X150 coupe: Talk me out of it

[Vsix and Vtec]

volvos60s60 said:

I have been looking V8 F-Types or 5.0 XKRs. Whilst I like them & fuel/road tax are not so much an issue for me, my concern with these is the likely change to per mile road charging based on whatever criteria they dream up in the ULEZ zone in London & the other CAZ cities over the next few years - this will seriously impact values I feel. They could become almost impossible to sell on

I just got back from the Le Mans 24hr. The XK fitted all our camping equipment plus bags for the 8 days, did the whole trip without so much as a bulb going. A round trip of just over 1,200 miles, with an average of 34MPG in France doing 110kph, and an average on my return run home from Calais (after dropping off my partner at her home in the east of England) of 38.6mpg doing a steady 65.

Frankly, I don't give two hoots if it becomes worth threepence to sell on, nothing I could buy looks this good, goes this well, and bizarrely returns MPG akin to a 2.0 in-line 4 when driven sympathetically. Nothing.

[Vsix and Vtec]

GeniusOfLove said:

Having watched X150 values go into utter freefall this month I might have just impulse bought a somewhat leggy 5.0 XKR convertible....

130k miles but FMDSH, a wodge of work done and it looks in great condition, they seem to take the miles well.

It'll do for £9,500. Pics to follow when I collect.

Sounds good! From everything I've read, the 5.0 is just a bit more fussy about service maintenance than the 4.2, mileage seems an almost irrelevant factor. I'll be looking out for your thread!

[Vsix and Vtec]

8bit said:

Jaguar claim the transmissions are "sealed for life" but ZF themselves say it should be done I think every 80,000 kilometers.

I believe even ZF themselves walked back on the whole "filled for life" so I agree, 60k miles/ 80k km is exactly what I've got in mind for my XK and my partners XF.

[Vsix and Vtec]

GeniusOfLove said:

Got my bargain XKR. Good lord this thing is raucous

If you're thinking about it you should do it. Yesterday.

I look forward to seeing it in a readers car thread! I've had so many adventures in my XK60 already, im certain your XKR will be no different!

[Vsix and Vtec]

GeniusOfLove said:

I've just put a pair of those on the rear of my XKR, £469 for a pair seemed reasonable value and even in the dry the car is much less slithery than on the Dunlops. As you say they are ditchfinders in the wet.

I'm in the process of planning a renewal of all four on my XK, probably going with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 "s" as I had non S Pilot Sport 4 on my Type R and was quite impressed with the pilot Sport range

[Vsix and Vtec]

summit7 said:

Just got back from 3 hour drive home, 2 of them in the rain, after collecting my XK today.

So far so good, will clean it up and post a piccie or two.

Very comfortable, relaxed but seems to be able to pick up its skirts and go if need be.

The word I found most fitting for the XK and the way it does pretty much ANYTHING is "effortless". You want to drive 300 miles to Le Mans? No problem. You want to show off a little in Arnarge on Mad Friday? But of course. You need to relax and take a steady drive home after all the echos and adrenaline have ebbed away? It is done. It is as at home howling down the Mulsane, as it is arriving at a pedestrian pace outside the hotel lobby. if that wasn't enough, its also one hell of a good looking thing.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Thats a nice looking example! 5.0 facelift car too by the looks of it? I don't know why, but I'm always surprised how good they look in white, in spite of it being a colour I wouldn't have for myself.

[Vsix and Vtec]

I completely get that, mine is Liquid Silver, and I agree the light colour really makes all the contours easy for the eye to follow. My compromise ended up being the reverse of yours. I got the paint I wanted but had to settle for Black with Aluminium dash (my better half teases me with her Walnut bedecked XF and tells me I bought the Mercedes Spec interior). That said, I console myself that I run much less risk of marking this than my first choice Caramel or second choice Powder Blue.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Wow. You're clearly very good at your job, these could be magazine or brochure shots!

[Vsix and Vtec]

summit7 said:

So I am 4 weeks into ownership now and have a little round up about the car.

I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....

The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.

I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.

After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.

It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.

They really do get under your skin don't they? I always find washing and polishing the XK to be quite relaxing, sure it provides moments of "oh, i'd better get that looked at" but once you're done and you step back, it's a genuine pleasure to look at those lines and curves shine. I'm really glad to read of happy times returning to you!

[Vsix and Vtec]

You must have either been doing town mileage or hoofing it. The XK is a quick GT not a slow supercar. I've found its happiest devouring long drives at sensible speeds. Yes, if you need to get a wriggle on, it WILL do it (tyres and general condition permitting) but that's not what it's for. I can regularly get 35mpg or more out of mine on the 140 mile run to Colchester at the weekend, and of course only fueled with e5 (usually Tesco or Shell).

When was it last serviced? It could be its needing fresh plugs or something if they're due.

[Vsix and Vtec]

I'm 4,000 miles into my Michelin Pilot Sport 4S on my XK, very pleased with them so far. Good in the wet, even better in the dry. They seem to be wearing the miles well too.

[Vsix and Vtec]

remedy said:

Thanks guys, I appreciate it. I'll give the auto electrician that I've used before a ring tomorrow and let him know the situation.

In reference to this happening before on other cars, the only example I can find is 1 post on one of the Jag forums back in 2020.
I bought mine in Oct 21 so wouldn't be surprised if this is the car I've got now

https://www.jaguarforum.com/threads/2008-xkr-4-2l-...

If they're anywhere near you, Roach Classics in Sudbury are fantastic and helped my partner out with a complicated harness break problem that seemed to stump everyone else.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Diderot said:

I blame the OP. I’ve just bought one much earlier than planned (2011 XKR). Pick her up next week. Can’t wait.

Edited by Diderot on Saturday 6th January 18:57

I accept full blame for you achieving motoring nivana, I look forward to seeing some photos! Congratulations on your purchase, you're going to love it.

[Vsix and Vtec]

JagDroid is the best way to update the old Jaguar infotainment system, but it's a halfway solution as it takes over the inbuilt display whilst in use without the ability to show HVAC and vehicle settings until you turn it off and the standard Jaguar system boots back up.

[Vsix and Vtec]

My 4.2 has a USB and Ipod connection in the centre console cubby box. I use an Invery (80 quid off Amazon) which is a Bluetooth device that fakes being an ipod, so it pugs in, the phone connects, and it allows me to play Spotify or mp3s with the head unit, and even skip songs with the steering wheel buttons.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Patrick Bateman said:

I think any of these would be excellent GT's, NA 4.2 maybe missing some handy low down punch perhaps?.

I can't say I've ever touched the accelerator in my car and thought it was lacking. Granted it'll feel a bit slower than the others, but compared to everything else on the road, certainly not. I've driven mine down to the Le Mans 24hr for the last couple of years now (going again this year) and it shows the strengths of a true GT every time. It's a quick car, even when packed to the roofline with bags a tent and chairs.

It seems to me, having one at all is the most important thing.

[Vsix and Vtec]

drmotorsport said:

I've joined the club! Throttle response is more aggressive than I anticipated Next question is does anyone know a good indi servicing specialist in Essex?

Very nice! Love the colour, I hope we get a few more pictures!

Roach Classics or Simply Serviced are my suggestions, they look after my partners XF.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Diderot said:

That’s an absolute stunner. Congrats. Beautiful looking thing she is.

On the throttle response comment and the inevitable traction issues, I’m now 4 months into ownership of a 2011 XKR, now looking at possible replacement tyre options. I drive mine always in sport on the paddles (always pull away in 2nd) and when Mrs D isn’t in the car I have dynamic mode on. The traction with the Dunlops on mine is diabolical out of junctions no matter how much I modulate the throttle - I’ve had a lot of quick cars now, including 3 previous s/c Jags, so I’m beginning to blame the Dunlops.

Does anyone have better experience with the Michelin PS4S or the new Continentals?

One of the first things I did on my XK was bin the terrible cheap tyres and fit four PS4S all round. very very good tyres, although I've heard good things about the Sport Contact 7, so I think really so long as you're fitting one or the other, you can't go too far wrong.