Front park aid - can it be set to "always on"?

[DWilson]

The front park sensor on my Sportbrake only comes on when I select reverse (!) or if you turn it on with the switch in the overhead panel.  It then goes out when you get above about 5mph.   Anybody know if there is a (dealer) selection in software that just leaves it on below a certain speed?  I thought I'd get used to having to turn it on, but I haven't.... 

 

(As an aside, Jaguar does seem to have some very odd priorities for which switches they think are important - the rarely-used "lock" and "unlock" override buttons are on the main dash switch panel, but the  aforementioned park sensor is in the roof, the foglight switch is buried out of sight right under the tailgate release (yes, I pushed the wrong one - it was foggy, so fortunately not at speed!), and the seat heater is a real kludge - push the button, wait for the touchscreen to respond, select seat and heat level.  Then all over again in reverse to turn it off.  Why not just one button for each seat?   Triumph of style over function.....)

[captain Alan]

Hi David

 

On my 2009 XF the Parking aid activates front and rear when reverse gear is selected and remains active providing your speed remains under 9 mph even though you may be moving forward in "D" also all audio volume is lowered.Once you go above 9mph the parking aid swithches itself off and Led Zeppelin resumes at normal volume.If I require the front parking aid only it has to be manually selected ,The Handbook explains all on page,s 148 to 150.

I must admit im not sure on the thought process regarding the positioning of the boot release and the fog light switches also the bonnet release being next to the front passenger door ? I expect cost enters the equation somewhere.

 

cheers Alan

[DWilson]

Yes, mine does what it says in the book,  but I'd like it to be "on" whenever the speed drops below the ~9mph  cut-off  - as with every other car I've driven that has park sensors!  By the time I've remembered that it needs to be turned on, I've driven into the parking slot and stopped.   One day, I'll hit a wall.

 

(As for the bonnet release:  where does Jaguar sell more cars - LHD or RHD markets?  I guess the current setup is more convenient for LHD markets, although I've never needed to open the bonnet while driving along........) 

[Old Peter]

Yes, mine does what it says in the book,  but I'd like it to be "on" whenever the speed drops below the ~9mph  cut-off  - as with every other car I've driven that has park sensors!  By the time I've remembered that it needs to be turned on, I've driven into the parking slot and stopped.   One day, I'll hit a wall.

 

(As for the bonnet release:  where does Jaguar sell more cars - LHD or RHD markets?  I guess the current setup is more convenient for LHD markets, although I've never needed to open the bonnet while driving along........) 

 

 

LHD markets or RHD markets poses an interesting question.  The production figures for my S type were produced by Ford who owned Jaguar then, and are a bit mathematically incorrect, do show that more S types were produced in LHD versions, and a bit more research shows that the USA market was bigger than the UK market for the S type.

 

Peter.

[DWilson]

Just an update on this - my dealer tells me that there is nothing in the "dealer settings" that allows them to have the front park sensors come on when the speed drops below a certain level - you always have to turn it on manually (or select reverse...)  Weird!

[Jberks]

Seems to be a JLR thing. My Freelander is the same with the parking sensors. I have to say, things like this and some of the switch positions etc including the seat heat / cool settings etc are not very practical, especially compared to German rivals. I've always said that Mercedes have the best designs in a lot of these areas. Their cruise control / speed limiter stalk for example is a piece of perfect ergonomic design. Where I've now got a bank of buttons and wheels on the steering wheel plus another button on the console, I used to have a single column stalk. Not as pretty but much simpler. Much easier to use than almost every other manufacturer. Their parking sensor design is better too. An unobtrusive bank of LEDs that illuminate below 5 mph but remain silent until you're into the first red band so as not to bother you if there's nothing to be worried about. Information without the fuss.

Then again, I know which car was the nicer to be in and drive so I figured I'd learn to get used to these things.

[DWilson]

Indeed!

 

I really miss the Mercedes version - especially driving up to the unforgiving concrete edge of a French motorway toll booth!

 

Also miss the Mercedes speed-limiter-on-a-stalk.  It was quick, positive and precise - and if you were going faster than the new limit you'd just set, it cut the power back until you'd slowed down enough. 

 

The XF one is fiddly, sometimes a bit random about whether a change just registers slowly or not at all, (my roller switch has now been changed twice and is still no better...)  And it doesn't do anything except flash warnings at you until you're below the set speed. Jaguar seem to have ended up with a built-in perceptible and annoying delay in all the minor controls.  No idea how or why.....

[Old Peter]

I have read all of these posts and I can recall over 50 years of driving that every new car--  and I have had a couple of dozen brand new cars [company] over those years --  has it curiosities.

 

I suppose that I will possibly venture to something newer than my S Type which is s very easy to operate after 6 months of reading and re reading the hand book, But I do hope my s type lasts as long as me!

 

Peter.

[knightsmith]

Peter,

 

I've had no troubles whatsoever with my XJ Supersport and recently acquired XKR. both fantastic cars! , as i've said previously, better than my BMW's and Aston Martins,what I like was everything was so logical in their operation, you would not have to read the handbook for six months.

 

I cannot imagine me owning another make of car.

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[Old Peter]

Hi Trevor, 

 

I have just got in after popping round to the corner shop [sainsbury's].  On the way I saw two beautiful Black Jaguar XJ in convoy.

 

The front one was a hearse and the one behind was a stretched one!  The local Funeral Director knows style   --

 

The front one will the last Jaguar I will go in!

 

Great Cars

 

Peter.

[knightsmith]

Peter,

 

Go and get one, they're dead cool !

 

ATB,

 

Trevor

[guestmember1]

The front sensor system used by JLR is a Ford system, same process for Ford cars

[M14TKY]

I have just bought a 14 plate XF  r sport 3litre diesel and  I can not get front sensors to work. I have tried selecting reverse then drive and slowly moving forwards but screen reverts back to  radio.  Also I do not have a switch on the overhead panel.  Any advise would be appreciate.

[Jberks]

If you don't have the switch, it's because you don't have front sensors. I'm afraid that whilst all XFs have rear sensors as standard, front ones were an option and quite a few people chose not to bother. Have a look at your bumper.

[Mad Mart]

I have just parted with my S-Type after many years of loving service. The parking sensors were always on but there was a switch to turn them off. My New XFS has the stupid set up where you have to remember to switch them on every time I pull onto my drive. I am just waiting for the time where I forget to put them on and hit my garage door!!! Its a stupid idea which is actually a back step to my S-Type! When I first got my XFS I thought my front sensors were not working at all but later discovered the volume on the alert was wound down to minimum so it was not audible at all but the system is in my opinion not very well thought out. My Wife has a Ford Fiesta and the sensors are logically set out just like my S-Type. I miss it already :-(

[Old Peter]

Welcome to the club, Martin.

"If it isn't broken, don't fix it"  should be the first rule for a designer of anything.  But I think you will get used to it if you don't  find how to keep it on.

My wife has a Toyota Yaris Hybrid and if you switch the sensors on they stay on, and vice versa. 

Regards,

Peter.

[Mike_eng]

XF defrost, 1 big fat button under the satnav turns on the blower, front & rear heated screens.

Having changed from the S-type to the XF last year I would not go back and I soon got used to the cruise control.

To my knowledge you can't set the front sensors to "on" permanently.

[knightsmith]

Have had three Mercs in a row now after a Jag XJS Supersport and a XKR .

 

Although I prefer the Mercs the cruise control on the Jags was far superior.

 

In fact I have not even attempted to use the cruise control on the Merc

 

The Jag' s was simplicity in itself

[Old Peter]

Hi Trevor,

How's it going?

I thought you would have got the F type by now!

Regards,

Peter.

[knightsmith]

Fine Peter thank you

 

Hope all is ok with you . Would have stuck with Jag, but they are such a despicable company (and dealerships) .

 

Friend of mine changed from them also, as well as his Jag not being very reliable .

 

Have a Merc AMG GTS now

 

 

[David6255]

close to where i used to live this garage..some lovely cars in there...now pass it on way to my aunties in knotty green

[knightsmith]

David, 

I actually bought the car in Nottingham , was just passing through Via Rutland on my way back down to Devon.

 

Trevor