Great service and Polestar.

[Quacker]

Just had a bit of a fault repaired.
During the last four days, the car [XC90D5] has had a recurrence of a whistle on-load at low revs. The last time it happened was after the pulse thing pipe was changed as a routine recall at its first service. The pipe works loose I believe. Despite the same symptoms, this time it turned out to be a connection on the intercooler pipe that was faulty. The car was booked in yesterday, seen today and just delivered back to me with a new pipe. Washed as well.

On top of which the service manager has persuaded me to try the Polestar upgrade for 14 days to see how I like it. Its being installed tomorrow after lunch. I'll see what the fuss is about by tomorrow night.

[MOzS90]

Looking forward to your Polestar reactions Quacker.

I’ve been finding the auto box a little bit jerky and hesitant recently - that would be the one improvement I’d be looking for.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by MOzS90

Looking forward to your Polestar reactions Quacker.

I’ve been finding the auto box a little bit jerky and hesitant recently - that would be the one improvement I’d be looking for.

Yes, it will be interesting. I’ve no issue whatsoever with the engine or gearbox as it is, so I fully expect not to be impressed. We shall see.

[gaby]

Originally Posted by MOzS90

Looking forward to your Polestar reactions Quacker.

I’ve been finding the auto box a little bit jerky and hesitant recently - that would be the one improvement I’d be looking for.

The word "recently" seems to imply that the functioning of the gearbox has changed over time.
That raises the question if this will also happen after a Polestar update, and if so, where it will lead to.

[sdrennan]

I presume you will have to notify your insurance for this as this will affect the vehicles performance. i.e. a modification

[soupdragon]

The gearbox learns your driving style as you go. If 2 people are driving it regularly and drive differently, it might be worth resetting the gearbox 'memory'

Polestar website is showing £695 for the upgrade. Was previously £895 IIRC

[Haldex]

Unless they’re using distinct user profiles- in that case the learning pattern is linked to a particular profile..

[DeZemBer]

I tried dynamic mode today for the first time and find it quite responsive. How different would this be to Polestart mod?

Thanks...

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by DeZemBer

I tried dynamic mode today for the first time and find it quite responsive. How different would this be to Polestart mod?

Thanks...

I'll qualify my answer by saying that I've only driven some 30 miles with Polestar so far and a more thorough viewpoint will be shared after the holiday weekend, when I shall have driven some 250 miles.

That being said, Polestar seems to do just what I thought it would. It hardly alters the power and torque of the engine but does alter the way it works with the gearbox. Yes, the 'Comfort' mode is more responsive and works more like the Dynamic mode did previously when it comes to throttle response, which is neither here nor there really. Its just different to what it was in that respect. Not sure whether it is any better that when the standard Dynamic mode was used.
However, it does change down sooner and up later, using, it seems to me, less of the engine's low down torque and more of its horsepower at higher revs. Not unduly so though.

The bigger change I've noticed so far is with engine braking. The transmission does change down sooner and holds a lower gear longer on a main road descent, which is a 'good thing' as far as I'm concerned. As a result it is also in the right gear to accelerate more often then it used to be. Its behaviour so far reminds me of what the Trailer Towing mode should be like, working without the need for a trailer to be attached. I'm in two minds actually whether Polestar is precisely that, the Trailer mode mapping being activated without a trailer. Hmm!

The engine seems slightly more gruff when pulling, but that could be my imagination.

Not at all convinced yet that it is worth paying extra for. Give me time. I've not even tried it in Dynamic mode yet, although I have been off-road and used the appropriate mode for that. No discernible change in performance there, just as I expected.

[Quacker]

Originally Posted by sdrennan

I presume you will have to notify your insurance for this as this will affect the vehicles performance. i.e. a modification

Don't be silly!