Gfcronus,
Greetings and Salutations from Africa.
I will admit: I normally despise these postings about “should I buy an LR4.” If you like the truck, then buy it.
However, since I owned a XC-70 and now an LR4…I feel obliged to respond to this thread.
First: The LR4 is an awesome off-road vehicle with first class style and a fairly “tough” image. It is also so technically sophisticated it would make R2-D2 do back-flips and burns fuel like an F-14. You are correct: the vast majority of people do NOT take their truck off-road…I have participated in few threads involving this (to me) disappointing topic.
Second: The XC-70 (I had the last production run of 5 cylinder 2007 XC-70’s ever built so I am partial to the smaller 5 banger, turbocharged, fully-loaded US spec vehicle I drove) is a superb driving machine, in all weather, in almost all road conditions to include some challenging off-road conditions. My wife and I loved the car, but because I came to Africa I needed a machine that I could drive anywhere (US-Europe-Africa), could do anything on or off-road, and maintain/service. This is the LR4…not the XC-70. So, we sold our fairly new XC-70 and outfitted our LR4 for some real adventure travel. No regrets and the LR4 is a lot of fun (especially in Africa), but we do miss our XC-70 road hog.
I could blabber for days; that is not the point. You will make the decision and you should do it based on what you like and need. Like the other folks said…if you love the machine, then you will always see an LR4 parked on a trail or in a Park or even zipping down the freeway and wish you had one. On the other hand…if you just buy it because of the image and brand, then you will hate yourself every time you need to change the oil (that isn’t cheap kids!) or fill up at the station. My wife and I loved the XC-70 for everything it is, but we also really love our LR4. I have no plans of selling my truck (ever).
Final Note. Forget the XC-90. If you want an all-terrain monster, just go with the LR4. The V-70 is fine and the true station wagon, but we felt the all-terrain aspect of the XC was definitely worth it. And just how “off-road” capable is the XC-70? We got out of snow drifts on a farm in Europe routinely when almost no other SUV (Mercedes, BMW, Audi, and Porsche) would make it. I drove down muddy trails, on sand and rocky beaches, without her even slowing down. I am in contact with the new owner of my old Volvo, and he (and his wife…!) love the car and use it for vacations all the time; it now has 50,000+ miles and the only repair needed was a new front wheel bearing. It is super comfortable on long trips and has more interior volume than most SUV’s. Of course, there is enough room in the LR4 to fully load it with everything for a long road trip and the kitchen sink yet still have space available for my wife to sleep lying down in the back seat!
So: I am not telling you to buy the Volvo. My experience with the car was great and I wanted you to know that. But I am now a happy Land Rover owner and doing the things that the cult of Landy owners do like outfit the trucks for camping trips, argue about roof racks and post messages about off-road tires or other vehicle modifications…. While the folks in Gottenberg (where Volvo’s are made in Sweden) are merely eating Swedish meatballs and having smorgasbord while engineering the next generation of super-safe, comfortable, family vehicles. For the die-hard Land Rover owners, the vehicle is a part of their way of life (and hence why some of the true, old-school, off-roaders out there are very disappointed with the newfangled Land Rover gee-**** gadgetry.) At least you and your wife are not considering a minivan!!!! Good heavens!
Good luck, drive both vehicles (maybe two or three times!) and sleep on it, talk with the wife (she ain’t happy ain’t no one happy) and go with your heart and pocket book.
Land Rover Joe
P.S. I always test drive off-road vehicles...off road. If the dealer doesn't let you, then he-she-it needs to stop selling off-road vehicles.