X150 XKR, Still A Thing Of Beauty

X150 XKR, Still A Thing Of Beauty

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reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Winding my way from Buckinghamshire into Northamptonshire yesterday in the SVR , I was approaching Olney and glancing in the rear view mirror I saw a very late registered 4.2 XKR just behind . V222XKR was the registration and it was a Convertible in Frost Blue which in my opinion is a lovely colour for the car . I suspect that this is the Model to have your XKR in if you are looking to enjoy and perhaps exit with a small profit . Certainly if you use the E Type as a yardstick then this would seem to be the case . Anyone have any views or thoughts on this ? I had a look at V222XKR on one of those checking sites and its very low mileage , value is probably just north of £20k from a Dealer and well worth it too . Vastly undervalued for what they are and I have been saying this on Forums for many years . Its my opinion that these R Models built under Ford Ownership will in time be seen as the Products of a Golden Age in Jaguar history . Aluminium construction , reliability and capability coupled with stunning looks if this X150 had an Italian badge attached it would already be a £100k car .

AC43

11,925 posts

214 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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reddiesel said:
Winding my way from Buckinghamshire into Northamptonshire yesterday in the SVR , I was approaching Olney and glancing in the rear view mirror I saw a very late registered 4.2 XKR just behind . V222XKR was the registration and it was a Convertible in Frost Blue which in my opinion is a lovely colour for the car . I suspect that this is the Model to have your XKR in if you are looking to enjoy and perhaps exit with a small profit . Certainly if you use the E Type as a yardstick then this would seem to be the case . Anyone have any views or thoughts on this ? I had a look at V222XKR on one of those checking sites and its very low mileage , value is probably just north of 20k from a Dealer and well worth it too . Vastly undervalued for what they are and I have been saying this on Forums for many years . Its my opinion that these R Models built under Ford Ownership will in time be seen as the Products of a Golden Age in Jaguar history . Aluminium construction , reliability and capability coupled with stunning looks if this X150 had an Italian badge attached it would already be a 100k car .
Very capable cars and fantastic value right now.

My preferred spec would be a tin top in a dark colour with a light interior.

There's a good reader's car thread on "spontaneous XKR purchase".


Drooles

1,411 posts

62 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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I think they’re a great looking car. I’ve always liked them and thought they got it right

Simpo Two

86,911 posts

271 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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The only thing that puts me off the 4.2s is the interior, which whilst still better-looking than most cars, isn't as nicely finished as the 5.0. I had a 2009 XKR for a short while and the interior was much better quality. Having seen that I'd be loathe to go back. The downside is that you get a 5.0 engine which is just unnecessary IMHO

Russ Sims

202 posts

204 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Simpo Two said:
The only thing that puts me off the 4.2s is the interior, which whilst still better-looking than most cars, isn't as nicely finished as the 5.0. I had a 2009 XKR for a short while and the interior was much better quality. Having seen that I'd be loathe to go back. The downside is that you get a 5.0 engine which is just unnecessary IMHO
Unnecessary,.maybe however it is an absolute peach of an engine and will ultimately be looked back on as one of JLR's best engines. I've owned my 5l XKR for 3.5 years now and much like 8bit on these forums I have toyed with selling up and moving on but the 5l XKR is a pretty hard package to top pound for pound. My next realistic step is likely to be a 5l F Type however the cheapest are circa 38k vs 20k for the XKR which is one hell of a step price wise, is the F Type twice the car? I suspect not.

reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
quotequote all
I think you are totally right about it being a hard package to follow especially where an F Type is concerned . I often wonder if Jaguar had improved or even followed up on or improved on the X150 with another pretty GT whether I would have even bothered with an F Type . I suspect probably not . Its a position that several of you X150 Owners are going to soon contemplate , " where do I go from here " ?

reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
quotequote all
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202204214...

This looks an interesting proposition for some lucky Owner . A lot of money spent on what appear to be sensible modifications .

Simpo Two

86,911 posts

271 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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reddiesel said:
I think you are totally right about it being a hard package to follow especially where an F Type is concerned . I often wonder if Jaguar had improved or even followed up on or improved on the X150 with another pretty GT whether I would have even bothered with an F Type . I suspect probably not . Its a position that several of you X150 Owners are going to soon contemplate , " where do I go from here " ?
It's a great shame Jaguar let the GT line go extinct. So you have a 2-seat sports car, and the rest is unremarkable mush because that's what sells the most cars. So yes, where do you go from an X150? Aston is an option but it's 2x the cost, not just to buy but to run, and IMHO not suitable as a daily driver.

I had a Mercedes E300 AMG-Line convertible for a few weeks. It was astonishingly competent; even had folding rear seats! The quality of the interior fittings was better than anything I'd seen. But it just wasn't 'special'. It was an ordinary car well done. And Jaguar notably don't have a 4-seater convertible. I think an S-Type convertible could have been pretty interesting!

Drooles

1,411 posts

62 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Am I right that there were no manuals? I love the look of them and really want one but I went for an XE a few years ago and could not live with auto… I really wanted to but it just would not work for me

Simpo Two

86,911 posts

271 months

Saturday 21st May 2022
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Drooles said:
Am I right that there were no manuals? I love the look of them and really want one but I went for an XE a few years ago and could not live with auto… I really wanted to but it just would not work for me
You have flappy paddles but I agree it's not the same as a stick to stir.

I think it was Clarkson who said something like 'People with this much money want their gears changed for them'.

tberg

616 posts

67 months

Sunday 22nd May 2022
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I've owned my 2010 5.0L XKR for nearly 10 years and will pass 200,000 miles on her sometime next month. Unquestionably, the best, most reliable automobile I've owned in 55 years of driving. Tracked dozens of times, I still can't believe that the transmission save for two fluid changes, has required no repairs handling a 600hp engine. It's still my daily driver, as I'm just not willing to drive anything else yet. And still looks beautiful as well.


remedy

1,753 posts

197 months

Sunday 22nd May 2022
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Drooles said:
Am I right that there were no manuals? I love the look of them and really want one but I went for an XE a few years ago and could not live with auto… I really wanted to but it just would not work for me
You won't miss the gear stick IMO. The box is fantastic.
I'm at a point where I can't go back to a manual. Good thing too I guess as the car that replaces my XKR will be electric.

reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
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tberg said:
I've owned my 2010 5.0L XKR for nearly 10 years and will pass 200,000 miles on her sometime next month. Unquestionably, the best, most reliable automobile I've owned in 55 years of driving. Tracked dozens of times, I still can't believe that the transmission save for two fluid changes, has required no repairs handling a 600hp engine. It's still my daily driver, as I'm just not willing to drive anything else yet. And still looks beautiful as well.
Thats quite an incredible mileage capability when you consider Jaguars of the not too distant past .

8bit

4,990 posts

161 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
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Russ Sims said:
Simpo Two said:
The only thing that puts me off the 4.2s is the interior, which whilst still better-looking than most cars, isn't as nicely finished as the 5.0. I had a 2009 XKR for a short while and the interior was much better quality. Having seen that I'd be loathe to go back. The downside is that you get a 5.0 engine which is just unnecessary IMHO
Unnecessary,.maybe however it is an absolute peach of an engine and will ultimately be looked back on as one of JLR's best engines. I've owned my 5l XKR for 3.5 years now and much like 8bit on these forums I have toyed with selling up and moving on but the 5l XKR is a pretty hard package to top pound for pound. My next realistic step is likely to be a 5l F Type however the cheapest are circa 38k vs 20k for the XKR which is one hell of a step price wise, is the F Type twice the car? I suspect not.
Ears... burning... smile

Necessary is subjective I think - having had the 4.2 XKR for over five years I couldn't think what else to change the car for except a 5.0 version, so I did that and now couldn't go back to a 4.2. It's not just "same but bigger engine", the transmission is subtly but definitely improved, as is the suspension, handling and interior. Simpo, remind me - what capacity is the engine in your Aston... wink

The F-Type I drove was the 3.0 V6S, for all the world it felt like my XKR, just without the vast, almost "infinite" feeling from the powerplant. Yes a 5.0 F-type would match or possibly exceed that but it didn't feel like a "new" car by comparison. I think to truly beat the XKR on all or even most scores you're looking at a late DB9 or DBS or a Ferrari California.

reddiesel said:
I think you are totally right about it being a hard package to follow especially where an F Type is concerned . I often wonder if Jaguar had improved or even followed up on or improved on the X150 with another pretty GT whether I would have even bothered with an F Type . I suspect probably not . Its a position that several of you X150 Owners are going to soon contemplate , " where do I go from here " ?
Yep, see above - and I can't afford any of the things I mentioned...

reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
quotequote all
Drooles said:
Am I right that there were no manuals? I love the look of them and really want one but I went for an XE a few years ago and could not live with auto… I really wanted to but it just would not work for me
What did you find was the shortcoming for you with the Auto Transmission , I am just wondering if there is any comparison with an X150 and an XE auto box , a genuine question as I havent driven the latter to make a comparison .

Drooles

1,411 posts

62 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
quotequote all
reddiesel said:
Drooles said:
Am I right that there were no manuals? I love the look of them and really want one but I went for an XE a few years ago and could not live with auto… I really wanted to but it just would not work for me
What did you find was the shortcoming for you with the Auto Transmission , I am just wondering if there is any comparison with an X150 and an XE auto box , a genuine question as I havent driven the latter to make a comparison .
In fairness, it was me, not the transmission. There were a couple of times if you weren’t in sport mode when it was a little hesitant at roundabouts but generally it was absolutely fine. Using the paddles, it was quick and responsive.

I just really missed a clutch and a gear lever

reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
quotequote all
Drooles said:
In fairness, it was me, not the transmission. There were a couple of times if you weren’t in sport mode when it was a little hesitant at roundabouts but generally it was absolutely fine. Using the paddles, it was quick and responsive.

I just really missed a clutch and a gear lever
Fair enough . I have gone completely the other way , after years in RS Fords , the Cerbera etc , I wonder about ever buying another manual car again .

Simpo Two

86,911 posts

271 months

Monday 23rd May 2022
quotequote all
Drooles said:
In fairness, it was me, not the transmission. There were a couple of times if you weren’t in sport mode when it was a little hesitant at roundabouts but generally it was absolutely fine. Using the paddles, it was quick and responsive.
I found a distinct difference between Sport mode in my S-Type and the XF that followed it. In the S-Type it worked as I expected - holding the lower gear for longer (and probably other stuff). Previous auto cars also did that. But in the XF all 'Sport' did was to change down a gear. Even at a steady speed you went along in a gear lower. Just a waste of fuel.

The XF also had Dynamic mode, which was unexplained other than it was 'dynamic'.

The XK was just lazy and needed the paddles and a helping of right foot to get it going. Presumably just the way the throttle is wired up/programmed, as it was never keen on kicking down.

FezSpider

1,066 posts

238 months

Tuesday 24th May 2022
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tberg said:
I've owned my 2010 5.0L XKR for nearly 10 years and will pass 200,000 miles on her sometime next month. Unquestionably, the best, most reliable automobile I've owned in 55 years of driving. Tracked dozens of times, I still can't believe that the transmission save for two fluid changes, has required no repairs handling a 600hp engine. It's still my daily driver, as I'm just not willing to drive anything else yet. And still looks beautiful as well.
Outstanding smile
Had my 4.2 for 5 years, 175k miles so far. A great machine. My next daily will be another x150 smile

reddiesel

Original Poster:

2,436 posts

53 months

Tuesday 24th May 2022
quotequote all
FezSpider said:
Outstanding smile
Had my 4.2 for 5 years, 175k miles so far. A great machine. My next daily will be another x150 smile
I was just behind a Black 4.2 Convertible a moment ago , Y4TCF was the index number . Sat on the almost obligatory Senta 20" alloys and looking exceptionally tidy I was intrigued to find out more details . Once again well north of 120,000 miles . I remember 50,000 miles covered was my green light for selling any car I happened to own as a kid , who does such a thing nowadays ? Madness .