Hello Nairalanders,
I plan on getting an SUV, esp a Volvo XC90 05/06 model. I need an advice from professionals and experienced users of the pros and cons of getting the car.
I want to know;
* the cost of using and maintaining the car
* how expensive and readily available are the parts
* what is the fuel economy of the car like
* how reliable is the car on Nigerian roads
* which of the variant (L5, T6, V8) is better to go for
* which other low budget SUVs can be substitutes for it.

CC: Nairaland car gurus

rexfada:
Hello Nairalanders,
I plan on getting an SUV, esp a Volvo XC90 05/06 model. I need an advice from professionals and experienced users of the pros and cons of getting the car.
I want to know;
* the cost of using and maintaining the car
* how expensive and readily available are the parts
* what is the fuel economy of the car like
* how reliable is the car on Nigerian roads
* which of the variant (L5, T6, V8) is better to go for
* which other low budget SUVs can be substitutes for it.

CC: Nairaland car gurus

This particular car is a very good car. stay far away from the T6 engine ones.

Nobody can answer question 1 even someone using the car can't it's subjective

some minute parts may be scarse to source but as long as you maintain it well you may not get to that stage

it's an SUV with a big tank, fuel economy is not synonymous with SUVs

reliability on naija road is a pass mark, it will do what others in its league can do in a luxurious fashion.

less fuel usage 5cylinder for power and speed 8cylinder

There are many substitutes to every product but why keep searching when you have found a rear gem

rexfada:
Hello Nairalanders,
I plan on getting an SUV, esp a Volvo XC90 05/06 model. I need an advice from professionals and experienced users of the pros and cons of getting the car.
I want to know;
* the cost of using and maintaining the car
* how expensive and readily available are the parts
* what is the fuel economy of the car like
* how reliable is the car on Nigerian roads
* which of the variant (L5, T6, V8) is better to go for
* which other low budget SUVs can be substitutes for it.

CC: Nairaland car gurus

its ok i guess. as a non guru user


some parts aren't expensive. some are. like any other vehicle. but its generally on the affordable side. getting popular and prices are starting to go up......

familiarize yourself with Alhaji Amusa street in Ladipo sha. kazeems that can fix it are few and far between + i feel its always cheaper in Ladipo. parts are always available there.




fuel economy: you are looking at 15-17 MPG for lagos traffic driving. on free roads its very decent, and gets close to 30Mpg. did lagos to badagry and back with 20 litres ish bad roads/ bad traffic and all.




Learnt 5 cylinder is the best choice. learnt T6 engines are not advised. (don't quote me sha)

bit under-powered though. 0-60 is not quick, but when it gets moving, i'd advice you slow down
if you are looking for racing/power best buy the v8 3.2L engines (even those aren't likely to win races)



Maybe 02 - 03 Highlander. Xterra is a worse vehicle. Pathfinder is arguably worse in my opinion (and more expensive to maintain)
or maybe those Mitsubishi Montero them, i know nothing about those

4llerbuntu:


its ok i guess. as a non guru user


some parts aren't expensive. some are. like any other vehicle. but its generally on the affordable side. getting popular and prices are starting to go up......

familiarize yourself with Alhaji Amusa street in Ladipo sha. kazeems that can fix it are few and far between + i feel its always cheaper in Ladipo. parts are always available there.




fuel economy: you are looking at 15-17 MPG for lagos traffic driving. on free roads its very decent, and gets close to 30Mpg. did lagos to badagry and back with 20 litres ish bad roads/ bad traffic and all.




Learnt 5 cylinder is the best choice. learnt T6 engines are not advised. (don't quote me sha)

bit under-powered though. 0-60 is not quick, but when it gets moving, i'd advice you slow down
if you are looking for racing/power best buy the v8 3.2L engines (even those aren't likely to win races)



Maybe 02 - 03 Highlander. Xterra is a worse vehicle. Pathfinder is arguably worse in my opinion (and more expensive to maintain)
or maybe those Mitsubishi Montero them, i know nothing about those

Thanks for your input.
My options were Ford escape 05/06 or Mazda tribute 05/06 but my mechanic discouraged me from both options citing frequent engine faults, expensive and unavailability of parts as excuse. He advised I go for a corolla or Toyota matrix instead. But, I want to do something else besides a Toyota this time around.

nurey:


This particular car is a very good car. stay far away from the T6 engine ones.

Nobody can answer question 1 even someone using the car can't it's subjective

some minute parts may be scarse to source but as long as you maintain it well you may not get to that stage

it's an SUV with a big tank, fuel economy is not synonymous with SUVs

reliability on naija road is a pass mark, it will do what others in its league can do in a luxurious fashion.

less fuel usage 5cylinder for power and speed 8cylinder

There are many substitutes to every product but why keep searching when you have found a rear gem

Thanx man.
I read a review somewhere where a user advised against the T6 1.9L V6 variant. I guess I'll just settle for the L5 option.

rexfada:

Thanks for your input.
My options were Ford escape 05/06 or Mazda tribute 05/06 but my mechanic discouraged me from both options citing frequent engine faults, expensive and unavailability of parts as excuse. He advised I go for a corolla or Toyota matrix instead. But, I want to do something else besides a Toyota this time around.

Well, everybody is advised the same. Buy Corolla

Ultimately it's your choice. Depends on what you want.

Shine your eye and do your due diligence inspection before purchase which applies to any car I guess.

But I like mine sha.

Only thing is that like for any car that old, some parts are likely to require changing. 05 car is 14 years old .......


Oh and fully synthetic motor oil. Don't allow anyone confuse you into anything else.

Car manufacturer recommends 5w30. Or 10w30 for hot places or where it will see hard use.

Lagos is definitely hot and hard use. I started with 5w30 and changed to 10w30 and it was better for it.

rexfada:

Thanx man.
I read a review somewhere where a user advised against the T6 1.9L V6 variant. I guess I'll just settle for the L5 option.

I wonder where you get these nomenclature sha, they don't exist.

T6 2.9l and T5 2.5l are what they have instead.

valarinz:


I wonder where you get these nomenclature sha, they don't exist.

T6 2.9l and T5 2.5l are what they have instead.

Uncle Volvo, where have you been? I knew you would branch here.
You made me love the Volvo brand.

valarinz:


I wonder where you get these nomenclature sha, they don't exist.

T6 2.9l and T5 2.5l are what they have instead.

Me sef I was confused.

4llerbuntu:

Maybe 02 - 03 Highlander. Xterra is a worse vehicle. Pathfinder is arguably worse in my opinion (and more expensive to maintain)
or maybe those Mitsubishi Montero them, i know nothing about those

you obviously don't know anything about the nissan xterra

diportivo:



you obviously don't know anything about the nissan xterra

Lol

I have 3 people driving it around me at home and at work daily, in different stages of wear and tear. 1 Toks, 1 well maintained, 1 badly used.

I've seen it in its best and worst.




Well Sha, it will make for a great farm vehicle.

Other than that, it is worse in every way.

Driveability, looks, fuel consumption, comfort are nothing to write home about

4llerbuntu:


Lol

I have 3 people driving it around me at home and at work daily, in different stages of wear and tear. 1 Toks, 1 well maintained, 1 badly used.

I've seen it in its best and worst.




Well Sha, it will make for a great farm vehicle.

Other than that, it is worse in every way.

Driveability, looks, fuel consumption, comfort are nothing to write home about

a truck with a body on frame set up didn't mix with comfort

fuel consumption on mine is the bomb

it's a truck......its not supposed to be beautiful na

it has acceleration issues on the non supercharger version......once it enters it's stride it's does what it shld do tho

xterra does it for me anytime anyway

I will only pick the xc90 over the xterra cos of the third row seats

there's are things a rear live axle will do that an awd won't dare

DatIgalaDude:

Uncle Volvo, where have you been? I knew you would branch here.
You made me love the Volvo brand.

Sorry sir, been more busy offline of late, I have something major coming up, if you need urgent help u can still reach me in my cell, tnx

@valarinz would you recommend this 2005 XC90? I have the option and I think I like it. Instead of getting naija used cars a cousin offered me this as tokunbo. And can it be used for Uber?