TopAuto reader Wikus has owned his 2009 Volvo XC60 3.0 Geartronic for just over six months.
A few inquiries about Wikus’ Volvo made us pay him a visit once again to find out if he’s enjoying his pre-owned Swedish machine, and if he’s had any problems with it.
Are you happy with the XC60?
Since taking ownership, I have put 12,210km on my XC60, and I’ve enjoyed every second of it.
The odometer now stands at 193,500km.
My job involves quite a bit of driving, and my monthly fuel costs are definitely higher than they were in my previous daily driver, a Nissan Tiida, but I find this easy to cope with considering how much I like the SUV.
I would say fuel consumption is the biggest drawback. I average about 13.0l/100km daily, but on long-distance journeys I’ve seen it come close to the 8.0l/100km mark.
Have you had any problems?
A few, but none too serious, and most were expected since it’s a 13-year-old car.
Just after getting my Volvo, the relatively new front tyre was cut on a pothole and in order to get a full-size spare wheel, I decided to replace both front tyres.
I received quotes between R2,500 and R3,500 per wheel, which brought home the reality that even though it’s an older model, it still gets luxury car bills.
After 6,000km, on a very warm day, the water pipe burst while I was having a particularly enthusiastic drive home.
A replacement part cost R1,500 from a Volvo dealership, and the issue was easy enough to fix by myself.
When 10,000km ticked past I noticed a radiator leak, and even though the book said the next service was only due in another 10,000km, I decided to take the XC60 in anyway to get everything checked out.
I first approached Volvo, which said a new radiator would cost R8,500 for the part alone, not including labour or any other components.
I then turned to my trusted, independent dealer who asked R3,500 for the new radiator, and R5,800 in total – which included labour, fluids, and the likes.
On top of this, he performed a standard service that involved replacing the oil, oil filter, air filter, cabin filter, and other consumables, which cost an additional R2,350.
All in, the service and new radiator were R8,150. I can’t imagine what my final bill would have been had I gone the official Volvo route.
After the most recent checks, I haven’t had any further problems, and the car drives like a dream.
Do you think a pre-owned Volvo XC60 is a good buy?
I wholeheartedly recommend older Volvo vehicles. I think it’s one of the best value-for-money buys there are on the second-hand market.
However, as with any second-hand vehicle purchase, you must ensure that the car you are buying has a good service record and no existing problems.
A maintenance bill of around R15,000 in six months obviously can not be ignored, but you have to prepare for hefty receipts when stepping into the pre-owned luxury car game.
I keep an emergency fund for unforeseen maintenance and am fortunate enough to be on great terms with my independent mechanic, which makes parts easier to come by as well as afford.
Except for the petrol costs – which are going up every month – the power and comfort of this Volvo never get old.
2009 Volvo XC60
Join the discussion