You new XC owners will no doubt have discovered that the rear center seat back can be reversed in its fold down position to provide a comfortable upholstered center arm rest. A very neat featuret that some sales persons (including mine) may be unaware of. Anyway, my problem is that with the arm rest in this mode for passenger comfort, it leaves a gap for intrusion of a dog from the cargo space below the metal cargo barrier. Do any of you creative types have any bright ideas for an expedient temporary solution with the arm rest in the down position that would not produce a problem in the up position, or for other fold down seat modes? Thanks in anticipation.

I found a part number on the storage gizmo, 8624127. It also had "Made in Vietnam" written on it. That is a rare place to find listed as the source for anything. First time I've seen it on anything on a Volvo.

How about the net that comes as standard equipment with the XC? It attatches on the top via the stel bars and goes all the way to the bottom via the hooks on both left and right sides of the cargo area. If you make it pretty taut, then it should prevent most dogs from getting in the cabin. And I mean most dogs because if you have a large dog that wants to get through he will do so. My 106-lbs. Doberman chewed the gargo net barrier WITH EASE. So, I had to install the steel pet barrier. But again, my car does not have the rear seat configuration that your car has.

Yannis

Thanks Yannis and Abe for your suggestions. Yannis, I don't think that the cargo net is standard - it comes with the Versatility package which I did not order because I assumed the cargo net would be superfluous with the individually ordered steel cargo barrier. The storage bag, illustrated I believe as the "stop and store pocket" on the impressive UK Volvo web site, would seem to be intended by Volvo for exactly my purpose and thanks, Abe, for drawing my attention to it. With the arm back in its non-reversed vertical position, what happens to the storage bag? Does it have to be taken off and left loose in the cargo space or on the seat? Has any other 2001 XC owner out there purchased the storage bag? Recommended?

John,

that net should be standard with your car. Didn't your XC come with the Introduction Package? If yes, one of the features of that package is that cargo net.

I am pretty sure that will solve your problem.

Yannis

When the center armrest is stowed upright in the upholstered side forward position, which is the only way it will latch upright, the storage bag/pouch device is flush with back of seats.

My pair of Brittanys, as is or fattened up, are not a match for the Doberman or Samoyeds sizewise but I imagine they would be quite capable of trashing a cargo net, and probably would on a long boring journey. Incidentally, if I may digress here and refer to another chain regarding subwoofers, is it advisable to have a 150 watt subwoofer mounted Volvo style under the cargo floor which is also serving as the superwoofer (a.k.a. dog) platform? I can't ask the dogs' opinions about having low frequency booming under their potentially snoozing bodies on a trip so I seek other wisdom. Does anyone know whether there is a means to independently control the relative power level of the subwoofer rather than the rather elementary treble/base rotary control on the dash, in the absence of a graphic equalizer?

What you're really asking is whether woofers and subwoofers can share the same space?

No, Abe...I think he asked about "super"woofers and "sub"woofers. I think that the..."super"woofers would prevail! LOL

Yanis

There is a volume control on the sub woofer amplifier itself, but you have to move the dogs to adjust it. In any case low frequency audio is transmitted quite uniformly throughout space; in my V70 the base perceptrion seems the same in the front as in the back.

All the best.

Robert Froebel

John,

you might try on the sub's amp. I know that some have controls that deal with volume and tuning.

Brandon

John,

How about a bigger dog?

;-)

I'm stuck with the current beast, Steve, but I could fatten it up to the optimum size! Abe's suggestion looks promising. Perhaps an extra flap on the folding cargo barrier would be a miserly alternative?

We've got two Samoyeds filling the back of our 99 V70 XC. We gave up the rear cargo area AND the seat! The built in cargo nets work great, as long as our passengers don't mind not having seat backs or belts.

And, yes, fattening the dogs up is something we seem to do too well...

There is a storage bag accessory that attaches to both large rear seatbacks and thus bridges the opening. This thing has zippered pouches and attaches with threaded fasteners with knobs on them.