XKR or XJR? Is the XK practical enough?

[Thin White Duke]

As a fan of saloon cars I've been thinking of an X350 XJR later this year. However I have never owned a coupe and was wondering
whether to run one for a couple of years. It has to be something special (hence the want for a supercharged model).

I can get more XJR for my money though - budget say around ten grand - give or take depending on what gives at the time of purchase.

What is the XKR like for luggage, say a couple of suitcases or a family shop at Sainsburys? I hear the rear seats are useless for adults (I'm over 6 foot myself). I sometimes give more than one person a lift and this includes my grandparents (who find it difficult to get down into my XJ8 now).

It's going to take some consideration.

My second thought was to purchase a classic XJS and buy an X type for every day use - again with the same budget.

I would be grateful of any advice and opinions no matter how trivial.

[AceOfHearts]

I was debating similar and have gone for a cheaper XJR as i could'nt really justify spending the money on an XK.

With a ten grand budget though

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2001-X-JAGUAR-XKR-4-0-SU...

+

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/STUNNING-JAGUAR-XJR-BLAC...

If you like supercharged Jags

[stuartmmcfc]

you'll never get anyone over the age of 10 in the back seats of an xkr/8- and if you have the drivers seat right back make it 5- but the boot is huge, probably one of the biggest ones I've come across in a car of this sort.
Mpg isn't great as a daily though- unless you've got deep pockets.

[Cossington]

I had an XK8 as my every day car for two or three years, whilst my children were very small (up to ages 4 and 6). I ended up using it as a three seater car (passenger seat pushed forwards and one poassnger behind that). It is a low car (I'm 6'3'' but was determined to hunch down to drive it). Beautiful car to look at and drive.

I changed it for a far more practical Maserati 4200 (not often you see the words 'practical' and 'Maserati' in the same sentence, I know), which has proper adult-sized rear seats. Smaller boot, lower MPG, significantly shorter and less overhang in car parks. I have given lifts to passengers in their 70's in the back without issue - they got in and out of the rear of the 4200 more easily than they did the front seats of the lower XK8.

Worth going to see an XK and trying it for size. I agree with the comment above - rear seat passengers aged 10+ will not thank you for trips above, say 10 minutes. If the size/ space work they are wonderful.

Enjoy the search,

David

[tonys]

You need to try the XK for size.

I test drove one (but the later 5.0) last year but decided that the rear seats were just too small, even for very occasional use. Having said that, they would have made a very nicely finished luggage rack

[edward1]

I have an XKR which is fine for 2 adults and with the passenger seat more forward than ideal for my wife we can fit a child seat and the little un in the back. The boot is pretty good and will easily swallow a weeks shopping or in my case a couple of big rucksacks packed for climbing. If you want to be able to put adults in the back though go for the XJ or S type.

[xkrsupercharged]

Rear seats are totally useless even for my 4 year old. She complains of neck ache due to the angle of the rear seats.

[stuartmmcfc]

xkrsupercharged said:

Rear seats are totally useless even for my 4 year old. She complains of neck ache due to the angle of the rear seats.

typical woman- starting early with her complaints
my 6 and 8 year old have never complained- but i wouldn't like to take them on a long journey in it though.

[xkrsupercharged]

LOL ! She is a picky one but nonetheless its an awkward position to be in. She compares it to my previous car a BMW 650i which wasnt that big either.