Possible downsize from a C63 to an XF - What do I look for?
Discussion
So Mrs 911 is none too keen on the daily driver, a 2010 C63 AMG with the Performance Pack Plus.
It all comes down to Suspension really, just far too crashy in London and a move to the countryside beckons soon and one expects that roads in Sussex might be worse.
I'll probably divert some value into a station car for me so leaving about £20,000 for the replacement. We borrowed a Land Cruiser recently and my wife loved the soft suspension (surprise surprise!) but also the high up driving position. We also need some space in the back seat for our newborn and his impossibly large baby seat (We're both 6ft plus so need plenty of leg space).
I've been looking at X5s, Q5s, MLs and left myself pretty uninspired to be honest. Then someone at work chirped up about XFRs. One look on the PH classifieds and I agree, they are a good looking car, although the interior looks a little dated when compared with say the similar era C-class or X5.
Obviously I am right at the entry point for XFR ownership but I did once drive the 3.0 diesel and it was like a rocketship!
So I guess my questions are:
- V8 or diesel V6?
- What is the interior like in terms of modernity, gadgetry, bluetooth, etc?
- Are they slightly old-mannish? (I'm 35).
- What is the rear passenger space like?
- What is the boot space like?
- What are the must-have options?
I really appreciate anyone's inputs. I did really like the look of a blue one that I saw this afternoon. Thanks, Tom
It all comes down to Suspension really, just far too crashy in London and a move to the countryside beckons soon and one expects that roads in Sussex might be worse.
I'll probably divert some value into a station car for me so leaving about £20,000 for the replacement. We borrowed a Land Cruiser recently and my wife loved the soft suspension (surprise surprise!) but also the high up driving position. We also need some space in the back seat for our newborn and his impossibly large baby seat (We're both 6ft plus so need plenty of leg space).
I've been looking at X5s, Q5s, MLs and left myself pretty uninspired to be honest. Then someone at work chirped up about XFRs. One look on the PH classifieds and I agree, they are a good looking car, although the interior looks a little dated when compared with say the similar era C-class or X5.
Obviously I am right at the entry point for XFR ownership but I did once drive the 3.0 diesel and it was like a rocketship!
So I guess my questions are:
- V8 or diesel V6?
- What is the interior like in terms of modernity, gadgetry, bluetooth, etc?
- Are they slightly old-mannish? (I'm 35).
- What is the rear passenger space like?
- What is the boot space like?
- What are the must-have options?
I really appreciate anyone's inputs. I did really like the look of a blue one that I saw this afternoon. Thanks, Tom
Turkish91 said:
If you get a nicely specced one in a nice colour then I wouldn't say it's old man.
If you can stretch to it and want to look like a true badman then get a black Sportbrake V6 with black wheels, they look evil!
Thanks guys, useful info so far. I did see a stunning blue V8 with I guess you would call it Oatmeal colour interior. Look amazing from the outside but the silver dashboard looked very dated.If you can stretch to it and want to look like a true badman then get a black Sportbrake V6 with black wheels, they look evil!
Would love a Sportbrake but alas they don't start until a decent amount over £20k and even then you are looking at 'poverty-spec' rep cars with the weedy 163 bhp engine. Am not sure I could go from 487 to 163 horsepower :-)
V88Dicky said:
fuel consumption is 35 mpg highway.
I love it, really do
Always nice to hear as I simply adore the C63, I really do.I love it, really do
Edited by V88Dicky on Thursday 21st May 21:08
35 mpg sounds extraordinary, compared to the 23 on the motorway that the 6.2 I currently have does.
Not entirely sure about the Jag engine being better than the 6.2, or indeed the handling, that's probably one for another day
So is Portfolio the highest level? Do most of them come with the Bower & Wilkins sound system?
Thanks Horbury, I have heard that the comfort is something else.
Would love to hear what anyone thinks about the 3.0 diesel car. I drove one when they first came out and thought it was lightning fast (but then I was young enough not know better).
I do have a naughty V8 for the weekend so I don't nescessarily need to be going for the V8, although I do prefer the slightly more aggressive look of the R.
Would love to hear what anyone thinks about the 3.0 diesel car. I drove one when they first came out and thought it was lightning fast (but then I was young enough not know better).
I do have a naughty V8 for the weekend so I don't nescessarily need to be going for the V8, although I do prefer the slightly more aggressive look of the R.
mike_e said:
I've currently got a C63 125 edition and a 3.0 XFS portfolio...I'm in Sussex and the roads around here make the C63 a very harsh ride on 19" rims.
Interior of the Jag is much nicer than the Merc, horrid noisy plastics that creak, as opposed to the portfolio's leather and suede...Sound system (B&W surround) knocks the spots of the standard Merc system.
The handling is very good but it won't corner like the C63. The brakes are something else, way better than the standard C63. Steering weight is much lighter too. Biggest issue for me when making progress on twisty roads is the lack of seat bolsters, you find yourself sliding off the leather seats but at least you can get in and out without scraping the massive side bolsters in the C63.
The 3.0 diesel in S form gives 275BHP and the same torque as a standard C63...Economy is good, around 33-35 around town, mid 40's on a run. It's got a big tank so 500 miles between fills so about twice the range of a C63.
Overall the Jag is the better car to drive on a daily basis, way better in fact. The 5.0 V8 would make a very good compromise if you could only have one car but they are rare compared to a Portfolio S.
Thanks, this is the most perfect review as we are moving to Sussex. Completely agree with you on the irritating noises of the C63 dash, I tend to drown it out with the Harmon Kardon but as a domestic B&W man, it's nice to see that inclusion on the jags. I hope you get the yellow speaker cones! I never expected better handling to be honest but then with Mrs and Jr there is hardly scope for enthusiastic driving in it as it will be Mrs911s daily driver. I will seriously miss the AMG seats, they are by far the most comfortable seats I have ever experienced but agreed, you wouldn't want to too fat or lumbering to climb in and out of them. Economy on the Mrs' wagon makes sense albeit Shell won't be as pleased with me. V6d vs V8 debate is still out there, I think to be honest the V6d might win as then I might be getting into the post-facelift. Thanks, this has been brilliant.Interior of the Jag is much nicer than the Merc, horrid noisy plastics that creak, as opposed to the portfolio's leather and suede...Sound system (B&W surround) knocks the spots of the standard Merc system.
The handling is very good but it won't corner like the C63. The brakes are something else, way better than the standard C63. Steering weight is much lighter too. Biggest issue for me when making progress on twisty roads is the lack of seat bolsters, you find yourself sliding off the leather seats but at least you can get in and out without scraping the massive side bolsters in the C63.
The 3.0 diesel in S form gives 275BHP and the same torque as a standard C63...Economy is good, around 33-35 around town, mid 40's on a run. It's got a big tank so 500 miles between fills so about twice the range of a C63.
Overall the Jag is the better car to drive on a daily basis, way better in fact. The 5.0 V8 would make a very good compromise if you could only have one car but they are rare compared to a Portfolio S.
DangerMonkey said:
I was in a very similar position (newborn but came from an Aston) needing the space
- V8 or diesel V6?
I went for the V6 in XFS form, plenty fast enough, good economy and more to choose from
- What is the interior like in terms of modernity, gadgetry, bluetooth, etc?
Good, screen is a bit laggy on the pre face lifts.
- Are they slightly old-mannish? (I'm 35).
Nah. It's got blingy wheels. I'm mid thirties
- What is the rear passenger space like?
Good. With the leather seats though I was worried about the baby seat damaging them easily so knocked up a cover (well my mother did). The isofix fittings are very very fiddly at first
- What is the boot space like?
Long
- What are the must-have options?
Not a lot, portfolio onwards are well specced. Wish I had the rear view camera in hindsight. It's just about impossible to retrofit.
Other stuff - Incidentally the post face lifts have an irritating stop start that kicks in when you're trying to park. They do get the 8 speed box though.
Another great review, thanks. So do all cars have Bluetooth and Phone Prep, etc? What is the highest model line, do they do an R-line or Sport-line or anything like that?- V8 or diesel V6?
I went for the V6 in XFS form, plenty fast enough, good economy and more to choose from
- What is the interior like in terms of modernity, gadgetry, bluetooth, etc?
Good, screen is a bit laggy on the pre face lifts.
- Are they slightly old-mannish? (I'm 35).
Nah. It's got blingy wheels. I'm mid thirties
- What is the rear passenger space like?
Good. With the leather seats though I was worried about the baby seat damaging them easily so knocked up a cover (well my mother did). The isofix fittings are very very fiddly at first
- What is the boot space like?
Long
- What are the must-have options?
Not a lot, portfolio onwards are well specced. Wish I had the rear view camera in hindsight. It's just about impossible to retrofit.
Other stuff - Incidentally the post face lifts have an irritating stop start that kicks in when you're trying to park. They do get the 8 speed box though.
DangerMonkey said:
...Jaguarsport interior seat option (same as xfr and new portfolios?)...
Iiiiiiiiiinteresting! Thank you, that's a useful option to look out for.Seen a peach of an XFR nudging in under 20k: http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...
Must think Diesel. Must think Diesel. Must think Diesel.
Dammit
Also. What is one of these? Apart from obviously being a 5.0 V8. But not an R.
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
I think this is a little grown-up spec wise for me!
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
I think this is a little grown-up spec wise for me!
So I test drive a 3.0d Portfolio on the weekend and I have to say, I wasn't left blown away :-(
It is quiet and comfy and relatively quick but when I got back to the parking lot and there was my C63, I just wanted a bit more presence, something the Jag doesn't really have. Grace yes, spades of it. The handling is good but a bit wallowy and it really did feel huge when manouvering it around.
I was also amazed at how far the boot went into the car, how on earth are you supposed to reach things that roll all the way to the back!
Flame me, but tested back-to-back with a 4.0d BMW X5 M-sport (stupid name!) it felt the weaker link. Maybe I should test drive on of the V8s!
It is quiet and comfy and relatively quick but when I got back to the parking lot and there was my C63, I just wanted a bit more presence, something the Jag doesn't really have. Grace yes, spades of it. The handling is good but a bit wallowy and it really did feel huge when manouvering it around.
I was also amazed at how far the boot went into the car, how on earth are you supposed to reach things that roll all the way to the back!
Flame me, but tested back-to-back with a 4.0d BMW X5 M-sport (stupid name!) it felt the weaker link. Maybe I should test drive on of the V8s!
Thanks to all and apologies if I have offended anyone. I am sure there would be similar responses if I went into the Merc forum and started eulogising about my XFR having just driven a C250CDI.
To answer some queries.
- The downsize is mostly a financial one and amusingly, actually a requirement for a little more space! I have just bought a new house and want to take some equity out of my AMG. A newborn has also required some extra space in the back so that my 6ft wife can put her seat all the way back. In hindisght, I probably should have changed the title of the thread.
- By presence, I mean from a more aggressive purposeful way. As I am sure you know, the AMG has extended arches, domed bonnet and more aggressive bumpers than the standard Sport C-Class. It sits lower and wider on larger wheels. The Jaguar XF in any specification has presence in that it is a very handsome car, especially in estate format. I would however counter, in this instance of comparison, it is not on the level from an 'aggressive purposeful' level until you get to the XFR or XFR-S. Horses for courses of course. You will note that I added that the car I drove had 'grace, spades of it' so my comment should always be taken in context. On it's own merit, not stood next to the C63, the XF has presence.
- I test drove the BMW as an X5 is also under consideration, along with an Audi Q5. Everybody has different requirements for a car and in this instance I am looking for something to replace my AMG (a car that I dearly love) for someting that will work in rural Sussex as well as it will on motorways. A car that I can buy for anything up to £20k without having to resort to something older than about 6 or 7 years or indeed more than about 75,000 miles. It would be good for that car to be a little more parsimonius than my AMG which struggles to better 20mpg and whilst I am stepping down from a 487bhp V8, I do still have a 472bhp V8 to get my jollies at the weekends. An XFR would be a very fine motorcar but as I am sure, any of you married chaps know, sometimes, it is politically the right move to be considering the Diesel models over the petrol models when this is to be a household vehicle.
- It was actually a 275 bhp S that I test drove. From a straight forward handling and performance basis, the X5, in this instance on a open-bends country road just outside of Rye had the better of the XFSd. In manouvering the vehicle around the car park, the XF felt wider visually out of the windscreen and longer as well. On the road, the car was certainly more comfortable on the road but the lateral roll through corners was not on the same level as the X5 which just felt more planted. Acceleration in sport mode, again the X5 felt quicker which may be understandable given that it is carrying an additional 31bhp (although without looking in the comics, I imagined the X5 to carry more weight, perhaps it has more torque?). And of course, both cars were left wanting compared to the AMG but trust me when I say that I would prefer their ride when it comes to crashing through the poor surface of Sussex roads when you are on the AMG suspension.
- I know from many years of reading EVO, Pistonheads and watching TV/Youtube that the XF in its own right is a very comfortable and fine car. I also know that the R and R-S models handle very well indeed in comparisons with the M5, RS6, et al. I think comparing the XFR and the C63 is an unfair one and I will cease to do so. The C63 in comparison with it's peers the M3 and the RS4 is a most amusing proposition and I would anybody to seriously consider one if you were in the market for either the Audi or the BMW.
I am sorry for not putting enough time into the previous replies, you have been all been very kind with your advice so far. I would love to have a Jaguar XF-R Sportbrake in the driveway but alas this will have to wait until they become a little more affordable.
Now, shall we just back onto chatting about V8s, something I think we all agree on!!!!
To answer some queries.
- The downsize is mostly a financial one and amusingly, actually a requirement for a little more space! I have just bought a new house and want to take some equity out of my AMG. A newborn has also required some extra space in the back so that my 6ft wife can put her seat all the way back. In hindisght, I probably should have changed the title of the thread.
- By presence, I mean from a more aggressive purposeful way. As I am sure you know, the AMG has extended arches, domed bonnet and more aggressive bumpers than the standard Sport C-Class. It sits lower and wider on larger wheels. The Jaguar XF in any specification has presence in that it is a very handsome car, especially in estate format. I would however counter, in this instance of comparison, it is not on the level from an 'aggressive purposeful' level until you get to the XFR or XFR-S. Horses for courses of course. You will note that I added that the car I drove had 'grace, spades of it' so my comment should always be taken in context. On it's own merit, not stood next to the C63, the XF has presence.
- I test drove the BMW as an X5 is also under consideration, along with an Audi Q5. Everybody has different requirements for a car and in this instance I am looking for something to replace my AMG (a car that I dearly love) for someting that will work in rural Sussex as well as it will on motorways. A car that I can buy for anything up to £20k without having to resort to something older than about 6 or 7 years or indeed more than about 75,000 miles. It would be good for that car to be a little more parsimonius than my AMG which struggles to better 20mpg and whilst I am stepping down from a 487bhp V8, I do still have a 472bhp V8 to get my jollies at the weekends. An XFR would be a very fine motorcar but as I am sure, any of you married chaps know, sometimes, it is politically the right move to be considering the Diesel models over the petrol models when this is to be a household vehicle.
- It was actually a 275 bhp S that I test drove. From a straight forward handling and performance basis, the X5, in this instance on a open-bends country road just outside of Rye had the better of the XFSd. In manouvering the vehicle around the car park, the XF felt wider visually out of the windscreen and longer as well. On the road, the car was certainly more comfortable on the road but the lateral roll through corners was not on the same level as the X5 which just felt more planted. Acceleration in sport mode, again the X5 felt quicker which may be understandable given that it is carrying an additional 31bhp (although without looking in the comics, I imagined the X5 to carry more weight, perhaps it has more torque?). And of course, both cars were left wanting compared to the AMG but trust me when I say that I would prefer their ride when it comes to crashing through the poor surface of Sussex roads when you are on the AMG suspension.
- I know from many years of reading EVO, Pistonheads and watching TV/Youtube that the XF in its own right is a very comfortable and fine car. I also know that the R and R-S models handle very well indeed in comparisons with the M5, RS6, et al. I think comparing the XFR and the C63 is an unfair one and I will cease to do so. The C63 in comparison with it's peers the M3 and the RS4 is a most amusing proposition and I would anybody to seriously consider one if you were in the market for either the Audi or the BMW.
I am sorry for not putting enough time into the previous replies, you have been all been very kind with your advice so far. I would love to have a Jaguar XF-R Sportbrake in the driveway but alas this will have to wait until they become a little more affordable.
Now, shall we just back onto chatting about V8s, something I think we all agree on!!!!
Edited by tch911 on Wednesday 27th May 10:13
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