[Frank]

jinxy, my car has passive suspension and the sports seats. It is a pre-facelift (early 2011) model, I think based on the diesel S before it had active suspension.

Seat design includes cooling and what was inside explained why it was so uncomfortable:

The sponge is very low density, squashes easily to less than 0.5mm and the former for the air ducts is fairly rigid. No wonder I had a numb bum after anything more than a short trip to the shops!

The side bolters are just rigid expanded foam, attached to a steel former, dug into my thighs rather uncomfortably - not because the seat was too narrow, but because the base was so hard that I'd just sit on it rather than in it and then would end up sliding sideways until resting on top of one of the side bolsters:

 

[jinxy]

I think you'd find the active suspension quite different, it was a noticeable change going from my 1st XFS to the XFR at how much more compliant the ride was whilst sacrificing no overall handling.

 

[Frank]

I've come close to trying an XFR but not actually done so. I don't know w.t.f. Jaguar are thinking by apparently not offering active suspension on the new 3.0 V6 s/c and to not offer awd in the UK is also a shame. If they get their act together before I'm ready to change car then maybe it will be another XF, otherwise it will be time to look around again.

 

[jinxy]

Is it not on the S/C as the I thought it was basically a XFS with a different engine? Not just Jags configurator/specsheet being up the creek again?

 

[Ancill]

Frank,
Does your car have the sports seats from the XFR/XFS?

 

[Frank]

Frank,
Does your car have the sports seats from the XFR/XFS?

As I wrote above, they are the sports seats.

 

[Frank]

Is it not on the S/C as the I thought it was basically a XFS with a different engine? Not just Jags configurator/specsheet being up the creek again?

You would like to think it would be the same as the XFS, but the currently available literature says not, including a spreadsheet a local dealer showed me from which they have to order from. The idea is one is supposed to pay more for the V6 s/c but get less.....

 

[Ancill]

As I wrote above, they are the sports seats.

Was the seats built incorrectly? I ask as you are the first person I have heard complain of inadequate comfort on the sports seats.
I would really find it hard to have an XF without them, it was an absolute must when I came to change!

 

[A-Kraut]

Was the seats built incorrectly? I ask as you are the first person I have heard complain of inadequate comfort on the sports seats.
I would really find it hard to have an XF without them, it was an absolute must when I came to change!

I´ve got them too and have no reason to complain, great for me.
Having said this, I´ve read complaints about the seats in "the other" forum, mainly about them being too narrow. Something I would understand actually since I am of the slim type and feel nicely tucked in sitting in them. Now, if someone is only a little bit "wider" it would only be logical to sit on the side bolsters rather than being held by them.

 

[Swindon Andy]

When it's damp, and no room to play, leave the traction control on. And be ready to rapidly correct a twitch.

 

[Frank]

Was the seats built incorrectly? I ask as you are the first person I have heard complain of inadequate comfort on the sports seats.
I would really find it hard to have an XF without them, it was an absolute must when I came to change!

There are a few others that have complained about the seats. One guy even said he didn't want to admit to his sore bum after an hour until he saw others complaining! Others, including another on this forum (Lance I think) have repadded their seats or built their own padded covers.

It didn't occur to me at first that the seats were partly to blame for the **** ride quality, until I had a Volvo S60 for a week's rental. Again, like the suspension, sports seats don't have to be rock hard to be effective. The seat specialist I went to was shocked about how basic it was inside. The Recaro sports seats in my S4 were great, proof again that it can be done with quality engineering design.

 

[Frank]

Now, if someone is only a little bit "wider" it would only be logical to sit on the side bolsters rather than being held by them.

Please note I wrote that it is not a problem of width, it is a problem of the seat base being too hard so that one slides on the top of it rather sinks into it. Then you end up on one side or the other (not both at the same time) sitting on top of a bolster.

 

[Frank]

Here's a quote from a CAR magazine long term test on the 2.2 with passive suspension:

don't particularly like our Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel, and there are two main reasons: firstly, because of the secondary ride quality. That's the bit that deals with the little imperfections in the road surface. This XF has passive dampers, where higher-spec cars use adaptive dampers to great effect, and I just think our car's ride quality is too harsh and too unyielding

 

[Shellsbluebikini]

Here's a quote from a CAR magazine long term test on the 2.2 with passive suspension

don't particularly like our Jaguar XF 2.2 diesel, and there are two main reasons: firstly, because of the secondary ride quality. That's the bit that deals with the little imperfections in the road surface. This XF has passive dampers, where higher-spec cars use adaptive dampers to great effect, and I just think our car's ride quality is too harsh and too unyielding

The EVO reviews(links in review forum)...say the same....I sometimes wonder if my car is a living organism...or a metal box...I jokingly say living because the ride quality is perfectly acceptable for a Sports saloon on some days...and on others the secondary ride bugs me...It`s almost as if the car wakes up and says to itself...compliant or harsh today....As mentioned previously in this thread the ride/handling balance was spot on during the spring/summer...however as the ambient air temp has dropped the ride has become a bit more Jiggly.

re-seats....I read the criticisms of the classic cars seats prior to buying mine...and if I`am honest they`v never been an issue for me(5`8"...just under 12st..yep counting calories at the moment)....mind you if I could do it all over again I`d get an S model...if only for the Sports seats....I think we all accept ride quality is very subjective....acceptable to some for a Sports saloon...a nightmare for others....so much so it`s spoilt their XF experience...Personally...if comfort springs were an option when buying a new XF...I`d probably tick the box....but in my case the ride is`t so bad that I`d consider spending £1,500 on a new set of dampers....Would I buy another XF...well yes..and that would be breaking the habit of a lifetime re-buying the same car twice...albeit with a different engine

 

[Accrington Stanley]

I found the standard seats in my 09 took quite a while to break in. The leather is fairly stiff ( bond grain not soft grain). After that they are extremely comfortable. On our trip to California and back, 5,500 km in 10 days we averaged 500 km per day or more, which is 6 hours per day, day after day, with complete comfort. The standard seats don't look very sporty or supportive but actually work fine.

As for complaints about "secondary ride" you can either feel the road or not. To eliminate that "secondary ride" issue you need softer suspension bushings and shock mounts. If you fit those then goodbye o handling, steering feel and braking performance, all areas where Audi falls short.

 

[Frank]

Did you have cooled seats? You can sit on those for the next 50,000 miles and they won't get any better. My pictures above show why.

As for the ride comments, that's just crap IMO! So all the guys with an XFR or later XFS will get left for dead in the corners by passively suspended XF's. We are talking about road cars here, not specialist track cars. The XF is far too heavy to ever be a true sports car, hence the over stiff suspension just to try and give the impression of being one. On the roads where I live, I have noticed no practical degradation in handling since having the Spires treatment, but a good improvement in that very annoying fidgety jiggle. Even before the mods, it still wasn't as nimble and sure footed as the S4.

 

[Ash]

Please note I wrote that it is not a problem of width, it is a problem of the seat base being too hard so that one slides on the top of it rather sinks into it. Then you end up on one side or the other (not both at the same time) sitting on top of a bolster.

I drove my XFR to Dresden overnight with no problems. That's ten straight hours in a sports seat with only splash and dash type fuel stops.

How much do you weigh Frank?

 

[TheStig]

I can understand what you are saying Frank & also why you are unhappy with your XF. If you were expecting a ride similar to an S-Type, then you will obviously be disappointed. However, many of us are very happy with our XF's just the way they are. We are not making compromises, we just like that feel through the chassis. You would call it 'poor secondary ride', I consider it to be in character with the feel you expect from a sporting saloon. Neither of us is right or wrong, it's just differing expectations.

To say the XF isn't a 'sports saloon' is just wrong. The chassis dynamics were at the top of the list when the XF was conceived. It steers better than it's peers, corners flat and has a fairly neutral balance. What else could it possibly need to make it 'sporting'? I think Jaguar have done a bloody good job & I'm sure others will agree with me. It's head & shoulders above the M Sport BMW's I've previously owned.

I'll just add that I did drive a 2.2D for a couple of days & the secondary ride was noticeably inferior to my MY2011 classic.

 

[Shellsbluebikini]

Yesterday...woke up to an ice covered car...ride;slightly jiggly at times...This morning...temp up...ride spot on!!

 

[jinxy]

It takes my car a good 5 minutes for the ride to settle down, until then its very hard.