Great Drive in the Jaguar XJR-15

Great Drive in the Jaguar XJR-15

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Discussion

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Wednesday 9th March 2011
quotequote all
Yesterday I had a great drive in the XJR-15. The big break through in terms of driving was realising that it really is set up as a race car and needs to be driven like one. I.e. you need to set it up in advance for each change of direction, gear shift, braking, etc. Driving it for the 3rd or 4th time on the same roads that I know well, it just all came together. First time I can really say this, we really started to bond. In general I have a set route that I take for most of the short weekend runs out that is a roughly 20 mile loop. Yesterday at the end of the loop, I wanted to keep going. Every time in the past, making it to the end has brought with it a feeling of relief -------akin to riding the dragon and surviving. This time, it all flowed. Part of it is having just that much more experience behind the wheel and knowing the "15" that much better. Part of it is the "15" getting a few more miles under its wheels after far too many years sitting in a private collection. The handling continues to improve as the tyres bed in and the suspension gets more work. Everything feels like it is now moving that much more smoothly. The clutch is very different from any other car I have driven, but once you get used to it, it quite manageable. Power from the 6 liter V12 even 20 years later, is brain mashing. Put your foot down in 2nd gear (with all four wheels pointing straight ahead) and it just flies. A quick upshift into 3rd and you are not far from hitting triple digits. The steering rack is geared for the track, so it requires plenty of input to navigate on the road. The lack of any sort of insulation or sound deadening imparts the impression that you really are strapped to the front of a rocket. Headphones are a must and the totality of the experience is exhilarating. It is a car that is truly alive.

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Thursday 10th March 2011
quotequote all
Great to hear of your experiences.
The XJR-15 is such a stunning looking car, I'm glad your enjoying her.

Triple7

4,013 posts

236 months

Friday 11th March 2011
quotequote all
Fabulous, are you coming to Gaydon on Sunday for the PH SS? Be great to see & hear the '15'.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Saturday 19th March 2011
quotequote all
Triple7 said:
Fabulous, are you coming to Gaydon on Sunday for the PH SS? Be great to see & hear the '15'.
I was considering it. Weather killed the idea. 160 mile round trip in the XJR15 in the rain just was not going to be much fun.

I am planning on taking it out for a run tomorrow though.

Edited by BoxerF50 on Saturday 19th March 10:26

Jagmanv12

1,573 posts

163 months

Saturday 19th March 2011
quotequote all
BoxerF50 said:
I was considering it. Weather killed the idea. 160 mile round trip in the XJR15 in the rain just was not going to be much fun.

I am planning on taking it out for a run tomorrow though.

Edited by BoxerF50 on Saturday 19th March 10:26
Would your run be to the Mulberry? If so I'm definitely going (with camera).

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Saturday 19th March 2011
quotequote all
No, it will be in the Ascot/Woking area.

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Saturday 19th March 2011
quotequote all
I'm very protective of my little old 6.0l XJS but I would expect a full Police escort and road closure programme everytime I went out if 'I had an XJR 15.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Sunday 20th March 2011
quotequote all
Tried the new in-car camera on today's drive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2MUxluEYY

Edited by BoxerF50 on Monday 21st March 22:14

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Wednesday 23rd March 2011
quotequote all
What a lovely sound. Great to see its being driven as it was meant to be.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
johnxjsc1985 said:
What a lovely sound. Great to see its being driven as it was meant to be.
Thanks. On the sound, that is still at fairly civilized rpms. Did not push it much north of 4000 rpm.

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Thursday 24th March 2011
quotequote all
I thought it sounded "tame" compared to some of the youtube footage.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Saturday 26th March 2011
quotequote all
johnxjsc1985 said:
I thought it sounded "tame" compared to some of the youtube footage.
The mic on the the recording unit is very basic. Will need to get a better external option.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
BoxerF50 said:
Tried the new in-car camera on today's drive:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2MUxluEYY

Edited by BoxerF50 on Monday 21st March 22:14
This was shot by one of the Ferraris following the XJR-15:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4el9cyL8W8

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
what's that funny red thing spoiling the view rofl

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
Love to know what the Ferrari and Lambo drivers said about it. Cant you persuade Jaguar to give you a set of Jag Ear muffs.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Monday 18th April 2011
quotequote all
johnxjsc1985 said:
Love to know what the Ferrari and Lambo drivers said about it. Cant you persuade Jaguar to give you a set of Jag Ear muffs.
Very complimentary on the XJR-15. Regarding Jaguar, can't get the time of day from them.

johnxjsc1985

15,948 posts

163 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
Try getting in touch with Jackie or Paul Stewart.Its my experience Jaguar only like to sell cars not support the Marque.That is left to people who are far more passionate about it than they are.

Jagmanv12

1,573 posts

163 months

Tuesday 19th April 2011
quotequote all
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4el9cyL8W8
This was in my area.
Was this a private run or open to other Ferraris, Lambos, etc?
If the next one is open can I bring my 550?
PM me if necessary.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
Jagmanv12 said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4el9cyL8W8
This was in my area.
Was this a private run or open to other Ferraris, Lambos, etc?
If the next one is open can I bring my 550?
PM me if necessary.
It was a ScudItalia run. Please PM me for details.

BoxerF50

Original Poster:

1,389 posts

190 months

Wednesday 20th April 2011
quotequote all
BoxerF50 said:
Yesterday I had a great drive in the XJR-15. The big break through in terms of driving was realising that it really is set up as a race car and needs to be driven like one. I.e. you need to set it up in advance for each change of direction, gear shift, braking, etc. Driving it for the 3rd or 4th time on the same roads that I know well, it just all came together. First time I can really say this, we really started to bond. In general I have a set route that I take for most of the short weekend runs out that is a roughly 20 mile loop. Yesterday at the end of the loop, I wanted to keep going. Every time in the past, making it to the end has brought with it a feeling of relief -------akin to riding the dragon and surviving. This time, it all flowed. Part of it is having just that much more experience behind the wheel and knowing the "15" that much better. Part of it is the "15" getting a few more miles under its wheels after far too many years sitting in a private collection. The handling continues to improve as the tyres bed in and the suspension gets more work. Everything feels like it is now moving that much more smoothly. The clutch is very different from any other car I have driven, but once you get used to it, it quite manageable. Power from the 6 liter V12 even 20 years later, is brain mashing. Put your foot down in 2nd gear (with all four wheels pointing straight ahead) and it just flies. A quick upshift into 3rd and you are not far from hitting triple digits. The steering rack is geared for the track, so it requires plenty of input to navigate on the road. The lack of any sort of insulation or sound deadening imparts the impression that you really are strapped to the front of a rocket. Headphones are a must and the totality of the experience is exhilarating. It is a car that is truly alive.
Took the XJR-15 and the K'egg out for back to back drives on Saturday. With each time out, the XJR-15 continues to get better on the road. Having now learned the gearbox, it actually is a great fast thing to use. You basically can run from 1st thru 5th just by moving your wrist. Engine is much happier now and the power really pours on when you put a bit of right foot into it. One trick I have just learned is to keep on the brakes slightly at turn in on higher speed corners. It forces the front end down and you get a bit more bite. It offsets the natural understeer.