Fg Xr6t Test Drive

[Andrew50]

For those as yet that haven't had the fortune to drive a new FG turbo the following shortish report might answer a few questions:

Local dealer provided an auto turbo with approx 250 kms on the clock. The day was fair but the road was damp in places from overnight rain.

Exterior: Still not sure, too much black & cheap plastic. Don't like the "family" policy ford are adopting with wheel styles, same as focus, mondeo, XR8 etc. Should be more individual.

Under bonnet: What a change!! Plumbing more like it should have been in the first place! New inlet manifold, turbo, plenum, intercooler etc

Interior: Colouring was bland but higher quality materials gives it a classier look than BA/BF. Feels smaller, more constricting with the way the centre console ramps up. The ICC console looks and is more haphazard than the very well thought out BA/BF series e.g. the traction control button can easily be accidently pushed (now to some that's not an issue but believe me it is!) and I couldn't even find the "on" button for the radio? Anyway back to the drive.

Drive: Quiet, solid, smooth, responsive what's the big deal? Taking off from first set of lights briskly and hit approx 3000 rpm when all hell breaks loose!! The new Dunlop Sport Maxx on a slightly damp road have just been lit up, the arse has stepped out and traction control has kicked in and I have no power for approx 1 - 2 secs. WTF!!! Try again and this time tyres light up through first, back off and changes to 2nd, bury foot and tyres lightup again? Behave myself and cruise to next lights to try manual mode, forget it, even worse. This was an auto on new tyres (Dunlops do grip very well when new) on basically a dryish road. Engine sounds great at WOT (a bit more refined than the BA/BF although I prefer the throatier sound) with a nice addictive "wooffle" at each gear change.

On the open road the overtaking "overboost" feature is great but Ford have taken the torque back a bit on this (I still remember my BA before Ford reflashed to fix an overboost rare problem some people were having. Mine still felt much stronger on kickdown). This is probably good since kicking 2 gears down in the FG at 100 km/hr made me feel uneasy like the rear was lightening up too much, not a stable feel. Basic cornering is a fair leap in refinement and handling over the BA especially.

ZF box is not surprisingly as good as ever although I didn't like the "compulsory" kick down feature when in full manual mode. I prefer the 4 speed's ability to fully hold gears when accelerating.

Conclusion: Felt like a very comfortable, excellent handling 70's muscle car!! Pull up next to a 297 clubbie at 80 km/hr in top gear and tickle the throttle and the car leaps forward, clubbie gives you a WTF? look and you know that given the slightest chance you will bury him, he stares straight ahead, respect.

Would I buy one? Heart says yes, head says no. This is a car that a would own to drive exclusively, my turbo I drive 5% of the time. I would NOT let my wife drive this thing daily or anyone else for that matter. The new FG is very potent and deserves respect and skill if unleashed. It would not be that hard to take it past DSC & traction control. I drove both the auto and manual BF Typhoons only 6 months ago and this car would easily own both and feels more aggressive in power delivery.

Sorry for the length but had to share my experience which was far too short!!

[jazzball]

great thread, appreciate the detail, im heading to ford tomorrow

[PHANTMXR6]

I wouldn't worry too much about the 'accidental' pushing of the traction control button.

You need to hold it down for approx 1 second for it to change.

The power button for the stereo looks like any normal power button on a tv or stereo remote control.

The little round symbol with a stroke in the top of it.

The drive becomes easier with more experience behind the wheel too.

I found mine drove like a loaded gun, when I first got it.

Throttle control. It's all about throttle control.

Once you learn how the power curve works in relation to throttle position it becomes much more enjoyable.

[tab]

Nice write-up...concerning about the kick-down in manual mode

My BF doesn't do it (unless you're being silly) but you're the second person to report about the FG doing it; they must have dumbed it down a bit or sumfin'

[Buf-Phoon]

My BF does it and it is very disconcerting ( supposedly a safety feature). Stomping on it in second. Stays nice and straight

[rockafellqeinstien]

Nice write-up...concerning about the kick-down in manual mode

My BF doesn't do it (unless you're being silly) but you're the second person to report about the FG doing it; they must have dumbed it down a bit or sumfin'

Regarding the kick down - my understanding (from driving a zf 3v v8) was that you accelerate at wot without depressing the kickdown switch under the accelerator (ie not flat to the floor) but if you need kickdown quickly you push a bit harder and depress the kickdown button - throttle is still 100% either way - .

regarding the spin up in 1st or second, I have heard a few people being negative about this - and it bugs me a bit - I would rather have the excess power and have the challenge of controlling it.

what are the alternatives:

1)taller first gear (wouldnt help as it does it in second anyway)

2) limit power/boost in first and second = gay

3)fit bigger rear boots - probably the best option but still kills the fun to an extent.

I just cant comprehend how to much power can be seen as a negative but that's just me (I personally love spinning second in my new fgt ute (m6) - puts a smile on my dial every time (always on a private road with ambulance on standby etc etc

Only three negatives with the new FG - no auto power down on drivers windows - cup holders - and the latch to move the seat forward in the utes - And to quote Cpt Ed Murphy - "I don't give a f%^k" - the car is great

[doug_jnr]

And to quote Cpt Ed Murphy - "I don't give a f%^k" - the car is great

LOL...I agree 100%

[Andrew50]

Guys, Don't get me wrong! I personally would love to own one and given that my BA is stock (getting rare these days!) I wasn't intimidated by the power delivery of the FG, just surprised at the aggressiveness. However in the space of a half hour drive I found it extremely addictive to continue to explore this aggressiveness!! This is still a family car no matter how you look at it and will be driven with a variety of driver skills.

Forgot to mention a few things previously:

Instrument panel: Prefer BA/BF - fuel and temp gauges now tucked away in the corners and tacho/ speedo gauge graphics in a script form and can be hard to read (I know BA/BF numerals were smallish and I always had trouble working out if the needle was at 160 or 180 *?).

Brakes: Initial feel spongy but then solid and consistent with harder use.

Diff: Clunk! Only felt slightly when backing off several times.

Exhaust: Quieter than BA/BF.

In cabin noise: Leaps and bounds over BA & to some extent BF.

* Private road