Design language - All Comments

re: To ‘spud’ or not to ‘spud’?

blktoy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 20:24:59 GMT

The one series and the six series are stunners and the five series makes the XF look passe even though in actual fact the BMW is an older design.

re: New Fiesta is looking good for showroom success

Casanova — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:26:23 GMT

Test drove a Fiesta last week. Wanted to drive a 1.6 TDCi and/or a 1.4 TDCi, but the dealer only had a pretty gutless 1.25 petrol. Felt well put together and nicely designed, but I walked away because of three things. Firstly, the price is too high - £12,000 for a decent-but-not-top-spec version with the 1.6 TDCi. Also, the pedals are badly spaced, with the clutch being way down in the footwell, and the brake needing your knee by your chin to operate! And lastly, the brakes were insanely over-servoed, the lighest touch sending me lurching towards the steering wheel... Sorry Ford, you've not got my business this time. And judging from the ghostly atmosphere in the showroom, I'm far from alone.

re: Audi LED running lights? No thanks

heyho — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 23:21:53 GMT

I now have a 5 series BMW, I bought it because I trusted it was a fine drive, and it is. However I ponder over the daytime running lights? If I switch this option on in the computer (iDrive) then my dipped lights, the halo lights and rear lights come on...all the time day or night? I thought the point of DRL's was to have a discrete front light so that in any given circumstance there is a chance that onlookers or oncoming vehicles could spot you a little earlier - safety etc. Where used, the use of LED technology satisfies the green aspect.

However, with full dipped beams (non-LED), side lights (halos, LED) and rear lights (LED) then is this not OTT for during the day and also goes against green policy? I don't see them as gimmicks but I can understand how some might, personal taste, but I wonder if I can compromise by getting BMW to re-programme the settings for DRL and just have the more subtle halos glowing during normal conditions? Or should I just switch the DRL's off and enjoy the drive? Thoughts?!

re: Audi LED running lights? No thanks

Phinehas — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:20:01 GMT

The reason I prefer them -not the original GM solution, but the corrected one- is because they cause less dazzle than LEDs in lower light conditions. I know they will be faded out because of the other advantages of LED. What is needed is a low-consumption, high-output system with a wide beam spread (LEDs lack this unless you have long lines of them) and that can adapt to ambient light conditions. Shouldn't be beyond the wit of man, eh?

Contrast against the background is the goal, not simple high, white light.

re: Audi LED running lights? No thanks

dayglo — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 11:55:40 GMT

Why do some people still prefer the reduced main beam solution for daylight running lights, when everything is against using them?

Using headlight bulbs all the time reduces the life of the bulb, and uses quite a bit of power compared with LED technology. I don't think it is possible to reduce the power of HID xenon bulbs because they need a certain voltage to work. An incandescent bulb on reduced power also produces a much 'yellower' and therefore less eyecatching light than the much more efficient white LED display producing a superwhite coherent light.

re: Audi LED running lights? No thanks

Phinehas — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 16:39:51 GMT

"I think that when front fogs are switched on the cars speed should be automatically be limited to 30mph, as this is the only safe speed if visibility is bad enough to need them."

Dead right, dayglo.

And who the h£ll is going to run into the back of a rep doing 90 on a motorway with rear fogs on? Yet, at the first sign of rain/mist/Noel Edmunds, they all switch them on.

I think a limiter is a piece of perfect thinking.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

ThwartedEfforts — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:40:52 GMT

Jaguar's TV advertising of the XF (which amounted to a fleeting glimpse of its single acceptible angle, its arse end) suggested even they weren't sure about the looks. I know I'm not. Even the wife thinks it's ugly, and she usually has no view on cars outside what colour they are and whether they have a smiley face. For her to say what she said is as damning as it gets.

Now, I do realise it's the wrong time to be selling any kind of car, but if the brilliance of the XF was proportional to the size of its award cabinet, you'd have thought I might have seen more than two ever. I'm no more than 25 miles from the centre of London and they are simply NOWHERE on the roads; there must seriously be two dozen new Audis for every new XF.

Perhaps if all the people here who think it's the world's most strikingly beautiful car ever made would like to put their money where their mouth is and actually buy one, they might save Jaguar from the toilet. Sales are down by half this last month and with the approach of Christmas and increasingly doom-laden newspaper articles I'd not be surprised if they were down by the same margin again in December.

Note also that since September, Jaguar (and Land Rover for that matter) are no longer reporting sales numbers in key markets such as the U.S., presumably because they're so awful. The sales I mean, not Americans.

re: Audi LED running lights? No thanks

dayglo — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:20:33 GMT

While I don't mind daytime 'position' lights, such as the Audi and am actually thinking of fitting some LED lights myself (a bit more discreet than the Audi ones) for daytime safety I would just say the following ----

I think that people who drive around with foglights on, especially at night should have to re-take their driving test, it is totally annoying to have four lights either in your mirror or coming towards you on dark country lanes, the foglights spray their light sideways and forwards and are illegal except in VERY bad conditions.

I have on occasions, when the offender would not overtake and was stuck on my bumper been as silly as they have and put my rear fogs on, they normally flash their headlights in protest - how ironic !!!!

I think that when front fogs are switched on the cars speed should be automatically be limited to 30mph, as this is the only safe speed if visibility is bad enough to need them.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

gds54 — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:18:36 GMT

That picture actually surprised me as I'd never seen the two side by side - how much bigger is the XF!!

I have to say though, I really do love the XF. Experienced one at the motor show this year and I absolutely loved it, a real step forward to Jag.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

Chas Hallett. — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 10:10:07 GMT

The XF's yet another new car that you really have to see in the metal to appreciate fully. Photos never do it justice. They also look particularly good under street lights for some reason. With the XF and XK, Jag now has a better looking range than it's had for decades.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

65 AMG — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 09:56:39 GMT

I honestly don't get the XF at all in terms of design. It looks very very good from the side profile and then you get to the front and you're like Oh Dear, what happened to this bit? The front looks just as dubious as the S-Type and i have to say i'm an S-Type lover. I think it looks a proper Jag. This new XF looks a bit more,dare i say it, like a Mondeo kind of thing? I haven't driven one but from the reviews and the few owners i've come across its really brilliant.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

julianphillips — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 08:25:34 GMT

I think its a great looking car, very substantial in design - looks bigger than it is. Not 100% convinced about the front lights but everything else I think looks great, especially the view in the above photo.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

Dan McNeil — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:54:26 GMT

From the front, it looks like a big Hyundai, except a big Hyundai is more memorable. From the side, an early sketch of a 4 door Aston V8 that William Towns might have scribbled. Before chucking it in the bin. From the rear...God, where to start?

It's a flash car, that's for sure - flash like an overweight moggy with a gold tooth.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

Dan McNeil — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:52:36 GMT

From the front, it looks like a big Hyundai, except a big Hyundai is more memorable. From the side, an early sketch of a 4 door Aston V8 that William Towns might have scribbled. Before chucking it in the bin. From the rear...God, where to start?

It's a flash car, that's for sure - flash like an overweight moggy with a gold tooth.

re: Jaguar XF - the purr of a big cat

Steak Bake — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 22:16:08 GMT

XF looks great - but are there shades of Lexus GS from the side?

Only selling diesels that I am aware of but I would not kick them too hard on the waiting list issue - in this climate most cars are available due to the lack of customers