Lowest revs

[wilbydoughboy]

I have recently purchased the 2.4 drive version of the xc60 and it is my first proper turbo diesel powered vehicle. I was looking for some advice as to how low to keep the revs in the higher gears. The car seems to be slightly less smooth if I keep in the higher gears at speeds of 40mph although the engine still seems to pull ok. I feel that I dont need 6th gear unless I am doing over 50 or so and sometimes the car feels more comfortable in 4th around 40mph.

[t5_monkey]

I run mine in 5th gear at 30 and 6th over 35... runs just fine like that if you're pootling.

With a turbo diesel you'll just lack grunt lower down off the boost - you can always drop a cog or two if you need some acceleration ?

Turbo diesels can have a bit more vibration but the dual mass flywheel should take care of that.

[Daleman]

Originally Posted by wilbydoughboy

I have recently purchased the 2.4 drive version of the xc60 and it is my first proper turbo diesel powered vehicle. I was looking for some advice as to how low to keep the revs in the higher gears. The car seems to be slightly less smooth if I keep in the higher gears at speeds of 40mph although the engine still seems to pull ok. I feel that I dont need 6th gear unless I am doing over 50 or so and sometimes the car feels more comfortable in 4th around 40mph.

I wondered about this phenomenon when I test drove the DrivE 2.4 manual insofar as I wondered if I would end up running round in fifth gear all the time because sixth seemed very high.

Most of my driving is done on A class roads up the dales where 50 mph is the norm as you invariably get stuck behind someone in a tractor.

I wonder if the automatic gearbox helps in this direction or does it run around in its fifth gear all the time at 50mph as well?

Maybe some 2.4 auto owners will have a comment on this?

[Alec Dawe]

Mine drops happily into 6th at 50 unless you are pushing it. The new 6 speed auto box is much more responsive then the 5 speed I had in my V70,
Its is much readier to run a higher gear, but also quicker to drop a gear when needed.
I also find it smoother through all gear changes, and of course, it has got rid of the horrible 0.5 second delay when pulling away from a juinction that the V70 had, where the box was programmed to drop into neutral if stationary, with the foot brake on.
6th gear pulls about 35MPH per 1000rpm

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by Alec Dawe

Mine drops happily into 6th at 50 unless you are pushing it. The new 6 speed auto box is much more responsive then the 5 speed I had in my V70,
Its is much readier to run a higher gear, but also quicker to drop a gear when needed.
I also find it smoother through all gear changes, and of course, it has got rid of the horrible 0.5 second delay when pulling away from a juinction that the V70 had, where the box was programmed to drop into neutral if stationary, with the foot brake on.
6th gear pulls about 35MPH per 1000rpm

Alec,

If you are travelling at about 40mph and you 'put your foot down' do yo get an annoying delay before the gearbox kicks down, the engine picks up and you are pinned to the back of your seat?

I find this very frustrating compared to my v70 which reacted instantly when i 'floored it' to overtake something.

Comments from other owners on their experience are most welcome

Iain

[XC60nick]

There is a delay but it is minimal, it only feels like a delay as you are driving but not doing the work of selecting the correct gear. In a manual you'll be active in this task and hence feel the power is instant but in truth it's took 1sec for you to get the right gear. I feel it's all about learning your car and driving to suit, ie, allowing for any delay in the gearbox. Your passengers will also get a smoother ride and you'll look a better driver...

[Alec Dawe]

Originally Posted by wimorrison

Alec,

If you are travelling at about 40mph and you 'put your foot down' do yo get an annoying delay before the gearbox kicks down, the engine picks up and you are pinned to the back of your seat?

I find this very frustrating compared to my v70 which reacted instantly when i 'floored it' to overtake something.

Comments from other owners on their experience are most welcome

Iain

No, no delay on mine at all; well if there is, at my advanced age, I can't tell, and its certainly much quicker to respond than my V70 ever was.
Mind you, I am still convinced that there was something very odd about my V70's geartronic box, as it had a great aversion to using 3rd gear at all, under any circumstances. (for example, accelerating up as slip road to join a motorway etc, the car would rev hard in 2rd, slip into 3rd for about 3 seconds, then change up again into 4th.
Dealers said this was normal, as the 'software' was judging my driving habits, the car's acceleration, the angle of the road etc etc, but I always though this was bollocks!
Alec