First drive - Ecoboost!!

Smoke Pursuit · 12-04-2012, 04:58 PM

Well I got to have a go in an ecoboost XT today, brand newy with 50 kms on the clock....

Start it up and first thing you notice is its very quiet, to the point where you cannot even hear it running, pop the bonnet and the noise increases with a slight ticking sound (I reckon you could just about fit 2 motors in the engine bay now :P). Took it for a quick spin, very very punchy, probably comparable to a BA XT 4 speed, smooth and quiet. Can hardly hear it working. Only thing I noticed was it didnt like hills (lack of torque obviously) and that the economy around the block could potentially be as poor as the 6, simply because of the lack of torque. Overall it was a nice car and I loved driving the XT, so smooth over bumps etc compared to what I drive, parking sensors standard now and side airbags make it a nice package!!

I would not buy one in XT guise simply because it is dearer then G6 Limited Edition...

I gave it a score of 8 / 10 as a daily work hack.

whitesoarer · 12-04-2012, 05:10 PM

Get any shots of the engine bay?

Smoke Pursuit · 12-04-2012, 05:11 PM

Nope but theres alot of room at the front of the motor compared to the I6.... It was also interesting to note that the XT had special fuel saving tyres... I wonder if such tyres would make a difference on the 6 cylinder XT?

**GasoLane** · 12-04-2012, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

It was also interesting to note that the XT had special fuel saving tyres...

I don't suppose you noticed the brand and type ?

Buntz · 12-04-2012, 06:13 PM

Perhaps if you had driven them back to back?

**DJM83** · 12-04-2012, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Buntz93ED

Perhaps if you had driven them back to back?

Probably a good idea but Brent has driven plenty of new Fords as im sure he will attest so his comparo it pretty valid.

Will be interesting to see if it takes off or not.

Buntz · 12-04-2012, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJM83

Probably a good idea but Brent has driven plenty of new Fords as im sure he will attest so his comparo it pretty valid.

Will be interesting to see if it takes off or not.

But memory isn't as good as... 'in the moment'. Because in a back to back... you'd be doing an actual comparo. Anyway, can't change what's done.

This is so much more appealing than a 4cyl Camry.

dimka100 · 12-04-2012, 06:24 PM

Well that explain the reason for the fuel economy difference between the EcoBoost XT and GE models ... 8.1 vs 8.5

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

It was also interesting to note that the XT had special fuel saving tyres... I wonder if such tyres would make a difference on the 6 cylinder XT?

XtRmn8 · 12-04-2012, 05:52 PM

Interesting that you say it lacks torque when this engine is supposed to be all about its wide flat torque curve.

I would never consider one as neither the XT or G6 appeal to me. I really hope that this engine does lift Falcon sales.

Cheers for the review.

Chilliman · 12-04-2012, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DASH GT

Only thing I noticed was it didnt like hills (lack of torque obviously) and that the economy around the block could potentially be as poor as the 6, simply because of the lack of torque.

Oh dear...and it looked so promising on paper. I was really hoping this engine would be a game changer for Ford Australia and the Falcon

I really hope it gets better with more k's on the clock

Brazen · 12-04-2012, 06:14 PM

Hey Dash, was that a car which had been sold? Or was it yard stock? Just curious if fleets have already started ordering them and if the customer typically bought other 4 cylinder cars. Should be a good all-rounder.

robertjp · 12-04-2012, 06:48 PM

cant believe that people think the 2.4l Camry is ecconomical. Had one when my wagon was being hail damage repaired, used almost as much as the wagon!, nice to drive, big and all but not very convincing in the end. (reminds me of Apple: Great marketing pity about the substance)

**Luke Plaizier** · 12-04-2012, 07:14 PM

Still a bit boggled that the G6 has a 4 cylinder. That it wasn't called the G4/G4E is annoying.

Lukeyson

CFOUR · 12-04-2012, 08:01 PM

g4e ecoboost would be worth a ride, that or the g8e the should have already built.

**Polyal** · 12-04-2012, 09:34 PM

XT's dont have trip computers? Not that we overly trust them but atleast you could compare ford vs ford.

Thanks for the heads up Dash, I think the ecoboost will be best when on the open road when the work to get it started is already done. I cant see it being a CBD killer, but then you probably wouldnt get a falcon in that situation anyway.

For reps etc on the roads, when EcoLPI wont do and you cant buy a 6, EB is the answer. I await a full review from the journo's, god even drivel, its going go to be interesting.

Clearly shows though how spoilt we have been with the I6, comparison with a commy V6 would be good. I had a VE2 SV6 for 8 odd weeks as a hire car and it was frustrating to drive, always kicking down etc.

FPV GTHO · 12-04-2012, 09:57 PM

If they have to manipulate the market to buy what they want to build/sell, its flawed business. Some other manufacturer will offer a similar product and Ford will just lose overall.

**Polyal** · 12-04-2012, 10:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

If they have to manipulate the market to buy what they want to build/sell, its flawed business. Some other manufacturer will offer a similar product and Ford will just lose overall.

I believe it already happens with Ford.

4.0i OHC · 12-04-2012, 10:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polyal

I believe it already happens with Ford.

I believe that dealers are instructed to turn every potential Mondeo sale into a Falcon sale.

Paxton · 12-04-2012, 11:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 4.0i OHC

I believe that dealers are instructed to turn every potential Mondeo sale into a Falcon sale.

This has been going on for years. Ford started getting into the swing of things in earnest when the Taurus was upon our shores. 99% of people went in looking at a Taurus, and drove a Fairmont Ghia first. Not many that drove both the Fairmont and the Taurus bought the Taurus.

4.0i OHC · 12-04-2012, 11:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paxton

This has been going on for years. Ford started getting into the swing of things in earnest when the Taurus was upon our shores. 99% of people went in looking at a Taurus, and drove a Fairmont Ghia first. Not many that drove both the Fairmont and the Taurus bought the Taurus.

Interesting. Could this be a reason for the anaemic Mondeo range that we're provided with?

yift · 12-04-2012, 10:11 PM

Here is a pic of the engine bay.

we had a ford car at work for a couple of days a few weeks ago.

very nice and smooth to drive, a bist raspy under full throttle.

when the aftermarket tuners get a hold of them and clean up the tune it will wake them up abit.

4.0i OHC · 12-04-2012, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yift

Here is a pic of the engine bay.

we had a ford car at work for a couple of days a few weeks ago.

very nice and smooth to drive, a bist raspy under full throttle.

when the aftermarket tuners get a hold of them and clean up the tune it will wake them up abit.

This has been similar to my experiences with an Ecoboost Mondeo. Smooth, linear power delivery. A torque curve flatter than a billiard table. Eats hills for breakfast (which is why the OP's comments about the Ecoboost Falcon struggling on hills took me by surprise). Overall, a worthy substitute for the I6 (with greatly improved fuel economy to boot). I am so glad that Ford didn't go for the high revving smaller V6 option (resulting in fuel economy figures unachievable in the real world, high pollution ratings, and a generally unpleasant car to drive).
Unfortunately though, no other engine configuration will ever provide the addictive sound of an inline six.

Franco Cozzo · 12-04-2012, 10:24 PM

Engine bay looks real easy to work on, always a plus

IceValk85 · 12-04-2012, 10:28 PM

ohh god, it uses a MAF sensor.

i hate MAFs on turbo cars, its just shat.

08ESE · 12-04-2012, 10:37 PM

hope it sells....

i just dont see why ford ever spent a cent on the FG, with eco lpi and now this.

they wont advertise them on tv... so why bother investing the $.... FORD... if you actually read stuff here.... COPY HOLDENS ADVERTISING times on tv... you might sell a car!!!

the govt just gave you 110 million... spend a little of that on adds!!

FPV GTHO · 12-04-2012, 10:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 08ESE

the govt just gave you 110 million... spend a little of that on adds!!

That was a co-investment. The total government contribution was only about half.

monte.b · 12-04-2012, 11:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FPV GTHO

That was a co-investment. The total government contribution was only about half.

im thinking they sent home some money to USA ,they are struggling a bit over there ,it seems to me ford as much as i love them have way too many models on the go at the moment ,its a bit confusing for us mere mortals

Bossxr8 · 13-04-2012, 01:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monte.b

im thinking they sent home some money to USA ,they are struggling a bit over there ,it seems to me ford as much as i love them have way too many models on the go at the moment ,its a bit confusing for us mere mortals

Ford North America is raking in billions in profit every quarter.

monte.b · 13-04-2012, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bossxr8

Ford North America is raking in billions in profit every quarter.

Thats wonderful so why dont they send some over here so us taxpayers dont have to prop their business up, after all im sure when ford here was making a good profit some of the money went home to the usa ,i love my fords but it is a business after all and it needs to be treated as such ,im sure the general public here would have liked ford to come out and say ,no we dont want any money our company is going good and we will pay our own way just the same as they did in the usa when gm and the rest took the gove money and went bankrupt .its called respect for a brand and they lost it by taking our money

XtRmn8 · 12-04-2012, 11:26 PM

I really hope that this thing sells well.

As good as the engine may be (yet to be determined), I just cannot get over the overall packaging. The XT is just damn ugly and the G6 Limited Edition may as well be called the Retirement Edition.