So we did end up buying an XC60. Have had it for all of 8 days now. 2015, 96k miles, 3.0 T6 model. Picked it up from Hudson Valley Volvo, a 130 mile drive from home. Damn it's nice.

But (I wish there wasn't always a "but") yesterday we started noticing a "tick".
To me it sounds similar to a woodpecker pecking on a tree
Not the clickety-clack of injectors
Not vehicle speed dependent. Engine speed dependent
Hot or cold (lifters tick maybe 4 times when cold, then nothing)
Most evident when just barely pressing the accelerator
Comes and goes at idle
Harder to hear at speed but I think it's there
I couldn't pinpoint it to the front or rear of the engine.

Underhood inspection yielded few conclusions (boy it's tight in there). What bits of the accessory drive belt I can see look normal (had an 850 with an "engine knock" that turned out to be a delaminating serp. belt). It's not due for replacement for another 50K miles.


Thoughts?
The anxiety is high. We're spooked and also want to drive it 700+ miles next weekend so we'll be dropping it at our local Volvo-only indy tomorrow for their diagnosis.

Thanks,
Will