[makhanko]

I own two Volvos and I can tell you that with the new insanely complicated engines no mechanic will touch the car. You will be stuck servicing it at Volvo dealership at lawyers hourly rates. And this will be aggravated by the fact that with more moving parts the car will break more often. Plus the cost of the new engine is much higher. The base price of the 2016 XC90 with the new engine is well above what the previous model cost. The fuel efficiency savings are unlikely to come close to offsetting the increased cost of ownership.

It seems that Volvo adopted the "differentiation" strategy of some hardware manufacturers - needlessly boosting the specs which looks good on paper but doesn't do squat for the end user.

In my opinion it's move in the wrong direction for Volvo that used be known for it's simplicity.

[nextw33k]

I would disagree with you there. Yes there is something to be said for simplicity, however advancement often comes with complexity.

I think the engineering model is going to have to take into account the new economics of selling cars. Last month I brought a new BMW, I negotiated a 5 year servicing deal which means I am only liable for tires, brake pads and possibly the clutch if it is burnt out but not if there is a mechanical fault. BMW have a vested interest in making cars that can last for as long as possible.

We should all be considering how we can place the liability of equipment makers back on the manufacturers. We'll end up with a less throw away society.

[robodale]

I own a twin-turbo BMW. The performance is great, but one day those turbos will go out. I hope that is the next owner's problem.