The long-term Ford Wildtrack review Thread

[Ricof4e]

Do you drive around with a braai pack in you vehicle?

You got me on this one.

What do you mean?

[Shane]

Well if it should start burning (as they did at one stage) you can make the best of a bad situation and braai......

[Mad Manny]

After about two weeks of ownership, I have the following to report:

1) Gearbox and pistons still ok.

2) The gearbox tends to skip 2nd and 4th gear in normal urban driving conditions. This is hardly noticeable, but it does have an effect on the fuel consumption in town. Granted, I drive over about 9 speed humps and come to a dead stop 7 times on my way to work (roughly 8km drive), and this results in a urban consumption of anything between 6-8km/l. I expected it to be more frugal than that.

3) I did do a little experiment this morning and drove like miss Daisy, then the gearbox goes through all the gears and the consumption decreases to 10km/l - this will however be a bit difficult to do in normal traffic conditions.

4) When choosing the Selectshift option, the torque and acceleration is something to behold. There is however a short delay before it engages the next gear and you have to time the shifting just right to ensure that you don't over rev the engine.

5) We are experiencing a heat wave at the moment and temperatures easily go up to 38 at 13:00. I have the climate control set at 21 and it works a charm. I did however notice the gearbox tend to let the engine rev a bit higher in D mode to accommodate the extra strain on the engine.

6) The lack of a split rear window is lamentable. Although I understand the reasons Ford decided against it, I do have some use for a split rear window. In my D23 I would leave it open about 1 cm and it helped a lot to dissipate the heat buildup in the cabin on hot days.

7) I filled up this morning and the OBC registered a combined consumption of 10.9km/l - however it should be taken into account that 340km was long distance driving with a consumption north of 12km/l.

Anyway, I am still enjoying the Wildtrak (and the new car smell every morning). For its size, its really an easy car to live with

So, it has a silly 10 speed Gearbox which is not only pointless but doesn't help lower consumption.
The little 2.0 motor is not light on fuel as the two turbos have to force more fuel in to get it to do anything (like run the AC on full blast).

That thing uses more fuel than the D-Max 3.0 with 6 speeds.
So a 30% smaller motor & 40% more ratios actually gives the Ford no advantage.
In fact, quiet the opposite?

That's disappointing...

[BushWacker]

... Chicory,
... I'm amazed there are speed humps where you are ! ?

[Shane]

Geeze Manny, wouldn't it have been kinder just to kick him in the nuts?

[Mad Manny]

Geeze Manny, wouldn't it have been kinder just to kick him in the nuts?

He deliberately bought a 2.0 Bi Turbo Wildtrak - he sounds like he enjoys being kicked in the gonads...

[Ricof4e]

Manny, you are missing the point. I have more gears and more Kw and more Nm than you. Top Trumps. I win.

[Ricof4e]

Jokes aside, I need to adjust the way I drive an auto. Bear in mind that although I have driven autos before, I never owned one. My driving style stems from manual diesels where I have control over the revs and gear changes.

This morning I made a conceivable attempt to manage the revs and gear changes and got 11,1km/l according to the OBC. I also drove a different route with less stops and speed bumps, albeit a few km longer.

Compared to the D23 (the only direct comparison I can make at this stage), which has the same power and torque figures as the new Mazuzu, the Ford is slightly less frugal in urban conditions but much more frugal on long stretches of road. It accelerates quicker and based on the gearing, I'll bet it tows much better as well. I would like to see the new Mazuzu's consumption on the same stretch of road I drive to work daily, I'll bet it will be the same as the Ford.

Manny's only assumption on the Mazuzu's consumption is based on what has been reported in the media, not real life scenarios.

[Ricof4e]

... Chicory,
... I'm amazed there are speed humps where you are ! ?

I am amazed that you are amazed.

[Ricof4e]

I am starting to learn how to drive the auto correctly.

Urban consumption presently is just north of 10km/l.

[LesseW]

When one has to “learn” how to drive an auto, then there is big k*k

[BushWacker]

When one has to “learn” how to drive an auto, then there is big k*k


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

.

… also explains why he doesn't ride a Wild Stallion
… like a Defender

[LesseW]

You mean a lazy donkey Chas….

[Ricof4e]

Here you go Chas. Old, slow but still eager - pretty much sums up every defender ever sold.

[Mad Manny]

I am starting to learn how to drive the auto correctly.

Urban consumption presently is just north of 10km/l.

So with careful driving you can get a so-so fuel consumption.
That's awesome!


My 2010 KB300 D-Teq with 230 000km on the clock & only 5 gears, gets over 10km/l driven by a contractor who is always in a hurry, in Jo'burg, at altitude & it occasionally carries loads between 500kg & 1200kg...