Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

myvolvoex90.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

261–270 of 436 posts

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#261

Post by Workaccount2 »

germinalphrase wrote: post #143
Workaccount2 wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This is compounded by the fact that EV tech is rapidly improving, fueling depreciation. It's like personal computers in the 90's/00's. Compare to gas cars which is a very mature technology, and really only perks and features get updated.

Are they rapidly improving though? Sure, other companies are making an effort to catch up with Tesla on autonomous driving, but range/speed/price are largely stagnant. Mostly, it looks like every company (in the US/EU)is in shambles releasing half baked EVs hoping no one will notice that their hardware company is terrible at software.

The combination of range, (charging) speed, and price have all greatly improved since 2020. The next five years look promising too, with solid state batteries and smaller/lighter motors set to hit the market.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#262

Post by m-ee »

prmph wrote: post #129
runako wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Toyota, Lexus, Subaru, Honda. Not sure if Hyundai & Kia are quite as reliable, but if not it's on them because they have some of the best warranties in the industry.

Mazdas too. I find Toyota's suspensions and driving dynamics terrible. Mazda represents a perfect combination of good Japanese reliability and good handling dynamics. I also like that they still offer a proper automatic transmission in their cars (as opposed to the CVT epidemic in other makes), as well as naturally aspirated engine options (whereas many other makes only offer turbos now). The days of their collaborat…

My 2014 Mazda 3 has fairly regular infotainment issues, audio playing on my phone but no audio from the speakers, resolved by rebooting it.

Also had an issue with the backup camera cutting out. Was caused by a loose connector. Dealership was unwilling to help for free so I just cleaned the contacts and reseated the connector myself. Months later I received a recall notice with no fix available, still more months later hey finally said there was a repair but I haven’t brought it in yet.

All that said I’m still happy with the car despite these imperfections and will keep driving it until the wheels fall off, and wouldn’t have any reservations about buying a new one.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#263

Post by steveBK123 »

sathackr wrote: post #259
SecretDreams wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The two main Achilles Heels of Hyundai/Kia are their ICE Engines and their EV ICCUs. Google reliability for both and proceed accordingly. They're good about replacing/fixing both issues when they come up, and normally have extended warranties, but they are critical components too and long lead times to fix. Outside of those issues, which don't happen on all vehicles, I view the brand as pretty rock solid. I'm impress…

If you have a problem they take 4 weeks to fix it all while you're paying $50+/day for a rental car that they will fight you tooth and nail on reimbursing. One local dealer refused to honor under warranty the work another dealer did. If you have any damage (even minor cosmetic) they will blame that on your issues regardless of relativity. (I have a Hyundai that's had the ICCU replaced once, the ABS IEB twice, and the…

Everything I've heard of their dealers & service departments are what keep me away from their EVs. On the one hand, performance/looks/fun factor to price, they are a pretty good value. On the other hand, if I were to spend $70k on an Ioniq 5N, I would have expectations of service which they are clearly not going to meet. So at that pricing level, its back to BMW EVs.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#264

Post by Bud »

NegativeLatency wrote: post #201
xyx0826 wrote: post #161

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I applaud his efforts to document this what must’ve been a nightmare of a case for him. But it felt like a lot of the wording is speculative or hyperbolic in nature and aggressively tries to paint Volvo in a bad light. For example: “Analysis of Volvo's Final Response: This response … confirms Volvo's complete abandonment of customer responsibility…This is Volvo's definition of ‘customer care’ in 2025.” “Center Displa…

I don't think I'd spend 150k for a car, I imagine it would create a certain sense of entitlement, but he does sound pretty annoying. It's just an order mess-up, but opening with stuff like: "Sent a formal complaint to Volvo Canada on January 16, requesting escalation to Managing Director Matt Girgis. Volvo Canada never confirmed this escalation." is a vibe.

Having a very expensive car just randomly roll to a stop on a highway is a "vibe", too. More of a vibe than anything we might reasonably claim to be picking up from this guy, I would opine.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#265

Post by Bud »

nicce wrote: post #64
blueflow wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> .... if you want reliable quality. I'm saying this as a German, i strongly reject those accusations. Do not buy from VW group (and not from PSA/Stellantis (Citroen, Fiat, Opel etc brands), either).

What reliable is left?

[dead]

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#266

Post by jamiek88 »

tcshit wrote: post #165
jonplackett wrote: post #151

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m already boycotting VW for emissions-fraud, Tesla for Nazi-salutes… gonna run out of car brands at this rate

i agree on that emission-fraud. but, haha, you know there are loads of videos of your favorite blue colored ones doing the same salute? if that is what keeps you spinning you ran out of car brands long time ago...

Link one.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#267

Post by raisedbyninjas »

eckelhesten wrote: post #12

Volvo sadly no longer stands for Swedish quality and safety. What you’re buying is essentially an overpriced Chinese car with Volvo stickers. And I’m saying this as a Swede. Buy German cars, specifically within the Volkswagen auto group (Audi, VW, Skoda etc) if you want reliable quality.

US News and world report ranks VW last in reliability.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#268

Post by steveBK123 »

mttch wrote: post #88

I wouldn’t buy Tesla again but I’ve never experienced software issues in mine. Although some of the menus could be re-arranged for clarity, it’s otherwise clear and responsive. The app is great and the third party apps are even better. I’ve not heard positive things from VW or MG owners in terms of software either. Is there any good alternative to Tesla in this domain?

Tesla software in theory was generally pretty class leading. Certainly some downsides with their homegrown infotainment vs a car with Carplay/Android Auto though.

What I did not enjoy when I was one was the number of functions that are buttonless and require touchscreen UI. Additionally every 1-2 years they'd do a major version upgrade that moved said functions somewhere around the screen, sometimes into a sub-menu.

So I couldn't do stuff by touch without looking, and they'd periodically break my quick glance muscle memory with releases. Stuff like - adjust air vents, adjust wiper settings, front/rear defrost.

VW software is a monstrosity from everything I've heard.

BMW has struck a decent balance of features, reliability, and having BUTTONS. I also have a HUD in mine and it's nice having instrument cluster display plus HUD to avoid really having to look away from the road at all. The number of cars that require glancing at the central touchscreen for lots of stuff is nuts, and a fad I hope fades away.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#269

Post by worik »

nicce wrote: post #64
blueflow wrote: post #37

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> .... if you want reliable quality. I'm saying this as a German, i strongly reject those accusations. Do not buy from VW group (and not from PSA/Stellantis (Citroen, Fiat, Opel etc brands), either).

What reliable is left?

Jappanese electric cars have problems too.

> While driving on Highway 13 (Montreal), the vehicle abruptly lost all throttle response

This has happened twice with a Mk II Leaf for us. The second time the dealer charged me over $100 to say "Mēh! No idea what went wrong"

Perhaps BYD? They seem to be getting it together.

As an old and grey computer programmer I do not, absolutely do not want, a "software defined vehicle". My comrades and I are renowned for unreliable crappy consumer products, where car manufacturers in the ICE era developed remarkably reliable and performant vehicles.

I really think electric cars need to be done differently, where the drive train is not dependant on my friends who "move fast and break things". My friends like these should be nowhere near automobiles.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#270

Post by const_cast »

amoorthy wrote: post #15

Insane that Volvo doesn't just replace the car. The cost is trivial compared to the brand damage here. The complaint is so well documented and the customer is not being a jerk at all; not sure what Volvo's logic is.

Well if you don't replace the car you save 150K. But you lose a few million, let's say.

Those few million are invisible, the 150K you see right now and you know, for sure, you're saving it. Incidentally, this is how we got into this quality mess. Cutting quality seems like free money... except that it's not, it's just that nobody bothers to measure the opportunity cost.

And then one day you wake up and you're Chrysler, selling piece of shit vehicles for wayyy more than they're worth. And now your brand is worthless. But, at least you saved a few bucks ;P

Post reply on HN