 pm.

[sidestand]

Mrs S has a Fiat Useless - & although it only has a 1.9 diesel engine & has a top speed of 90mph max (downhill with a backwind) & is nearly ten years old.........

it seats 8, is bloody comfortable, will go down the motorways & autoroutes all day at 80mph, does near on 40mpg & when you take all the back seats out, does a passable imitation of a transit van.

We'll never part with it until it falls apart - but the bodywork & interior are near perfect still, even after 95000 miles

[ChrisG]

They do a 140bhp diesel Sharon which is supposed to do 45mpg, but know what you mean about looks.

I learned to drive in a landrover and hate the hairdresser 4x4's with a vengance. The Volvo is one one of the beter looking softroaders though. My sister's got a Suburu Forester which she's fairly happy with, it's meant to be one of the better ones on the road, though not stunning off road. They don't do it in a diesel, but hers is running fine with an LPG conversion.

[dandywarhol]

Do you NEED a 4x4 or WANT a 4x4?

Mazda Bongo - up to 30 mpg, 2.5TD 130 BHP, auto or manual 2 or 4WD, loasda space, roof pops up to make a tent.................
http://www.bongofury.co.uk/

[Baron]

Even using the tip-tronic gears???

Yeah the main concern is the MPG!!

Normal running cost are prob around the same as my Passat...........£450 for a cam belt change and £250 for a major service

Yep, the tiptronic gear mode still results in a delayed standing start.

I've also had a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0 litre Limited. Not as refined ride as the volvo or touareg but does the business for not a lot of cash, though being petrol it averaged between 19 and 24mpg. But then again the new price is low relative to some others and the used market price is even more attractive the saving of which will pay for a lot of petrol.

[big dave]

I recently bought a Kia Sorento, six months old for about £15k. If you go for a 12 month old model it should easily be in your price range.

180ish bhp, 35 mpg on a run, tows upto 3000kg (that's why we bought it-horsebox).

There are various trim levels. I'm sure the higher specced ones have leccy seats.

OK the Disco drivers may sneer but you won't break down and lose as much on depreciation as them.

BD

[JollyGiant]

Do you NEED a 4x4 or WANT a 4x4?

Mazda Bongo - up to 30 mpg, 2.5TD 130 BHP, auto or manual 2 or 4WD, loasda space, roof pops up to make a tent.................
http://www.bongofury.co.uk/

Umm....I dont NEED one for "Off Roading" need one for ease of getting in and out and driving. Something that the base of the seat is high up (Remember i'm 6Ft6) so I dont have to sit down into it and supports the whole of my thighs when driving.

Also looking at the Mitsubishi Outlander, but haven't drove one yet!!!!

[goony]

you can get a brand new jeep the patriot for about £13500 does over 40MPG combined and over 50mpg on a run

goony

[goony]

also my uncle is sales director for them in peterborough i can put you in touch if you want and you may be able to get a deal out of him

goony

[jeepstar]

then bought a 4 month old Jeep Grand Cherokee which I get on fine with. Many will pick holes in this choice (and there are somet to be picked) but on the other hand, it has a 3.0L Mercedes diesel which will get it to 60mph in 9 seconds when needed, Jeep has a good reputation in off-road vehicles (not that i go off-road much) and it has permanent all wheel drive (and 40k miles to a set of tyres), it has full leather and very electric seats and has bags of room in the back. It is also less than 1.83m high which seems to be a brreak point on Britanny Ferries at least although i don't know if that is a price break or just to check amount of space available for high vehicles. I've never had any trouble with it in 60k miles and no signs of ageing other than that which Jeep built into the design. It isn't a 7 seater but I didn't want one, 5 is enough for me. I would recommend one and the price of a 2nd hand one in this climate has to be good.

agree with you there

you can get a brand new jeep the patriot for about £13500 does over 40MPG combined and over 50mpg on a run

goony

but there not much taller than a normal car , and they look "but"ungly imo

[dandywarhol]

Umm....I dont NEED one for "Off Roading" need one for ease of getting in and out and driving. Something that the base of the seat is high up (Remember i'm 6Ft6) so I dont have to sit down into it and supports the whole of my thighs when driving.

Also looking at the Mitsubishi Outlander, but haven't drove one yet!!!!

Hope you're not laughing at a Bongo JG