RE: Jaguar XJR: Review

[AmitG]

Amirhussain said:

Schermerhorn said:

Does this compete with the M5 or the S-Class AMG?

I can never quite work it out.

Has to be the S-Class, the M5 is an XFR rival.

Exactly

XJ competes with S-class, A8, 7-series (and Quattroporte)
XF competes with E-class, A6, 5-series

So this car will be up against the BMW 760Li, Audi S8, and whatever the most bonkers version of the Mercedes S-class is.

Jaguar currently have no competitor to the C-class/A4/3-series, although there are rumours that this will change soon.

[monthefish]

the article said:

The ride on the standard 20-inch 'Farallon' lightweight forged alloy wheels never really settles, which is hardly what you expect on an XJ even at this level. Added to that are the bespoke Pirelli tyres (265/30s on the front, 295/30 on the rear) which are extremely noise sensitive to road surface changes.

Thankfully though it does improve with more speed, where the new suspension tuning undertaken by Jaguar's engineers becomes more obvious.

Sounds like they've nailed the calibration to me.

If you want similar performance, but comfier, buy the Supersports.

[E38Ross]

Debaser said:

E38Ross said:

Debaser said:

But a big heavy car that has good body control at high speed on a bumpy road won't float as much as one with less body control.

I'm with kambites on this one. The new M5 has been praised for good ride quality so why can't this?

Maybe the BMW has been tuned with more of a bias towards ride comfort than body control?

willing to bet you the body control on the M5 will be every bit as good as this... i may be wrong, but i doubt this will outperform the M5 when it comes to handling

[Debaser]

E38Ross said:

Debaser said:

E38Ross said:

Debaser said:

But a big heavy car that has good body control at high speed on a bumpy road won't float as much as one with less body control.

I'm with kambites on this one. The new M5 has been praised for good ride quality so why can't this?

Maybe the BMW has been tuned with more of a bias towards ride comfort than body control?

willing to bet you the body control on the M5 will be every bit as good as this... i may be wrong, but i doubt this will outperform the M5 when it comes to handling

I was referring to ride comfort, not handling.

Do you think there's no connection between body control and ride comfort?

[E38Ross]

Debaser said:

I was referring to ride comfort, not handling.

Do you think there's no connection between body control and ride comfort?

Yes, but they can be independent. Some cars have poor body control AND ride comfort, yet other cars have both better control and comfort.

[mwstewart]

Those turrets look nice and stiff.

[Debaser]

E38Ross said:

Yes, but they can be independent. Some cars have poor body control AND ride comfort, yet other cars have both better control and comfort.

I agree, some cars are better developed and some successfully combine the worst aspects of uncomfortable ride and poor body control. That doesn't mean you're going to find a car with the body control of a tarmac rally car and the ride comfort of a 1960s Rolls Royce though. There's always compromises to be made.

My original point was that it's a bit strange to criticise the most extreme version in a range for not being the most comfortable, when it was never meant to be.

Even the M5 is less comfortable than a 520d on comfy suspension and small wheels/big tyres.

[Benbay001]

The BMW will have "a good ride" because its being compared to other "M" BMWs.
The Jag will have a bad ride because it will be compared to other Jags.

Only the author can answer the question, who wrote the article?

[E38Ross]

Benbay001 said:

The BMW will have "a good ride" because its being compared to other "M" BMWs.
The Jag will have a bad ride because it will be compared to other Jags.

Only the author can answer the question, who wrote the article?

Well actually both top gear and Chris Harris said the M5 rode very well compared to the normal 5 series. The M3 I've spent thousands of miles in rides far BETTER than a 3er on run flats, which most of them do. The ride is surprisingly nice actually.

[Wadeski]

These halo jags are just to help brush off the "Jags are for old boys" image. Even the original XJR was never taken seriously as an M5 rival outside of the fawning UK press. And these big, thirsty cars need to be competitive in the USA where people still buy big, thirsty cars. You even see young people in 7ers and S-classes....

[Ved]

I bloody love how Jag have changed over the last few years. Magnificent stuff.

[Liquid Knight]

Dear Jaguar,

Can you please make a "Drivers Car" drivers actually drive? No more stupid flappy paddles, no more eight speed automatics for people who only have one leg; no more overly intrusive drivers aids and most important a car you get out of without feeling like you were a passenger.

All the best a driving enthusiast.

[E38Ross]

Liquid Knight said:

Dear Jaguar,

Can you please make a "Drivers Car" drivers actually drive? No more stupid flappy paddles, no more eight speed automatics for people who only have one leg; no more overly intrusive drivers aids and most important a car you get out of without feeling like you were a passenger.

All the best a driving enthusiast.

You'd want a manual jag XJ?

If so, you're TOTALLY missing the point.

[Liquid Knight]

E38Ross said:

Liquid Knight said:

Dear Jaguar,

Can you please make a "Drivers Car" drivers actually drive? No more stupid flappy paddles, no more eight speed automatics for people who only have one leg; no more overly intrusive drivers aids and most important a car you get out of without feeling like you were a passenger.

All the best a driving enthusiast.

You'd want a manual jag XJ?

If so, you're TOTALLY missing the point.

I can understand why a GT car would have an automatic but a drivers car you don't don't actually drive is bloody frustrating.

[E38Ross]

Liquid Knight said:

E38Ross said:

Liquid Knight said:

Dear Jaguar,

Can you please make a "Drivers Car" drivers actually drive? No more stupid flappy paddles, no more eight speed automatics for people who only have one leg; no more overly intrusive drivers aids and most important a car you get out of without feeling like you were a passenger.

All the best a driving enthusiast.

Since when has an XJ been a drivers car before a luxo-barge?

You'd want a manual jag XJ?

If so, you're TOTALLY missing the point.

I can understand why a GT car would have an automatic but a drivers car you don't don't actually drive is bloody frustrating.

[MycroftWard]

Liquid Knight said:

Dear Jaguar,

Can you please make a "Drivers Car" drivers actually drive? No more stupid flappy paddles, no more eight speed automatics for people who only have one leg; no more overly intrusive drivers aids and most important a car you get out of without feeling like you were a passenger.

All the best a driving enthusiast.

Alas such a car isn't made any more by Jaguar, they've gone the way of the dinosaur.

I've an '89 XJ40 Sovereign 3.6 manual (hens teeth rare now), love it and it cost £500.

[E31Shrew]

Still looks hideous in my eyes , and for nigh on £100,000!

[Amirhussain]

E31Shrew said:

and for nigh on £100,000!

And people were laughing when BMW priced the M6 at around £100,000

[Liquid Knight]

MycroftWard said:

Liquid Knight said:

Dear Jaguar,

Can you please make a "Drivers Car" drivers actually drive? No more stupid flappy paddles, no more eight speed automatics for people who only have one leg; no more overly intrusive drivers aids and most important a car you get out of without feeling like you were a passenger.

All the best a driving enthusiast.

Alas such a car isn't made any more by Jaguar, they've gone the way of the dinosaur.

I've an '89 XJ40 Sovereign 3.6 manual (hens teeth rare now), love it and it cost £500.

That makes sense to me. Had a go in an XJS 3.6 manual and loved the old girl. Shame only the TWR V12 had three pedals.

[22rgt B Squadron]

Pretty awful looking thing and with those ridiculously low profile 30 series tyres its not going to be pleasant riding in it for any period of time. Have the 265mm width with a more sensible 45 or 50 profile and the as described jittery ride would be gone..