what the book said. They had lots of things (including the passenger air bag) being disconnected and or removed to get to the point that the cluster is removed up and out of the dash panel.

It certainly makes a lot more sense to remove it outward than upward to me.
I dearly wish that more manufacturers would dispense with the "Luxury Touch" (???) of having invisible attachment points for interior pieces.

Personally, I don't consider having visible attachment screws "tacky", especially when it means the dealer charges $625 to replace instrument cluster bulbs!! This is six hours labor at $85/hr. plus $115 for light bulbs (they won't replace just the burned out ones since they don't want to have unhappy customers with another one burning out a month after the first one).

It's engineering stuff like this that drives car owners NUTS and makes them think that they are getting gouged.

Motor Trend TV yesterday reviewed the new XC 90 SUV and named it "SUV of the Year" praising it's extreme complexity and sophistication as a being that of a "jewel".

They also waxed enthusiastic about the shoe horning of the twin turbo straight six DOHC transversely into the engine bay (requiring a complete newly designed auto tranny, the "thinnest" in the car industry).

No way would I want to own one of these when it comes time for major servicing, though this is of little concern to the average buyer of the $46,000 (as-tested price) vehicle, who will keep it 3 or 4 years until the lease (or warranty) runs out. My local dealer confirmed that 80%+ of new car "acquirers" (of cars priced above $30,000) lease rather than buy. Most don't even ask or care what the car would cost to buy since they have only a monthly payment target.

Since I only "acquire" a car when I can painlessly write a check for the full purchase price, when I can afford to buy a car it already has considerable years and miles on it, and is probably a candidate for maintenance, I know I will never see the XC 90 as a realistic proposition.

Bob