I am new to this forum and about to purchase an XR6 Turbo in the next month or so.

My question is what are the differences between the new Mark II and the current model? I understand the Manual is getting a sixth gear.

I have heard that there are new colors for the Mark II - What are they? Has anyone seen these new colors of have any examples? Apart from that the only change I have heard of is 'illumination' for the Power Window buttons.

Further to that, I am thinking of going with the Luxury Pack (Premium Sound and ICC and XR Sport Leather Seats) Does anyone have an opinion on the XR Sports leather seats as opposed to the Standard Leather seats?

Cheers,

MGT.

I have the sports leather seats and I LOVE them. They are designed so that they hold you in your seat and not slide around.

The standard leather seats are not bolstered enough nor are they grippy.

Ross

I got one of the first Luxo packs (4/04) and it was worth the wait .

Sports leather and dual climate control make a rocketship into a high speed cruiser

I am a big unit the seats are great, they grip when you are doing some spirited driving. I did a sydney - melbourne return trip in 3 days and must say it was the BEST drive I have ever done

You will not regret the purchase and ticking the luxury pack and premium brake option

I got one of the first Luxo packs (4/04) and it was worth the wait .

Sports leather and dual climate control make a rocketship into a high speed cruiser

I am a big unit the seats are great, they grip when you are doing some spirited driving. I did a sydney - melbourne return trip in 3 days and must say it was the BEST drive I have ever done

You will not regret the purchase and ticking the luxury pack and premium brake option

GRRRRR, there was no such thing as a luxury pack when I ordered my T, and I want one.

Dazza.

Is it possible to get all the features of the luxury pack but the regular full leather seats by ordering the components separately ? (eg climate control, premium audio, leather seats etc) ?

Dealer said it wasn't ? I ordered the luxury pack

I saw the regular leather seats the other day and they look great too.

Not possible Tom. You can order the Luxury leather on its own or with the full Luxury Pack.

Changes to series 2 per the dealers cheat sheet are:

New 17" Alloys

Alloy Pedal Covers

second Row Centre Armrest

Illuminated Power Window Controls

Auto Headlamps On/Off

New six speed manual with short throw direct acting shift mechanism

Synchromesh on Reverse gear

New gear shift knob with revised techinical graphics

New paint colours: Blaze, Rapid, Velocity and Shockwave

Unique MkII badging.

I saw the colours yesterday, Velocity is a mid blue, quite nice, can't remember the other colours though, it was a bit of a blur, once I had worked out which one I was going for.

Changes to series 2 per the dealers cheat sheet are:

New 17" Alloys

Alloy Pedal Covers

second Row Centre Armrest

Illuminated Power Window Controls

Auto Headlamps On/Off

New six speed manual with short throw direct acting shift mechanism

Synchromesh on Reverse gear

New gear shift knob with revised techinical graphics

New paint colours: Blaze, Rapid, Velocity and Shockwave

Unique MkII badging.

I saw the colours yesterday, Velocity is a mid blue, quite nice, can't remember the other colours though, it was a bit of a blur, once I had worked out which one I was going for.

Ford must have been reading the posts in relation to the power window control illumination.

I wonder if "New gear shift knob with revised techinical graphics" simply means it will have a shift map on it now.

Dazza.

As one of the others who was one of the first to get the Luxo pack (I ordered in the same week as Zap in Feb 2004), I agree with Zap about how good it is (but then I came from a BA Fairmont Ghia work car and knew what I wanted) including the 18 inch wheels and premium brakes (I do lots of driving down big hills and windy roads which require repeated brake application). I had standard leather in the Ghia and would find myself sliding around whereas the sports leather seats in the XR6T grip you firmly in place with the side supports and suede, and let me tell you the XR6T imposes more G forces on me than the Ghia ever did.

Also, the Reverse Sensor is SO useful on so many "tight" parking spot applications let alone how many times it has alerted me that people, including young children I could not see, were walking behind my car while I was engaged in Reverse. The young child in question ran ahead of parents in the car park, gee, how often does that happen? ..and my sensor registered on full while I was not moving so I did not move until I saw what registered it. Had I not had the sensor... How do you price not running over someone's child?

MGT, enjoy the journey...like many others here, I really "can't get enough of this"..

Safe and happy driving...Dr Z. :o

The XR Leather seats are great. Definately get those over the normal leather seats. Just make sure you dont get those ones with the 'bubbled suede' effect. They look crap ( no offence intended to anyone that has these !)