XK 4.2 X150 or XKR X100

[CharlieB]

Greetings all,

I have posted something similar in the BMW section in regards to a 650i which is a front runner in my search at the moment. However am keen for a comparative view from the Jag contingent.

Briefly I am looking for a coupe again. We now have 2 little ones, I drive very little in the week, the main car needs to be a family bus and the second car is usually more interesting and used for driving to the station occasionally and also golf/long distance trips.

Looks like there are 2 that fit my fairly broad criteria of coupe, under 15k (preferably more like 10k), 4 seats (for emergency child requirement), V8, fast and comfortable.

Which would you pick and why?

Cheers,

Charlie

[Griffithy]

Would be the XKR for me.
I prefer its e-typesque style and it would be supercharged as well

[8bit]

CharlieB said:

Greetings all,

I have posted something similar in the BMW section in regards to a 650i which is a front runner in my search at the moment. However am keen for a comparative view from the Jag contingent.

Briefly I am looking for a coupe again. We now have 2 little ones, I drive very little in the week, the main car needs to be a family bus and the second car is usually more interesting and used for driving to the station occasionally and also golf/long distance trips.

Looks like there are 2 that fit my fairly broad criteria of coupe, under 15k (preferably more like 10k), 4 seats (for emergency child requirement), V8, fast and comfortable.

Which would you pick and why?

Cheers,

Charlie

I'd say the later car for sure, you'll find the X100 will feel very dated compared to a 650i I would have thought. Does budget not allow for an early X150 4.2 XKR?

[CharlieB]

OK interesting to note, I assume you would mean in terms of driving dynamics? I have not actually driven a 650i yet, but would assume it feels similar to a 5 (which I have just sold, albeit in estate diesel form) only more powerful and better looking, and I am familiar with BMW's in general having also recently got rid of an M135i.

I would love an XKR 150, it seems nicer ones start at 20k though? I just worry that, at 15k an early XKR could well be a bit tired and rough around the edges. Values seem to bottom out at 15k, whereas the NA 4.2 are available in great condition at that price.

In fact, my only worry with the NA 4.2 is that it would feel lacking in power compared to my old M135i. Would everything else that is special, areas that meet my requirements make up for the lack of grunt?

Hence my thoughts between the older X100 SC and the X150 XK 4.2 where the performance is clearly not in question.

[jamieduff1981]

The X100 is a beautiful car. I intend to add one to my collection.

In terms of driving dynamics and ergonomics, the X150 is a substantial improvement. The X100 is the ultimate evolution of the old XJ-S basic architecture (not that I'm saying there is direct parts-transferability!!) whereas the X150 was the first gen of the current basic architecture.

The X150 is easily the better car, even comparing XK to XKR, but the X100 is subjectively prettier, the "warmer" car to be in, and appears to be starting to appreciate in value (for good examples in desirable spec).

[300bhp/ton]

Looks wise the x100 is much nicer IMO. And I prefer the interior styling too.

I'm sure dynamically the x150 is a better car. And in isolation, or compared to other modern cars it's quite pretty. But park one up next to an x100, and you realise how blunt, tall and less pretty they are.

[CharlieB]

Thanks for the thoughts so far

3 random ones picked of the trader, but something along these lines

X100 XKR
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...

X150 XK
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

X150 XKR
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2016...

Are there any good specialists in Herts/Beds?

[PH XKR]

If you are running littleuns in the back, this may prove useful

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jSatvs2cM8 skip to the middle bit for child seat... hope its of use, i looked at teh BMW too, the X150 blew it away in every sense from enjoyment to sound to feel, though I might get an M6 rag top at some point

You'll want the X150 for sure and if possible the 5.0v8 but if you are intereted in the X100, a friend is selling a very nice XKR X100

[Griffithy]

jamieduff1981 said:

The X100 is a beautiful car. I intend to add one to my collection.

You are absolutely right, a nice one would be very tempting for keeping.

[sly fox]

I really would not call an X150 a four seater.
My niece- 4ft 10 can get in the back, her head almost touches the ceiling and the bucket seats are comfortable for short journeys only.

It's not a family car, i wouldn't even call it a 2+2 in all honesty because you have to move the front seats forward to get ANY rear leg room space. If you are as a driver over 5ft 8 or so, there is virtually zero leg room behind.
Magnificent car though

[CharlieB]

sly fox said:

I really would not call an X150 a four seater.
My niece- 4ft 10 can get in the back, her head almost touches the ceiling and the bucket seats are comfortable for short journeys only.

It's not a family car, i wouldn't even call it a 2+2 in all honesty because you have to move the front seats forward to get ANY rear leg room space. If you are as a driver over 5ft 8 or so, there is virtually zero leg room behind.
Magnificent car though

I am 6ft 2 and Mrs B is 5ft 10, so the little ones are destined to be tall! However, the requirement really doesn't stretch much further than the emergency case that I might have to get one from Nursery, and have not got the other car etc, so very short journeys. For all other eventualities, I will likely be driving this on my own or with my wife when the kids are at grandparents etc. We have a family car for daily running about and weekend duties.

[8bit]

For a start, you might feel like any of these cars feels a bit slow initially, compared to a M135i - that's a turbocharged hot hatch so is designed to give everything it's got the minute you unlock it, these are all GT cars with big N/A or supercharged engines and they make best power higher up the range.

I've never driven a 650i either so can't comment on those but I do know of a number of XK and XKR owners on jaguarforum.com who've come to Jaguar from the 6 series/M6 and say they prefer their Jags. That said, if you looked in a BMW forum you'd likely find some 6 series owners that prefer their BMWs to their previous Jaguars.

I have a boy of nearly 2 years old and I take him to nursery one day a week in my X150 XKR. He still needs the big, chunky child seat type things for young uns, I did try and get an ISOFIX one in the back seat once but it was too big. I use a belt-in seat in the front passenger seat for him when I need to, we also have a Mercedes M-class 4x4 which is the main family car.

I bought my 2008 XKR nearly three years ago with 73k showing and paid about £23k, it was in almost new condition having been very well cared for. If I was buying again I wouldn't rule out cars with that sort of mileage, if cared for properly they're very reliable and the wear miles well. Buy on condition and service history.

[a8hex]

8bit said:

For a start, you might feel like any of these cars feels a bit slow initially, compared to a M135i - that's a turbocharged hot hatch so is designed to give everything it's got the minute you unlock it, these are all GT cars with big N/A or supercharged engines and they make best power higher up the range.

Errr
isn't it the other way around?
Turbo's need enough revs (and time) for the turbo to spin up while SC engines give grunt from the start. If the XKR has a problem it is more that all that poke is available at little more that tick over.

[Griffithy]

8bit said:

For a start, you might feel like any of these cars feels a bit slow initially

I wouldn´t think a healthy XKR would feel that slow,
as long as there are no thight corners.

[PH XKR]

slow is perhaps a misleading way to describe it

BMW always feel quick due to fast throttle response, I used to tune other cars to increase throttle ramping and its a cheap way to make a car feel instantly faster and more powerful. The XK/XKR is just as fast if not a lot faster but the benefits come in above 70 and during overtakes. An atmospheric engine will have more instant shove, always, the supercharger even more so but as thy are different body length, seating, comfort the speed can be hidden.

I have just downgraded/upgraded from a 7.0 z06 corvette. Brutal power but the 5.0XKR does not feel lacking, in fact, the gearing makes it feel quicker in some regards but the gearing also means more changes than the vette.

What you cannot put a finger on is the feel/event. The vette was an event to drive the XK too, they both get great deal of positive attention. You dont get that in the BMW's. I was stopped yesterday at a petrol station as some chap came to talk to me for about 20 minutes about the car. I also have an E39 M5 and whilst I love it, I use it when I want to blend in. The XK100 or 150 both come with oodles of character. I am young, well, 39 and the cars are able to be young/old mans toy or cossett you on a long schlep.

[CharlieB]

I don't think there is any danger that the SC models will feel appreciably faster everywhere compared to the 1 series, but I maybe wrong.

I am not a 0-60 bore by any stretch, however I think that the NA 4.2 would feel slow having a similar power to weight as the 944t, but being on a modern platform, therefore I have reconciled that a 4.2 NA wont cut it, after reading another post on here about someone changing after 6mnths into an XKR.

Thus I have set my search for a well loved XKR X150, or even allowing for some budget creep an early XK 5.0, as I prefer the front end.

Edited by CharlieB on Thursday 21st April 16:30

[PH XKR]

it would be worth trying a few out if you get a chance but know what you mean. I was fortunate enough to be able to go into an R, for me I needed it as I am used to the power and I am childish but on reflection for the rag top I'd imaging the XK would have suffficed more than enough.

Good luck with the search, as I said I have a friend with an X100 4.2 XKR which he is selling, no idea on price but cannot imagine it being far off 10k to be honest, I can ask if you want.

[Piersman2]

I bought an 2001 XKR 4.0 convertible last year as a keeper. Beautiful condition and seems to get positive comments about it's condition and looks regularly. However, I cam promise that an XKR150 would be a far superior everyday car in almost all respects, it's just for me I didn't want to be spending upwards of 20K to get a 150 XKR conv as a 'toy' so settled on the 100 XKR.

Back in the day I had a 1999 XJR (same tech as the XKR100) and changed it up to an X350 XJR (similar tech as the XK150). With regards to modernity, driveability, everyday use, mph, etc.... the X350 was streets ahead, as you'd expect really seeing as it was a ground up new model with aluminium body etc...

The same difference would apply between the X100 and X150 XKRs.

[8bit]

a8hex said:

8bit said:

For a start, you might feel like any of these cars feels a bit slow initially, compared to a M135i - that's a turbocharged hot hatch so is designed to give everything it's got the minute you unlock it, these are all GT cars with big N/A or supercharged engines and they make best power higher up the range.

Errr
isn't it the other way around?
Turbo's need enough revs (and time) for the turbo to spin up while SC engines give grunt from the start. If the XKR has a problem it is more that all that poke is available at little more that tick over.

Look at the torque curves for anything modern and turbocharged (e.g. M135i), it'll be making peak torque way, way earlier in the rev range than any big naturally-aspirated or even supercharged engine (e.g. Jaguar 4.2 V8 S/C). By their very nature, superchargers produce more boost and therefore more uplift to engine power the further up the rev range the engine is working (to a point, when airflow capacity becomes the limiting factor).

Griffithy said:

I wouldn´t think a healthy XKR would feel that slow,
as long as there are no thight corners.

I came to my XKR from a SEAT Leon Cupra R, not in the same league as a M135i but a turbocharged hot-hatch nonetheless. I initially struggled to get on with the XKR because as I eventually realised, I was trying to drive it in the same way, basically putting the foot down almost anywhere in the rev range and expecting it to make loads of torque.

As above, supercharged (and to a lesser extent, naturally-aspirated) engines will make more grunt as revs increase so to get the best out of these requires a different approach.

ETA - once you do get the engine properly on-song though...

Edited by 8bit on Friday 22 April 00:02

[sly fox]

PH XKR said:

What you cannot put a finger on is the feel/event. The vette was an event to drive the XK too, they both get great deal of positive attention. You dont get that in the BMW's.

This is so True. Never have i ever been let out of junctions so often! It does feel like an event to drive - if it can put a smile on your face before you press the Start button you know something is right.

Now that the weather has warmed up, i can finally use the performance and grip of the Michelin PSS. My god does a launch kick you in the back. Huge grin time.