The start of the year finds Paul behind the wheel of his XF Sportbrake more than he’s at home
AFTER SPENDING most ofJanuary and February driving my XF Sportbrake across the length and breadth of England for magazine photo shoots, I’m considering making it my permanent address. Iunderstand this might sound crazy yet bybeing comfortable, well-specified and larger than my first house, Ican think of less desirable places to call home.
The first shoot of this hectic schedule, aMini and Citroën 2CV twin test for our sister title, Classic Car Mart, is organised at alocation near Basingstoke, 110 miles from my actual home outside Peterborough. Although both played their part in the mobilisation of the masses during the Fifties, Sixties and Seventies, their diminutive stature and basic spec mean these aren’t cars I’d consider moving into. At just under 5m long and 2.07m wide, the XF Sportbrake might not be as huge as some of its German rivals and rear space can be an issue for adults but grumpy 19-year-olds especially, but I’ve always found the front to be generous.
Following two relatively short journeys –Norfolk for the XJ40 XJR in the previous issue and then JD Classics’ facility in Essex to shoot the modified Mk2 in this one –came amuch longer one to County Durham for a unique Vignale-designed Aston Martin DB2/4 featured in Aston Martin Driver. At 200 miles, it was a fair old trek yet like everything I ask of the XF, it completed it without problem.
The car might have reached 104k miles but everything still works and although it’s now a decade old, from Bluetooth connectivity to the cupholders, I continue to find the specification perfect for long journeys. But like a leaking roof or sagging gutters would for a house, the satellite navigation is starting to show the car’s age, recognising fewer and fewer new roads. It’s not an issue but Ifind myself needing to rely more and more on my iPhone.
With the 2.2-litre four-cylinder diesel engine regularly averaging 45-50mpg, I return home from the northeast with plenty of fuel left in the tank. Considering how expensive it’s been to heat our homes this winter, it would certainly be che
