The Volvo S90 is on my short list for my next cars

"LJ909" (lj909)
10/22/2019 at 12:15 • Filed to: Volvo, Volvo S90, Volvo V90, Wagons

Depreciation is not Volvo’s friend, as evidenced by the great used prices on Volvo S90s. Handsome as hell, you can find them under $40k all day long, and even more under $30. I mean look at these prices.

The example pictured above is a 2017 with just under 40k on the odo for $ 24,498. That’s cheap. Brand new an S90 T5 Momentum starts at just over $51 g rand. Even the higher trimmed S90 T8 plug ins can be found for just over $45k.

V90s are pretty cheap as well. This is a 2018 V90 T5 R-Design, Its CPO with only 13,018 miles for $39,988. Its also one of the few wagons on sale you can still buy here in the states. So its looking like Volvo might be one of those brands that are better used than new due to depreciation.

DISCUSSION (18)

For Sweden > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 12:45

min gud

Textured Soy Protein > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 13:50

If you buy a car because aggressive depreciation has brought it into your price range, be prepared for further aggressive depreciation.

LJ909 > Textured Soy Protein
10/22/2019 at 13:51

That’ s not much of a factor if you actually plan on keeping your next vehicle for a long period of time like I do.

Ash78, voting early and often > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 14:17

I’ve seen sub-$40k V90s pop up at Carmax recently (2018, IIRC) and it’s tempting, but I’m struggling that it’s not as good as the Mercedes or Audi competition, but still commands almost all the price.

Your opinion may vary, but to me the E350 is sort of the gold standard for the class at the moment. In this midsize luxury class I struggle to make the leap to a 4-banger turbo, no matter how good it is. In the smaller classes, I’m on board.

LJ909 > Ash78, voting early and often
10/22/2019 at 14:37

Right. That handsome Scandinavian design can only get it so far. One of its weak points is the fact that its only available with 4 cylinder engines. And a vehicle that big with a turbo 4, you start to notice its heft quick.. Plus in its class its the least powerful compared to the E400 and XF Sportbrake.

I think you may be right in regards to the E Class wagon. Everything I had read points to it being the gold standard if you want a foreign wagon.

Ash78, voting early and often > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 14:48

As a crazy wildcard here, you can get brand new 2019 fully-loaded Buick TourX models for right about $30k today if you’re willing to search wide. IMHO that’s got a lot of the same visual presence as the Volvo, plus a much wider network of dealers to take care of it. Even though it’s technically a German car, the GM bits should make repairs more manageable.

You won’t get as nice a set of seats, but you’re still about 90% of the way to a V90 for about half the price (comparing new vs new)

fintail > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 16:14

S90s are known in some rental fleets, combine that with tepid new demand, and you have a depreciation storm.

To be fair, some of the Germanic competition doesn’t fare much better. Le ase new or buy used lease return.

LJ909 > Ash78, voting early and often
10/22/2019 at 16:17

I honestly forgot about the TourX but you’re right. Its just as capable . The interior probably wont be as nice as a place to be, but its way less and it’ll be new. Plus you can get a V6 in it (I think).

Ash78, voting early and often > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 16:21

Nope, it’s just a 2.0t like every other near-lux maker these days, but 250hp and nearly 300 tq is supposed to be pretty good. 0-60 in 6 seconds and change. But OTOH, 29mpg highway is pretty solid for a big car. 87 octane.

LJ909 > fintail
10/22/2019 at 16:30

I didn’ t know that. Granted I’ve never seen an S90 on a rental lot but still its not surprising if Avis or Hertz tried to pass this off as being in some sort of luxury collection to charge more for it.

Its true many Germans don’ t fare much better, but not a year or 2 out with such low miles. It has to either be over 5 years old or over 50 thousand miles to get where the price of the main S90 pictured is.

A 2017 E Class with the same number of miles (35-40k) still commands mid to high $30s which isn’ t far off yes, but its not mid to high $20s either. Keep in mind that this is also an S90, which is in splitting distance of an S Class dimensions wise.

Chariotoflove > fintail
10/22/2019 at 16:41

Buying off of used lease return stock is the best compromise of new(ish) car and depreciation.

fintail > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 16:46

I know Hertz and Sixt have had them, some wagons too IIRC.

To be fair, the E would have cost ~ 10K more when new as well, so it may not be identical, but is pretty similar. S90 may be marginally similar in size to an S-class, but it isn’t in the same league in feature set or prestige.

Volvo is an odd duck. I still have severe doubts that Geely is getting even close to turning any kind of profit, especially with so many design updates.

LJ909 > fintail
10/22/2019 at 16:54

Yea you are right. The S90 though is a weird inbweteener car. Like the Cadillac CT6. Bigger than comparable E/5/A6 with dimensions putting it closer or sometimes besting big luxury sedans (S90 for example has 5 inches more rear leg room than an S Class) but with pricing inline with those aforementioned models, but with none of the brand cachet of any of them.

Volvo is a very odd that seems to haven taken the place of Saab for weird Scandinavian car company, but with a loyal Subaru like repeat buyer base following. All while trying to compete with the luxury marques who probably dont even see them on their radar. Bring in Polestar and their pricey but obviously Volvo designed EVs and it gets even weirder.

MiniGTI - now with XJ6 > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 17:24

Pretty much what I did. 2016 V60CC, bought in June 2019 for $22k. It’s pretty well equipped and was probably $40-45 new. The warranty to 100k was only about $2000 extra too.

LJ909 > MiniGTI - now with XJ6
10/22/2019 at 17:50

That’s a hell of a deal.

Saracen > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 19:57

The 2020 V60 Polestar Engineered starts at $67k. I bet they’ll get knocked down $10k just to get em off the lots (and that would be intriguing to me).

LJ909 > Saracen
10/22/2019 at 20:29

Give it a few months and they should start to come down after they see that no one wants to pay $70k for a midsize wagon.

fintail > LJ909
10/22/2019 at 22:02

Caddy also never met with much success in its ‘tweener strategy (original CTS was like that too), and I don’t think Volvo will fare any better. As you know, those cars don’t sell on size, they sell on badge, features, and material quality, in that order. I am not sure if the S90 can approach the big boys in any of those. Is that rear legroom stat for the SWB S-class not sold in this market (but it does exist in Canada)?

I have to applaud Geely for fully funding Volvo and letting them have some independence - this isn’t cut rate Chinese product design. However, the mid lux segment is a tough one, as Acura and Infiniti know too well. Audi moved up, but I don’t know if anyone else has done likewise.