Hi--after driving rear wheel drive volvos for the past 16 yrs-took the plunge into the newer stuff-hope they serve as well as the old bricks-time will tell. I bought a used cross country saturday--and the non volvo dealer I bought the car from didnt have the owners manual--and just wondering what does the W switch on the shifter do. Also--are the xc cars full time all wheel drive--or does the W switch have to depressed to be in all wheel drive. Thanks-and I will get an owners manual soon.

The "W" button is for winter mode. It locks out 1st and 2nd gears and the car sarts out in 3rd unless you give it full throttle. At full throttle it will kick in to 1 or 2. Your car is mainly front wheel drive in most cases. If the front wheels turn faster than the rear, then the viscuos cuopling in the rear locks in the rear wheels untill speeds stabilize.

W is for Winter. Limits acceleration so that you don't spin out or dig yourself into a deep ice hole in snowy weather. It also works in mud...much more prevalent here in north Florida. You are always in all wheel drive.

Chris