Good morning XF folks,

I'm mostly in the F-Type forum but I thought I'd ask on here a question that's been on my mind for a while. I'd appreciate any XFR-S owners input and maybe those with tuned R models making around 550 hp....
how is the daily livability of the thing?

As car enthusiasts there is no such thing as too much power but reality is that I live in a spot where it snows pretty much from December to late April. I know there is snow mode and it helps things but does a good set of tires help or should I expect spinning due to the very high amount of torque? I'm somewhat able to move around with my V6s with the problem being ground clearance and not really traction.


I also worry about the ease of use for the younger not as experienced driver in my house but he hasn't put the F Type in a ditch knock on wood ...but I know the RS will be that much tail happier.

Last but not least the facelifted or refreshed XF will be shown in September...and there is that too that makes me wonder if I shouldn't wait. However in the 3 or 4 times I've driven the car it's turned my hair on fire, what a beast.

Any real life input is welcome!

 

If you did attempt to drive one in the winter you'd have to get winter tires. You'd be crazy to try it with the stock summer tires. Why not get a winter beater? Why even attempt to drive any high hp rear wheel drive car in the winter? My 420hp XF Supercharged with summer tires can't move with any amount of snow under the rear wheels.

 

I don't see snow at all, but with my tune and pulley I bang into the traction control if I'm the least bit aggressive with the throttle at slow speeds or in rain. Can't imagine using it in the snow.

And I'd never let someone who doesn't have a ton of experience drive my car. Just too much power.

 

I'd have winter tires with no doubt. I've had many high hp rwd cars in the winter and gotten around without too many issues.

 

I drive my 470 hp SC in winter with dedicated snows. The snow mode dumbs down the throttle. Clearance and weight over rear tires are more significant issues. I personaly don't want to drive a beater 4-5 months a year. There are days when I take the wife's suv or get dropped off at work, but even this winter that has only been a couple of times. I am less than 2 miles from my office though. It's all about what you are willing to do or not do. Can-t see not driving a quickly depreciating car a third of the time you own it.

 

Unfortunately I don't want to drive mine in bad weather so it sits and collects dust...but when the weather is good it is a blast to drive. Comfortable on distance trips as well.

As far as tires go...not sure that you'll pick up much traction with other tires. And good luck finding 295's in other than the Pirellis or Michelins

 

I drive my Supercharged XF through the Minnesota winter with no issues with dedicated winter tires. Blackcoog is correct that you'd be crazy to drive in the snow or when its below freezing on summer tires.

The only time I've ever had TC blink at me was during a stoplight at a steep uphill heading to work.

 

My feeling is the XFR as well as the CTSV, AMG, M, are all dual purpose cars that give you the ability to track the car all day and hit the town all night. So using them as a daily driver is no big deal.

 

I use 285's on all four corners on my oem staggered wheels. I ended up buying new dedicated summer staggered wheels. Depending on if you buy dedicated winter wheels , you can likely run a smaller width, but dropping a size in diameter is a challenge with large brake clearance issues. Not sure how much bigger XFRS brakes are than supercharged. There were a handful of oem 19's that fit the supercharged, but I stayed with 20's for winter because I gave up on guessing with 19's would work. Narrowest tire you can get to work is best for winter driving.

 

The XFR and XFR-S are 4 door sedans. There is absolutely no reason they cannot be used as daily drivers. I had an XFR for 4 years on lease and I am now driving an XFR-S.

Driving these cars in the winter is a non issue if you have winter tires and don't forget they are not jacked up SUVs and they have rear wheel drive. In other words, don't expect miracles in deep snow or on inclines: I live in a rural area with a long laneway, partly sloped, and have managed to get stuck 5 or 6 times in snow as deep as or deeper than the ground clearance, because I have been trying to get in without clearing the laneway first. If you live in the city or on paved, well maintained roads and behave more sensibly than I did on those occasions, you should be fine, even in an unpleasant winter such as most of Canada east of the prairies has been suffering this year.

I would be very careful about letting inexperienced drivers behind the wheel of one of these cars. Of course, all the electronic safety aids are present and correct, but it takes NOTHING to break traction on the rear in cold temperatures, let alone in snow, and you can get the cars surprisingly out of shape even with all the nannies turned on. They have a lot of torque and, compared to some German competitors have a more 'nervous' handling setup IMO.

 

Yep...I would have to agree but I'll take it over the German cars in its same category