New Motor...

volospian · 16-07-2012, 15:14

Just a quick picture as it's piddling down outside atm. I've now had it a few weeks and I'm getting used to it. I quite like it, although the throttle respnse needs tightening up and I may consider a remap at some stage to add a bit more grunt and sharpen the throttle up. It's a MY12 XF 2.2d 190 Sport in Kyanite Blue.

Zirax · 16-07-2012, 18:34

MMmmm very nice

What toys does it come with? How is it for doing longer distance cruises? One of these is very much on the short list for when the Mondeo finally gives up.

volospian · 16-07-2012, 19:19

As it's the "sport" version is comes with 7" touch screen Sat Nav, Rear Parking Sensors, Auto Lights, Auto Wipers, DAB Radio, 30GB HDD, iPod Connector, USB Connector, Cruise and Speed Limiter, Dual Zone Climate Control, 6 way Electric Seats, Bluetooth, BiXenon Headlights with LED daytime running lights, Leather/Suede Sports Seats, Body Kit, 18" Alloys and Piano Black veneer, plus the usual stuff. I also added Heated Front Windscreen, Heated Front Seats, Front Parking Sensors, Rear Parking Camera and the "special" paint colour.

However, slightly oddly, that is actually everything checked on the options list. There's no option to have Heat/Cool seats, for example, or Blind Spot Detector, Electrochromatic Rear View Mirror, Wind-in Wing Mirrors, Upgrade Stereo, Memory Seats, Adaptive Cruise, Auto Dimming Headlamps and so on. They are options on the "bigger" cars with the 3.0 V6 Diesel and so on, just not on the 2.2D Sport (tbh I'm not sure about the "basic" 2.2) which is a shame as I could have been tempted to part with a few more quid for some of those options....

As for long distances, I went to Milton Keynes last Monday. About an hour and a half and it felt like I hadn't been anywhere. It's so smooth and quiet on a cruise. You don't hear the tractor engine under the bonnet, and, tbh, the 400 watt standard stereo is more than adequate for me. Seats are great, climate control is powerful and the car light enough to cushion you from the rigours of the road, but heavy enough to feel in control. Also, it has start/stop on the engine which, as it's an auto, works extremely well. It's actually a bit eager to stop, so you need to get used to approaching junctions and roundabouts or you find the engine stopping just as you want to pull off. The trick is to let it roll forward very slowly, lol.

It has its niggles too though. Mainly with the throttle response, although you don't notice that on the motorway cruise, but it's also slow in other areas too. You turn the stereo up and it responds about 3 seconds later, you try and adjust the cruise speed and it responds 3 seconds later, you click the audio button to change your music settings and it responds in about 3 seconds. I'm not sure why it's all so annoyingly slow to respond, but it's all like it, whatever button, lever or pedal you press (except the brakes, thank god, lol) so I presume it's designed in... although God alone knows why!

Zirax · 16-07-2012, 20:48

How very odd with the delay, is it due a software upgrade of sorts? I have heard the 3.0D is very good and can be mapped to crazy levels. As long as it has enough grunt to see off Audi rep drivers in 2.0D's attempting to undercut on the motorway I'll be happy

Heated seats are a must, nothing beats them on a nice frosty morning. For my next motorway cruiser I am looking at models which have the adaptive cruise control. Having tried it, it is fantastic.

Really interested, do keep this thread updated as to how you are finding it. I'm realistically looking at next year as the Mondeo should be falling apart by then (I had to spend out on it earlier in the year, and dammit I'm getting my money back from it

). Unless the new 5-series is worth looking at nearer the time.

volospian · 16-07-2012, 21:26

Yeah, I would have liked adaptive cruise, but it simply wasn't an option on the 2.2 Sport. The 2.2 can be mapped to around the 230bhp mark, by the look of it. A remap apparently does sharpen up the throttle response. I have no idea why everything has a delay. The volume button on the steering wheel is a "up/down" kind of roller affair. I wonder if the delay is because people catch it a lot with their hands while manoeuvring to park and stuff and don't want the stereo to keep going up and down... same with cruise (the controls are on the other side of the wheel).

I must say, the heated seats are like sitting on hot rocks, excellent!!!

16-07-2012, 15:14	#1
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	New Motor... Just a quick picture as it's piddling down outside atm. I've now had it a few weeks and I'm getting used to it. I quite like it, although the throttle respnse needs tightening up and I may consider a remap at some stage to add a bit more grunt and sharpen the throttle up. It's a MY12 XF 2.2d 190 Sport in Kyanite Blue.

16-07-2012, 18:34	#2
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	MMmmm very nice What toys does it come with? How is it for doing longer distance cruises? One of these is very much on the short list for when the Mondeo finally gives up.

16-07-2012, 19:19	#3
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	As it's the "sport" version is comes with 7" touch screen Sat Nav, Rear Parking Sensors, Auto Lights, Auto Wipers, DAB Radio, 30GB HDD, iPod Connector, USB Connector, Cruise and Speed Limiter, Dual Zone Climate Control, 6 way Electric Seats, Bluetooth, BiXenon Headlights with LED daytime running lights, Leather/Suede Sports Seats, Body Kit, 18" Alloys and Piano Black veneer, plus the usual stuff. I also added Heated Front Windscreen, Heated Front Seats, Front Parking Sensors, Rear Parking Camera and the "special" paint colour. However, slightly oddly, that is actually everything checked on the options list. There's no option to have Heat/Cool seats, for example, or Blind Spot Detector, Electrochromatic Rear View Mirror, Wind-in Wing Mirrors, Upgrade Stereo, Memory Seats, Adaptive Cruise, Auto Dimming Headlamps and so on. They are options on the "bigger" cars with the 3.0 V6 Diesel and so on, just not on the 2.2D Sport (tbh I'm not sure about the "basic" 2.2) which is a shame as I could have been tempted to part with a few more quid for some of those options.... As for long distances, I went to Milton Keynes last Monday. About an hour and a half and it felt like I hadn't been anywhere. It's so smooth and quiet on a cruise. You don't hear the tractor engine under the bonnet, and, tbh, the 400 watt standard stereo is more than adequate for me. Seats are great, climate control is powerful and the car light enough to cushion you from the rigours of the road, but heavy enough to feel in control. Also, it has start/stop on the engine which, as it's an auto, works extremely well. It's actually a bit eager to stop, so you need to get used to approaching junctions and roundabouts or you find the engine stopping just as you want to pull off. The trick is to let it roll forward very slowly, lol. It has its niggles too though. Mainly with the throttle response, although you don't notice that on the motorway cruise, but it's also slow in other areas too. You turn the stereo up and it responds about 3 seconds later, you try and adjust the cruise speed and it responds 3 seconds later, you click the audio button to change your music settings and it responds in about 3 seconds. I'm not sure why it's all so annoyingly slow to respond, but it's all like it, whatever button, lever or pedal you press (except the brakes, thank god, lol) so I presume it's designed in... although God alone knows why!

16-07-2012, 20:48	#4
Zirax Goes up to 11! Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 4,577	How very odd with the delay, is it due a software upgrade of sorts? I have heard the 3.0D is very good and can be mapped to crazy levels. As long as it has enough grunt to see off Audi rep drivers in 2.0D's attempting to undercut on the motorway I'll be happy Heated seats are a must, nothing beats them on a nice frosty morning. For my next motorway cruiser I am looking at models which have the adaptive cruise control. Having tried it, it is fantastic. Really interested, do keep this thread updated as to how you are finding it. I'm realistically looking at next year as the Mondeo should be falling apart by then (I had to spend out on it earlier in the year, and dammit I'm getting my money back from it ). Unless the new 5-series is worth looking at nearer the time.

16-07-2012, 21:26	#5
volospian Vodka Martini Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 786	Yeah, I would have liked adaptive cruise, but it simply wasn't an option on the 2.2 Sport. The 2.2 can be mapped to around the 230bhp mark, by the look of it. A remap apparently does sharpen up the throttle response. I have no idea why everything has a delay. The volume button on the steering wheel is a "up/down" kind of roller affair. I wonder if the delay is because people catch it a lot with their hands while manoeuvring to park and stuff and don't want the stereo to keep going up and down... same with cruise (the controls are on the other side of the wheel). I must say, the heated seats are like sitting on hot rocks, excellent!!!