I can't *quite* find out a few things about the V8 model - hoping someone> in here knows the info.>

1) The V8 was widely announced as a 2006 model, then appeared (it> appears) as a 2005. Which is it? Are there any changes planned for the> 2006 model year?>

2) What are the options and parts needed for a trailer hitch on the XC90?> I can't find any specific information, and there are references in the> pricing list to a "hitch base" and separate hitches. I want a basic, low-> profile, Class-III square-tube hitch... what options do I need?>

3) Does anyone have reliable real-world fuel economy figures for the V8?>

4) My impression is that the reliability problems of the XC90 were worked> out over the last couple of model years. Does the V8 bring any new/known> reliability problems to the game?>

Ad(thanks)vance...>­

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

I'm looking at a Chrysler Pacifica.

"James Gifford" <nsp@nitrosyncretic­.kom> wrote in message> news:Xns96317E15BDA­44nitropressatnitros­yn@216.168.3.44...>>­ I'm looking at an XC90 V8 to replace my 5 year old Odyssey. It would be>> my fourth Volvo, although I haven't owned one for a number of years.>>

But where would that leave my '68 Mustang? ­

Ready for a blown 351C.

I can't *quite* find out a few things about the V8 model - hoping someone> in here knows the info.>

1) The V8 was widely announced as a 2006 model, then appeared (it> appears) as a 2005. Which is it? Are there any changes planned for the> 2006 model year?>

2) What are the options and parts needed for a trailer hitch on the XC90?> I can't find any specific information, and there are references in the> pricing list to a "hitch base" and separate hitches. I want a basic, low-> profile, Class-III square-tube hitch... what options do I need?>

3) Does anyone have reliable real-world fuel economy figures for the V8?>

4) My impression is that the reliability problems of the XC90 were worked> out over the last couple of model years. Does the V8 bring any new/known> reliability problems to the game?>

Ad(thanks)vance...>­

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

... (S80's) need a high-pressure >turbo, not a low pressure turbo, for their 6's (same issue as the S80)), and

S80's do have high-pressure turbos as well as low-pressure ones.> They're twin-turbos.>

I don't consider a turbo S80 underpowered with its 268-hp engine. Not> racer, but not underpowered.>

My understanding was that the T6 is essentially a low-pressure turbo with >twin gates. Whatever it is, I didn't feel the "surge" in the S80, and it >certainly doesn't do it for me on the even heavier XC90.

But where would that leave my '68 Mustang? ­

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

My needs are for 6/7 seats, reasonable cargo capacity, and neither> enormous nor a truck. I also want a reasonable amount of power and snap.> That leaves about four vehicles, three of which are minivans. I've driven> a van for seven years; I really want something else for a while.>

I drove a station wagon for years, too, and while I kind of like some of> the new-gen station wagons, I wouldn't want to drive one. Abysmal mileage> for the capacity, for one thing.>

I don't believe the XC90's V8 is all that new; Yamaha has been making> variants of it for at least a decade. Granted, there are new tweaks and> it's in a new home, which might lead to some issues, but it's not fresh> off the blueprints.>

It really pisses me off that so many vehicles, of a vast range of types> and sizes, don't go past 4+1 seating. Including most of the XC90's> competitors.

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

Well. you got the Hinda Pilot/Acura MDX, and the Nissan Pathfinder,> the chevy trailblazer ext, and the much better then I ever thought it> would be Dodge Durango...its not fancy or sexy at all but there is a> lot of room in a Ford 500...Another good option in my mind, perhaps> the best of this sorry list is a used MB E class wagon...

Does it have the standard 170 CI straight six, the high power 200 CI> six, or the 289?

None of those quite fit - Pilot and Pathfinder are a little too trucky,> Trailblazer and Durango way too much. I wouldn't be driving a large> passenger/cargo vehicle at all if I didn't have to, and I if I have to, I> want something that's a car scaled up rather than a truck converted or> scaled down. That's why I like my Odyssey - it's a big fat Acura TL> underneath, and still drives and rides more like a big sports sedan than> a truck.>

The MDX was a candidate, but the last piece I want is more than average> power, and the 311 HP of the '90 is very attractive.>

Nothing in a sedan or station wagon has enough cargo space for my daily> needs - the difference between using my Odyssey for a big Costco run vs.> using the E500 is about 20 minutes of loading and unloading time! And> unless I've missed something, none of the new "station wagons" seat more> than 5, like damned near everything these days. (3 in the front seat is> not an option - it usually means crappy seats and crowding of the> driver.)>

So the choices really dwindled to the XC90, the MDX, or another Odyssey> or Sienna. And I really don't want to drive a minivan any more, even a> very nice one. ­>

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

Started with a 289. Still says 289 on the fenders and air cleaner. Still> looks just like a FoMoCo 289.>

You'd have to dismantle it to discover that it's a heavily built, half-> aluminum, girdled 347 with forged guts. You'd have to weigh it to see that> it's 125 pounds lighter. And you'd have to try to catch me to discover > that> it's got 430HP, 435FPT and a 6k redline. ­>

I think it shares much with the forthcoming Mercedes R-class - a> stretched version of the new M-class. I was waiting on the R, but took> one look at the sucker and gagged. Ugly sucker.>

I'm not thrilled with the Pacifica, but I'll take another look.>

The other problem is that I got out of cars that depreciate like a rock> several generations ago and don't really want to go back. Hence my focus> on the Volvo, Acura, Merc, etc.>

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

Mt major concern with the Pacifica is American quality, but I> understand Merc qual has slipped badly in recent years, and Toyota's> sliding as well, while I hear American qual is getting better. Also,> many of the foreign cars (but not Volvo) are assembled in the US ---> which may account for their qual slippage. I was looking at the> Toyota Avalon but understand it is essentially an American car.

Yes, I consider that. However, I've looked at the Pacifica and it just> won't do for my needs. (Underpowered for its size and weight, for one> thing.) The whopping depreciation it's sure to take is another.>

I don't think "American" (in fact or in name) is a bad thing. Most of the> quality issues come from cars trying to compete outside their range. I'm> sorry, but a $25k Buick does NOT compare with a $50k Acura or Mercedes,> no matter how much leather and faux wood you stuff into it. If the makers> would build and sell cars to compete realistically, the quality issues> wouldn't be of note.>

The Mercedes M-class is a good example of the inverse: MB tried to keep> that car too cheap, and the corners they cut to keep it from being a $50-> 60k vehicle show. Mercedes also has the problem of a divided image: to> the rest of the world, they're a "General Motors," selling everything> from econoboxes to vans to trucks and every niche in between. In the US,> they're a flat-out luxury seller, and the juggling they have to do with> their lineup here sometimes slips.>

But nah, I looked at the Pacifica, and again at the MDX, and tried a> full-range search again... and I'm back at the XC90 V8. I'm doing some> dealer research now to see if I have to battle against markups and option> overloading, or if I can get what I want at something reasonable over> invoice.>

Does anyone have a really good picture of an XC90 in Lava Sand? I can't> find one, and can't quite tell if I like the color from the XC70 pics> I've found.>

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

I'm not THAT into the Volvo culture. ­

...but if you don't like the results> you get from the dealer you have looking, you might do well to contact> Alan Byer Volvo in Syracuse, NY. (contyact Stephen Byer, he runs the> place). I've never lived in the Syracuse area (so I've never> had him service a car), but he's treated me so well on pricing that> I've bought or leased my last 3 Volvo's from him and driven there to> pick up the cars from various places I've lived on the east coast.

Sacramento.>

Little too far to drive this time of year, but if I was making one of my> regular trips to NYC any time soon, I'd think about it.>

We only have two Volvo dealers here, but there are about eight within a> hundred miles. If I get serious, I'll go arm-wrassle with as many as I> have to. I might be looking at an S80, too, so that gives me some> leverage.>

Then again, word is that the 4.4 V8 is on its way into the car line. That> might be worth waiting for.>

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

I can't *quite* find out a few things about the V8 model - hoping someone> in here knows the info.>

1) The V8 was widely announced as a 2006 model, then appeared (it> appears) as a 2005. Which is it? Are there any changes planned for the> 2006 model year?>

2) What are the options and parts needed for a trailer hitch on the XC90?> I can't find any specific information, and there are references in the> pricing list to a "hitch base" and separate hitches. I want a basic, low-> profile, Class-III square-tube hitch... what options do I need?>

3) Does anyone have reliable real-world fuel economy figures for the V8?>

4) My impression is that the reliability problems of the XC90 were worked> out over the last couple of model years. Does the V8 bring any new/known> reliability problems to the game?>

Ad(thanks)vance...>­

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|

I called Hitch Mart after I got the hitch to verify that the same> model hitch will work with the V8, which has dual pipes on the left> side. They said it should be fine.

Thanks for the number - I looked this up. It looks like it's a truly > hidden> installation, with just the receiver tube visible below the bumper. Seen> any installed, or pics? Is this true? (I was disappointed with the hitches> available for my Odyssey, including the Draw-Tite I went with - they are> all fully visible, as there is no space to hide the crossbar. I hate the> goopy look of an exposed hitch assembly on non-trucks.)>

What about the connector? Are you going with a Volvo unit or something> aftermarket?>

-- > |=- James Gifford = FIX SPAMTRAP TO REPLY -=|> |=- So... your philosophy fits in a sig, does it? -=|