XF in the snow
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XF in the snow
I am considering purchasing an XF. My only issue is that it does not have AWD. I do alot of highway miles in the northeast so it is somewhat important that I can do so during the winter months. Am looking for peoples' experience with the car in bad driving conditions.
Veteran Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 283
From: Calgary Alberta Canada
RE: XF in the snow
From Western Canada, in the snow today.
In my experience a good chassis in the dry equals a good chassis in the snow.
Tires are another matter. The stock Continental All Seasons on my Luxury XF are very poor in the snow. I have just put a set of Pirell Sottozeros on in the stock 245/45x18 size and I will report my experience with them later today.
A couple of weekends ago I was in Banff National Park in the Rockies. I can report that the XF chassis is as superb on ice and snow as it is in the wet or on dry pavement. With traction control engaged (default status) or with the superb TRAC setting the car is totally controllable and has zero traction or stability issues. With DSC off (press the DSC button for 11 plus seconds continuously) the car is brilliantly controllable. You can literally steer the car with your right foot and any slide is easily controlled with countersteer. Heck, I was even able to do stationary doughnuts by cranking the steering and feathering accelerator pedal.
The tires are hopeless though. The braking distances are unacceptable for Canadian winter driving conditions so I laid out the big bucks for a set of four high performance snow tires. As I have tried the Sottozeros on my previous X Type and they are no on my chipped and modified Audi S4 I am confident the XF will be a fantabulous winter machine given the superb chassis and steering.
One last thing: the "winter" setting on the transmission will get you through anything even on all season tires. Just don't expect to be able to stop very quickly. Winter tires are far superior to all seasons, on any car.
In my experience a good chassis in the dry equals a good chassis in the snow.
Tires are another matter. The stock Continental All Seasons on my Luxury XF are very poor in the snow. I have just put a set of Pirell Sottozeros on in the stock 245/45x18 size and I will report my experience with them later today.
A couple of weekends ago I was in Banff National Park in the Rockies. I can report that the XF chassis is as superb on ice and snow as it is in the wet or on dry pavement. With traction control engaged (default status) or with the superb TRAC setting the car is totally controllable and has zero traction or stability issues. With DSC off (press the DSC button for 11 plus seconds continuously) the car is brilliantly controllable. You can literally steer the car with your right foot and any slide is easily controlled with countersteer. Heck, I was even able to do stationary doughnuts by cranking the steering and feathering accelerator pedal.
The tires are hopeless though. The braking distances are unacceptable for Canadian winter driving conditions so I laid out the big bucks for a set of four high performance snow tires. As I have tried the Sottozeros on my previous X Type and they are no on my chipped and modified Audi S4 I am confident the XF will be a fantabulous winter machine given the superb chassis and steering.
One last thing: the "winter" setting on the transmission will get you through anything even on all season tires. Just don't expect to be able to stop very quickly. Winter tires are far superior to all seasons, on any car.
Veteran Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,606
Likes: 283
From: Calgary Alberta Canada
RE: XF in the snow
Drove in very cold fairly deep and very icy snow today. Sottozeros not so good when very cold. Chassis is rear biased in very slippery stuff, if you turn off the DSC be prepared to really drive the car!
I recommend T,R or even Q rated full snow tires for anyone who depends on their XF all winter no matter what the weather.
I recommend T,R or even Q rated full snow tires for anyone who depends on their XF all winter no matter what the weather.
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