Jaguar XF SV(0)8
Discussion
Im afraid this post/thread won't be up to the frankly excellent "fettling an F430" or "restoring an 8-series" threads, but I thought I'd best put something here!
Having had this car for a couple of weeks I thought it'd be time to introduce it. It's replaced the Saab as something more modern, more powerful, surprisingly more comfortable, and more rear wheel drive.
It's a Jaguar XF SV8, which uses the same engine (I believe) as was in the S-type R, the XKR, the XJR, and the next XKR before they used the 5L V8: 4.2 litres of supercharged V8-ness producing between 410 and 420hp (depending on who you ask) and about the same lbft of torque.
It took a while to find one with the right spec, and this one has everything I want. Radar guidedmissiles cruise control, front and rear parking sensors, auto lights/wipers, B&W audio, DAB radio, digital TV tuner (not strictly essential I know), heated steering wheel, heated/ventilated electric seats, reversing camera, auto dimming mirrors, and strange little cornering lights which are surprisingly useful at the moment!
It also has the 20" 'Volans' wheels which I really like and, fortunately, still provide a good ride. It has the rear boot lip as well, which I think gives it a more "straight backed" stance and visually extends the boot lid a bit.
The previous owner also had some extras of their own fitted. Firstly, different backboxes. The standard car had a few comments when it was launched that it was a bit quiet considering the engine fitted. These backboxes definitely sort that and, while it is quite loud, it sounds lovely. Couple that to the gearbox which will rev match downshifts and it makes quite a smile-inducing sound!
It also has upgraded front brake discs, and pads all round. They're EBC grooved discs, same size as the originals I believe but with some extra bite. I haven't had to use them "in anger" yet but even moderate pressure seems to get rid of speed quite quickly. Part of this is probably down to servo assistance but I have no doubt that with the size of the tyres (255 front, 285 rear!) there'll probably be sufficient grip to make speed disappear rapidly if you want.
I don't have many pictures at the moment I'm afraid, I took this on the way out of work earlier, but I'll get some more soon to go along with some more thoughts on the car and a few of its design features.
Thanks for reading!
Having had this car for a couple of weeks I thought it'd be time to introduce it. It's replaced the Saab as something more modern, more powerful, surprisingly more comfortable, and more rear wheel drive.
It's a Jaguar XF SV8, which uses the same engine (I believe) as was in the S-type R, the XKR, the XJR, and the next XKR before they used the 5L V8: 4.2 litres of supercharged V8-ness producing between 410 and 420hp (depending on who you ask) and about the same lbft of torque.
It took a while to find one with the right spec, and this one has everything I want. Radar guided
It also has the 20" 'Volans' wheels which I really like and, fortunately, still provide a good ride. It has the rear boot lip as well, which I think gives it a more "straight backed" stance and visually extends the boot lid a bit.
The previous owner also had some extras of their own fitted. Firstly, different backboxes. The standard car had a few comments when it was launched that it was a bit quiet considering the engine fitted. These backboxes definitely sort that and, while it is quite loud, it sounds lovely. Couple that to the gearbox which will rev match downshifts and it makes quite a smile-inducing sound!
It also has upgraded front brake discs, and pads all round. They're EBC grooved discs, same size as the originals I believe but with some extra bite. I haven't had to use them "in anger" yet but even moderate pressure seems to get rid of speed quite quickly. Part of this is probably down to servo assistance but I have no doubt that with the size of the tyres (255 front, 285 rear!) there'll probably be sufficient grip to make speed disappear rapidly if you want.
I don't have many pictures at the moment I'm afraid, I took this on the way out of work earlier, but I'll get some more soon to go along with some more thoughts on the car and a few of its design features.
Thanks for reading!
Looks nice - I had an SV8 for about 6 months- in standard trim they are quite the Q car- no outward signs bar the badge that you are packing a 420ish bhp V8. Loved mine but had to get rid as I changed jobs. I have an XFR now which is a step on from the SV8. I too have had to address the sound as the standard exhaust just doesn't do the engine justice.
Any plans for any other changes? I cant make out from your pics if it already has it, but an XFR diffuser is an easy add on if you want to beef up the back end, and this engine has quite a healthy aftermarket range of bits available for it including smaller supercharger pulleys etc to try and extract a bit more power.
Any plans for any other changes? I cant make out from your pics if it already has it, but an XFR diffuser is an easy add on if you want to beef up the back end, and this engine has quite a healthy aftermarket range of bits available for it including smaller supercharger pulleys etc to try and extract a bit more power.
Very nice, as I said on the Show us your Jags thread, well done 
You're quite right, the 4.2 Supercharged V8 graced a number of Jaguar models over a good few years. I have the same unit and gearbox in my 2008 XKR, it's a hugely capable and charismatic powertrain. I was going to say, you really need to get a nice exhaust to let it sing but that's already been taken care of for you.
Enjoy!
ETA - yours appears to be Aberdeen-registered, did you travel up here to get it?
You're quite right, the 4.2 Supercharged V8 graced a number of Jaguar models over a good few years. I have the same unit and gearbox in my 2008 XKR, it's a hugely capable and charismatic powertrain. I was going to say, you really need to get a nice exhaust to let it sing but that's already been taken care of for you.
Enjoy!
ETA - yours appears to be Aberdeen-registered, did you travel up here to get it?
Thanks all,
I don't have any plans to modify it as yet, will see how it goes as standard for a while. The XFR diffuser looks nice though, hadn't considered that before.
The number plate is not a coincidence either, the original was BT08-something or other but the previous owner had this bought for them to go with the car. An SV8 with an SV08 registration, which I quite like.
I'll see if I can get a video tomorrow, it does sound good!
I don't have any plans to modify it as yet, will see how it goes as standard for a while. The XFR diffuser looks nice though, hadn't considered that before.
The number plate is not a coincidence either, the original was BT08-something or other but the previous owner had this bought for them to go with the car. An SV8 with an SV08 registration, which I quite like.
I'll see if I can get a video tomorrow, it does sound good!
Aha. SV is one of the area prefixes for Aberdeen (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_registration_plates_of_the_United_Kingdom,_Crown_dependencies_and_overseas_territories#Local_memory_tags), BT would have been Birmingham, assuming that was the standard DVLA-assigned registration for the car.
Yes, as far as I know, BT08 was the original registration.
I currently seem to be leaving work when it's dark, so I haven't had much chance to get a video of anything. It is giving me the chance to appreciate the cabin lighting though:
Very modern I think, and certainly different to the Saab. No "night panel" in this though, but I think I can live with that.
I currently seem to be leaving work when it's dark, so I haven't had much chance to get a video of anything. It is giving me the chance to appreciate the cabin lighting though:
Very modern I think, and certainly different to the Saab. No "night panel" in this though, but I think I can live with that.
Small addition to the limited number of pictures I took of the car! Came out of work today and took these quickly:
The interior is black leather and carpets, with this wood trim on the centre console here and the doors. It's the sort of thing I probably would have specced myself had I bought it new so I'm very pleased the combination came up on this car.
As for the general experience, it's fantastic. It turns people who are vaguely interested in cars into children when it starts from cold, dispatches straights with ease and grips surprisingly well in corners. That'd be the rather large 255 and 285 section tyres. The sound system is excellent, the only gripe being that on FM radio the sound quality is noticeably...cack. On DAB however it's significantly better so there it stays!
I'm also finding the reversing aids quite useful. It's not much bigger than the 9-5 but there's a lump in the rear parcel shelf for the brake light and air vent(?) which doesn't help rear visibility, and also means in conjunction with the auto dimming rear view mirrors, my games of "identify the car behind from it's headlight pattern" got a lot more difficult. First world problems...
The interior is black leather and carpets, with this wood trim on the centre console here and the doors. It's the sort of thing I probably would have specced myself had I bought it new so I'm very pleased the combination came up on this car.
As for the general experience, it's fantastic. It turns people who are vaguely interested in cars into children when it starts from cold, dispatches straights with ease and grips surprisingly well in corners. That'd be the rather large 255 and 285 section tyres. The sound system is excellent, the only gripe being that on FM radio the sound quality is noticeably...cack. On DAB however it's significantly better so there it stays!
I'm also finding the reversing aids quite useful. It's not much bigger than the 9-5 but there's a lump in the rear parcel shelf for the brake light and air vent(?) which doesn't help rear visibility, and also means in conjunction with the auto dimming rear view mirrors, my games of "identify the car behind from it's headlight pattern" got a lot more difficult. First world problems...
In the past couple of days I've taken the XF for a service, and had it MOT'd. The sidelights weren't working before the MOT, changed them, which is a headlight out/arms up in the wheel arch job due to air boxes being in the way, and it's all good with no advisories.
Other than that there isn't much to update on yet! It's running well and nothing's broken or gone wrong. When we had the hot weather at the end of May/beginning of June the ventilated seats were excellent and with the windows down the V8 sounds fantastic. Taking it into a multi storey car park confirmed that even though my friend in the passenger seat did state that I was "childish and easily pleased" before eventually saying it sounded "mean". I'll take that.
Other than that there isn't much to update on yet! It's running well and nothing's broken or gone wrong. When we had the hot weather at the end of May/beginning of June the ventilated seats were excellent and with the windows down the V8 sounds fantastic. Taking it into a multi storey car park confirmed that even though my friend in the passenger seat did state that I was "childish and easily pleased" before eventually saying it sounded "mean". I'll take that.
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