Jag XKR vs. C63 Coupe
Discussion
Budget is up to ~28k so looking at specifically the 5.0 s/c XKR and C63 coupe which are now "just" in budget.
Would love to hear off owners of each and owners that have owned both. What are they like to live with, running costs, reliability, any trips to across the continent?
Driven both but haven't been able to get any serious drive time in either, frustrating and not sure if it's just me but dealers seem to be all about 'buying it now, test driving it on the way home'.
The XKR I've had less drive time in than the C63, which incidentally I used to drive every other few days working for Merc but it's entirely different with the purchasing head on and this was now years ago.
My thoughts:
I think the XKR is absolutely gorgeous! The engine is brutal, gearbox very sharp/quick for a torque converter auto, interior is a nice place to be and has loads of extras from the 16 way seats to adaptive Cruise etc. Comfy and obviously very GT I found. Cons for me are the although not really required useless backseats and the boots also tiny despite the fact it's got a huge lid. Infotainment system is also a bit slow, clumsy and dated. Exhaust is quite muted I thought. Also don't know much about Jaguar which worries me on the reliability front.
C63 has that unbelievable engine & exhaust note and when you sit in it you get the feeling it just wants to be driven, sheer opposite to the XKR. When I worked for Merc (10 years!) it was always the car that I wanted 'one day'. The whole car is a bit more usable & practical, seats, boot etc (don't necessarily need this but do have hobbies that require some space). Looks good, very aggressive. Interiors something I've grown up with and always been used a benchmark for me personally. I know them well and have good connections to dealers. Cons unless you know, they look similar to a diesel C with AMG pack on which takes a huge chunk of the appeal away of having a special car, they all seem to have Pan roofs?! Gearbox is very slow although smooth. I prefer the interior of the Jag, but the infotainment systems better and individual controls in the Merc.
Any pictures, views, stories etc much appreciated. Well on the fence, with a slight lean
Cheers
Would love to hear off owners of each and owners that have owned both. What are they like to live with, running costs, reliability, any trips to across the continent?
Driven both but haven't been able to get any serious drive time in either, frustrating and not sure if it's just me but dealers seem to be all about 'buying it now, test driving it on the way home'.
The XKR I've had less drive time in than the C63, which incidentally I used to drive every other few days working for Merc but it's entirely different with the purchasing head on and this was now years ago.
My thoughts:
I think the XKR is absolutely gorgeous! The engine is brutal, gearbox very sharp/quick for a torque converter auto, interior is a nice place to be and has loads of extras from the 16 way seats to adaptive Cruise etc. Comfy and obviously very GT I found. Cons for me are the although not really required useless backseats and the boots also tiny despite the fact it's got a huge lid. Infotainment system is also a bit slow, clumsy and dated. Exhaust is quite muted I thought. Also don't know much about Jaguar which worries me on the reliability front.
C63 has that unbelievable engine & exhaust note and when you sit in it you get the feeling it just wants to be driven, sheer opposite to the XKR. When I worked for Merc (10 years!) it was always the car that I wanted 'one day'. The whole car is a bit more usable & practical, seats, boot etc (don't necessarily need this but do have hobbies that require some space). Looks good, very aggressive. Interiors something I've grown up with and always been used a benchmark for me personally. I know them well and have good connections to dealers. Cons unless you know, they look similar to a diesel C with AMG pack on which takes a huge chunk of the appeal away of having a special car, they all seem to have Pan roofs?! Gearbox is very slow although smooth. I prefer the interior of the Jag, but the infotainment systems better and individual controls in the Merc.
Any pictures, views, stories etc much appreciated. Well on the fence, with a slight lean
Cheers
mikearwas said:
I have a C63 (and have test driven the Ftype V8 with the same engine as the XKR) and will respond to some of your points. I assume you're referring to the facelift C63 (quite a big difference between this and the pre-facelift):
I bought mine in June this year and absolutely adore it. I took it up to the evo triangle in July where it was an absolute weapon. Cruised up in complete comfort and then dispatched the triangle. Car was far more neutral than i expected - the front really bites and the you can easily feel the rear coming into play and take the appropriate action. Brakes are good but you do feel the weight into higher speed braking zones.
The car has been completely reliable thus far and very easy to live with. The panoramic roof is a must have - really lightens the interior and is fantastic in the summer. It also allows you to hear more of the V8 noise in tunnels etc.
The gearbox isn't slow on the facelift cars, it just isn't as lightning quick as DCT equipped cars. I test drove an M4 at the same time I was looking at the 63 and there is a noticeable difference between the two. However, in its own right the MCT is not bad at all and you cease to worry about it very quickly.
The engine is epic - always feels incredibly special, angry and powerful. It needs around 4000 revs to really get going (same in any N/A car) but once there the pull is formidable. The Jag will have more low down torque and will be more point and squirt but it won't give you the same feeling of laugh out loud excitement that C63 engine will. They also remap extremely easily to 520bhp if you feel it needs more.
Surprised by your interior comment. Again assuming you're talking about facelift cars my view is that the C class interior is a more modern place to be. Haven't spent enough time in an XKR to know about materials but you need to remember that they were in a different price league when new.
Finally, i've kept an eye on the market since buying mine and prices genuinelly seem to be increasing. Sub-15K mile cars are now well over 35k - they weren't six months ago. Many people who have bought the new version actually prefer their old car better. They have fantastic amounts of charachter for a series production German coupe. They always feel up for attacking a piece of road and always feel on your side. Almost like you're riding a dragon that's only loyal to you!
Finally, fuel consumption is horrendous. I get about 14mpg out of mine when driven spirtitedly or in town. It can go down to 10 if you're somewhere like the triangle. Oh so worth it though.
Thanks for the elaborate insight I bought mine in June this year and absolutely adore it. I took it up to the evo triangle in July where it was an absolute weapon. Cruised up in complete comfort and then dispatched the triangle. Car was far more neutral than i expected - the front really bites and the you can easily feel the rear coming into play and take the appropriate action. Brakes are good but you do feel the weight into higher speed braking zones.
The car has been completely reliable thus far and very easy to live with. The panoramic roof is a must have - really lightens the interior and is fantastic in the summer. It also allows you to hear more of the V8 noise in tunnels etc.
The gearbox isn't slow on the facelift cars, it just isn't as lightning quick as DCT equipped cars. I test drove an M4 at the same time I was looking at the 63 and there is a noticeable difference between the two. However, in its own right the MCT is not bad at all and you cease to worry about it very quickly.
The engine is epic - always feels incredibly special, angry and powerful. It needs around 4000 revs to really get going (same in any N/A car) but once there the pull is formidable. The Jag will have more low down torque and will be more point and squirt but it won't give you the same feeling of laugh out loud excitement that C63 engine will. They also remap extremely easily to 520bhp if you feel it needs more.
Surprised by your interior comment. Again assuming you're talking about facelift cars my view is that the C class interior is a more modern place to be. Haven't spent enough time in an XKR to know about materials but you need to remember that they were in a different price league when new.
Finally, i've kept an eye on the market since buying mine and prices genuinelly seem to be increasing. Sub-15K mile cars are now well over 35k - they weren't six months ago. Many people who have bought the new version actually prefer their old car better. They have fantastic amounts of charachter for a series production German coupe. They always feel up for attacking a piece of road and always feel on your side. Almost like you're riding a dragon that's only loyal to you!
Finally, fuel consumption is horrendous. I get about 14mpg out of mine when driven spirtitedly or in town. It can go down to 10 if you're somewhere like the triangle. Oh so worth it though.
I'm sure I'll be corrected which will be embarrassing if wrong but I think coupes were all face lift - regarding interior, if they're not, it will be post face lift/later interior I'm referring too, the flip up screen was a terrible idea!
I don't dislike the 63 interior, just the Jag imo is a nicer place to be - good point on price point though, although still plenty of plastic in the Jag. The pan roof is a nice idea but I spent a lot of my time in the past correcting rattles on them which seem to become far more apparent the older the car gets, something of a bug bare, especially on a car I plan to keep.
Fuel consumption is largely irrelevant to some extent, it'll be used on days off which aren't as frequent as I'd like and hopefully for the odd trip across the continent.
Thanks for the responses, some good info here.
The C63 certainly seems a popular car with some great insight from owners. Didn't realise a map could take them to 500bhp+ all things considering it's an NA engine, it's v. impressive.
As most have noticed, the car's are totally different in relative comparison to most as they are cars picked largely for looks and power. If comparing directly, I think the CL would be possibly a direct comparison, maybe an E coupe but frankly the CL is a big wallowly boat and the E coupe although a good looking car, lacks the AMG factor and doesn't quite do it for me the same way the XKR & C63 do.
The C63 probably reflects my personality more in a (PH - coined, "young yob") at the ripe age of 28 but the XKR's exterior aesthetics are something I'm struggling to ignore, I genuinely think it's one of the best looking cars on the road.
Still completely undecided, need more drive time in both!
The C63 certainly seems a popular car with some great insight from owners. Didn't realise a map could take them to 500bhp+ all things considering it's an NA engine, it's v. impressive.
As most have noticed, the car's are totally different in relative comparison to most as they are cars picked largely for looks and power. If comparing directly, I think the CL would be possibly a direct comparison, maybe an E coupe but frankly the CL is a big wallowly boat and the E coupe although a good looking car, lacks the AMG factor and doesn't quite do it for me the same way the XKR & C63 do.
The C63 probably reflects my personality more in a (PH - coined, "young yob") at the ripe age of 28 but the XKR's exterior aesthetics are something I'm struggling to ignore, I genuinely think it's one of the best looking cars on the road.
Still completely undecided, need more drive time in both!
XFR isn't a bad shout, cars look great but not interested in a 4 door (bit family wagon) again IMO. 590bhp for £1k is mental and another nod towards the Jag and I think a decent backbox will be enough to give it a similar noise output of the 63.
Heard various different stories about the dealer networks not being too great. I would expect my only interaction to be for servicing for a stamp in the book.
More I think about it more I've been balled over by the Jag's looks, when they drive past I just think they're stunning and instantly want one. I don't get the same feeling when I see a 63 on the road which I think is the decision made?!
Heard various different stories about the dealer networks not being too great. I would expect my only interaction to be for servicing for a stamp in the book.
More I think about it more I've been balled over by the Jag's looks, when they drive past I just think they're stunning and instantly want one. I don't get the same feeling when I see a 63 on the road which I think is the decision made?!
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