Wife wants an XK (not decided on 8 or R yet)
Discussion
She's not settled on an engine type yet, but has decided that it will be amethist outside and ivory inside 
My Impreza may well have to go to part fund this - can't say I'm 100% happy about it, but I've had it my own way for a long time in the car choices...
I had a look at XKEC and while I'm happy to join a club for a car I own, I'm not keen join on the offchance of SWMBO not changing her mind.
The car will need to be comfortable to travel long distances, be capable of holding a 2 year old (including child seat), not be destroyed by speedbumps when the wife takes the car to work...
My requirement is for it to handle well on B roads since I won't have my Scoob for my drive to work.
I can't help thinking that an XK8 is a big car to "only" have 300bhp. I would have thought it needed 350 to feel right. So I'm leaning towards an XKR. But I do like the 10% better cruise economy found in an 8...
Budget is as much as is needed, but I would like to keep it below 15k if possible.
Any advice appreciated.
My Impreza may well have to go to part fund this - can't say I'm 100% happy about it, but I've had it my own way for a long time in the car choices...I had a look at XKEC and while I'm happy to join a club for a car I own, I'm not keen join on the offchance of SWMBO not changing her mind.
The car will need to be comfortable to travel long distances, be capable of holding a 2 year old (including child seat), not be destroyed by speedbumps when the wife takes the car to work...
My requirement is for it to handle well on B roads since I won't have my Scoob for my drive to work.
I can't help thinking that an XK8 is a big car to "only" have 300bhp. I would have thought it needed 350 to feel right. So I'm leaning towards an XKR. But I do like the 10% better cruise economy found in an 8...
Budget is as much as is needed, but I would like to keep it below 15k if possible.
Any advice appreciated.
15k will but you a nice car, but dont be fussy about colour. Its more important to get the right car and spec with the right mileage and history.
I drove 260 miles to view mine cos it was the colour & mileage i wanted.
The XKR is tighter and a little more focussed than the 8, as you would imagine. However there is so much power in the XKR that you cant get the best out of it on B roads, the next corner arrives too soon and you have to lift off, you really want nice fast open "a" roads.
Also, the quality difference will amaze you compared to a scooby, these were 60k cars when new. Not knocking the scooby but that was always my issue with them, no soul.
Dont get a convertible, you wont get your child in the back. I sold my TVR and bought my XKR as I have a daughter and needed the back seats. the baby seat fits (only just) but the 1year+ seats are not as deep so will be fine.
XKEC is a good club, but your right to wait until your sure as you have to pay to get to the forum.
I think that covers everything. Have fun hunting. Where are you in the country ?
I drove 260 miles to view mine cos it was the colour & mileage i wanted.
The XKR is tighter and a little more focussed than the 8, as you would imagine. However there is so much power in the XKR that you cant get the best out of it on B roads, the next corner arrives too soon and you have to lift off, you really want nice fast open "a" roads.
Also, the quality difference will amaze you compared to a scooby, these were 60k cars when new. Not knocking the scooby but that was always my issue with them, no soul.
Dont get a convertible, you wont get your child in the back. I sold my TVR and bought my XKR as I have a daughter and needed the back seats. the baby seat fits (only just) but the 1year+ seats are not as deep so will be fine.
XKEC is a good club, but your right to wait until your sure as you have to pay to get to the forum.
I think that covers everything. Have fun hunting. Where are you in the country ?
Thanks. Good advice there.
The colour thing was more me pulling SWMBO's leg (she does read PH to keep an eye on me) than a definite requirement - I'm not bothered about the colour as long as it's fairly dark with a light interior.
I know what you mean about having "too much" power for B roads - my Griff is a bit like that now it makes the power TVR claimed when they sold it - but it's not about getting the best out of the car all the time, it just needs to be able to do the job well enough to make me smile. I can always not use all the throttle!
I have P38 RR Vogue in the fleet as well - this was one of the things that convinced me luxury cars are a good thing. It's great for lugging stuff around and towing, but on a long run it's a bit thirsty and not exactly spritely. I suppose I really want the luxury of a range rover, the performance of a TVR and the handling of a Scoob. Not that I'm at all greedy
I'm based on the Isle of Wight - hence why I make a distinction between long and short runs, am concerned about B road abilities and am worried about not having an Impreza (which has proved itself to be supremely competent on IOW roads over many years despite the low rent interior). I very rarely take a car on to the mainland unless I'm going to do significant miles in it.
Thanks once again.
The colour thing was more me pulling SWMBO's leg (she does read PH to keep an eye on me) than a definite requirement - I'm not bothered about the colour as long as it's fairly dark with a light interior.
I know what you mean about having "too much" power for B roads - my Griff is a bit like that now it makes the power TVR claimed when they sold it - but it's not about getting the best out of the car all the time, it just needs to be able to do the job well enough to make me smile. I can always not use all the throttle!
I have P38 RR Vogue in the fleet as well - this was one of the things that convinced me luxury cars are a good thing. It's great for lugging stuff around and towing, but on a long run it's a bit thirsty and not exactly spritely. I suppose I really want the luxury of a range rover, the performance of a TVR and the handling of a Scoob. Not that I'm at all greedy
I'm based on the Isle of Wight - hence why I make a distinction between long and short runs, am concerned about B road abilities and am worried about not having an Impreza (which has proved itself to be supremely competent on IOW roads over many years despite the low rent interior). I very rarely take a car on to the mainland unless I'm going to do significant miles in it.
Thanks once again.
dnb said:
I can't help thinking that an XK8 is a big car to "only" have 300bhp. I would have thought it needed 350 to feel right. So I'm leaning towards an XKR.
But I do like the 10% better cruise economy found in an 8...
I don't know where you got that from, an 8 and the R are the same providing the wheels/tyres are.But I do like the 10% better cruise economy found in an 8...
Also MPG in real life isn't any different
Go for the R you don't have to use the extra power all the time, although you will.
I agree join the www.xkec.co.uk they have a very lively and informative Forum to help you make the correct choice
Unlike the misinformation you have already
Which bit is misinformation? You seem to be proving my point about the 8 being slightly under powered by recomending the R over the 8 the way you did.
The MPG figures were provided by a Jaguar dealer in their sales literature. They claim (in round figures) 34mpg extra urban for the 8 and 31mpg for the R. (Not bothered by urban since it's not why I'm buying the car!) I make this to be about 10% different.
Or are you saying they aren't big cars? Or do you think that I think the 8 and R somehow have different bodies, or that I think the R has somehow had a diet? (I consider both big & heavy compared to my TVR!) Slightly confused here - maybe we're talking cross purposes?
The MPG figures were provided by a Jaguar dealer in their sales literature. They claim (in round figures) 34mpg extra urban for the 8 and 31mpg for the R. (Not bothered by urban since it's not why I'm buying the car!) I make this to be about 10% different.
Or are you saying they aren't big cars? Or do you think that I think the 8 and R somehow have different bodies, or that I think the R has somehow had a diet? (I consider both big & heavy compared to my TVR!) Slightly confused here - maybe we're talking cross purposes?
dnb said:
Which bit is misinformation? You seem to be proving my point about the 8 being slightly under powered by recomending the R over the 8 the way you did.
The MPG figures were provided by a Jaguar dealer in their sales literature. They claim (in round figures) 34mpg extra urban for the 8 and 31mpg for the R. (Not bothered by urban since it's not why I'm buying the car!) I make this to be about 10% different.
Or are you saying they aren't big cars? Or do you think that I think the 8 and R somehow have different bodies, or that I think the R has somehow had a diet? (I consider both big & heavy compared to my TVR!) Slightly confused here - maybe we're talking cross purposes?
I'm NOT saying it's underpowered, you said that, just another 100 horsed is niceThe MPG figures were provided by a Jaguar dealer in their sales literature. They claim (in round figures) 34mpg extra urban for the 8 and 31mpg for the R. (Not bothered by urban since it's not why I'm buying the car!) I make this to be about 10% different.
Or are you saying they aren't big cars? Or do you think that I think the 8 and R somehow have different bodies, or that I think the R has somehow had a diet? (I consider both big & heavy compared to my TVR!) Slightly confused here - maybe we're talking cross purposes?
That's what I'm saying regarding MPG, sales literature isn't real life!!
Where did I say anything about the size and comparing to a TVR
Hi
I must add, in reality you will get 25mpg on a motorway run and 19 round town & country roads.
I imagine on the IOW you will average 17-20 depending on how heavy your right foot is and how often.
My worst run is 13mpg so far, but ive only had it a couple of months so i must try harder to reduce it
I must add, in reality you will get 25mpg on a motorway run and 19 round town & country roads.
I imagine on the IOW you will average 17-20 depending on how heavy your right foot is and how often.
My worst run is 13mpg so far, but ive only had it a couple of months so i must try harder to reduce it
NormanD said:
Where did I say anything about the size and comparing to a TVR
You didn't. You indicated that my whole post contained misinformation - you were not specific - and I was trying to work out where you thought the problem was. You have cleared that up now - thank you.BTW the fuel economy I get from the range rover is exactly what the book says it should do. I can't explain it either unless the testing is significantly better than it used to be.
Get an R Difference in fuel consumption and insurance is not usually significant. Rs seem to hold their premium and are more likely to be fully spec'd. I was quoted the same insurance 8 and R before I bought my R.
Note an XK is a big car, neither will make a great B road sportscar, they are GTs OK on A roads and great cruise.
Simple solution. Drive one of each. the XK8 is fine , the R is
, to me there was no question post test drive
Difference in fuel consumption and insurance is not usually significant. Rs seem to hold their premium and are more likely to be fully spec'd. I was quoted the same insurance 8 and R before I bought my R.Note an XK is a big car, neither will make a great B road sportscar, they are GTs OK on A roads and great cruise.
Simple solution. Drive one of each. the XK8 is fine , the R is
, to me there was no question post test driveI tend to find the trip computer on my XKR 4.0 under reads by a fair amount.
For example, my last motorway trip the mpg read 26mpg after 400 or so miles on a single tank. In actual fact it did 29mpg (62L and 403 miles). This isn't driving around with A/C off and 56mph either. Normal driving at 70mph
I find it only really starts to drink the fuel at 90 +. I generally get 25-27mpg on longer runs that include traffic and town work.
Around town it settles at the 21mpg (true) trip says 18/19.
For example, my last motorway trip the mpg read 26mpg after 400 or so miles on a single tank. In actual fact it did 29mpg (62L and 403 miles). This isn't driving around with A/C off and 56mph either. Normal driving at 70mph
I find it only really starts to drink the fuel at 90 +. I generally get 25-27mpg on longer runs that include traffic and town work.Around town it settles at the 21mpg (true) trip says 18/19.
Dnb, I'll be putting mine up in classifieds next week if you are considering an XKR (just waiting for the V5c to come back from the private plate transfer). Not the colour your wife has specified but IMHO(!) a beautiful looking XKR and is in lovely condition. Picture in my profile, PM me if you are interested and I can send more info...
Cheers,
Graham
Cheers,
Graham
Edited by ParanoidAndroid on Tuesday 10th August 01:05
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