Do I need some guidance how to drive

[666spg]

First of all. Happy New Year to all Jaguar owners and maybe even to some of those German car owners.

I am now into my 9th month with my 2016 previously Jaguar owned 2.0 Litre diesel XE sport that I purchased with just 3900 miles on the clock. I use it daily for going to work but still absolutely look forward to driving it every day and always take a moment when I have started her up to just sit quietly, look around the inside and enjoy where I am before setting off. The colour is stunning. It is painted "quartzite" and depending on the height and bright of the sun, can look anything from silver to copper to sparkling gold. It has a black glass sunroof, tinted rear windows and 5 spoke diamond finish wheels. It is the only car I have ever owned where random people have approached me in car parks and commented on how lovely it looks. However, many years ago I did have a Yugo 55 which did solicit comments of derision and people spontaneously bursting out laughing as they walked by so I feel I have experienced both ends of the general publics car appreciation spectrum.

I have had a couple of issues that my dealer has sorted swiftly. The washer bottle sensor failed saying it was empty when full and on two occasions after being parked for several hours it suddenly started weeping copius amounts of water from underneath somewhere around the nearside headlamp. The dealer first told me that they thought the headlight washer may not have sat properly back in its seal. Second time they said they couldnt find anything and asked if I thought it was the air con' ? I don't have a clue but as I write it is all working beautifully.

Otherwise, just a couple of complaints or maybe one observation and one plea for guidance.

I have a Springer Spaniel and every opportunity she has to jump into a stinky pond or muddy ditch she, without any hesitation takes. My Spaniel loves to be covered in crap. Likewise my XE, no matter how much I try and avoid puddles and keep out of the verges, manages to cover herself in spray and mud. I fear that I will wash the paint off as I seem to be cleaning her daily. Sometimes twice.

The other and actually important issue is that I mainly drive in "eco" mode as I only travel 8 miles to and from work each day but often when I am trying to pull away she takes a moment to respond. It is not just pulling away from standstill either as when I slow right down for example to turn right into a road and then put my foot down to get going again, she expresses herself in a way that would do Edvard Munch proud. If I push the peddle down hard, she sits screaming for a second or so before much seems to happen and then wails along for a sufficiently embarrassing amount of time sort of stuck in low gear before at last chaging up at which point she takes off like a stone from a catapault. Not what I would call responsive or for me as a driver, intuitive. Even in Dynamic mode she does not exactly snap into motion seemingly needing a moment to decide what gear she should be in.

This is the first automatic car I have ever driven and when Jaguar gave me an automatic F Pace courtesy car, also diesel, it seemed much more responsive. I wondered if this is normal or is there something wrong with either my car or my ability to drive it.

Any guidance would be appreciated.

[webhostnews]

it's very easy to drive the Jaguar only you focus and believe on yourself. first of all, Put the key in the lock, and wear the seat belt, Put down the hand brake and press the  slowly slowly accelerate and press the brake. many step to do for drive.

[Jon Hyde]

Hi Seamus,

My XF (2011) is somewhat older than your XE, but...

In "normal" mode ("D", no dynamic mode, DSC on) it's somewhat relaxed from standstill. Still hustles after a second or so, but relaxed.

However, swapping to Sport mode for the gears, dynamic mode for the chassis and TRAC DSC transforms it. Honestly, all hell breaks loose! 

I think the ability to choose the character of driving you want on any given day is great! Guess which I mostly go for!!!

I reckon you just need to play with the options, find a narrow bendy road and look at your grin in the mirror!!!

Cheers,
Jon

[Mollbhan]

Hello Seamus, I have a 2016 XE awd in Fuji white, when polished up it is absolutely stunning, I also have a black lab, black labs and gleaming white cars do not go too well together. I bought a dog hammock from flea bay which fits perfectly in the back seat and found it a godsend for dirty dogs, if buying one get a good one and line it with a padded lining of some kind or the stitching may tear.

This is my first auto as well and like you found it sometimes revs then snatches a gear, driving in eco mode definitely makes it less responsive to the throttle.

[BLZeebub]

Ive had the XE for about 18 months - 180 AWD Diesel R-Sport - I started off in Dynamic and found it pretty lively although pulling away from roundabouts could be a bit hit & miss sometimes. Then i started experimenting with Normal and Eco. Fuel economy definitely improved on the daily 16 mile commute of mostly A & B fast-ish roads, pre-emting  the traffic also helped and made for a different kind of fun to the almost on/off of Dynamic. I mostly run in Eco now but a recent spirited drive in Dynamic reminded me just how eager it can be when you start to hustle. Then theres Sport with the full manual - that takes some work!

Cheers,

Nat

B-)

[Old Peter]

Welcome to the club,Nat.

Bill Lyons said when launching a new Model  [ The Mk 1 - I think]  "Grace, Space and Pace" and all Jaguars have all three.

My S type has the 2.7 V6 Diesel engine with the J gate manual gear control as well as being an automatic.  A Touch of the s button will take the car to 140 mph [only on race tracks] and yet will cruise pleasantly along the country lanes in the utmost comfort.

Sometimes the Grace element attracts comments and there are those who ask the question about performance.  The twin turbos are commented on by some and fuel consumption [I have had 50.2 on a motorway ] by others

Just enjoy the experience,

Regards

Peter.