Somehow the Jaguar system doesn't alter performance or fuel economy as much as one might think. I was impressed when I saw the numbers for the awd compared to non awd, on the US Jaguar site. Canada only gets the awd V6 this year.

The other really nice feature of the Jaguar system is it is full time rwd until the system detects rear wheel spin then it diverts only enough torque to the front wheels to stop that wheel spin. This is similar to Porsche, Lamborghini and the Audi R8.

It's common sense. Are people on here really this slow? That's not just one service mgr., you can call any service department and see what they tell you. It's amazing that some of you are really this uninformed. SC is a Rwd with to much torque on the rear. It's not rocket scientist

Sounds like some of you are dumb as a box of rocks

Haha I love your comments. So sophisticated and eloquent. They add so much value and are so well put. It is amazing that other people can understand your high intelligence and it's unbelievable that you can carry on a conversation.

The original question was "trying to decide if I need to buy a set of snow tires"

This has turned into your opinion of this car being not drivable in the winter (due to spinning out) and that doing so will ruin/devalue the car. Are you right that not driving the car in the winter will give you a better return when you trade or sell it? For sure. What will that gain be? No one can say conclusively what that will be. You will have less miles on the vehicle and obviously, fewer miles means the overall interior and exterior should be in better shape as there has been less hours sitting in it. Not to mention the tires will be in better condition. What will those things return you from a private or trade in sale? Hard to determine but I will guarantee you one thing, you are definitely losing more money by storing it for 6 months and buying a beater for $5000 than you will make off of the difference in sale price.

Back to your comment "I'm trying to preserve as much value as i can in The car, if I keep it or trade it in, I want to keep it in mint condition." If this is the case then you SHOULD keep it in the garage until you decide to trade it in as Jagular mentioned. If you are preserving as much as you can, and driving the car (putting miles on it, potential for accident, wear and tear from sitting in it - because all of this can occur in summer or winter) results in lost value then sitting it in the garage will "preserve as much value" as possible.

Further to your comments: "ask to speak to someone in SERVICE and see what they say about driving a SC in the winter". My service manager (who provides the best customer service I have experienced in my life) mentioned to me that he could sell me winter tires for the vehicle. I asked him if the car was really that bad and if he would buy them if it were him. His response was "You should be fine. I wouldn't purchase them but if I were in your position I would try the vehicle out and if you think you need them once the snow starts flying then we will fix you up." That's not to say that winter tires are a bad idea. The opposite, I think they are designed for a purpose and proven their worth however they are not mandatory to get around.

Finally: "When you have a lot of torque on the rear, with high horsepower, it doesn't matter if u have winter tires. You are going to spin out!!!" You have never driven in the winter in this car nor have you engaged the winter mode. What do you think it does? You think the tires will just spin if you put your foot to the ground? You think the traction control doesn't kick in? If you are not familiar with the winter mode (which you obviously aren't because you don't drive in the winter) then let me tell you. From Jaguar's website:
"For winter conditions, Winter Mode is the choice for continued performance. Driving in this mode, changes the XF´s functionality in these ways:
- Engine – tempers the responsiveness of the engine and modifies the gear change strategy to maintain optimum traction in snowy, icy or slippery conditions.
- Gearbox – when active, Winter Mode selects the second gear for pulling away. This provides the optimal amount of torque to the rear tires when accelerating from a stop position.
- Dynamic Stability Control – the vehicle performs in a more controlled manner, allowing more confident progress. Each time progression is monitored through the Dynamic Stability Control system. When slipping is detected, DSC will assist the driver to help maintain control."
You cannot say do not drive this car in the winter if you have never tried it. With winter mode engaged on super slick roads with all-season tires and -30 degrees Celsius I can take a right turn, put my foot to the ground, and the car does NOT spin out. That's not saying summer tires are adequate because I do not believe that to be true. But all-seasons or winters allows this car to handle fine. For $1600 you can buy a set with TPMS rims included on tirerack.com and that is a lot cheaper than your beater. Or just buy a good set of all-seasons and run them year round.

Your comments are not adding value to the conversation. As mentioned some people like to drive whatever vehicle they own in whatever season (saw another Bentley the other day). Some want to sit them in the garage. Each to their own. Claiming this car is not drivable is not accurate (and you haven't tried so you shouldn't comment) and claiming you want to try and retain as much value as possible by not winter driving it is fair but not everyone believes (myself included) the cost to buying a beater and storing my gorgeous car is worth the small difference in the end. If I want to buy a $60K car and run it into the ground and treat it like crap then that's my prerogative. If you want to spend $60K and sit it in the garage that's yours. Some people buy a million dollar piece of jewelry and wear it once in a lifetime or worse keep it in a bank lock box. I think some of the fellow members on this forum would rather use it then stare at it and if the cost is a couple bucks then what does it matter. I think we feel like we are enjoying our money. To contribute to a thread when you know nothing other than what one service manager said (not testing it yourself) and obviously not paying attention to any reviews or marketing done by Jaguar is quite big headed of you.

PS Your 09 has more miles on it than mine and I use mine as a daily driver. Mine being winter driven and in flawless shape, yours in the same condition with more miles on it and never winter driven, who's would bring more money? (Had mine been a SC)

2 Examples:

1st has been winter driven:
2009 Jaguar XF V8 Supercharged

2nd has not been winter driven:
2009 Jaguar XF V8 Supercharged

$4000 price difference. Due to the winter? Or KM's? I know both of these cars because one is at my dealership and the other is an affiliated dealer and they were going to bring in for me.

Lmao

The dumbest thing i have ever heard. ......So, it's okay to drive NA engine with 385 torque, but not the SC version with 425 torque, which is only 40lb.ft. difference.

If you were blind folded in both cars, you couldn't tell the difference, that's how little of a difference that number makes.

Regardless, that's why there is a pedal in the footwell that controls the throttle.

When I picked up my XFR it was delivered by the dealer with 20 inch winter wheels and tires. The service manager actually sat down and discussed what my options would be for the winter tire package. I live in Calgary Alberta and there is only one dealership here in Calgary feel free to give them a call and ask them if they would deliver a XFR as a winter driver or daily driver...

I have had many performance vehicles, and anytime you're running strictly summer tires which is what the XFR comes with I would never run that in the winter. Once you've driven on winter tires you'll never go to anything else in the wintertime.

I just put on a new set of all seaon tires and with 1 inch of snow I cant even get into my 12 degree driveway without a running head start from the curb. Just to see how it does with more snow we have a blizzard comingthis weekend and I will see if I can go around my block or not in 3-8 inches of snow. all 4 tires are new so they should do bette than my summer only tires that were on it.

Bigcat,

The traction on the tires will improve once the compounds wear off the tires, that is used during the manufacturing process so they don't stick. Normally, it's about 300- 500 miles, before you can get the most out of tires.

Well, since you can also easily spin out a 50 hp car in winter I'm not sure what TheLegend is banging on about. Also, if you don't know how to drive in winter then definitely garage your car, any car. Maybe that's the real reason why TheLegend doesn't drive in winter.

Also, you cannot preserve the tires by not driving on them. Tires also have an age limit. After about five years any tire is worn out because the rubber deteriorates to the point where it isn't working as designed. After ten years an old tire is unsafe. Ask any tire manufacturer.

I brought my XF in the other day to get some warranty work completed. Roads were perfect so I was able to get it in there without any issues. I figured I'd get it taken care of before spring comes around and I start driving it again. They gave me a 2012 loaner XF with blizzaks on it. The snow tires do make a big difference. The tires still break loose a bit due to the hp/tq but it will make it through snow up an incline. I still prefer my FWD winter beater with all seasons on it.

the other thing people need to be aware of is that snow tires have a maximum speed of about 80-99 mph..............which actually annoys me. im not always driving triple digit speeds...but theres been plenty of cases when ive needed to put the hammer down (on dry roads)

winter mode on the Jags is very good.....does the throttle modulating for you to keep you from spinning out. essentially you can drive perfectly fine with all seasons and winter mode.

but the fact of the matter is......summer tires + snow are dangerous. for those people who still argue that its not....and that its all a matter of knowing how to drive properly in winter.....you're still wrong. actually, you can get a ticket for driving with summer tires in the winter. the law states you must have proper driving equipment, and summer tires do not qualify as proper equipment in the snow

Wow!! That's a lot of garbage u wrote. Now it's becoming comical. First it was a debate now I'm beginning to see just how misinformed you are. But let me ask you this because maybe it's a misunderstanding. Which XF model do you have???

Also. Is your service manager aware that you where referring to the SC? Because its pretty common knowledge that with the SC You don't just need new tires but new rims because the stock rims are a little to wide for winter. I have tried winter mode my first year and its still not something I feel one should be comfortable with. When I mention it to my service guy that's when he told me the "SC isn't really a winter vehicle even with the winter mode option", that's his exact words. And I know for a fact that other jaguar service departments feel the same. To you, I'm a nobody. But call around to few service departments and they will tell you the SAME thing I'm telling you. Get knowledge so u can be informed versus getting on a forum and making yourself looking like a complete idiot.

You say "jaguar says" this or that, but don't be stupid. They are in the business of selling a car. If u are driving a Rwd with over 400 horses u are having some issues. Jaguar is not going to tell you the truth just like the salesman will tell you it has winter mode for these conditions, but you go back and talk to service and they will give you the real answer. Don't be so naive.

****UPDATE!!!!***** just re-read ur post and looks like u don't even have a SC!! Therefore just STFU because u obviously don't know what ur talking about. So yeah, go around and drive ur base or premium in the snow. You're fine. U don't have the torque to experience these problems.

Not going to even respond to this dumb post

Question, you agree that ur XFR is a high performance vehicle? Why even put winter wheels and tires on a high performance vehicle ?

The car is meant for speed, tight cornering, the suspension is built for that. U agree? it come stock with racing tires for a reason lol. No disrespect to u sir, I'm just saying ....nice car btw, I been thinking about a XFR 2012 or 2013 myself.

Yup, I've experience this as well. My Taurus gets me up my slight grade drive way much easier and it doesn't even have a winter mode.

Big cat, don't believe this garbage man. Call ur dealer and speak to service lol. Tell them what model u have and ask them why u can't get up ur drive way. I've had the same problem dude and the dealers have the same issues to just moving their cars around in the lot.

I store my jag in the winter because I don't want someone sliding into me. I want my miles low, and I get much Better traction on my other two vehicles. I haven't had an accident in 18 years and I don't plan on having one anytime soon

The loaner probably had less hp as well and rims not as wide. That makes a big difference

The members in my parliament take the trash out from time to time. Choose words wisely, you don't get a visit.

any car will make winter tires break loose. i have winter tires on my G and i break them all the time because i have a heavy foot. so whether you have 300hp or 5000...doesnt make a difference

any monkey can drive in bad weather with summer tires. any ape can drive a car without a "winter mode"........winder mode doesnt do anything special except make the gas pedal less sensitive and beef up the traction control.

now you're driving on the highway....50mph....its a bit snowy...the car ahead of you stops short and u cant swerve away....who do you think is going to stop first? the macho man who drives all the time in the snow with his summer tires because hes a pro? the guy who has winter mode on? or the guy with actual snow tires.