I've decided to get rid of my trusty 2001 S60. The replacement candidates are the 04-05 X70, an 06-07 XC70 (I've heard too many horror stories about the 2008s) or an XC90 with a 2.5, 3.2 or V8. T6 is off the list due to tranny issues.

I heard that there were some AWD improvements in 06. What did the new Haldex system improve? Is is less likely to destroy VCs, and angle gears like my 2000 XC did? Did the 04 and 05's have that problem as well? I assume that the XC90 runs the same system. I'd like to spend less money, but I'll spend the money and move to the 06-07s if they are less prone to those issues.

On the XC 90, I view the V8 as a great engine and tranny, but with lousy MPG. I truly wonder, having had a 2000 XC70, whether the 2.5T can really move a car that heavy. I see them everywhere, but it must be underpowered. We drive to Vermont often, so lots of hilly highway runs. I tested a 3.2 XC70, and that engine seemed enough...just barely. Car really needs about 250Hp and torque.

 

I have a 2004 XC70 with a T5 engine, and I don't find it underpowered - anything but. The one thing about this car that I don't find impressive is the suspension, but that you can judge for yourself on a test drive. The rest is fine.

 

I don't think the XC70 is underpowered with the 2.5T, I just wondered about an XC90 with 2.5T (several hundred pounds heavier). I've test driven several XC70's and the suspensions are very variable in the used ones. As the owner of an S60 with front control arm bushings that are shot, and which needed a sway bar at 50k, I've got a good feel for which ones to avoid. We rejected one the other day b/c the suspension was not in good shape.