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Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

myvolvoex90.com

131–140 of 436 posts

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#131
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?

[flagged]

Whether or not that is true (I suspect you just made that up), no other businessman alive in America has made politics such a part of their personal brand.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#132

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Was told by a mechanic a few months back that continuously-variable transmissions are standard in gas cars now, but have reliability problems. Old-tech automatics can (could?) still be had from Toyota and Mazda.

Nah only Subaru and nisssan. 10 speed automatics are most common.

Most Japanese manufacturers are moving pretty heavily to CVTs. (And Americans have a smattering of them across their lines.)

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren’t Japanese cars the gold standard of reliability? Or has something changed?

Was told by a mechanic a few months back that continuously-variable transmissions are standard in gas cars now, but have reliability problems. Old-tech automatics can (could?) still be had from Toyota and Mazda.

Note that the eCVT that Toyota/Ford (and soon Mazda) use in their hybrids is mechanically entirely different from classic CVTs.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#134
post #50

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren’t Japanese cars the gold standard of reliability? Or has something changed?

To be honest, it has never been about pure brand. Every brand has had clunkers and has had great models. Having said that, Toyota is known for their reliability, and Volvo (+ Polestar) was / are known for their safety. Just to emphasize the point: Nissan is doomed because generally no one wants their cars, but they have perhaps one of the greatest bang-for-buck EVs outside of Chinese brands: the Leaf 2.

Leaf doesn't have active cooling nor CCS... That's a big reason they have to price it like that. I'd rather take a Toyota busy forks in the current market. Chevy Equinox is pretty good bang for buck too.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#135
post #21

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.

They would need to replace all faulty cars after that. They want to avoid that.

Ah you might be right. But:

1. If they really have so many faulty cars on the road that's a serious hazard and any accidents where people die may end up destroying Volvo entirely because of negligence.

2. An economically reasonable answer might be refund the guy making the complaint and ofter all other owners $10k credit towards your next Volvo purchase or free 3 years of maintenance and service. Something like this might be enough to stem the bleeding while protecting the brand.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#136
post #85
post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What reliable is left?

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.

It's weird that Toyota cars are taking top spots in car breakdown statistics the last couple years. Hyundai & Kia have their EVs breakdown left and right with their ICCU failures, and spare parts seem to be in rather short supply (and a replaced ICCU can fail again). And their battery warranty is only 5 years / 100 km.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#137
post #122

The open secret to EV ownership is to lease. This effectively mitigates depreciation and forces a dealership to own any problems (sooner rather than later).

Leasing will require you to carry comprehensive and collision insurance. With a fully owned car like mine, I carry only the liability insurance. This in practice more than halves my insurance premium payments. The reduction in insurance premium more than offsets any financial benefit of a lease with an artificially high residual value. (Leases are only beneficial because the residual value does not match reality.)

Interestingly, in the UK, comprehensive insurance is now generally cheaper than "third party only" or "third party, fire & theft" cover

The reason is because the insurance companies want you to care about the car as an asset, on the basis that statistically they are driven more carefully (and therefore cause less third party property damage, bodily injury, etc.)

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#138
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Had a 2006 or so XC90, everything was great. Now driving a 2016 XC90, had one issue with the engine cooling, was repaired in a day, 0 issues otherwise.

Engine cooling issue is a major flaw. Sold my Toyota with 300k miles on it - never a single mechanical issue other than regular wear and tear.

How do you distinguish what’s “regular wear and tear”?

Genuinely curious, I recently sold my 14 year-old Ford Fiesta, and could arguably say the same thing, but I could imagine some people disagreeing.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aren’t Japanese cars the gold standard of reliability? Or has something changed?

Was told by a mechanic a few months back that continuously-variable transmissions are standard in gas cars now, but have reliability problems. Old-tech automatics can (could?) still be had from Toyota and Mazda.

E-CVTs are extremely reliable and are different from CVTs (CVTs use a belt attached to 2 cones, E-CVTs are just a single planetary gear set), but a lot of car guys and even some mechanics don't realize they're completely different.

Re: Unsafe and Unpredictable: My Volvo EX90 Experience

#140
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?

[flagged]

> inferior products

That’s just, like, your opinion, man

> You just don’t hear about the other ones

If we’re not hearing about them, they must be doing a great job suppressing their inner white supremacist. Keep it up guys!

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