Paramount Conversions
Discussion
Hi all. Im hoping to join the XKR club and have seen one i want 4.2xkr 2003. Its from a jag dealer but they have just told me it has the paramount suspension kit. Now i know the best way to see whats its like is to drive it! problem is its a long way away....... Does it devalue or add value on the whole? Will it effect the waftiness of the jag? I dont want an out and out sports more of a GT. Any opinions? I know paramount have a good rep and is one of the best conversion chaps...its just how it will alter the character of the car. Any owners out there? thanks in advance dominic
lazlong said:
Hi all. Im hoping to join the XKR club and have seen one i want 4.2xkr 2003. Its from a jag dealer but they have just told me it has the paramount suspension kit. Now i know the best way to see whats its like is to drive it! problem is its a long way away....... Does it devalue or add value on the whole? Will it effect the waftiness of the jag? I dont want an out and out sports more of a GT. Any opinions? I know paramount have a good rep and is one of the best conversion chaps...its just how it will alter the character of the car. Any owners out there? thanks in advance dominic
Hi Dominic, I have just had the Paramount springs fitted, and all I can say is that it transforms the handling! Much more stable changing direction at speed and less 'boaty' around the bends. It is the best modification I have had done thus far! If it is already on the car you are looking at you will have saved the thick end of £700!I would highly recommend it as a vast improvement over the standard springs!
Scott.
2003 XKR 4.2
Thanks for that! I should get the specific details of whats been done today and will check with the insurance company to see if it effects the premium. Does it still feel like a GT or is it a lot more focused? The xkr is a convertible so wont be as sporty as your coupe anyway! Will it be seen to effect resale? I haven't seen many advertised with it and wouldnt want to have hassle in a few years. Sorry for all the questions -its just that this is a big buy and want to get all the info i can! Thanks again dominic
Hello again!
Not a problem, better to ask the questions now than regret not asking something later!
Should not cause any increase in your insurance as the springs are a better quality than the OE items, but as with anything else you must declare them.
Should enhance resale if anything, not in terms of price but desireability. As it demonstrates an owner/enthusiast who cares about the car and does not try to run it on a shoestring!
It does still feel like a GT (but to be honest you would need to do major mods to have it feel like anything else!) But it feels much more taut and more together round the bends, but does not suffer the ride harshness of many cars that have had the suspension lowered/upgraded. It retains all its comfort with a nice 'sporty' edge.
Hope that this helps,
Scott
PS: If the car is at a dealers some way away, then I am pretty sure that they would be able to transport it down to a local dealer for you to test drive it? They may ask for a small deposit to do this, but that should be returnable if the car is either not as described or not to your liking?
They may of course refuse, but is worth asking! Which dealer is it at and what is the colour/trim/spec etc?
I bought mine from Guy Salmon in Gatwick and to be honest they could not have been more helpful!
Not a problem, better to ask the questions now than regret not asking something later!
Should not cause any increase in your insurance as the springs are a better quality than the OE items, but as with anything else you must declare them.
Should enhance resale if anything, not in terms of price but desireability. As it demonstrates an owner/enthusiast who cares about the car and does not try to run it on a shoestring!
It does still feel like a GT (but to be honest you would need to do major mods to have it feel like anything else!) But it feels much more taut and more together round the bends, but does not suffer the ride harshness of many cars that have had the suspension lowered/upgraded. It retains all its comfort with a nice 'sporty' edge.
Hope that this helps,
Scott
PS: If the car is at a dealers some way away, then I am pretty sure that they would be able to transport it down to a local dealer for you to test drive it? They may ask for a small deposit to do this, but that should be returnable if the car is either not as described or not to your liking?
They may of course refuse, but is worth asking! Which dealer is it at and what is the colour/trim/spec etc?
I bought mine from Guy Salmon in Gatwick and to be honest they could not have been more helpful!
Edited by Cerby4.5 on Monday 18th June 07:57
Hi That helps a lot, as yes i want a gt really not a sports (i have a griff im pxing- the wfe refuses to drive it!). The car is in Maidstone (its on the jaguar.co.uk at £33850 i owner 22k- black body ivory leather) Any thoughts? sounds good i thought. They are part of the syntner group and they appraised the TVR locally in swindon. Dont mind the drive as long as its worth it! although might be worth asking.... thanks for help! dominic
Hiya
I have had a look at the advert and would make a few comments:
The picture looks as though it has been photoshopped, and that it is a 'similar' car not the specific car you would be buying. You should check the type of wheels fitted? The picture has 'Detroit' alloys, but I would have thought that a 2003 car like mine would have had Montreals fitted?
Also it mentions Recaro seats in the ad but they are not recaros in the image?
Plus, whilst it mentions 'supersport suspension' it does not mention Paramount suspension anywhere? The dealer may be getting a bit carried away with themselves, as the 'supersport suspension' was an option on the cars as new. It was very slightly lower and a bit firmer than the std set up. but this is not by any stretch a 'Paramount' set-up? A good way of checking would be to get the chassis & reg number and call Paramount (01753 533633). If they have worked on the car or even just supplied bits they should have a record of it.
Until I see a photo of the actual car I cannot comment on it, other than saying that my preference would be a car without the std Sat Nav fitted as it is rubbish and you cannot buy up to date discs for it, so would have to make so with mapping from 2004 ish??
Call the dealer get the reg and chassis number, ask them to e-mail you some pictures of the actual car (inside and out/under the bonnet) call Paramount to check re the suspension and you should THEN be more fully informed!
Price seems about right for the year/mileage etc, but you may be able to knock them down a bit because of the faffing around you are having to do to verify information etc! Again worth a try!!
Hope this helps!
Scott
I have had a look at the advert and would make a few comments:
The picture looks as though it has been photoshopped, and that it is a 'similar' car not the specific car you would be buying. You should check the type of wheels fitted? The picture has 'Detroit' alloys, but I would have thought that a 2003 car like mine would have had Montreals fitted?
Also it mentions Recaro seats in the ad but they are not recaros in the image?
Plus, whilst it mentions 'supersport suspension' it does not mention Paramount suspension anywhere? The dealer may be getting a bit carried away with themselves, as the 'supersport suspension' was an option on the cars as new. It was very slightly lower and a bit firmer than the std set up. but this is not by any stretch a 'Paramount' set-up? A good way of checking would be to get the chassis & reg number and call Paramount (01753 533633). If they have worked on the car or even just supplied bits they should have a record of it.
Until I see a photo of the actual car I cannot comment on it, other than saying that my preference would be a car without the std Sat Nav fitted as it is rubbish and you cannot buy up to date discs for it, so would have to make so with mapping from 2004 ish??
Call the dealer get the reg and chassis number, ask them to e-mail you some pictures of the actual car (inside and out/under the bonnet) call Paramount to check re the suspension and you should THEN be more fully informed!
Price seems about right for the year/mileage etc, but you may be able to knock them down a bit because of the faffing around you are having to do to verify information etc! Again worth a try!!
Hope this helps!
Scott
Edited by Cerby4.5 on Monday 18th June 12:08
Hi Scott Thanks again very helpful. Yes all seem to be similar cars rather than actual photos on the Jag site. It has 20" paris wheels and cross drilled brembo brakes and the recaro seats in ivory. They are checking with paramount for me to get all details. they get the car in today to prep it so will try to get actual photos of the car...... Insurance are fine about the suspension no extra cost. so looks like a trip saturday....so thanks again dominic
The Jag website really wound me up when I was looking! It wouldn't take much to put actual images of the cars rather than crappy photoshops of the same picture. Still I guess it builds the anticipation for when you actually see the car for the first time!
Graham
(also ex Griff, now XKR owner)
Graham
(also ex Griff, now XKR owner)
hi thanks for all the input.im not going for the car as the suspension upgrade also includes exhaust,engine and side skirts--so not really interested. wanted pukka xkr pretty well unmolested. The garage has "sourced" another car (from the jag website ie london) seems good only put off b4 by being in the centre of london and didn't want to drive both griff and xkr in the smoke-being country lad an' all. They will buy for me and prep it but no discount on screen price.-bit hard for me being a tyre kicker to buy a car unseen (even with Jag waranty-considered the best)-Has any one else bought jag.co.uk and had to pay screen price? it seems competitive but even without px(have had slightly better offer for Griff from indy dealer) i always seem to get 5%-10% off before..why is it in your dreams spending 35-40K on a car would be a dream but ends up a pain in the ass...still umming and ahing and my wife is ready to shoot me....hmmm beer thats better dom
Hi Dom,
Sorry to hear the car was not what you were after, but I wish dealers would take note:
Wouldn't it just be easier if Jaguar Dealers just used photos of the ACTUAL vehicles???? All they have to do is take a few snaps with a digital camera?? Its not exactly brain surgery.
If they are putting a car on the website before it actually arrives at the dealership, then they should just say 'awaiting photo', rather than putting a generic 'photoshopped' image up. Its not as if potential buyers dont know what the cars look like?? At least then potential buyers (like yourself) would have a much easier time identifiying if a particular car is the right one for them.
Some dealers do this already, but it seems highly variable, as some within the Sytner Group do and some don't.
When I bought the car from Guy Salmon (Sytner) in Gatwick they did actually have pictures of the car on their website, but I still asked the sales manager for more detailed pics to be sent to me by e-mail, which he was happy to do.
Good luck with the search and I look forward to seeing the pics as and when it does arrive!
Scott C
Sorry to hear the car was not what you were after, but I wish dealers would take note:
Wouldn't it just be easier if Jaguar Dealers just used photos of the ACTUAL vehicles???? All they have to do is take a few snaps with a digital camera?? Its not exactly brain surgery.
If they are putting a car on the website before it actually arrives at the dealership, then they should just say 'awaiting photo', rather than putting a generic 'photoshopped' image up. Its not as if potential buyers dont know what the cars look like?? At least then potential buyers (like yourself) would have a much easier time identifiying if a particular car is the right one for them.
Some dealers do this already, but it seems highly variable, as some within the Sytner Group do and some don't.
When I bought the car from Guy Salmon (Sytner) in Gatwick they did actually have pictures of the car on their website, but I still asked the sales manager for more detailed pics to be sent to me by e-mail, which he was happy to do.
Good luck with the search and I look forward to seeing the pics as and when it does arrive!
Scott C
Edited by Scottman on Thursday 21st June 07:47
Hi yep bit of pain really, a couple of photos and wont have bothered them. so wasted everybodies time as got the griff appraised for px in local sytner (merc) garage. Bit off a personal question -did you pay sticker price for yours at Gatwick? still tempted on the car they offered to buy as the price is ok, just dont want that feeling that i could have got money off! (never paid screen price before..although never in this price range before) ie more petrol to play with! will prob get dealer to buy the griff and then will have cash to buy.. cheers again dom
They were (obviously) wanting sticker price, so I said Yes, on the basis that they would do a few bits and pieces to the car for me prior to collecting it, and that they would give me a significantly reduced rate on a full 3 year warranty and the full Supaguard treatment that I wanted.
They honoured their side, I bought the car and have been very happy with it so far!
The only difference being I had already sold my Cerbera privately so did not have a Part EX offer in the equation??
Scottman
Let me know how you get on, but I can certainly recommend Guy Salmon Gatwick as being very helpful!!!
They honoured their side, I bought the car and have been very happy with it so far!
The only difference being I had already sold my Cerbera privately so did not have a Part EX offer in the equation??
Scottman
Let me know how you get on, but I can certainly recommend Guy Salmon Gatwick as being very helpful!!!
Hi! Thanks for that ah right sticker price fairly firm. they have agreed to do service and put 4 new tyres on. it will have 1 year warranty through jag. They wont give any discount for cash as i assume they will have underwritten it elsewhere. Still tempted as sounds good just buying unseen....oh help its driving my wife mad as umming and ahhing....dom
ParanoidAndroid said:
Hi Dom,
I was in similar situation. Dealer wouldn't discount the sticker price but instead upped his original p'ex value on the Griff. So worked out similar in the end.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Graham
This gels with my experience.I was in similar situation. Dealer wouldn't discount the sticker price but instead upped his original p'ex value on the Griff. So worked out similar in the end.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Graham
OK, so it's been a long time but, when I bought my X300, I wanted a car, I wanted finance and I wanted various optional extras added to the car. The dealer didn't want to discount the screen price, so I just said OK lets just forget the "price" for the car, you can make the "price" any figure you choose, it doesn't mean anything to me. I'm interested in how much the car costs me. I was paying for the whole car over 36 months, so we ended up just talking monthly installments. Here I found a lot of room to manoeuvre.
I got to pay the price I wanted (or was happy to live with)
He got the asking price of the car (I guess he's measured on this)
Your problem is not whether you buy at the sticker price but whether you get the right car and whether it is 100%. See the car first. Do not take anyone's word. Has it got the options you want and which make the car desirable? Go round it with a CRITICAL eye. Not easy when you are besotted, but be sure of this. You take it back in one day to sell or trade and they will be hypercritical. Is there any sign of water ingress on the headlight units? Get them to change them. Are there any scratches, dents, dings, indentations? Look closely at the nose cone and the bonnet. These cars are prone to 'pepperpot' stone chipping across the bonnet. Only accept the car if it is perfect even if that involves painting. Otherwise no amount of detailing or polishing or whatever on your part will improve the basic finish. Check the wheels. Is there any sign of corrosion, dents, scratches or dings? Are the wheels as new? If not you may not be able to even buy replacement wheels now, never mind components. Get a copy of the Jaguar PAG Vehicle printout, which the dealer can give you at the drop of a hat, and see the new delivered spec of the car. As for buying modified cars forget it. That reduces their value not increases it. The perception will be not that you have cared for the car, but that you will have caned it. Im not saying I wouldn't do it myself but only if I was keeping the car in perpetuity and it was out of its warranty period. CHECK EVERYTHING.
These are fantastic cars but you are buying in a falling market with increasing borrowing costs. They are being marked down by the week. Be tough now. You will not regret it.
These are fantastic cars but you are buying in a falling market with increasing borrowing costs. They are being marked down by the week. Be tough now. You will not regret it.
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