XKR buying guide please
Discussion
Hi Ive just sold my TVR Griffith as im buying a house, I really fancy an xkr if and when i can afford one.
Ive been reading horror stories about liners etc, Is there really anything to worry about? what are the weak points on an pre 2000 car, what do i need to look out for.
I have been reading internet buying guides but I wanted some advice from people who actually own an xkr.
Do they have corrosion issues? I have seen a few with corrosion around the rear arches.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Many Thanks
Ive been reading horror stories about liners etc, Is there really anything to worry about? what are the weak points on an pre 2000 car, what do i need to look out for.
I have been reading internet buying guides but I wanted some advice from people who actually own an xkr.
Do they have corrosion issues? I have seen a few with corrosion around the rear arches.
Any advice would be much appreciated
Many Thanks
As with any car, they all have weak points
The XKR weakpoints are all documanted on this site, if you search for these:
Chain tensioners can get brittle & break up (plastic)
Nikasil liners affected some cars early on, but most would be sorted by now
Square blocks under footwells trap water and can rust thru
Rear wheel arches can get stone chips and corrode, but no worse than anything else
Compared to the problems I found inherant in 911 996 oil seals, they are easily coped with as long as you buy the right car.
The XKR weakpoints are all documanted on this site, if you search for these:
Chain tensioners can get brittle & break up (plastic)
Nikasil liners affected some cars early on, but most would be sorted by now
Square blocks under footwells trap water and can rust thru
Rear wheel arches can get stone chips and corrode, but no worse than anything else
Compared to the problems I found inherant in 911 996 oil seals, they are easily coped with as long as you buy the right car.
I have a 1997 xk8, owned it since 2000, never had any problems since purchased. The underside has no rust and certainly has no rust on the bodywork. I would recommend a Jag to anyone, you will certainly like the better build quality over the Griff. the only downside is not so many smiles per mile.
BicesterGriff said:
I have been reading internet buying guides but I wanted some advice from people who actually own an xkr.
I have had my XKR for some years now and hope to keep it for many moreOK there are/have been issues but I would say no more than any other car manufacturer
Best advice would be to join the XK8/R Club www.xkec.co.uk
They have a very active members only Forum and some good get togethers
BicesterGriff
By the way, I used to live near Bicester in Middle Barton, and I sold my TVR 'S' to buy my XKR.
The differences from TVR to XKR are easy to describe
TVR has more theatre, noise & chuck-ability
XKR exhaust can be modified, as I am doing
XKR build quality is superb, solid, smooth & refined (except the overhead light cluster, it wobbles a bit)
XKR handles well for a bigger car, you can feel the engineering rather than the go-kart
TVR always had a job to do, XKR never breaks anything much
XKR....oh the power, the power, the power - I was surprised just how quick they are, you can take on a Tuscan or Tamora and teach them a lesson
By the way, I used to live near Bicester in Middle Barton, and I sold my TVR 'S' to buy my XKR.
The differences from TVR to XKR are easy to describe
TVR has more theatre, noise & chuck-ability
XKR exhaust can be modified, as I am doing
XKR build quality is superb, solid, smooth & refined (except the overhead light cluster, it wobbles a bit)
XKR handles well for a bigger car, you can feel the engineering rather than the go-kart
TVR always had a job to do, XKR never breaks anything much
XKR....oh the power, the power, the power - I was surprised just how quick they are, you can take on a Tuscan or Tamora and teach them a lesson
xkr Giles said:
XKR....oh the power, the power, the power - I was surprised just how quick they are, you can take on a Tuscan or Tamora and teach them a lesson
Ahem.....I love the XKR's as much as the next man, but lets not get too carried away now! Jaguar XKR 4.2 V8 Coupe
0-60mph - seconds 4.9
Jaguar XKR 4.2 V8 Convertible
0-60mph - seconds 5.0
Tuscan/Tuscan S
0-60mph - seconds 4.2 / 3.8
Tamora
0-60mph - seconds 4.4
Now if you said how well they handle compared to a TIV then yes I would agree, you could probably lose one on the twistys. But all out sprint I imagine the XKR would be in all of their rear view mirrors!
Edited by zx10ben on Sunday 19th September 15:29
zx10ben said:
xkr Giles said:
XKR....oh the power, the power, the power - I was surprised just how quick they are, you can take on a Tuscan or Tamora and teach them a lesson
Ahem.....I love the XKR's as much as the next man, but lets not get too carried away now! Jaguar XKR 4.2 V8 Coupe
0-60mph - seconds 4.9
Jaguar XKR 4.2 V8 Convertible
0-60mph - seconds 5.0
Tuscan/Tuscan S
0-60mph - seconds 4.2 / 3.8
Tamora
0-60mph - seconds 4.4
Now if you said how well they handle compared to a TIV then yes I would agree, you could probably lose one on the twistys. But all out sprint I imagine the XKR would be in all of their rear view mirrors!
Edited by zx10ben on Sunday 19th September 15:29
Try finding a Tuscan or Tamora that can do those figures ?
TVR were renowned for exaggerated power figures, they even used to modify the press cars to get better reviews compared to the ones sold to customers. Ive driven quite a few, some are great and some are not. All fall off the boil if you dont keep on top of them, I would always recommend a re-map and increased fuelling just to get up to the quoted TVR standard figures
BicesterGriff said:
Come on guys. I didnt want to start the usual forum handbags at dawn fight.
Its not all about how quickly you can get to 60mph! TVRs are fabulous cars as is the XKR and hopefully I will own one soon
I agreeIts not all about how quickly you can get to 60mph! TVRs are fabulous cars as is the XKR and hopefully I will own one soon
You can make a 500 mile trip quicky and get to your destination quite fresh
Don't know if I would want to do the same in a TVR (that's if it would make it)
Had an XK8 for years, sorry if it is that bit slower boys, but I love it. No serious trouble, the tensioners needed replacing £350. Neeed a couple of grand as it was older one, but mines been good. Great cars. Was thinking of buying a TVR though, but am not sure why as I have the XK8. The sound? Manual shift? raw driving grunt. Can anyone explain? Do I have enough car already? Is the XK8 too tame? Should I be thinking XKR. I thought as she is running so well to not change tbut use as as a day to day car but try a TVR as a weekend hobby car...sounds crazy..girl friend would scream some. Looked at the cars and cannot stop wondering. Some weird TVR bug...will it pass? Help me out here. Need some tempting.
BicesterGriff said:
Come on guys. I didnt want to start the usual forum handbags at dawn fight.
Its not all about how quickly you can get to 60mph! TVRs are fabulous cars as is the XKR and hopefully I will own one soon
I quite like handbags at dawn, I changed my car to get more power & i have experience of them both.Its not all about how quickly you can get to 60mph! TVRs are fabulous cars as is the XKR and hopefully I will own one soon
Not aimed at you - but I do get annoyed at all the people who buy fast cars but then dont drive them fast or have any fun.
Ive had police driver training and part of that was all about controlling oversteer slides (on an airfield)to drift the car, it was great fun and I enjoy car control in all its forms. I dont do it on my high street (i couldnt afford the tyres) but neither do i sit on the motorway at 60mph like all the 911's i see.
Has it become illegal to even TALK about going fast now. I just dont understand it.
jvince said:
Had an XK8 for years, sorry if it is that bit slower boys, but I love it. No serious trouble, the tensioners needed replacing £350. Neeed a couple of grand as it was older one, but mines been good. Great cars. Was thinking of buying a TVR though, but am not sure why as I have the XK8. The sound? Manual shift? raw driving grunt. Can anyone explain? Do I have enough car already? Is the XK8 too tame? Should I be thinking XKR. I thought as she is running so well to not change tbut use as as a day to day car but try a TVR as a weekend hobby car...sounds crazy..girl friend would scream some. Looked at the cars and cannot stop wondering. Some weird TVR bug...will it pass? Help me out here. Need some tempting.
Maybe you have to scratch the itch, but it will be a different experience, expect work needed to keep her in fine fettle, sometimes its just a faulty window switch, other times its tracing an electrical fault that stops the engine. Great experience tho.What if you just changed your exhaust to give you more theatre in your xk8
I have just sold a chimaera after 7 years ownership and now looking at XKR's, the only reason for selling the chim was a requirement to have a rear seat that will take a small child. Whilst both are good looking british cars they are a very different drive. The TVR does have more theatre, the manual gear box and lack of any driver aids means that driving the TVR fast is a very rewarding experience. I am not conviced about the handling points, the chim with a decent set of dampers and properly set up geometry could be hustled down the road pretty rapidly and was a great car to enjoy on track, being realativly light meant that it wouldn't destry tyres and breaks etc in one track day. As for reliability, there was an inevitable amount of tinkering to be done, but I would happily jump in and do several hundred miles in a weekend without worrying about breakdowns, before selling it my last weekend away involved 400 miles with 100+ of those on track.
The XKRs I've driven all be it for short test drives have been completly different animals, effortlessly quick, solid, comfortable, a car you could happily spend hours in. I found the steering a little light and missed the manual box for driver involvment, but I can see that when I finally buy one it will be a pleasure to drive and one that is enjoyed more frequently than the TVR.
The advice I getting in terms of buying is go for the 4.2 if you can afford it, to avoid all the various issues that may affect a 4.0
The XKRs I've driven all be it for short test drives have been completly different animals, effortlessly quick, solid, comfortable, a car you could happily spend hours in. I found the steering a little light and missed the manual box for driver involvment, but I can see that when I finally buy one it will be a pleasure to drive and one that is enjoyed more frequently than the TVR.
The advice I getting in terms of buying is go for the 4.2 if you can afford it, to avoid all the various issues that may affect a 4.0
Hi edward1
My thoughts echo yours completely. I once did a 1400 mile trip round france in my TVR & didnt even have to check the oil.
But it is a different experience completely. Upgrade the exhaust to get a bit more theatre.
There is a key element that I cant describe that benefits the Jag, its an overall engineering quality that you can feel. I guess it goes down to the solid feel, but compared to the TVR it is very noticeable. Maybe my TVR just rattled a bit too much
My thoughts echo yours completely. I once did a 1400 mile trip round france in my TVR & didnt even have to check the oil.
But it is a different experience completely. Upgrade the exhaust to get a bit more theatre.
There is a key element that I cant describe that benefits the Jag, its an overall engineering quality that you can feel. I guess it goes down to the solid feel, but compared to the TVR it is very noticeable. Maybe my TVR just rattled a bit too much
After nine years of TVR ownership (S3 and Chimaera4.5 (6years) I moved onto XKR Convertibles but personally found TVRs good reliable cars provided you spent time taking care but great cars.I regularly drove mine to Italy and France without problems.Bought Jag for greater comfort and things like aircon for hot climes when top down can be too hot.Now on second XKR(5.0l) and personally think they are great and very enjoyable and a good move on from Tivs.Jag is probably cheaper to run than TVR even using main dealer and requires less attention.
Both British both good
Both British both good
It's helping. Right about the build quality with the Jag you feel it every second.
Am going to TVR guy in Devon just to look, read good things about the guy in Collumpton.. Maybe it will help me understand this what is becoming a lust. Like the idea of the theatre change on the exhaust. I forever have Astons pulling alongside to demo their pipes, seems slightly crafted but you have to love the sound of a v8.
Am going to TVR guy in Devon just to look, read good things about the guy in Collumpton.. Maybe it will help me understand this what is becoming a lust. Like the idea of the theatre change on the exhaust. I forever have Astons pulling alongside to demo their pipes, seems slightly crafted but you have to love the sound of a v8.
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