New XF practicability....

[a311]

REALIST123 said:

I know what you mean about space. Doesn’t feel as big as my previous 5 series, though apparently key dimensions are similar. Good leg room in rear I find.

Boot is a bit awkward to access too. We got two large suitcases in OK, and other things. Folding seats help.

My mate is getting a 5 series so will be interested to compare. It's apples and oranges though as I got a cracking deal on mine. Feel big when driving. I'm 6'4" so have the seat right back and low so when on a certain gradient find the bonnet bulge a bit obscuring.

Also why have folks got an extra sim?

Edited by a311 on Sunday 25th February 21:22

[anonymous-user]

a311 said:

REALIST123 said:

I know what you mean about space. Doesn’t feel as big as my previous 5 series, though apparently key dimensions are similar. Good leg room in rear I find.

Boot is a bit awkward to access too. We got two large suitcases in OK, and other things. Folding seats help.

My mate is getting a 5 series so will be interested to compare. It's apples and oranges though as I got a cracking deal on mine. Feel big when driving. I'm 6'4" so have the seat right back and low so when on a certain gradient find the bonnet bulge a bit obscuring.

Also why have folks got an extra sim?

Edited by anonymous-user on Sunday 25th February 21:22

What do you mean by an extra Sim? The one you need to put in to access the ICTP services? It’s just that several aren’t available without.

[stumpage]

I've now had my car a few days and love it. So nice to be in a smooth petrol instead of the standard company car 20d, not sure the bank account will be too happy with the increase in BIK and fuel costs but you only live once and all that.

One irritating feature or lack of is the places to put stuff. My old BMW had loads of cubby holes to put wallets, phones, loose change, etc, etc.

Still trying to work out the pro services part though, got the sim in and all good but can't find half of the stuff mentioned in the manual. Suppose I should stop driving and spend some time working it all out. I hate to say it but the BMW idrive is leagues ahead.

[anonymous-user]

stumpage said:

I've now had my car a few days and love it. So nice to be in a smooth petrol instead of the standard company car 20d, not sure the bank account will be too happy with the increase in BIK and fuel costs but you only live once and all that.

One irritating feature or lack of is the places to put stuff. My old BMW had loads of cubby holes to put wallets, phones, loose change, etc, etc.

Still trying to work out the pro services part though, got the sim in and all good but can't find half of the stuff mentioned in the manual. Suppose I should stop driving and spend some time working it all out. I hate to say it but the BMW idrive is leagues ahead.

I would agree that the idrive control is a better functioning system than buttons/touch. As far as the features and information are concerned, I find the XF much better than my F10.

Having said that, it appears that BMW have some serious issues with the connected drive systems at the moment in that it just isn’t working for many owners. No connectivity, no RTTI, etc.

[a311]

Bit of a thread resurrection after living with my XF for a little over 6 months.

It's swung between a bit of a love hate relationship. The main negative for me is for the size of it, it's not very practical as a family car. If you've kids and have a two part pram it will take up most of the boot space not leaving you much space to play with. Things are better with a buggy, as it leaves space for a couple of small suitcases, bags etc. Having the second battery in the boot really takes away from the depth of the available load space. Due to the practicality issues I wasn't using it for longer trips and used the other car (Skoda Octavia) for trips to the airport for holidays and trips up to Scotland visiting family.

However on a few recent trips now the little one needs less crap I've been able to use the XF for some longer trips where it's came into it's own, being a comfortable place to sit for a 6 hour trip returning 44 mpg. The things I've always liked about it I still do, the looks, the interior, nice drive, and comfort. We'll be going on holiday towards the end of September and will be taking two or three large suitcases which will rule the XF out again-I guess the practicality issues will be true of a lot of saloons.

6 month verdict, nice but a ste as a soul family car.

[anonymous-user]

a311 said:

Bit of a thread resurrection after living with my XF for a little over 6 months.

It's swung between a bit of a love hate relationship. The main negative for me is for the size of it, it's not very practical as a family car. If you've kids and have a two part pram it will take up most of the boot space not leaving you much space to play with. Things are better with a buggy, as it leaves space for a couple of small suitcases, bags etc. Having the second battery in the boot really takes away from the depth of the available load space. Due to the practicality issues I wasn't using it for longer trips and used the other car (Skoda Octavia) for trips to the airport for holidays and trips up to Scotland visiting family.

However on a few recent trips now the little one needs less crap I've been able to use the XF for some longer trips where it's came into it's own, being a comfortable place to sit for a 6 hour trip returning 44 mpg. The things I've always liked about it I still do, the looks, the interior, nice drive, and comfort. We'll be going on holiday towards the end of September and will be taking two or three large suitcases which will rule the XF out again-I guess the practicality issues will be true of a lot of saloons.

6 month verdict, nice but a ste as a soul family car.

Fair report. Generally there’s only two of us and never a space issue but when we have the grandchildren we see the same issues as you.

Our F10 was no better; slightly better shaped boot but slightly less interior space.

[stumpage]

REALIST123 said:

a311 said:

Bit of a thread resurrection after living with my XF for a little over 6 months.

It's swung between a bit of a love hate relationship. The main negative for me is for the size of it, it's not very practical as a family car. If you've kids and have a two part pram it will take up most of the boot space not leaving you much space to play with. Things are better with a buggy, as it leaves space for a couple of small suitcases, bags etc. Having the second battery in the boot really takes away from the depth of the available load space. Due to the practicality issues I wasn't using it for longer trips and used the other car (Skoda Octavia) for trips to the airport for holidays and trips up to Scotland visiting family.

However on a few recent trips now the little one needs less crap I've been able to use the XF for some longer trips where it's came into it's own, being a comfortable place to sit for a 6 hour trip returning 44 mpg. The things I've always liked about it I still do, the looks, the interior, nice drive, and comfort. We'll be going on holiday towards the end of September and will be taking two or three large suitcases which will rule the XF out again-I guess the practicality issues will be true of a lot of saloons.

6 month verdict, nice but a ste as a soul family car.

Fair report. Generally there’s only two of us and never a space issue but when we have the grandchildren we see the same issues as you.

Our F10 was no better; slightly better shaped boot but slightly less interior space.

But on the plus side it means we use my wife's Skoda Kodiaq for family/ holiday trips so the sand, mud, general carnage that 2 kids can cause in a car after a 5 hour drive are kept away from my car.

Edited by stumpage on Thursday 30th August 11:13

[a311]

stumpage said:

But on the plus side it means we use my wife's Skoda Kodiaq for family/ holiday trips so the sand, mud, general carnage that 2 kids can cause in a car after a 5 hour drive are kept away from the my car.

The Skoda will be getting replaced next Feb so at this point will be having a good think about what to replace it with then once the XF goes back if I'm wise with the Skoda replacement I can be a bit more flexible in what I get

A good mate is getting the XF in sportbrake guise. Whilst I prefer the looks of the saloon I've told him all the issues I've had should be removed with the estate.

[Krikkit]

Surely a Sportbrake would be a better choice for family accessories etc? Most saloons would struggle with a decent sized pram in the boot to do much more.

Not to say the XF is especially roomy mind.

[miniman]

We just did 1600 miles down to the Dordogne in mine. The spare wheel well takes 2 big soft bags (it doesn't have a spare, obvs!) and the 3 kids were ok but they are 10, 6 and 6 so quite small.

Can't comment on the comfort as it has a bent wheel which meant all the autoroute miles were done like we were sat on a washing machine.

I have to say I was jealously eyeing the Disco 4s we passed.

[a311]

Krikkit said:

Surely a Sportbrake would be a better choice for family accessories etc? Most saloons would struggle with a decent sized pram in the boot to do much more.

Not to say the XF is especially roomy mind.

I took my XF up on a very appealing lease deal which was only available on the saloon at the time. The bonus is I've only to live with it another 18 months so not the end of the world or I could always get a roof box....