XKR 5.0 wheel spin
Discussion
Just bought a 2010 XKR. Coming from a Datsun GTR where traction was phenomenal im slightly concerned about excessive wheel spin whist trying to make progress. Can anyone comment on their experiences or provide opinion.?
I cant actually drive the car yet as i am waiting fir the tax dusk from the garage, but that's another story.
I cant actually drive the car yet as i am waiting fir the tax dusk from the garage, but that's another story.
I had this issue when I first got my 5.0 XKR. The car was on factory spec new tyres.
Basically I think the car has slightly more power than it can actually cope with, I always get a slight sense that not all of the power is actually being used in getting me down the road. Aggressive power away from the lights etc will usually result in some degree of wheel spin.
I don't think I'm the first person to complain about getting all the power down onto the road.
Mind you, with 510HP you won't get many opportunities to fully exploit the power on our roads anyway.
Basically I think the car has slightly more power than it can actually cope with, I always get a slight sense that not all of the power is actually being used in getting me down the road. Aggressive power away from the lights etc will usually result in some degree of wheel spin.
I don't think I'm the first person to complain about getting all the power down onto the road.
Mind you, with 510HP you won't get many opportunities to fully exploit the power on our roads anyway.
Interestingly I had the chance to try a 4.2 XKR and 5.0 XKR quite recently. the 5.0 is obviously noticeably more powerful but whereas the 4.2 felt like it could handle it's power the 5.0 XKR really did feel "overpowered" and struggled for traction rather a lot. I believe the 0-60 time of the XKR is only 0.1sec faster than the XJ Supersport and XF-R, and I suspect limited in all cases by tyre technology and 2WD.
I have an 2012MY XFR and pretty much the same issues.
Manufacturers (or other) 0 - 60 times would not be anywhere near attainable at all due to this.
I don't class it as a problem yet as it's still bloody cold outside and the tyres are the standard factory Dunlop which seem to be quite a hard compound.
Noticeable when setting off, overtaking or just generally accelerating a bit quickly it gets to a point of embarrassment at times as the thing starts to snake all over the place.
I've found that it's pointless trying to use maximum power/torque at the moment as: -
a) Car doesn't grip
b) Roads I'm using are not really the place. (Not done 1,000 miles in it yet due to weather and work commitments so no decent runs)
Having said that, I was possibly spoilt with my previous car being an S8 Audi with 4WD.
Going to try a set of Vredesteins on it when the Dunlops are on their way out as these were superb on the Audi.
Any other tyre advice welcomed.
Manufacturers (or other) 0 - 60 times would not be anywhere near attainable at all due to this.
I don't class it as a problem yet as it's still bloody cold outside and the tyres are the standard factory Dunlop which seem to be quite a hard compound.
Noticeable when setting off, overtaking or just generally accelerating a bit quickly it gets to a point of embarrassment at times as the thing starts to snake all over the place.
I've found that it's pointless trying to use maximum power/torque at the moment as: -
a) Car doesn't grip
b) Roads I'm using are not really the place. (Not done 1,000 miles in it yet due to weather and work commitments so no decent runs)
Having said that, I was possibly spoilt with my previous car being an S8 Audi with 4WD.
Going to try a set of Vredesteins on it when the Dunlops are on their way out as these were superb on the Audi.
Any other tyre advice welcomed.
Edited by daveenty on Friday 1st March 08:24
dme123 said:
Interestingly I had the chance to try a 4.2 XKR and 5.0 XKR quite recently. the 5.0 is obviously noticeably more powerful but whereas the 4.2 felt like it could handle it's power the 5.0 XKR really did feel "overpowered" and struggled for traction rather a lot.
perhaps that's why some journalists say the 5.0 naturally aspirated XK is best .. 
Reading this thread makes me like the XKR even more than I did before.
It expects the driver to be paying attention if he chooses to push on a bit and make progress.
It makes the car the opposite to a Datsun GTR.
For many ( me included ) this is a good thing. Sure , some awful Audi Quattro or something could probably scamper into the distance on a mid covered winter B road, but that's not the point.
I hear the Griffon engined Spitfires back in the day were quite a handful on occasion because of the torque effect of the engine. I guess this is no different !
Bloody wonderful IMO
It expects the driver to be paying attention if he chooses to push on a bit and make progress.
It makes the car the opposite to a Datsun GTR.
For many ( me included ) this is a good thing. Sure , some awful Audi Quattro or something could probably scamper into the distance on a mid covered winter B road, but that's not the point.
I hear the Griffon engined Spitfires back in the day were quite a handful on occasion because of the torque effect of the engine. I guess this is no different !
Bloody wonderful IMO
Well having eventually received the sodding tax disk (a long story) I have now had the last 2 days behind the wheel.
I really don't know what I was worried about. I've had no issues with unwanted wheelspin. Yes, it will break traction, but its pretty easy to work out when its going to happen and I've had no major problems controlling it (touch wood!). It did let go going around a tight roundabout at low speed, (woman's face in the econobox behind was a picture) but it was easy to control with the proverbial dab.
All in all, so far, I'm happy. In many ways, its easier to drive fairly fast than the GTR, due to the compliant suspension, which suites me, as I don't really drive like my @rse is on fire. The GTR was a bit wasted on me, as I wasn't using the performance on the road and although I tracked it a number of times, I was always aware than its a lot of car to stuff into the tyres.
Its a pleasant change to accelerate in a car that wafts you along as opposed to trying to pull your face off!
I really don't know what I was worried about. I've had no issues with unwanted wheelspin. Yes, it will break traction, but its pretty easy to work out when its going to happen and I've had no major problems controlling it (touch wood!). It did let go going around a tight roundabout at low speed, (woman's face in the econobox behind was a picture) but it was easy to control with the proverbial dab.
All in all, so far, I'm happy. In many ways, its easier to drive fairly fast than the GTR, due to the compliant suspension, which suites me, as I don't really drive like my @rse is on fire. The GTR was a bit wasted on me, as I wasn't using the performance on the road and although I tracked it a number of times, I was always aware than its a lot of car to stuff into the tyres.
Its a pleasant change to accelerate in a car that wafts you along as opposed to trying to pull your face off!
That would make an XK-R feel like a waft! (Would make a lot of bikes feel like a waft), what the Hell had you done to the GTR?? Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff