X150 coupe: Talk me out of it

[Vsix and Vtec]

Hello all. I currently drive a Civic Type R as my weekend car, having used it previously for work. I now have a van so the CTR is now purely for pleasure drives. I'm finding myself missing a Jaguar (used to work for a dealership, and have owned a a Jaguar in the past) and the CTR is both seemingly bringing out the worst in me, in that being a revvy hothatch leads me to being impatient and aggressive in a way I wasnt in my Range Rover or my Jag. The fidgeting ride is starting to wear on me too, as its always taut and primed for action even when I'm trying desperately to potter about.

To cut to the chase, I've started looking at the XK 5.0 coupe. Are they a minefield of pain and expenses? Are they uncomfortable and jarring? Do they go through chain tensioner and coolant hoses? I'm not after an XKR, that's just too close to a genuinely FAST car to trust myself with. I just want a nice car that can do the mileage for things like Le Mans, not hold my bank account hostage, and help me become a bit more of a relaxed middle aged man, instead of the angst ridden teen the CTR seems to bring out in me.

[Vsix and Vtec]

I'm not anticipating fault free driving, I know only too well how quickly the bill can add up (I was working for a Jaguar dealer when the Nykasil bore problems with the X100 and x308 first happened). I'm mostly concerned if they've finally cured the timing chain issue, as I seem to recall the 4.0 had no end of warranty replacement for those. Having also previously owned an L322 TDV8, I know what JLR products can be like. Service items I'm fairly unfazed with, I replaced all four caliper, disc and pad on my CTR last year because I wasn't happy with the stopping power, and the NSR was starting to stick. My concern is more i left just as the 4.2 X150 was introduced, so I have no dealer side knowledge of the foibles of it and the later 5.0. Having been pummelled by my L322 over the two years I owned it, the unexpected EML and both EGR valves being recommended for replacement to the tune of 5k (having just serviced it for £900) is more the kind of "fix now" catastrophe I'm nervous about.

[Vsix and Vtec]

HendrixsWhiteStratReturns said:

Hi - I had an L322, shocking car it really was, finally dumped it after the front diff went for the second time.

The XK is not in that ballpark, they seem decent cars but coolant loss and sensors/electrical stuff seems the weak point. I have a really good specialist (Barny Jones Ltd) look after mine now and they are superb.

I'm fortunate in that I know who the good aftermarket specialists are near me, having spoken to a number of them in the past. My pockets are nothing like Jaguar Main Dealer deep (I've heard they charge up to £200 an hour now???) So I wouldn't be entertaining that avenue. I did love my L322 ( I put 50k miles under the wheels in two years), but I seemed to have it in the garage every 6 months to spend another 900 to 1,500 for some reason or another.

[Vsix and Vtec]

HendrixsWhiteStratReturns said:

...he's right about Indigo though.....it's lovely ;-0

I have to admit, the ones in my price bracket all seem to be black or grey. I do like it in silver however, i'm definitely getting Spa Silver XJ220 vibes from the grille/headlamp area on the few i've seen. Silver, Red or a Blue would be my choice, with wood dash rather than aluminium. I'm coming back to the leaping cat for luxury rather than sporting feel.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Simpo Two said:

The problem with X150s, just like DB9s, is that the later you go the more boring the colours get. And of course if you happen to like wood, as I do, you are automatically 200 years old and well past it grandad . So if you like a bit more than monochrome and aluminium, you may need to look at earlier cars.

Thats fine with me, the older ones are about what I can afford I think the best I'm going to get is a 2010 with around 55k miles, and in all honesty, that will fit me just fine. I'm also fine with being regarded as 200 years old, I'm of the opinion that whilst I understand Jaguar chasing younger money, they made a grievous error in the styling of the latest XJ, and lost thier DNA all together with the XE and XF. They're nice cars, but you would never say "that's a jag" in a blind test.

[Vsix and Vtec]

reddiesel said:

Where roughly are you based ? I’m in MK and happy to tag along if you want a second pair of eyes if that helps in any way

I'm in the Midlands, on the blue side of the Trent. I'm probably going to be making my move after I get back from Le Mans classic later in the year, but I'd definitely appreciate a pair of knowledgeable eyes on the matter.

[Vsix and Vtec]

I'm wanting one to put me back in a comfortable and relaxed cruiser. I use a company van during the week now, so I want something to help me unwind and cover the leisure miles with my partner. I think the XKR would be too costly fueling and a bit too sporty for my goal. Mostly it's so I can just lean back, pootle along and let the V8 whisper reassuring sounds to my angry core. A supercharger would very likely be too temping to play with, and then I'm right back where my Type R has me now.

[Vsix and Vtec]

If you fine gentlemen will forgive my saying so, this is very much a trade up for the heart over the head. I know it's never going to make me money, I just hope it doesn't cost me too much beyond the reasonable servicing,wear and tear etc. I'm not some big throbbing CEO with a wallet so generous it has its own postcode, I just miss the effortless grace of a nicely damped cruiser, that maybe just for the duration of the drive will flatter me that I've maybe achieved more than I have.

[Vsix and Vtec]

The thought that presents itself to me is, is CAP value even a potential purchase price for myself as just a chap in the street with no trade licence? Can I just walk into a BCA auction and bid?

[Vsix and Vtec]

Well that bodes well for me I guess. The ones I'm lusting after at the moment are 17k with 50k miles on, with any luck I'll be able to get that car for more like 14k when I come to being ready in July!

[Vsix and Vtec]

stickleback123 said:

Given one I watched recently was

2009 38k mile XK 5.0 V8 portfolio coupe in silver - £13,100

I think £16k - £17k retail from a decent dealer who will stand behind the car is not unreasonable, if they've put the effort in to prep and present the car well.

If I was buying that car privately I'd expect to pay about £15k, of course the history matters particularly with an early 5.0 where it'd be nice to see that the timing chains have been changed.

I think the only 4.2 that could be worth that much would be an XKR convertible and even that'd feel a bit toppy.

I don't begrudge a dealer doing that. Its the 5.0 coupe I'm smitten with, I'd love one in silver, preferably a light dash (dove grey seems to be the lightest) tan or cream seats and wood not aluminium. Proper "old man" spec I know, most seem to be black, with black or two-tone leather, and aluminium dash,,,

[Vsix and Vtec]

mmcd87 said:

5.0L would be a lovely car with plenty performance - the non supercharged engine does ultimately mean less to go wrong as the cars get older. Get one with a wood interior - statistically less likely to have been thrashed .

The wood is my preference, I'm of the opinion the only appropriate place for Aluminium in a Jaguar is as part of something functional rather than decorative. Wood or leather everywhere else.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Thank you, I'm already a subscriber to James's chanel! I have to say, he's certainly cemented the idea, although possibly I'd have liked him to be more expansive on the ride quality levels between models and alloy options. As I'm looking to come from a Type R, I'm quite keen that I don't end up in a car with a jiggly or unsettled ride otherwise I'm right back where I am now. The £1,800 service for the belts (serpentine and supercharger) was an eye opener, and means quite possibly the XKR is beyond my pocket, although I'd still consider one if the right car came along. However I suspect the "ordinary" (if there is such a thing) XK more aligns with my desire for a comfortable cruiser.

I did however curse him for reminding everyone else the X150 existed, there's precious few in the spec and colours I like already without waking up the YouTube crowd.

[Vsix and Vtec]

RB CV8 said:

For what it's worth, I ran a 5.0XKR as an occasional car for a few years, and have recently ventured back into X150 ownership, but deliberately went for a late XK Signature instead, as I thought the N/A car would be better suited to almost everyday use. I find that it's less frantic nature and more progressive power delivery make it better suited to regular use than the supercharged car. It is hardly slow though, and still has a fair turn of speed when required. I also think it seems to sound better than my R did.

Despite 20-inch wheels, the car rides pretty well, although the XKR did too. My brother recently drove my current car and was impressed with the way it coped with the dreadful Cambridgeshire roads; he drives a Jaguar X350 V8.

I would not rule out an "ordinary" XK!

I think i'm more or less settled at the point where I'm certain to be looking at a 4.2 rather than the 5.0, there's just more examples of them in my price range (£10k to £15k with PX included) and I'm quite content with that. I'm glad to see you say that the 20" doesn't ruin the ride, I've been kind of giving those a wide birth. The only things i'm really setting in stone are that it must be a coupe, it must have wood rather than aluminium, and it must be a lighter colour (Liquid Silver is my preference, followed by Frost Blue, then maybe Radiance Red, Winter Gold or one of the many Greens) with a light interior. The XK 60 with the blue leather and American Maplewood is an option but not very common, certainly at my range. Lastly, I'm hoping to keep the mileage as low as I can realistically afford, and it looks like I'll be somewhere around the 60 -80k miles area. Obviously condition and history trump miles, especially as I'm aware the drivebelts and gearbox fluid changes are a must if I want to have a hope of it being reliable.

[Vsix and Vtec]

RB CV8 said:

When I bought my XKR, I decided that I didn't want black and preferred a light interior; I ended up with black with black! The condition of the car made the difference. It was a 68k mile car. The the current car had covered 38,000 miles with full Jaguar history. Again I didn't want black, but that's what I got, but with ivory upholstery.

I haven't found them particularly expensive to maintain. Service parts are reasonably priced; there are numerous sources. I favour "genuine" bits but use EBC Red Stuff brake pads. Getting part numbers is easy, then shop around. I use a local place for servicing/repairs on all my cars. Their labour rate is far lower than main dealers and they are always putting Ferraris and Porsches right so know what they are doing.

I had a similar situation with my old L322, ended up black with black, but I'm determined that's not happening this time. Thanks for the input regarding costs too, it sounds like we have a very similar approach to things, I'll be using genuine parts where possible, or high quality aftermarket like EBC (I love thier Yellow Stuff pads on my Type R) and Yuassa. The first service in my ownership will probably be at a main dealer so they have the opportunity to check it for any outstanding recalls, but the rest will be at an independent Jaguar specialist.

Bugger. Looks like I've failed and this is now a thing that's happening.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Well hopefully it will be of some comfort that I'm not falling into either of those categories.

I thought I should update this thread, but first I'd like to thank all the respondents who have given me so much useful advice and information, and I'm happy to report that as of yesterday I've put down a deposit on a 2009 XK60 in Liquid Silver. It has the electric side bolster option, but I don't see much else that's been added over standard. I'm awaiting preparation work by the garage before I take delivery, but the top and bottom of it is I'm now back the the Jaguar orbit. Thanks again everyone! There will be a new thread in due course (with pictures!).

[Vsix and Vtec]

reddiesel said:

Thats great news , what exactly is an XK60 ? Naturally I assume its an X150 and 2009 will make it a 5.0 litre engine but where else does it differ from the standard model ? I cant wait to hear your thoughts and experiences , good luck with your purchase and many happy years of enjoyment

It's effectively the runout model for the pre-facelift car. It's base is the regular 4.2 engined car, but it adds a few cosmetic changes such as bright trim to the gearshift surround, the wing gills, squared tailpipes, new mesh grilles, and a different body kit.

Mine isn't quite the wish list, as it has black leather interior and aluminium dash trim, however it works well with the Liquid Silver paint and the bright finishes which were part of the 60 edition.

[Vsix and Vtec]

Craikeybaby said:

I think I had to do a special build of the touchscreen software for these - the updated HMI from the XF, but with the old backend/car interface from the pre-facelift X150. From 10MY it was common software with the XF.

Really? Oh boy, well that's something to bare in mind then if I ever need to delve into the infotainment system. Hopefully I pick the car up on Saturday morning, so I'll be able to spend a bit more time sampling your handywork then!

[Vsix and Vtec]

Here she is, in all her glory. Excuse the singular snap, it's raining and I'd rather update properly in a fresh readers cars thread once it's dry and I've got a few coats of Autoglym on the paint. Thank you all once again.

[Vsix and Vtec]

remedy said:

35mpg

Definitely not an R.

Well done and I hope you enjoy being talked into it as much as I did. Every drive makes me smile.

Haha no, It's a 2009 "XK60" 4.2, half decent mileage for the age, (ticked over 58,000 miles on the way home). I have some misgivings about the service history but the outward condition of the car is good and it's the model and colour I wanted, I suspect I'm going to have to do a few bits of work to it before Le Mans!