An honest comparison! Remotely interested??
An honest comparison! Remotely interested??
Author
Discussion

lady topaz

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

284 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Having had a 4.7 V8 and a V12 Vantage, i wondered if anyone was remotely interested in an unbiased view of a comparison with my Current XKR!

Knowing this forum intimately it would go off piste almost immediately but happy to do a review warts and all.

Probably better to compare to a DB 9 but not having owned one I can't.

Up to you.

Di


avinalarf

6,438 posts

172 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
lady topaz said:
Having had a 4.7 V8 and a V12 Vantage, i wondered if anyone was remotely interested in an unbiased view of a comparison with my Current XKR!

Knowing this forum intimately it would go off piste almost immediately but happy to do a review warts and all.

Probably better to compare to a DB 9 but not having owned one I can't.

Up to you.

Di
Happy to oblige !
"Intimately "
"Warts and all "
I can relate to that !
I have a DB9 so you can have a go and compare, now that's an offer you cannot refuse!

Speculatore

2,003 posts

265 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
I went the other way...XKR to DB9. (I am surprised you went over to Jaguar considering the comment in your garage).

"Never thought I would achieve my dream, owning what is imho the most beautiful car on the planet."

MollyGTi

2,373 posts

184 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Always nice to hear from you Di and your opinions would be valued as ever smile

.....can't say there's much chance of your thread staying on topic tho' wink

....having said that - it is a fairly ambiguous thread title scratchchin

Simon T

2,157 posts

303 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Worth a go Di, I will give it three replies... biggrin

Simon

lady topaz

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

284 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Speculatore said:
I went the other way...XKR to DB9. (I am surprised you went over to Jaguar considering the comment in your garage).

"Never thought I would achieve my dream, owning what is imho the most beautiful car on the planet."
Grandchild, saloon , bored, loads of dosh on grandchild , needs must, say no more . Reasonable alternative. All will be revealed if there is an interest.

Di

mikey k

13,074 posts

246 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
MollyGTi said:
Always nice to hear from you Di and your opinions would be valued as ever smile

.....can't say there's much chance of your thread staying on topic tho' wink

....having said that - it is a fairly ambiguous thread title scratchchin
yes
contemplated an XKR before the 4.7, toyed with a V12 as well
Though I'm only really interested in convertibles.


JohnG123

663 posts

160 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Yes sounds good I have owned an XKR and a V8 4.3 Vantage.


ADvantageV8

76 posts

156 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Yes please as I was trying to decide on a nearly new XKR ( max 6 months old) or the Vantage 4.7 ( 3 years old)and decided on the vantage but be v interested to hear from someone who has actually had both, thanks Andy

Laser Sag

2,860 posts

273 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Be interesting to hear your comparisons, had an aquaintance who had an XKR and moved it on at a huge loss because he reckoned it never wanted to grip in anything but the most perfect road conditions.
Shame really as it certainly looked and sounded good.

graham 500

376 posts

284 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Come on, the suspense is killing me...........

lady topaz

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

284 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Ok I will give it a go before Jockman or George dis rail it with tales of sheds or motorbikes.

First comparison should be price and what you get.

My new XKR convertible to my spec topped out at £68,000. Forecourt price £83,000. This compares to my year old V8V roadster 5 years ago at £83,000 and my new V12V a couple of years ago @ £117,000. Forecourt price £146,000.

Looks... I think the XKR, whilst a thing of beauty is long in the tooth in spite of face lifts. It looks dated.
Strangely I think the Vantage seems timeless. Faultless from every angle. Just beautiful.

Quality ... I have to admit, the XKR holds it's own. I have done 4,000 miles, not a squeak, or rattle. It's very comfortable. It's extremely well put together and a good place to be.

Controls.... Well the Astons win hands down with the manual gearbox and the auto in the Jag being the same as the Evoque and the XF give it a massed produced feel. The Aston felt special.

The sat nav interface on the XKR is poor, due I believe to lack of interest in updating it as it is now an end of run model. The one I had in my XF was superb. However it is still streets ahead of the Astons. They are worlds behind.

Performance.... Bearing in mind I am only commenting on everyday use, again the manual box makes the Aston a winner. Booting the Jaguar in auto or paddle just leads to wheel spin. Maybe haven't had it long enough to master but I'm dreading the winter whereas I never did in an Aston.

Normal driving, nothing to choose, all do what they should effortlessly. Great acceleration and cruising.

At the end of the day, in truth there is very little to choose between the cars. On a track it could be a different thing altogether.

This is, however about one or the other for every day use.

I don't worry about the XKR when parking I did with the Astons.

To me it's the badge on the bonnet. Is an AM a better car? I actually don't think it is.

An Aston feels special, a Jaguar, however good ,just doesn't.

Value for money, the Jag wins hands down, but it's not an Aston and I'm counting the days and pennies to get back in one.

Latest quality issues are a worry. Aston owners seem to moan a bit then roll over and accept, not had one issue with Jaguar.

I am not convinced with the F Type Jag, it's lines especially from the rear don't work. It looks clumsy. The coupe might cause Aston a prob. Early pics look gorgeous.

I'm still coming back to Aston though however illogical

Di

avinalarf

6,438 posts

172 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
An interesting appraisal from someone who has lived with both cars.
As for me,I have had three Astons my first in my 20's so they hold a nostalgic place in my heart.
I have driven Jags but that was years ago and those days they were more 'exclusive' and felt so.
The Aston is a classy looking car and the styling has always been discreet although some details on the newer models are a little bold for my taste.

michael gould

5,698 posts

271 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
lady topaz said:
Ok I will give it a go before Jockman or George dis rail it with tales of sheds or motorbikes.

First comparison should be price and what you get.

My new XKR convertible to my spec topped out at £68,000. Forecourt price £83,000. This compares to my year old V8V roadster 5 years ago at £83,000 and my new V12V a couple of years ago @ £117,000. Forecourt price £146,000.

Looks... I think the XKR, whilst a thing of beauty is long in the tooth in spite of face lifts. It looks dated.
Strangely I think the Vantage seems timeless. Faultless from every angle. Just beautiful.

Quality ... I have to admit, the XKR holds it's own. I have done 4,000 miles, not a squeak, or rattle. It's very comfortable. It's extremely well put together and a good place to be.

Controls.... Well the Astons win hands down with the manual gearbox and the auto in the Jag being the same as the Evoque and the XF give it a massed produced feel. The Aston felt special.

The sat nav interface on the XKR is poor, due I believe to lack of interest in updating it as it is now an end of run model. The one I had in my XF was superb. However it is still streets ahead of the Astons. They are worlds behind.

Performance.... Bearing in mind I am only commenting on everyday use, again the manual box makes the Aston a winner. Booting the Jaguar in auto or paddle just leads to wheel spin. Maybe haven't had it long enough to master but I'm dreading the winter whereas I never did in an Aston.

Normal driving, nothing to choose, all do what they should effortlessly. Great acceleration and cruising.

At the end of the day, in truth there is very little to choose between the cars. On a track it could be a different thing altogether.

This is, however about one or the other for every day use.

I don't worry about the XKR when parking I did with the Astons.

To me it's the badge on the bonnet. Is an AM a better car? I actually don't think it is.

An Aston feels special, a Jaguar, however good ,just doesn't.

Value for money, the Jag wins hands down, but it's not an Aston and I'm counting the days and pennies to get back in one.

Latest quality issues are a worry. Aston owners seem to moan a bit then roll over and accept, not had one issue with Jaguar.

I am not convinced with the F Type Jag, it's lines especially from the rear don't work. It looks clumsy. The coupe might cause Aston a prob. Early pics look gorgeous.

I'm still coming back to Aston though however illogical

Di
Whilst I accept all you say and I'm sure the Jag is a fine car I can't get my head around your whole buying process......I assume you dropt 25k on the v12v and I'm sure you have dropt a further 15k on your Jag......couldn't you buy a 2 year old Aston and still have the funds to support your grandchild ?

lady topaz

Original Poster:

3,855 posts

284 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Michael

I sold the V12V for £90k Bought our daughter a Juke for £16.000 . Bought an XF for £30,000, before I got bored with it. Bought a kitchen for £xxxxx. Given our daughter £xxxxx towards their house purchase so not a lot of dosh left disposable.

Having had new V12V and being a snob I couldn't downsize so the Jag deal seemed a good alternative, and it is.

Laser Sag

2,860 posts

273 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all
Wheelspin in the XKR backs up what the aquaintance said, shame really doesn't sound like it would inspire much confidence on a cold damp road.

Jon39

14,929 posts

173 months

Thursday 7th November 2013
quotequote all

Lady Di,

Thank you. An interesting comparison.

One aspect that you did not mention, is the affection towards Aston Martins from other road users. The wave, thumbs-up, photo, "after you" and "please may I hear the sound?" Warm glow stuff.

So to the question.
How does the other road user reaction compare in your XKR?

......................................

A little nostalgia for you.
This is my last sighting (so far), of your Grigio Titanio beauty.



Jon.

hornbaek

3,834 posts

265 months

Friday 8th November 2013
quotequote all
During the early days of the VH platform Astons sold on being good looking, cool, good sound and also class leading performance. 10 years on it is only the looks, the sound and the price that has stayed up there. Everything else is outdated. Aston desperately needs a technology partner.

Jockman

18,414 posts

190 months

Friday 8th November 2013
quotequote all
Good on you Di for taking the time to do a write up yes

Since Amy moved back from London I don't even have a car, only a push bike. Quite liberating tbh.

Aren't grand kids great fun !!!!! smile

bentley01

1,189 posts

166 months

Friday 8th November 2013
quotequote all
Interesting to hear your comparison of the two cars. When I picked up my car recently they had an F type Jag in the showroom. I had a good look inside an to be honest it felt mass produced, which of course it is. The Aston just felt that much more special. In terms of performance my work colleague has an XKR which feels very quick but it is not worlds apart from the Aston. To be honest who cares, if I wanted super fast I would of bought a GTR.