I'll preface this by saying that I like my XF. However, there are some relatively small things that I find annoying - primarily because they were foreseeable. I'm sharing these partially to vent and partially to see if everyone has these same gripes and maybe a suggestion or two on how to get around them.

P { margin-bottom: 0.08in; } Lane change indicator only blinks 3 times. Yes this may seem trivial, but as an Engineer, it is disturbing that someone decided that this was the right number. Maybe the lanes in England and India are only half as wide as the car, but in America, 5 would be more appropriate and useful.


When going to Nav page, I frequently want to change the scale immediately. In my XF, I have to wait for 10ish seconds for the menu to slide off the left side before I can. Very annoying.


The mechanism for releasing the fold down rear seats is like something out of the early 20th century. If I'm lucky, there will be a golf club or umbrella in the trunk to help.


There should be hard buttons for each of the display pages: audio, climate, phone, nav, vehicle – preferably where the 5 buttons are for locking, emergency, etc. You should not have to push a back button one or more times to get from an audio page to the phone page, nor have to hit the main page button and start over. Yeah, it's an probably an Engineer thing.


The sound of the engine on start up and idle is reminiscent of a Ford Escort. Not zesty. When I first had the car, I revved it in front of my wife and friends like I did with my '68 Firebird. It was an error in judgment. Will be looking for an after-market exhaust system.


One of the most annoying things is that I have to use the key fob to lock my car when I park it. Every other car I have driven lets you lock the car before you exit and just shut the door. This annoys the crap out of me.


Here is what the manual has to say about Dynamic Mode: “The vehicle's responses are are aimed at involving the driver more in focused and purposeful driving, helping swift progress”. I'd like to punch whoever wrote this in the stomach. Tell me what the hell it does.


The seat heater appears to be binary; hotter than hell, or off. There appears to be no discernible difference between the 3 settings and all are too hot after a few minutes.


The inability to select and change nav setting when in motion. I think all cars have this “feature” for liability reasons, but it's still annoying.


Did I miss anything?

 

Wow! Quite a comprehensive list...

I've yet to drive a car that offers more than three blinks with a single tap - but it's dead simple to hold the indicator for longer. I drive in a country with wide lanes, and have never found this a problem in all the cars that I've owned, and I thought three blinks was a universal standard.

Perhaps the MY11 are different, but my split-fold seats can be dropped singlehanded - but it is annoying that the release is in the boot - perhaps it was a security issue (or just an engineering afterthought). In any event, since it's sold as a option, it must be significantly cheaper to do it the way that they do.

Display buttons are also improved on the MY12, but I understand the desire to avoid turning the cabin into the inside of an A380 or 747. Changing from AM to FM and back should not take as many button presses as it does, but by and large, the engineers have addressed most of the button problems with the MY12. I don't have heated seats, though!

As for the sound - it's all a personal preference. I don't care that it doesn't growl (it's no Aston Martin), but I enjoy the fact that my car is FAST, and doesn't need to shout about it.

The key fob. Again, maybe it's the MY11, but on my MY12, I just press any of the door knobs as I leave. It takes 1 second. But it makes me aware of what I'm doing, and is deliberate. The folding mirrors make it visibly locked for me, so I'm reassured. I did think that it unlocking in my presence was good, and that NOT locking as I leave was not so good, but I understand why it might have been done. Whilst on locking, what DOES annoy the crap out of me is that the rear seat passengers are locked in if I choose to use auto-locking once moving. This is painful.

Dynamic mode on my vehicle makes a HUGE difference. Gear changes are held for MUCH longer, and it's certainly noticeable all round. But I suspect it's the engine that makes a difference, or the gearbox mapping (I've got the 8-speed ZF).

As for criticism of the nag system for not being changeable when in motion: I think it's a really good thing. Safety first. However, the navigation system is way too expensive and easily trumped by my iPhone. I'm divided as to which to use in the longer term - I think the iPhone turn-by-turn apps that I've bought will win out.

Did you miss anything?

Quite a bit. My previous car was more than 10 years old, but could give me speed alerts (set to up to three speeds), could give me instant read-out of MPG (even when standing still), and could tell me exactly how much fuel was left, and how much was used (in numbers, not by a little thermometer reading).

In my previous car, I also had a temperature gauge, which is useful to know when you live in a place where overheating engines can cause a lot of damage, apart from not giving me any indication of when I can put the right foot on the floor.

My previous car had a tow bar fitted (hitch to those in USA), and didn't cost an arm and a leg. Here in Australia, an XF tow bar costs more than a cheap runabout car (how does A$4,400 fitted sound, eh?). Oddly enough, no-one in Australia has asked for a tow bar, as far as I am aware.

Then there is the phone system. My old car had full voice recognition, and full voice command for both making and receiving calls, and could tell me who is calling via voice. It could also handle two phones at once, both working through the car system.

My old car had better storage options in the boot (and had better access through a wider opening), including cargo nets etc. It also had a full-size alloy spare tyre.

One other little niggle - changing stereo volume is painfully slow using the steering wheel (old vehicle was instant up and down), and not being able to mute instantly from the steering wheel a big let down for me. At least I can reach the stereo 'off' button.

But is this a real whinge? Not at all. I love my new MY12 XF, and couldn't be happier.

 

Did you guys research/test drive the car before or after you purchased it?

 

There is no hiding it. The multimedia interface is horribly slow and out of date in the 09-11 XF's. It was when it came out.

The blinker will blink more than 3 times if you click it over. If you tap it it will blink 3 times. Use it like a normal blinker if you want more than 3 blinks or get your *** over faster.

The 5.0 engines sounds like crap because it's a DI (direct injected) motor with very high pressure fuel injectors that chatter. It's common on DI motors. Other manufacturers do seem to insulate the sound a bit better. The XF sounds like a diesel at idle.

If you don't have the button on the outside of each door handle (I forgot what it's called) then you will have to use the key fob to lock them. That option should have been on all XF's. With that option you get out, shut all the doors, and then you push the button on the door and it locks the car. You never take the key fob out.

I agree with the verbage on the dynamic/sport mods. A real description of what it does would be nice. If they change the ECU map, suspension setting, throttle response, etc. they could state that in the manual in tiny text for those that actually care.

The Nav lockout while driving has to be done by law on any vehicle now.

BTW I'm an engineer as well and I do feel that Jaguar farmed out some of the aspects of the car to idiots. Software bugs particularly **** me off because I write software. If you ever get a random error (dynamic mode not available, e-diff error, trans fault, restricted performance, etc) in the XF most can be fixed by turning off the car, getting out, locking it, and getting back in to start it. Is this a Windows PC ? I do love my XF and plan on keeping it for a long time but with a tiny bit more effort they could have made a lot of improvements.

 

Some claret goes well with any Jaguar. That's my advice about which whine is appropriate.

The boot release is a styling issue. The boot is too deep, but it is big. There are rumors that some sort of spring can be installed/adjusted to pop th seatbacks a little on releasing them. Mine never worked. I keep a snowbrush in the boot for this.

How much warning do Arizonans need of your intention to change lanes? Three flashes is plenty or just click it as in times past. Indeed, just hit the stalk again for three more.

This V8 is one of the all time greatest engines ever made for a road car. The exhaust is tuned for power with low noise. Thankfully the EU has strict noise regulations. North America's childish obsession with engine noises is tiresome. Noise makes no power in a street engine.

Only Americans like to be able to lock their keys inside the car by accident. Every other country in the World insists that their carmaker make this impossible, or nearly impossible (you can still lock your key in the boot by accident). For anyone fond of European cars the ability to slam lock a car with the keys inside it is intensely irritating because it is just so dumb. Japanese makers have to make special door locks just so Americans can do this. Nobody else will buy them.

The hard button issue is a valid criticism, driven a Beemer, Merc or Audi lately? I thought not. The Germans are hopeless at ergonomics. To control anything on those requires that you turn and press a dial while watching a screen! The dial on the Jag is to select drive or reverse. The Nav system is poor in the Jag.

Dynamic mode is for auto journalists to use when bragging about their driving. It is just software hooked to the electronic throttle and stability control. It doesn't do anything useful but it can feel alarming or exciting depending on your point of view. It is a useless feature.

Climate control is not great because the UK is a cold place. In Canada the heater is too hot in winter but only below minus 10C (15F). If yours isn't working in Arizona it is faulty. The Jaguar HVAC was developed under Ford and is generally of high capacity and effective. However, this is a British car.

Whether you are allowed to program your nav on the move varies from state to state, call your legislator on that one. We are allowed to program an indash unit but not a portable one!

Sounds like you needed to buy a Chevy.

 

Dynamic mode is quite useful. Anyone thinking otherwise isn't educated enough and/or never drove an XF equipped with the feature.

ohbugga,

It makes things less automatic and leaves more responsibility to the driver for a more active driving experience. With the exception that it locks TracsDSC on to help protect the driver from himself. Description is below.

• Press button briefly to activate/deactivate
When active:
• TracDSC is automatically selected
• When Jaguar Sequential Shift is selected, up-shifts are fully controlled by the driver
• Selected gear displayed will change from white to amber as rev limiter is approached
• Cannot be active at the same time as ‘Winter mode’

To conclude my statement, it remaps the throttle and gearbox for much quicker response. It holds the gears at the power band. It's extremely advantageous if you are carving corners.

I'm not sure what he case is with pre-12s, but there is a AV button on MY12+ that cycles through the phone, nav, ipod, home etc options.

Lastly, 3 flashes is more than enough to change a lane. As matter of fact, the correct way of making smooth and un-abrupt lane changes, should only require 2 flashes. Therefore, 3 flashes is just spot on.

 

Certainly did.

How about 9 months of researching everything I could find on the net, finding and absorbing all manuals and quickstart guides, observing what components are available for sale (a good indicator of parts that wear) driving all possible variants (some for more than a day, both in the city and country) and general conversations with dealers, owners, and local mechanics. I travelled more than 1500 km looking at vehicles, and know each of the variants and options for MY11, MY12 and MY13 vehicles available in this country (which is different to elsewhere).

Indeed, I'm confident that I know more about the vehicle than any of the dealers I've met on the eastern seaboard of Australia. More than once I've explained to a dealer what a certain feature of the car actually does, or how it works, when they either didn't know or got it wrong.

In short, I knew what I was buying - in spite of the issues raised.

What I do appreciate is that Jaguar designers are listening, since they have fixed a number of problems from MY11 to MY12 (but not enough in my opinion from MY12 to MY13).

 

I prefer ale. That said, it sounds like First World problems to me.

 

What ails you in the Third World?

 

Oh pullese, you must be joking? Even the base car will hold the gears if you use Sport. To open the throttle more aggressively move your foot faster. The shifting in Sport is the same as in "Dynamic". I can select TRAC whenever I wish by pushing the DSC button.

As I say, Dynamic mode is to fool auto journalists, and apparently others are taken in also.

 

Fooled me. I see a huge difference in dynamic mode: up shifts occur later, downshifts earlier, gear held for longer. Of course, manual shifting can give you whatever experience you want.

 

Maybe it has to do with buying the Lux version rather than the S/C? And you are not very tuned into the car if you cannot tell the difference between sport and Dynamic. Its OK, not everyone is a car guy that knows how to drive and can sense the cars actions properly

 

Yup, hopeless driver. I have no idea what goes into handling in a car. That's why the only car I've ever owned with an automatic transmission is my XF. I never realized until now that it is the car that makes the difference.

Think what you like. These electronic "options" are just a gimmick.

I'm sure Alonso selects dynamic mode on his Ferrari before he leaves pit lane.

Give me a break.

 

Hypocrisy at it's best!!!

Coming from the guy who lectured 6 different forums on rear wheel drive being better than AWD in wintery conditions and putting an order for AWD to replace the rear wheel drive car. LMAO

Raven, don't worry, he will change his mind sometime down the road.....must an old age thing. Neurons aren't as effective in noticing a difference between a Dynamic mode and Sport mode.

 

Done!

Now back to the original thread: all the whining in the world was dissolved last night when I took my folks out to a restaurant - two blokes walked past and couldn't stop telling me what a fantastic car I had. They stood admiring it for at least 10 minutes.

 

Where's a quote from any of those posts that says this?

I consistently say awd is unnecessary and more dangerous than two wheel drive in slippery conditions. Unless you are already expert enough not to need awd in the first place you shouldn't be driving it.

"Better" is not an objective standard. "Safer" and"unnecessary" are provable facts and easy to prove.

Just this year the newest awd systems are finally addressing the dangerous aspect of awd. I note two examples: Jaguar and Ford. Both use a "transfer case" with no gearing or shaft connecting the front axle to the rear. Only a clutchpack controlled by the computer allocates drive forces. The computer is given complete and completely variable control over torque allocation. The driver cannot override or even control this. In fact, the driver will usually be unaware of the torque allocation. Finally, the hazards of awd appear to have been engineered out. Ironically, it is only because the computer can completely disconnect the awd that it is finally safe to use.

The jury is still out but I have just driven the Jaguar and read up on the new Ford Escape/Kuga, seen the video. It's looking good. So good I just ordered my awd XF.

 

Wow! I didn't anticipate a verbal onslaught over such a benign post. Thank you Inanov and Blackcoog. You understood the spirit of the post.

Oh, and 3 blinks isn't enough, biches.

 

For retards with IEPs it isn't.

 

You have to figure the new needs of the modern driver, the less they control and let the car do what it is programmed to do the better. All the electronics are not always just gimmicks. Even the super cars have electronics, just like Formula 1 and etc. Once you learn the basics of what the electronics teach, you will be adapt at FWD, RWD, or AWD. All cars can be controlled, it's up to the driver to learn how to do it. In track events the experinced drivers turn of the basic skid controls, but most instructors will not let some drivers think of turning them off. I am adapt in the RWD Jags, and learned how to drift a 140 before drifting was in. If you watch the BUY 1 Mark 1 at Goodwood, he's a drifter. Even my new cars with electronis can be used in manners of which the manufacturer never thought about, you just have to overcome the beast. A lot of the mentioned falibles in the XF can be programmed by the dealer, next time in for service ask, if he can't do it find a repair facility with an updated AUTOLOGIC system, and see if they can, the do change oil intervals to please the customer. Now back to the cheese!

 

If you poke the screen in the map field anywhere it will hide the buttons right away.

I also hate the folding seat release.