XK 4.2 X150 or XKR X100

XK 4.2 X150 or XKR X100

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CharlieB

Original Poster:

525 posts

232 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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It's an interesting point. I guess cars like the 1 series flatter to deceive. I swapped two cars for 1, so to speak (944t and fast Saab estate). In reality it was a dual purpose car daily duties for our first little one, and me to have fun at the weekends. It worked for a while and was enjoyable, but once it becomes obvious they are fast shopping cars, where do you go? An even faster one? My wife drove it 75 percent of the time, and the times I got to drive it alone were few and far between. They are just not inherently special enough for my use profile. I like the format, big engine small car. Now we have two kids we have a family Volvo, which in all but power is no different to Mrs B as a family car than the M135i.

I am now fortunate enough to have the chance to have two cars again, hence my desire to get into something that will feel more special, for those moments that are memorable.


PH XKR

1,761 posts

101 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
aah we have a volvo too, a d2 v40. Enough power to just skim milk but does its task, comfortable daily hack. We went to South of France and back and it cost about two tanks for fuel, the xk I am expecting will cost me a bit more wink

Understand completely what you are saying. Before I got the XK R I was also looking at the GT-R but quickly ruled it out. Whilst the idea of owning such a car with such a reputation was very appealing, especially talking to the grandkids 40 years from now, I decided I would get bored very quickly of it. Once over the initial wow factor of power and handling, you cannot exploit it in this country so it would become a relatively boring car with a lot of capability. Likewise the XKR coupe, so this left me with wanting something fun and enjoyable at 5mph as much as when we hit germany and stretch its legs. Soft top. Only answer. 2,000,000 miles of sky never gets dull!

CharlieB

Original Poster:

525 posts

232 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
PH XKR said:
aah we have a volvo too, a d2 v40. Enough power to just skim milk but does its task, comfortable daily hack. We went to South of France and back and it cost about two tanks for fuel, the xk I am expecting will cost me a bit more wink
I expect the D2 is significantly better than the T2 on fuel, avg is the same as the M135i, but I agree a competent little car. Anyhow the V40 is being morphed into an XC60 in July..

Now Back onto Jags! Assuming that any X150 XKR in budget is likely to have higher miles, any common issues that I might look out for?

Strangely I have no direct experience of Jaguar at all really, aside from a few trips in a good friends XF where I was impressed, and a silver Maisto XJ220 I used to covet as a child. However Jaguar is surely the logical step for me, it is time to go British and V8!

It has been pointed out to me by Mrs B that XFR's are teetering on the edge of the budget as well, and I could get the full fat 5.0 S/C experience there, if I so desired. Only if the search for a good enough XKR proves fruitless, mind.


PH XKR

1,761 posts

101 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
touch wood, I have seen and heard of no major failings on the 5.0 unit. The 4.2 is also well known.

I am never put off by higher miles I have a 100k e39 M5, bought at 80, the vette did 3k in 5 years of previous owners hands, did 20k in 2 years with me. We are not in the 70s any more;)

Good luck with the search!

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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PH XKR said:
Once over the initial wow factor of power and handling, you cannot exploit it in this country so it would become a relatively boring car with a lot of capability. Likewise the XKR coupe, so this left me with wanting something fun and enjoyable at 5mph as much as when we hit germany and stretch its legs. Soft top. Only answer. 2,000,000 miles of sky never gets dull!
I think I amazed the salesman when I first took the XKR out for a test drive because I just pootled around gently in it. I knew from past experience it could do fast, what I needed was a car that was also fun, as you say, just cruising around in. Chances to "push on" are comparatively rare and the XKR feels wonderful when doing it, but it also feels great just taking things gently. As you say all that sky is great. So much so that I'm now seriously thinking of changing my XK150 which is a FHC for something convertible, sadly the XK150 dropheads and roadsters are lots of serious money these days :-)

jamieduff1981

8,022 posts

139 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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PH XKR said:
BMW always feel quick due to fast throttle response,
I have observed the opposite to be true, certainly the engine in the M135i and similar modern BMW engines. The throttle responses BMW churn out nowadays are absolutely terrible, to the extent where it's not really enjoyable to try to balance the car on the throttle in bends.

The X100 will feel spongy on the throttle, as might the X150 but that's because the engine and 6 speed ZF are set up as a rather soft powertrain. The X150 can, unlike the X100, be gear selected manually using the paddles and then the Jaguar throttle response is significantly superior to modern BMWs. Even the X100 XKR, if using gear hold on the J-gate will demonstrate pretty good throttle response once soft ZF mapping is taken out of the equation. The current Jaguar 5.0 S/C is one of the sharpest modern engines going, whilst BMW get ever softer - ironically creating the perceived juxta position that big BMW diesels respond as well as petrols - they're still just diesels, it's just that BMW have hobbled their petrol engines of late which makes them no more driver-orientated than the oil burners.

The current Jaguar S/C V8s can catch the unwitting out because its ability to very rapidly increase its torque output is more than capable of outstripping available traction even on premium quality rubber.

PH XKR

1,761 posts

101 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
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have to say, i tend to drive the 150 in manual mode because I prefer to use the torque of a given gear for optimal use than the box dropping 1 or 2 gears for instant power

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
It's a few years since I've driven a BMW so can't comment on the most recent ones, but with the older ones before you got to the bigger V8s they seemed to have little low down torque. I often used to drive a friends 735 and that needed so many more revs than my 3.2L X300 and even then didn't go like it. Another friend had a 740 which seemed to perform very similarly to my Jag but I never drove it. The 540s I drove had a much better torque spread.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
CharlieB said:
I expect the D2 is significantly better than the T2 on fuel, avg is the same as the M135i, but I agree a competent little car. Anyhow the V40 is being morphed into an XC60 in July..

Now Back onto Jags! Assuming that any X150 XKR in budget is likely to have higher miles, any common issues that I might look out for?

Strangely I have no direct experience of Jaguar at all really, aside from a few trips in a good friends XF where I was impressed, and a silver Maisto XJ220 I used to covet as a child. However Jaguar is surely the logical step for me, it is time to go British and V8!

It has been pointed out to me by Mrs B that XFR's are teetering on the edge of the budget as well, and I could get the full fat 5.0 S/C experience there, if I so desired. Only if the search for a good enough XKR proves fruitless, mind.

I've been the proud owner of a 2007 XKR for the last couple of weeks and thoroughly enjoying it so far. Got it from a main dealer with only 39k miles and a year's warranty, which I'm pretty happy with. They've sorted a few things out which I noticed on the test drive, and a couple of things since, nothing major though.

If you're going to look at a higher miles one, there's a couple of things to check, although you may have already been aware;

Check the transmission shifts smoothly between gears, there's no untoward noises or thunks when you shift it into drive etc. Budget around £300 to have the gearbox oil and filter changed by somewhere that knows the ZF 6HP26 'box.

Check there's no clunking from suspension components. Despite being aluminium, they're still 1600+ kg and can take their toll on their own suspension bushes etc.

Check for corrosion (aluminium oxide!) on the bottom of the doors particularly and in general everywhere. It's not common at all, but still can be a problem depending on the car's previous life.

Check for dings around all four corners, as well as those lovely wide hips wink They're a wide and long car, and some don't have front parking sensors. Mine doesn't.

With the bonnet open and engine running, check the blower for any rumbling / grating noises. Jaguar don't specify an oil change interval, yet Eaton recommend the oil change at 50k miles iirc. I'm changing mine next week (easy job, kit costs £26!)

The luxury sport interior is a sort after option, this has perforated leather seats with adjustable side bolsters. Not a deal breaker, but nice to have.

Check the boot shuts easily. Mine didn't and needed the adjusters setting up properly, easy job though.

While you're in the boot, check to see if it has a spare wheel. Some do, some have tyre seal type stuff. I prefer a proper spare wheel wink

It's also worth checking there's even wear across the treads of the tyres. If not, a decent wheel alignment should be factored in.



Aside from that, just make sure everything works, and properly test the car's performance once it's fully warmed up. Try 50 - 70 with the gearbox in Sport! hehe


CharlieB

Original Poster:

525 posts

232 months

Friday 22nd April 2016
quotequote all
jamieduff1981 said:
I have observed the opposite to be true, certainly the engine in the M135i and similar modern BMW engines.
What used to irk me was my experience of the driving "modes", in comfort the throttle felt dozy but the suspension was compliant, sport had the aggressive map and hard suspension but with TCS/DCT, and sport + then reverted to the softer throttle map with all the aids turned off presumably so you didn't wind up facing the wrong way inadvertently due to the binary throttle response.

Consequently you would just use Sport to feel a modicum of response in normal driving, and subsequently then find yourself in that (wrong) mode when pressing on and the TCS would start lighting up, thus pairing the throttle back anyway! Futile I tell you.

The point above about feeling special when just cruising is also key. I will admit that all of this has been playing on my mind since I got the opportunity to spend an hour in the new vanquish a few months back. Unashamedly/respectfully for 45 mins of the drive I just cruised along the country roads around Woburn. Utterly glorious. A more memorable hour in that car driving, than an entire 2 yrs thrashing an M135i.

I want that somewhat intangible feeling the Aston gave me, at a price I can afford. On the face of it an XKR could seemingly offer it, for a tenth of the entry price.




CharlieB

Original Poster:

525 posts

232 months

Saturday 23rd April 2016
quotequote all
Well I fit which is a start. Trouble being the only one locally was a 5.0 XKR and well out of budget.

Next stop finding a good 5.0 NA to test drive.


CharlieB

Original Poster:

525 posts

232 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
A quick question, does this look like it has been lowered chaps?

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

Other than that it looks to be in great shape. going to try and take a visit to Chiltern Jag tomorrow, does anyone have any direct experience? They seem to have a good reputation.


8bit

4,846 posts

154 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
CharlieB said:
A quick question, does this look like it has been lowered chaps?

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

Other than that it looks to be in great shape. going to try and take a visit to Chiltern Jag tomorrow, does anyone have any direct experience? They seem to have a good reputation.
I wouldn't say so, looks about standard ride height to me.

Can't speak for Chiltern but the ones they had that I saw when I was on my own search all looked a touch overpriced - that one is probably slightly lower than I'd have expected. Pretty poor, dark photos and it's a black car, I'd be all over the bodywork with a bright light when you go to view.

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
8bit said:
CharlieB said:
A quick question, does this look like it has been lowered chaps?

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

Other than that it looks to be in great shape. going to try and take a visit to Chiltern Jag tomorrow, does anyone have any direct experience? They seem to have a good reputation.
I wouldn't say so, looks about standard ride height to me.

Can't speak for Chiltern but the ones they had that I saw when I was on my own search all looked a touch overpriced - that one is probably slightly lower than I'd have expected. Pretty poor, dark photos and it's a black car, I'd be all over the bodywork with a bright light when you go to view.
Well, it certainly looks lower than mine, especially at the front. It appears to have an aftermarket exhaust also. Not necessarily a bad thing I know, but i'm sure it's not standard IMHO

CharlieB

Original Poster:

525 posts

232 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
8bit said:
I wouldn't say so, looks about standard ride height to me.

Can't speak for Chiltern but the ones they had that I saw when I was on my own search all looked a touch overpriced - that one is probably slightly lower than I'd have expected. Pretty poor, dark photos and it's a black car, I'd be all over the bodywork with a bright light when you go to view.
In one angle, rear 3/4 looking down the right flank towards the front, the wheel just looks a little wrong in the wheel arch for some reason? Maybe I am just seeing things.

Chiltern are a little overpriced, however they do have a good spread of cars there all in seemingly presentable condition, at least as a starting point for my comparisons.

Last weekend I had a good look around an 09 XKR that was well out of budget (read 30 plus), but at a local dealer in Hitchin so I didn't feel I could reasonably ask to test drive it.

The problem it seems is during the course of the week I have experienced uncontrollable budget creep. As you can see I had started out trying to justify if a 4.2 XK for 12k was going to feel special enough. Now in my head I have a floor of 15k for a leggy 4.2 XKR and and am lustfully eyeing up bottom of the barrel 5.0 XKs at 20k.

Chiltern Jag have a high mileage 2010 XKR for not a lot more, perhaps I shouldn't go after all..





8bit

4,846 posts

154 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
V88Dicky said:
Well, it certainly looks lower than mine, especially at the front. It appears to have an aftermarket exhaust also. Not necessarily a bad thing I know, but i'm sure it's not standard IMHO
I think it's deceptive because the wheels are recessed inside the arches - from a standing height (e.g. shot 5) it can look like there's very little clearance above the wheel but when you crouch down you can see more of a gap. I don't think it looks any different to mine from memory, I'll have another look when I head home though.

Aftermarket exhaust is no bad thing, I have one on my car. The tips of the one in the ad look more like my old standard one than my new one to me though?

V88Dicky

7,302 posts

182 months

Friday 29th April 2016
quotequote all
8bit said:
V88Dicky said:
Well, it certainly looks lower than mine, especially at the front. It appears to have an aftermarket exhaust also. Not necessarily a bad thing I know, but i'm sure it's not standard IMHO
I think it's deceptive because the wheels are recessed inside the arches - from a standing height (e.g. shot 5) it can look like there's very little clearance above the wheel but when you crouch down you can see more of a gap. I don't think it looks any different to mine from memory, I'll have another look when I head home though.

Aftermarket exhaust is no bad thing, I have one on my car. The tips of the one in the ad look more like my old standard one than my new one to me though?
It also looks to be fitted with these lovely tyres;

http://www.tyrereviews.co.uk/Tyre/Zeta/Alventi.htm

yikes