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Paul Mine is fitted with it and the Jaguar system is much most intelligent than most I have experienced previously. In fact on holiday in Italy in June we had a brand new VW Golf hire car and I hated it so much that after the first day the first thing I reached for was of off button. I have only had my XF just over 8 weeks and when I got it never worked, I later learned, when the weather cooled that it measures electrical demand and climate control demand and does not turn off the engine when demand is high on either of these. You can also "feather" the footbrake as you come to a halt so that it just holds the car, say at a roundabout or another situation where you can see you are only having to stop momentarily and this prevents it from stopping the engine as well. Other means of controlling it is by using the gear selection paddles which changes the driving mode to manual has the same effect. Also on the approach to a roundabout, I pull both paddles simultaneously which also changes to manual mode but selects the most appropriate gear, this also prevents it switching off the engine. As you accelerate away in manual a pull of two seconds on the up paddle changes back to automatic mode. When you come to the end of your drive brake to a halt, apply the parking brake and release your seatbelt before taking your foot off the footbrake and the system will shut down the car and move your gear selector to park without you touching anything else. Must admit I am now a convert to Start/Stop (at least in the Jaguar) I can't complain about the economy.

Welcome to the Forum Paul ECO Start/Stop

4 x 4 is far from being the simple answer to winter snow conditions. I have had 4 x 4s for over 30 years, and also done a fair bit of off-roading. My first was one of the original Range Rovers: Two door, and plastic inside so that you could hose it out. In those days the tyres were uncompromising off road tyres, and very narrow too. I took that through snowdrifts up to 5 feet deep, and up 1 in 1 slopes covered in snow. It could cope with just about anything. I did once get into difficulty off-road in deep snow when It wouldn’t make it back up a steep incline, but I managed to get up by turning it around and going up in reverse. Better weight distribution I guess. Winding the clock forward 30 years, present day 4 x 4s have far more electronic systems to deal with snow etc, but are virtually all clad with totally unsuitable wheels and tyres for these conditions. The result is that they are nothing like as capable. Just about the only exception was the Land Rover Defender, which didn’t try to be fashionable. I had one of the last model built, and it was still as capable as my first Range Rover. I loved that car, and only sold it because I was offered silly money, which enabled a straight swap to a rather nice XF 3.0D S Portfolio, thus starting me on my Jaguar journey. Proper winter tyres on a two wheel drive are incredibly effective: We have Michelin Crossclimates on my wife’s car all year round, and they are fantastic. Obviously, the best of all would be a proper 4 x 4 with narrow wheels and off road tyres, but very few people would be prepared to compromise the looks of their posh 4 x 4 by specifying such wheels and tyres. 4 x 4 is not a solution in itself: The right wheels and tyres are just as important.

My AWD Volvo XC70 with winter tyres allowed me to get going through all of the weather last year but AWD does only help you get going - it doesn't prevent the brown trouser moments when trying to stop. You still only have the same 4 patches of rubber on the ground. I think @Old Peter has the right idea. Stay home and have a brew.

Deep snow can see off many 4x4s and there are times when lorries have to be dug out. I lived in North Wales and Derbyshire for quite a few years and had to abandon my car several times, thankfully not far from home. My solution to big drifts and deep snow was simple. I would stay home! Peter.