X150 coupe: Talk me out of it
Discussion
8bit said:
Jefuk said:
Never mind thought you meant an xk150 which might be one of the most beautiful cars ever.
The XK150 might well be, but the XK120 definitely is Edited by Jefuk on Sunday 17th September 00:17
GeniusOfLove said:
a8hex said:
I got so fed up with people confusing the two I thought I'd add the X150 to my XK so I could show the difference.
Living the dream
The X300 is currently SORN and I'm not sure whether I'll ever manage to get it back on the road. Very annoying story - it went missing for 3 or 4 years. I've had the X300 since she was less than 18 month old. She probably need to find a new home
When they were all very much working.
A thousand horses
So I am 4 weeks into ownership now and have a little round up about the car.
I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....
The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.
I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.
After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.
It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.
I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....
The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.
I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.
After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.
It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.
summit7 said:
So I am 4 weeks into ownership now and have a little round up about the car.
I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....
The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.
I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.
After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.
It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.
They really do get under your skin don't they? I always find washing and polishing the XK to be quite relaxing, sure it provides moments of "oh, i'd better get that looked at" but once you're done and you step back, it's a genuine pleasure to look at those lines and curves shine. I'm really glad to read of happy times returning to you!I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....
The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.
I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.
After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.
It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.
summit7 said:
....... I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.......
If that wasn't in Sport mode, you must try it summit7 said:
So I am 4 weeks into ownership now and have a little round up about the car.
I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....
The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.
I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.
After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.
It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.
Glad to hear you're enjoying it I haven't owned a "performance car", whatever and however you class that for a long while so have treated this with kid gloves while I get comfortable with the "performance" whilst acknowledging I have driven more "potent" cars in the past and that I am becoming limited through age so chose a Jaguar - what an old man....
The car was bought on impulse to finally rid a 7 year tale of personal woe that is irrelevant here, the only subscript being that the woe rid me of any enjoyment of roads and driving, however the XK, it's a bloody good car and the feelgood factor of looking at it, driving it has started to reconnect me with cars again.
I really like the linear nature of the car, I have always liked front engined rear wheel drive cars that respond in a progressive way. This car nails that, after buying the car I read contemporary reviews who praised it's linearalty. There is no electronic variable rack steering, thank feck for that. It's so easy to drive chilled out, so comfy, so quiet, the interior is devine. I floored it for the first time today and hadn't realised how close I had come to flooring it before. It's a fast car without being scary fast. I now understand if someone wanted the supercharged car but that is not for me where I am at. It's fast enough for me on UK roads.
After decades since caring about cars this one has been washed and polished every week with details being seen to, it is a long way from being "smart" but is on the road to being quietly "a bit special" to those who know. When I was a teenager my besty and I would spend all day prepping our cars before going out in the evening. When first married the first new car in the 80's I bought was a Scirocco which was always immaculate. A good work colleague at the time opined that there where better things to do in life "on a Sunday morning" than polish cars. I would like to go back to enjoying this particular car but am already worry about where to park it.
It is a great car, fast, comfy and under the insta radar, love it and glad I bought it. Must learn to be a more rounded person about car ownership after checking out from it for so many years. It's the XK's fault that I actually care a bit finally again.
There's a lot to love about these cars. IMHO they're not the last word in anything really but they do manage to strike an uncanny balance between a lot of things; satisfyingly natural and analogue but with enough convenience and automation to feel like you're being looked after. I really don't think anything makes you feel quite as special for such relatively little money, whilst offering quite so much performance.Very minor point of order; the steering is an electronically-controlled variable ratio rack, although it's hydraulic rather than EPAS.
Going to need to see a photo or two...
A big box of hoses, water pump, and a thermostat have arrived for my 130,000 mile BCA bargain. Pleasantly surprised at the JLR prices for most of the parts too. I've bought a vacuum filler too, so quite looking forward to seeing that do it's magic.
£400 or so and a day of my time to fix the biggest weakness in most big old engines seems a fair deal, but it took me a little while with the service book, parts diagram, and looking at the car to work out the cooling system completely though - it'd help if Jaguar oriented the parts in the parts finder the way they fit to the car!!
The only actually difficult to access hose is one little one that goes from the rear heater manifold (a ridiculous plastic thing) to the throttle body, which would need the charger out to replace properly if it ever went. Given the 8 million other places they could have tapped coolant for the throttle body that wouldn't have required such an inaccessible run I find it a bit irritating, but if/when it goes it's an excuse for a charger bearing replacement and a new pulley...
£400 or so and a day of my time to fix the biggest weakness in most big old engines seems a fair deal, but it took me a little while with the service book, parts diagram, and looking at the car to work out the cooling system completely though - it'd help if Jaguar oriented the parts in the parts finder the way they fit to the car!!
The only actually difficult to access hose is one little one that goes from the rear heater manifold (a ridiculous plastic thing) to the throttle body, which would need the charger out to replace properly if it ever went. Given the 8 million other places they could have tapped coolant for the throttle body that wouldn't have required such an inaccessible run I find it a bit irritating, but if/when it goes it's an excuse for a charger bearing replacement and a new pulley...
GeniusOfLove said:
...Pleasantly surprised at the JLR prices for most of the parts too...
What I found was that pretty much anything that was shared amongst multiple models (or across other brands in the same group at the time, e.g. Ford or Volvo) was surprisingly reasonable in price. Stuff that was specific to the X150 could potentially be eye-watering, e.g. body panels.8bit said:
What I found was that pretty much anything that was shared amongst multiple models (or across other brands in the same group at the time, e.g. Ford or Volvo) was surprisingly reasonable in price. Stuff that was specific to the X150 could potentially be eye-watering, e.g. body panels.
Yes mintex rear pads are about £14!The XKR and X351 big 380mm brake discs are, unfortunately, not very common and thus very expensive
GeniusOfLove said:
Yes mintex rear pads are about £14!
The XKR and X351 big 380mm brake discs are, unfortunately, not very common and thus very expensive
I don't think Mintex were ever an OEM item for JLR, I meant things like suspension parts, electronic sensors, the alarm sounder etc.The XKR and X351 big 380mm brake discs are, unfortunately, not very common and thus very expensive
I did the discs and pads on both my XKRs, on the 5.0 I used Brembo discs all round. onlinecarparts.co.uk have the Brembo 380mm fronts at £152.43 each just now and the 376mm rears at just under £80 each. Compare that to a pair of front discs for a Maserati Granturismo at just shy of £1k - you're welcome
Brake pads, the standard Jurid-manufactured OE front pads are the best-rated ones you can get for these cars. Ferodo make rears that have the same friction rating as the fronts (GG). I had those and the Brembos all round, braking was very effective. Forget ceramic compound pads, I used a couple of sets and yes, they generate less visible dust but they only really work well when hot so the braking performance does vary significantly depending on how much/how hard you've used them in the past few minutes.
GeniusOfLove said:
I was using the Mintex rears as an example of how incredibly cheap parts can be.
Ah I see - so yes but Mintex stuff is fairly cheap for any car brand I've found.GeniusOfLove said:
I also found the Jurid aftermarket front pads are shared with a few BMW models so are available quite reasonably too.
They are but you have to be careful. I bought a set of Jurid White ceramic compound front pads for my 5.0 XKR which were sold as being suitable for the XKR plus the V10 BMW M5 and M6. It transpired that the friction material thickness was 2mm too thick for the XKR. I ended up grinding them down to fit, then found that the performance was poor compared to regular compound so swapped them out for regular Jurid pads in the end. Far better performance.I am going to poke my nose in at the JDC Bedfordshire area tomorrow evening at the Raven pub at Hexton. It is on the Hitchin to Barton road. Forecast is good so should be a nice outing for the XK. Some good roads around there, I lived in Pirton for a while so will be nice to go back up there.
My dad gave me his 2006 XK 4.2 last week as he is too poorly to drive.
Ive done about 500 miiles in a week as I have been on call and it is a lovely car to drive but it cost me £170 in fuel!
I don't know what to do with it because as much as it is lovely to drive and would make a lovely daily the fuel and tax is prohibitive on the basis its not that exciting to drive its just lovely to drive in a way my other cars arent.
I usually daily an old Defender which I love and need for my dogs and a Porsche 996 carrera which I love more than any car I have owned in the past. I have a TVR for when I want a drive
So the Jag which isnt that quick, doesnt sound that exciting as its so quiet but is lovely and cossetting to drive has provided me with a conundrum. If it wasnt for the fact its my dads and I feel awful for him taking I would sell it but I feel disrespectful doing so despite him telling me to sell and keep cash
Lovely cars just not an exciting enough car for me
Ive done about 500 miiles in a week as I have been on call and it is a lovely car to drive but it cost me £170 in fuel!
I don't know what to do with it because as much as it is lovely to drive and would make a lovely daily the fuel and tax is prohibitive on the basis its not that exciting to drive its just lovely to drive in a way my other cars arent.
I usually daily an old Defender which I love and need for my dogs and a Porsche 996 carrera which I love more than any car I have owned in the past. I have a TVR for when I want a drive
So the Jag which isnt that quick, doesnt sound that exciting as its so quiet but is lovely and cossetting to drive has provided me with a conundrum. If it wasnt for the fact its my dads and I feel awful for him taking I would sell it but I feel disrespectful doing so despite him telling me to sell and keep cash
Lovely cars just not an exciting enough car for me
You must have been pushing it to spend £170 over 500 miles. Assuming £7 a gallon that's 24.3 gallons which is 20.6mpg. I could average 29-30mpg in mine.
In other respects you're spot on, it's a 'luxury' cruiser not a rorty sportscar. I would keep it for now, maybe save it for special occasions and just go easier on the right foot
In other respects you're spot on, it's a 'luxury' cruiser not a rorty sportscar. I would keep it for now, maybe save it for special occasions and just go easier on the right foot
The running costs to power/fun ratio isn't very good on a 4.2 coupe, the fuel usage is one thing (and it's something you have some control over) but the £700 a year RFL is just spiteful. They are very pleasant to drive, but are they that much more pleasant than a 3.0d portfolio S XF that costs £400+ less a year to tax and uses half as much fuel? OK the X150 coupe is very very pretty but even that only goes so far.
I think it's a real shame though because cars like that and the 4.2 XF are so lovely to use and it's all the power you need for sensible road driving.
20mpg is pretty normal for mixed driving in that car I'd say, and around the book figure for a mixed average. You can eek them up to mid/high 20s with lots of long runs but it doesn't take very long at all in town traffic to drag it right down into the teens, let alone if you start giving it the beans. My X350 with the same engine had a 21mpg lifetime average despite showing low 30s on a long run. FWIW both my supercharged 5.0 Jaguars get better economy than the 4.2 NASP ones I've had under the same usage, which is pretty impressive.
ETA - if he's poorly enough to get DLA or whatever it's called these days he might qualify for free RFL, or free RFL on a car used by someone else exclusively for his benefit. Keep it on to fetch his shopping and drive him around in if it keeps the old boy happy maybe?
I think it's a real shame though because cars like that and the 4.2 XF are so lovely to use and it's all the power you need for sensible road driving.
20mpg is pretty normal for mixed driving in that car I'd say, and around the book figure for a mixed average. You can eek them up to mid/high 20s with lots of long runs but it doesn't take very long at all in town traffic to drag it right down into the teens, let alone if you start giving it the beans. My X350 with the same engine had a 21mpg lifetime average despite showing low 30s on a long run. FWIW both my supercharged 5.0 Jaguars get better economy than the 4.2 NASP ones I've had under the same usage, which is pretty impressive.
ETA - if he's poorly enough to get DLA or whatever it's called these days he might qualify for free RFL, or free RFL on a car used by someone else exclusively for his benefit. Keep it on to fetch his shopping and drive him around in if it keeps the old boy happy maybe?
Edited by GeniusOfLove on Tuesday 10th October 11:04
You must have either been doing town mileage or hoofing it. The XK is a quick GT not a slow supercar. I've found its happiest devouring long drives at sensible speeds. Yes, if you need to get a wriggle on, it WILL do it (tyres and general condition permitting) but that's not what it's for. I can regularly get 35mpg or more out of mine on the 140 mile run to Colchester at the weekend, and of course only fueled with e5 (usually Tesco or Shell).
When was it last serviced? It could be its needing fresh plugs or something if they're due.
When was it last serviced? It could be its needing fresh plugs or something if they're due.
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