RE: Jaguar XFR: PH Buying Guide

RE: Jaguar XFR: PH Buying Guide

Sunday 3rd July 2016

Jaguar XFR: PH Buying Guide

Sharp looks, 510hp supercharged V8 and yours for less than £20K - how to land yourself a British super saloon hero



While the Germans were bickering among themselves about who had the most powerful super saloon, Jaguar took the very British approach. Rather than bragging, it just got on with the job of delivering a stupendously good rival to the RS, M and AMG models from its key competitors.


It helped that Jag had considerable form with supercharging, the new X250-based XFR's 5.0-litre V8 gaining an Eaton Twin Vortex blower. It was enough to boost power to 510hp and see the Brit from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and on to a limited 155mph.

If those figures weren't enough to impress fans of the German trio, the Jaguar's mid-range performance was often enough to settle any arguments. With 461lb ft of torque from just 2,500rpm and a flat plateau of shove all the way to 5,500rpm, the XFR's party piece is effortless in-gear acceleration.

It also happens to be very handy in the corners too, despite an all-up weight of 1,891kg. To help keep the power doing its best to propel the car forwards, Jaguar used an electronic limited-slip differential for the first time in its history in the XFR. A six-speed automatic gearbox was also standard with steering wheel paddle shifters, and Jag also equipped the R with 30 per cent stiffer springs over the standard XF. From the outside, 20-inch alloy wheels and four exhaust tailpipes were the obvious changes, though there were more subtle additional vents and larger front air intakes.

Search for Jaguar XFRs here


In 2011, Jaguar facelifted the entire XF range and these later models are easy to spot as they have a smoother headlight style. The same year, the XFR100 limited edition arrived with Draco alloy wheels, but 2013 will be the year enthusiasts will be more interested in as this is when the £2,750 Speed Pack was introduced to raise top speed to 174mph. This option also included a new front splitter and rear wing for greater stability.

Quickest of the lot is the 2013 XFR-S, equipped with a new eight-speed auto transmission and 550hp motor. It cut the 0-62mph to 4.4 seconds and raised top speed to 186mph. You could also order the R-S as a Sportbrake estate to make it an even more understated Q-car.

If you want a last of the line XFR-S, you'll need to budget £60,000 for a low miles saloon or wagon. At the other end of the scale, early Rs now come up for £16,000, but we'd look more at £20,000 as starting money for an average miles, well cared for example. Seek one of these out and you'll have a true gentleman's express.


PHer's view:
"Putting the fuel economy to one side, it is a great all-rounder. I change cars regularly, and never have the same model in succession, but at the moment the only replacement that I can think of for this is an XFR-S Sportbrake, and currently the price differential is too great for me to justify changing."
James Tillyard


Buying Guide contents:
Introduction
Powertrain
Rolling chassis
Body
Interior
At a glance

Search for Jaguar XFRs here

 

 

Author
Discussion

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,197 posts

179 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Always lusted after these and it impressed me when Autocar gave it 5 stars on its full road test.

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Fabulous, wonderful things in every way.

They go, stop and handle like fk.

My profile pic confirms.

funbobby

1,624 posts

257 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
what are the paddles like on these if you want to get a bit more involved?

TIGA84

5,204 posts

230 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Not bad, I'd have liked them a bit bigger.

seopher

301 posts

181 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
funbobby said:
what are the paddles like on these if you want to get a bit more involved?
A bit annoying, in earnest, as they're not fixed, they follow the wheel around. The gear shift is rapid, especially in in dynamic driving mode (increasingly so if you're in Sport mode too).

fatboy b

9,492 posts

215 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
I'm looking at swapping my current S for an R once I've found the right colour scheme. Fabulous cars still in looks and performance.

I disagree with the £60K needed for an R-S. They're on Jag's used website for £45K currently.

seopher

301 posts

181 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Like the writer of this review said, I'm left facing the notion that if I needed to replace mine, I'd simply go out and buy another.

The MPG is eye-watering around town, the fuel tank is too small and the touchscreen interface definitely needs a Red Bull or 5, but it's a fabulous thing to own.

Sedate, comfortable and relaxing or loud, incredibly rapid and boisterous - it's your call. I remember reading that it'll do 50-70mph (key overtaking stat) faster than a V10 Audi R8. And you can have them for £25k at the moment. Fabulous thing.

Just budget for new back-boxes (at the very least) as the stock exhaust is far too unassuming considering what is under the bonnet. A £400 custom fabrication from a local tuning company was all mine needed to become perfect.

Lusting after an XFR-S wagon though. Ooft.

Icehanger

394 posts

221 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
I'm trying to find a reason not too! I was hoping to find something different and a bit more special to the usual Audi RS and AMG mix to replace my diesel that XFR-S Sportback just looks so nice.
that blue one in the classifieds just made me do a sex wee!!bounce

XFRFred

7,405 posts

252 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
seopher said:
Just budget for new back-boxes (at the very least) as the stock exhaust is far too unassuming considering what is under the bonnet. A £400 custom fabrication from a local tuning company was all mine needed to become perfect.
I totally agree with this comment. The difference is night and day between the OEM and something from Spires. However, it's more like double the amount to replace the rear boxes for something a lot smaller and louder.

I'm going to be changing the mid section (hopefully next month), to allow the exhaust air to be fully liberated. The sound is really quote magical once you've replaced the rear ends.


Edited by XFRFred on Wednesday 29th June 15:51

seopher

301 posts

181 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
XFRFred said:
I totally agree with this comment. The difference is night and day between the OEM and something from Spires. However, it's more like double the amount to replace the rear boxes for something a lot smaller and louder.

I'm going to be changing the mid section (hopefully next month), to allow the exhaust air to be fully liberated. The sound is really quote magical once you've replaced the rear ends.
Yeah, I should note that the £400 was only because that's what mine cost from Flow Dynamics in Milton Keynes. The 'branded' ones (such as Spires, Quicksilver, Paramount, etc) were all more like £800.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Rolling start against a Gallardo LP520;

https://youtu.be/k942oabdU38

M5 V10;

https://youtu.be/k_9jcnUJsz4

S63 AMG;

https://youtu.be/f6xQRIuBl1c

M3 V8;

https://youtu.be/DSSoOhUWzPA


Pretty damned fast, I'd say smile

Oh, and against an Audi R8 for good measure;

https://youtu.be/53W8PEOVXvo


Edited by V88Dicky on Wednesday 29th June 13:27


Edited by V88Dicky on Wednesday 29th June 13:28

j90gta

563 posts

133 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Rolling start against a Gallardo LP520;

https://youtu.be/k942oabdU38

M5 V10;

https://youtu.be/k_9jcnUJsz4

S63 AMG;

https://youtu.be/f6xQRIuBl1c

M3 V8;

https://youtu.be/DSSoOhUWzPA


Pretty damned fast, I'd say smile
That is most impressive, especially against the Gallardo.

fatboy b

9,492 posts

215 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Rolling start against a Gallardo LP520;

https://youtu.be/k942oabdU38

M5 V10;

https://youtu.be/k_9jcnUJsz4

S63 AMG;

https://youtu.be/f6xQRIuBl1c

M3 V8;

https://youtu.be/DSSoOhUWzPA


Pretty damned fast, I'd say smile

Oh, and against an Audi R8 for good measure;

https://youtu.be/53W8PEOVXvo


Edited by V88Dicky on Wednesday 29th June 13:27


Edited by V88Dicky on Wednesday 29th June 13:28
Nice - thanks for sharing.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Thanks guys. I think it's very impressive thumbup

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
I know they're really quick, but is that a standard car? Impressive if so!

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
The red XFR is stock, and I gave no reason to believe the black one isn't either smile

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
Not far off against the turbocharged M5 as well: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zsApdoO-IU


jamespink

1,218 posts

203 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
I am right on the point of replacing my E39 M5. Is a Jaguar really going to be such a brilliantly reliable no hassle fast car?

fatboy b

9,492 posts

215 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
jamespink said:
I am right on the point of replacing my E39 M5. Is a Jaguar really going to be such a brilliantly reliable no hassle fast car?
That engine is bullet proof - as for the rest of it? In two years (43K miles) on my S I've had a new battery, 1 new parking sensor, and a front door rattle fixed. Ever so slightly better than all my BMWs that averaged about £3K warranty work each in the year I owned each of them.

Edited by fatboy b on Wednesday 29th June 14:23

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Wednesday 29th June 2016
quotequote all
fatboy b said:
jamespink said:
I am right on the point of replacing my E39 M5. Is a Jaguar really going to be such a brilliantly reliable no hassle fast car?
That engine is bullet proof - as for the rest of it? In two years (43K miles) on my S I've had a new battery, 1 new parking sensor, and a front door rattle fixed. Ever so slightly better than all my BMWs that averaged about £3K warranty work each in the year I owned each of them.
My father's had 2 XFs (the diesel S) for the last 6 years and the only things that have gone wrong are the filler flap on the first (fixed by dealer under warranty) and a rattly headliner grab handle (fixed by tightening a screw).