RE: Driven: Jaguar XKR-S
Discussion
For those criticising the Jag auto box, have any of you actually driven a recent Jag?
The ZF box is the pinnacle of 'slush boxes' as you like to call them, and to me is the perfect compromise between a silky smooth shift when pootling and a fast shift when you need it, with torque applied to the driven wheels right the way through the shift - this is exactly what Jaguar have aimed to provide from a gearbox, and is exactly how a modern Jag performs all round - comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort.
Admittedly the extra power and handling make the split second, smooth shifts feel a little too sedate compared to something like the Maser GT, but who wants 'snap-your-neck' shifts just for the sake of it? Try driving one of these on Public roads and at flat out WOT driving (when you may desire a Manual shift for fun) you won't be able to take your hand of the wheel for fear of slewing off the road at the slightlest rut or pothole. A manual would only ever make sense on a track, and as Jag have said, this isn't a track car.
By the way, I like the comment in the article about improved braking... it has standard brakes?
The ZF box is the pinnacle of 'slush boxes' as you like to call them, and to me is the perfect compromise between a silky smooth shift when pootling and a fast shift when you need it, with torque applied to the driven wheels right the way through the shift - this is exactly what Jaguar have aimed to provide from a gearbox, and is exactly how a modern Jag performs all round - comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort.
Admittedly the extra power and handling make the split second, smooth shifts feel a little too sedate compared to something like the Maser GT, but who wants 'snap-your-neck' shifts just for the sake of it? Try driving one of these on Public roads and at flat out WOT driving (when you may desire a Manual shift for fun) you won't be able to take your hand of the wheel for fear of slewing off the road at the slightlest rut or pothole. A manual would only ever make sense on a track, and as Jag have said, this isn't a track car.
By the way, I like the comment in the article about improved braking... it has standard brakes?
ajhmini said:
For those criticising the Jag auto box, have any of you actually driven a recent Jag?
The ZF box is the pinnacle of 'slush boxes' as you like to call them, and to me is the perfect compromise between a silky smooth shift when pootling and a fast shift when you need it, with torque applied to the driven wheels right the way through the shift - this is exactly what Jaguar have aimed to provide from a gearbox, and is exactly how a modern Jag performs all round - comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort.
Admittedly the extra power and handling make the split second, smooth shifts feel a little too sedate compared to something like the Maser GT, but who wants 'snap-your-neck' shifts just for the sake of it? Try driving one of these on Public roads and at flat out WOT driving (when you may desire a Manual shift for fun) you won't be able to take your hand of the wheel for fear of slewing off the road at the slightlest rut or pothole. A manual would only ever make sense on a track, and as Jag have said, this isn't a track car.
By the way, I like the comment in the article about improved braking... it has standard brakes?
Agree,I am a 'manual' person,but I thought the box on the xkr excellent for an auto,definitely amongst the very best autos.The ZF box is the pinnacle of 'slush boxes' as you like to call them, and to me is the perfect compromise between a silky smooth shift when pootling and a fast shift when you need it, with torque applied to the driven wheels right the way through the shift - this is exactly what Jaguar have aimed to provide from a gearbox, and is exactly how a modern Jag performs all round - comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort.
Admittedly the extra power and handling make the split second, smooth shifts feel a little too sedate compared to something like the Maser GT, but who wants 'snap-your-neck' shifts just for the sake of it? Try driving one of these on Public roads and at flat out WOT driving (when you may desire a Manual shift for fun) you won't be able to take your hand of the wheel for fear of slewing off the road at the slightlest rut or pothole. A manual would only ever make sense on a track, and as Jag have said, this isn't a track car.
By the way, I like the comment in the article about improved braking... it has standard brakes?
MrCarCoach said:
Looks delicious but it’s a shame they could not have stripped out more weight, in a similar vein to the GT3 RS and it should have ceramic brakes for the money. Making it more of a racer in this way would have further differentiated it from the standard XKR.
Thats the thing, the XKR engine is such a fantastic power-plant its prime for Jaguar to build a proper 2 seater sports car rather than a big GT, lets hope the upcoming F-Type addresses this.
Why would they do that and knock out the possibility for an additional stripped out model a-la Porsche ?Thats the thing, the XKR engine is such a fantastic power-plant its prime for Jaguar to build a proper 2 seater sports car rather than a big GT, lets hope the upcoming F-Type addresses this.
As the article, and Jaguar engineers said, it's a GT not a track car, reducing weight will reduce the things that make it a good GT.
ajhmini said:
For those criticising the Jag auto box, have any of you actually driven a recent Jag?
The ZF box is the pinnacle of 'slush boxes' as you like to call them, and to me is the perfect compromise between a silky smooth shift when pootling and a fast shift when you need it, with torque applied to the driven wheels right the way through the shift - this is exactly what Jaguar have aimed to provide from a gearbox, and is exactly how a modern Jag performs all round - comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort.
Admittedly the extra power and handling make the split second, smooth shifts feel a little too sedate compared to something like the Maser GT, but who wants 'snap-your-neck' shifts just for the sake of it? Try driving one of these on Public roads and at flat out WOT driving (when you may desire a Manual shift for fun) you won't be able to take your hand of the wheel for fear of slewing off the road at the slightlest rut or pothole. A manual would only ever make sense on a track, and as Jag have said, this isn't a track car.
By the way, I like the comment in the article about improved braking... it has standard brakes?
Having just moved to an XKR from a manual 911, I have to agree. It's a great box for real world road driving.The ZF box is the pinnacle of 'slush boxes' as you like to call them, and to me is the perfect compromise between a silky smooth shift when pootling and a fast shift when you need it, with torque applied to the driven wheels right the way through the shift - this is exactly what Jaguar have aimed to provide from a gearbox, and is exactly how a modern Jag performs all round - comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort.
Admittedly the extra power and handling make the split second, smooth shifts feel a little too sedate compared to something like the Maser GT, but who wants 'snap-your-neck' shifts just for the sake of it? Try driving one of these on Public roads and at flat out WOT driving (when you may desire a Manual shift for fun) you won't be able to take your hand of the wheel for fear of slewing off the road at the slightlest rut or pothole. A manual would only ever make sense on a track, and as Jag have said, this isn't a track car.
By the way, I like the comment in the article about improved braking... it has standard brakes?
"comfortable and smooth while being blisteringly quick with minimum effort" sums up the car perfectly. The -S would be the icing on the cake if it doesn't compromise comfort as coming from a 911 the only thing I miss is how nippy and precise it felt on tighter bends and roundabouts.
http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/stillatthewheel/arc...
like I was predicting, the XKR-S is an oldman car in a sport suit. it needs a bit more than an halfords rear spoiler and a big V8 to be a modern sportscar
like I was predicting, the XKR-S is an oldman car in a sport suit. it needs a bit more than an halfords rear spoiler and a big V8 to be a modern sportscar
snaelro said:
http://www.autocar.co.uk/blogs/stillatthewheel/arc...
like I was predicting, the XKR-S is an oldman car in a sport suit. it needs a bit more than an halfords rear spoiler and a big V8 to be a modern sportscar
Interesting and, unlike his M5 piece, well written by Sutcliffe, in that he actually talks about the cars' handling.like I was predicting, the XKR-S is an oldman car in a sport suit. it needs a bit more than an halfords rear spoiler and a big V8 to be a modern sportscar
I have been running around in the XKR-S for 12 months now, using it as a day car for the school run - with two 8 year olds in the back - their feet gently resting on the centre console, as a fun weekend car for the odd blast when I get the chance, as a support car on the road rallies we arrange and around Millbrook on the bowl and handling circuit.
As a comparison, I have / still do regularly use a 458, MP4-12C, SLS, R8, 911 Turbo S and GT3, Grancabrio, Aston V8V & DBS, Jag XFR and ran a standard XKR for 2 years - 5.0 S/C.
The Jag - and this is true of most of them over the years - is one of those rare beasts that, no matter what the situation, type of road or prevailing conditions, works with you and goes with the flow. The car feels as if it helps you along, flatters you and makes you feel in complete control, without taking away the fun or nannying you.
It has more than enough performance, and yes, it may be xx seconds lower around the Ring than this or that, but on any given day, on any normal road, it holds it's own with anything else. On our last Scottish road rally, only the MP4-12C left it (and everything else) standing when the roads allowed. On a rally to the 'Ring, travelling at 180+ on the autobahn was easy, whilst the the others (SLS excepted) were just bloody nerve wracking.
I understand peoples view about the body kit - I for one love ours, in Black it tones it down a little and gives enough evil menace to be interesting but is not too OTT to be chavvy.
It is not a GT3 - far more useable everyday and comfortable, nor was it ever meant to be. It is, in my opinion, the best GT car that money can buy - especially as an ex demo.
As a comparison, I have / still do regularly use a 458, MP4-12C, SLS, R8, 911 Turbo S and GT3, Grancabrio, Aston V8V & DBS, Jag XFR and ran a standard XKR for 2 years - 5.0 S/C.
The Jag - and this is true of most of them over the years - is one of those rare beasts that, no matter what the situation, type of road or prevailing conditions, works with you and goes with the flow. The car feels as if it helps you along, flatters you and makes you feel in complete control, without taking away the fun or nannying you.
It has more than enough performance, and yes, it may be xx seconds lower around the Ring than this or that, but on any given day, on any normal road, it holds it's own with anything else. On our last Scottish road rally, only the MP4-12C left it (and everything else) standing when the roads allowed. On a rally to the 'Ring, travelling at 180+ on the autobahn was easy, whilst the the others (SLS excepted) were just bloody nerve wracking.
I understand peoples view about the body kit - I for one love ours, in Black it tones it down a little and gives enough evil menace to be interesting but is not too OTT to be chavvy.
It is not a GT3 - far more useable everyday and comfortable, nor was it ever meant to be. It is, in my opinion, the best GT car that money can buy - especially as an ex demo.
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