Xr6t Vs Xr5t - Highway Driving

[Harpoon]

Hi Ladies and Gents

Just joined, thanks for the forum and advice guys, great stuff.

Just after peoples comments and experiences.

Looking very seriously at either an Focus XR5T (Sea Grey/Performance Blue) or XR6T (Deja vue).

Looking at the price discusson there really does not appear to be much in the difference between the two.

I am undecided between the two vehicles... I am running backwards and fowards between Campbelltown and Canberra two return trips a week (work in Canberra live in Campbelltown). For those of you who do not know the distance betwen Canberra and Campbeltown. Campbelltown is on the extreme southern parts of Sydney and is a straight 235Km at approx 110 Km/h. (Beats the M5 parking lot ! )

(BTW I would love a Colorado red or Vixen colour....... but Goulbourn Highway Patrol Cops are a nasty peice of work and the red would just draw attention.......... I should mention I have the greatest admiration for general duties cops, I take my hat off to them and give them the greatest support... Highway patrol are just plain mean revenue raisers)

I have a BA 2003 Model XT that I have for my son to run backwards and forwards to Wollongong and it is a great vehicle and great for Highway cruising. Good basic car for him, lacks pazazz and grunt that I would like.

Anyone had any feedback or comments on Australian Highway driving of XR6T ?

And why is there no cruise control on the Focus XR5T... Insane !!

(I am a member of the XR5 Web site as well)

Any one care to comment on the two cars and the Highway cycle of the Focus Turbo and the XR6 Turbo ?

Thanks

Harpoon

[Cro]

Stick to the speed limit between Narambulla and the Federal, at the dipper, winery, plum farm, gravel trap, north of the gravel trap, at collector, just before the lake southbound and you don't have much to worry about. Get yourself an in-car CB with a 6db aerial and tune into ch 40.

I've done that trip on an almost weekly basis for 1.5 years and have only been booked once between the northside turn on and Narambulla.

I'd say the XR would be a bettery HWY cruiser by far. It's bigger, safer, more comfortable and expandable due to it's size.

I did 60,000kms in my first year mostly hwy/country hwy, every km was an absolute pleasure. And it has all the torque it needs to get you going fast enough quickly enough when you need to overtake on the wrong side.

The only downside would be the amount of fuel you'll go through compared to the Focus. The best I've got was 10.5 litres per 100 between River Road (M5 turn on) to Tuggeranong.

Oh and

[Barry Blue]

  Cro said:

I'd say the XR would be a bettery HWY cruiser by far.

←

I thought they were both XR's

XR6T or XR5T

I dont think we know enough about the XR5T yet, to make an opinion, so just buy a 6speed auto PHOON

Clarke

[Cro]

Doh

I guess gone are the days of referring to the XR6T as XRT......

[Venom XR6]

If the XR5T doesn't have cruise control that makes the 6T the winner by default. I can't imagine travelling those distances regularly with no cruise, it would be a pain in the arse. The 6 is bigger and probably more comfortable though.

[aniken]

For comfort, the XR6T will win by a big margin. I'm over 6'4", and I would fear the consequences of driving all the way to Canberra in my Focus . In an XR6T, a trip that length (and longer) is a dream run.

[Bain]

  aniken said:

For comfort, the XR6T will win by a big margin. I'm over 6'4", and I would fear the consequences of driving all the way to Canberra in my Focus . In an XR6T, a trip that length (and longer) is a dream run.

←

The focus has huge amounts of room.. Even with a sunroof in it!

Im 6.1 and I can put the seat all the way back in the XR5T and only just touch the pedals.

I also think the XR5T seats are alot more sportier and hold you in better than the current XR6T seats.

As for price.. Theres a huge difference.

XR5T 36k

XR6T 43k +

Once my lease runs out in a few years, ill be trading for the XR5T without a doubt. They will become the next cult hatch car (like the swift in its days)

[Iconic Bionic]

Well I dont know about Goulburn Highway patrol but the rest of them arnt a bad bunch. If your doing 200 clicks and you get a fine for it, then obviously you might disagree with me.

Now XR5, hmmm, unproven at this stage in relation to its overall reliability. Its just to new and it will be a while before we all start to learn its ins and outs. Personally I think you would be better suited to the XR6T oee even just XR6 for highway crusin. that's whats its best at. Plenty of room and spacious to carry tonnes of stuff for the long haul you seem to be doing.

I do think the XR5 has the potential to be a winner and even a cult car but its has stiff competition against the WRX and the GTI golf and I doubt it will come close to either.

[Harpoon]

Ladies and Gents

Re this "Well I dont know about Goulburn Highway patrol but the rest of them arnt a bad bunch. If your doing 200 clicks and you get a fine for it, then obviously you might disagree with me."

If you are doing 200kmh in 110kmh zone you deserve what you get, no argument.

However 130/140kmh in excelent road conditions (with an good car and 35 years of driving experience in all conditions + Advanced Driver course) is quite reasonable but of course the RTA has to lower the spead limit to the lowest common denominator and the (Goulbourn) highway patrol cops relish anyone over the limit.

(BTW I have a General Duties long time Ex-cop friend and he agrees with me that Highway patrol cops are the lowest). And to add to my comments, General Duties cops I have the greatest respect and support for, I take my hat of to those guys.

They are the greatest.

When I see them on the street I thank them for what they do.

Anyway... Not the topic for another forum.

Thanks for the comments so far.re the XR5T/XR6T. even though I like the XR5 Turbo for its size and utility I think the shear necessity of solid car with space, comfort good cruise control in the XR6 Turbo is probably the way to go.

I even thought of a Turbo Territory, but driving a current model V6 Escape down to Canberra and back during the strong winds of week before , well it was like driving a barn down down the highway. The fuel guage had a race with the speedo to see if it could reach the end first and the car with the big flat sides of the Escape was weathercocking all over the place. Geeze one tank of fuel for a one way trip...... YUK Appreciate it was an extreme situation but nonetheless pointed out what wil be happenging during the winter spring wind period.

So I think the Turbo Territory would be the same, whilst saying it is a a good city car or holiday tourer, or Mums taxi.. to use it to run backwads and fowards between Sydney and Canberra for work.. Well there will be at least 1.5* lease payment of fuel costs on top of the lease... Bit much also considering the flag fall for Turbo T is $65K+.

I need a more solid, aerodynamically slippery car and something more fuel efficient just to get me to and from work than a current escape or turbo territory, hence the XR5/XR6 questions.

Thanks for all the comments

Harpoon.

Edited 17/04/06 10:36 AM by Harpoon

[eMPee]

You do realise u will get a biased opinion on this forum dont you...

I dont think that enough is known about the xr5 at this stage to compete with what is know about the xr6 to compair the 2. Im sure u can have cruise control fitted without a problem.