XK8/XKR to replace an XF & Audi TT
Discussion
Hi all
So I'm really keen on the idea of getting an XK8 or XKR. The perfect option would be a 4.2 XKR but the budget won't stretch that far.*
I could just about push to a 4.2 XK8 or a 4.0 XKR. The power and the looks of the R are tempting but with that being the 'older' R/SC model I understand it's less efficient and has a different gearbox which means worse at motorway cruising (which 80% of my 90 mile a day commute is). What sort of MPG are people getting with a 4.0 XKR on a similar commute?
Maybe I could live with a little less economy - you don't really buy one of these for the fuel efficiency! But will it be louder/high revving with the 5 sped auto as opposed to the 6 speed?
I'm aware of buying a later model/one where the tensioners have done; not too worried abou the 'liner' issues as that should all be historical now/would probably buy a 2001+ model where that's not an issue, etc.
Think I'll need to drive one anyway - not sure whether I'll like the supercharger whine or prefer the pure V8 burble.
Another option is to save some cash and buy a 4.0 XK8 - plenty available on the market. Would obviously ensure the critical components have been maintained/replaced but also saving a couple of grand in the purchase price means I can put it aside should something go wrong! (although I'd heard the bills can be much higher than a couple of grand)
Still need to decide whether it's the right car for me though. I had a Jag XF S 3.0 (272bhp) for over a year which was a lovely car, but due to it's length was a pain to park in the small work car parking spaces, and after a while I got a bit bored by it's weight/lack of sportiness. So I went for a smaller, manual, petrol car - an Audi TT 2.0 TFSI.
Now that IS fun, especially on the twisties, but I'm finding it a pain on the commute. The springy clutch is hard work in the traffic and I'm not finding it very comfortable on longer journeys - sports seats usually support my back best (the XF had the sports seats too) but somehow the whole driving position isn't quite right in the TT for me. Plus the damn thing wheelspins all the time accelerating out of junctions - too much power for a front wheel drive, should have gone for the quatrro! And the car may be a lot shorter, but it's wider than the Jag, and the doors are huge and heavy - find it a nightmare to get in and out of in our work's narrow car parking spaces! So... fun it may be, for my commute, it's just p1ssing me off too much - it has to go. Only had it 7 weeks, but hey ho...
Would an XK be any better for parking though? It's 50cm longer than the TT but 20cm shorter than the XF, and 5cm less wide than the TT - the doors look longer but they are slimmer so hopefully so as heavy and won't be so bad!
Again, need to go and test one and have a good drive - might find it's weight/more GT than sportier personality too much like the XF and not enough like the TT - although it doesn't have to be as sporty as the TT. I do enjoy a GT. I can live with getting my manual gearbox on a twisty road fix at weekends with my '94 MX-5 turbo
Any advice/thoughts much appreciated though!
Cheers
Ross
So I'm really keen on the idea of getting an XK8 or XKR. The perfect option would be a 4.2 XKR but the budget won't stretch that far.*
I could just about push to a 4.2 XK8 or a 4.0 XKR. The power and the looks of the R are tempting but with that being the 'older' R/SC model I understand it's less efficient and has a different gearbox which means worse at motorway cruising (which 80% of my 90 mile a day commute is). What sort of MPG are people getting with a 4.0 XKR on a similar commute?
Maybe I could live with a little less economy - you don't really buy one of these for the fuel efficiency! But will it be louder/high revving with the 5 sped auto as opposed to the 6 speed?
I'm aware of buying a later model/one where the tensioners have done; not too worried abou the 'liner' issues as that should all be historical now/would probably buy a 2001+ model where that's not an issue, etc.
Think I'll need to drive one anyway - not sure whether I'll like the supercharger whine or prefer the pure V8 burble.
Another option is to save some cash and buy a 4.0 XK8 - plenty available on the market. Would obviously ensure the critical components have been maintained/replaced but also saving a couple of grand in the purchase price means I can put it aside should something go wrong! (although I'd heard the bills can be much higher than a couple of grand)
Still need to decide whether it's the right car for me though. I had a Jag XF S 3.0 (272bhp) for over a year which was a lovely car, but due to it's length was a pain to park in the small work car parking spaces, and after a while I got a bit bored by it's weight/lack of sportiness. So I went for a smaller, manual, petrol car - an Audi TT 2.0 TFSI.
Now that IS fun, especially on the twisties, but I'm finding it a pain on the commute. The springy clutch is hard work in the traffic and I'm not finding it very comfortable on longer journeys - sports seats usually support my back best (the XF had the sports seats too) but somehow the whole driving position isn't quite right in the TT for me. Plus the damn thing wheelspins all the time accelerating out of junctions - too much power for a front wheel drive, should have gone for the quatrro! And the car may be a lot shorter, but it's wider than the Jag, and the doors are huge and heavy - find it a nightmare to get in and out of in our work's narrow car parking spaces! So... fun it may be, for my commute, it's just p1ssing me off too much - it has to go. Only had it 7 weeks, but hey ho...
Would an XK be any better for parking though? It's 50cm longer than the TT but 20cm shorter than the XF, and 5cm less wide than the TT - the doors look longer but they are slimmer so hopefully so as heavy and won't be so bad!
Again, need to go and test one and have a good drive - might find it's weight/more GT than sportier personality too much like the XF and not enough like the TT - although it doesn't have to be as sporty as the TT. I do enjoy a GT. I can live with getting my manual gearbox on a twisty road fix at weekends with my '94 MX-5 turbo
Any advice/thoughts much appreciated though!
Cheers
Ross
- edit - just spotted a 4.2 XKR * just * in my budget... getting excited now!
Appreciate I may have waffled a bit there! And posted pretty late. Did some more reading since and answered a few questions, I'll give myself a 'bump' and make my remaining queries a bit clearer:
Seems some people prefer the 5 speed gearbox to the 6 for a number of reasons (reliability & feel) but admit that it's not so good for crusing in terms of MPG - but does anyone have any figures regarding ratios / rpms? I.e. at, say, 80, what would the revs of a 5 speed be at compared to a 6?
How heavy/easy to open are the doors in a narrow car park? I'm in my late 30s and in decent shape, but find it really hard to get in and out of my TT.
Any key issues other than tensioners, water pump and floor pan rust to look for buying a 4.2?
Ta
Seems some people prefer the 5 speed gearbox to the 6 for a number of reasons (reliability & feel) but admit that it's not so good for crusing in terms of MPG - but does anyone have any figures regarding ratios / rpms? I.e. at, say, 80, what would the revs of a 5 speed be at compared to a 6?
How heavy/easy to open are the doors in a narrow car park? I'm in my late 30s and in decent shape, but find it really hard to get in and out of my TT.
Any key issues other than tensioners, water pump and floor pan rust to look for buying a 4.2?
Ta
I have an X150 not X100 so can't comment exactly, but can empathise with your thought processes.
If you follow your head you will never buy an XK8. If you follow your heart you will. I did and haven't regretted it for a moment. Walking towards your XK8 will be special. Walking towards an XF (I had one) just isn't. You love an XK8/XK exactly because it makes no practical sense!
My XK makes a surprisingly good daily car. OK so I can only carry one passenger, but rarely do I ever want to carry more. The boot (conv) is big enough for a big supermarket shop. It's just as manouverable as the XF it replaced and probably no bigger. It looks gorgeous and if you press a button the roof goes down. What more can you want?!
If you follow your head you will never buy an XK8. If you follow your heart you will. I did and haven't regretted it for a moment. Walking towards your XK8 will be special. Walking towards an XF (I had one) just isn't. You love an XK8/XK exactly because it makes no practical sense!
My XK makes a surprisingly good daily car. OK so I can only carry one passenger, but rarely do I ever want to carry more. The boot (conv) is big enough for a big supermarket shop. It's just as manouverable as the XF it replaced and probably no bigger. It looks gorgeous and if you press a button the roof goes down. What more can you want?!
Edited by Simpo Two on Wednesday 17th January 20:59
Hi Ross,
being the owner of a Mk1 Mx5 Turbo and an X100 XKr i may be well versed in sharing some of my experiences
firstly, be aware, even a well driven standard Eunos will leave the XKR behind on the twisties so keep the Turbo for fun drives
The X150 XK is pretty much as quick as the X100 R but returns much better economy in all circumstances tho in my opinion not as pretty. I average about 20mpg in the XKR and have tried behaving myself which may gain 3-4 mpg........but i do like to get there!! I have toured europe and blatted along Autobahns at 130+ cruising speed and economy doesnt deteriorate......it will always average 20.
from memory 100mph is around 3500rpm.... biggest waste on economy comes from urban driving whilst in Sport mode as it very rarely gets into top gear.
If going for an X100 i would definitely go for the Supercharged model for the extra power and the CATS suspension. This does firm up nicely when pushing on and for fast A roads gives a better feel through all the senses.
Supercharger whine is minimal and to be honest, a bit disappointing, no drama to report, they are a really quiet, refined drive. With this in mind i went for aftermarket back boxes to release some noise, hell, if you got a V8 then you want to know it, right......not intrusive, nice burble and a nice rumble when the throttle is mashed.
as for mechanics, apart from what you have mentioned, bushes can take a hammering, poly kits available but these may compromise ride. i have has fuel pumps replaced, rear tyres and a new battery and thats it in 4 years of ownership, my 1998 model just gone thru 90,000 miles
others may come along and tell you the X150 are a better car, having never owned one i cant compare, but i do know that when i get into mine it still makes me giggle when i accelerate down a slipway.
as for access, if you can still get into an MX5 then you have no problem in one of these,
good luck in you're search
D
being the owner of a Mk1 Mx5 Turbo and an X100 XKr i may be well versed in sharing some of my experiences
firstly, be aware, even a well driven standard Eunos will leave the XKR behind on the twisties so keep the Turbo for fun drives
The X150 XK is pretty much as quick as the X100 R but returns much better economy in all circumstances tho in my opinion not as pretty. I average about 20mpg in the XKR and have tried behaving myself which may gain 3-4 mpg........but i do like to get there!! I have toured europe and blatted along Autobahns at 130+ cruising speed and economy doesnt deteriorate......it will always average 20.
from memory 100mph is around 3500rpm.... biggest waste on economy comes from urban driving whilst in Sport mode as it very rarely gets into top gear.
If going for an X100 i would definitely go for the Supercharged model for the extra power and the CATS suspension. This does firm up nicely when pushing on and for fast A roads gives a better feel through all the senses.
Supercharger whine is minimal and to be honest, a bit disappointing, no drama to report, they are a really quiet, refined drive. With this in mind i went for aftermarket back boxes to release some noise, hell, if you got a V8 then you want to know it, right
......not intrusive, nice burble and a nice rumble when the throttle is mashed. as for mechanics, apart from what you have mentioned, bushes can take a hammering, poly kits available but these may compromise ride. i have has fuel pumps replaced, rear tyres and a new battery and thats it in 4 years of ownership, my 1998 model just gone thru 90,000 miles
others may come along and tell you the X150 are a better car, having never owned one i cant compare, but i do know that when i get into mine it still makes me giggle when i accelerate down a slipway.
as for access, if you can still get into an MX5 then you have no problem in one of these,
good luck in you're search
D
As I have had my 1998 XKR convertible for almost 13 years I'll ad my two cents.
I get average of 21mpg and always run in Sport mode. 5th is easily selected by lifting off as you achieve the right speed. An 8 can be driven as fast as an R it's just the way the power is provided by Rs that makes them more desirable. 4.0 8s have issues, the ZF 5 speed box is the least reliable, the plastic water tower needs replacement with the alloy one standard on the R. Suspension on 8s can be the same as the R (CATS) which is hard by default and softens when not pushing on.
Water pumps were only dodgy on 96-98 cars bet there can't be many still on originals?
Buy on condition and history not mileage or age. These cars love being driven and thrive on miles, mines on 135K miles. Everything is easily fixed at reasonable price except adaptive cruise.
Watch for rust. Floorpans, wheel arches and especially the rear wings. Plenty more places too.
Drive some don't buy just on internet advice.
I get average of 21mpg and always run in Sport mode. 5th is easily selected by lifting off as you achieve the right speed. An 8 can be driven as fast as an R it's just the way the power is provided by Rs that makes them more desirable. 4.0 8s have issues, the ZF 5 speed box is the least reliable, the plastic water tower needs replacement with the alloy one standard on the R. Suspension on 8s can be the same as the R (CATS) which is hard by default and softens when not pushing on.
Water pumps were only dodgy on 96-98 cars bet there can't be many still on originals?
Buy on condition and history not mileage or age. These cars love being driven and thrive on miles, mines on 135K miles. Everything is easily fixed at reasonable price except adaptive cruise.
Watch for rust. Floorpans, wheel arches and especially the rear wings. Plenty more places too.
Drive some don't buy just on internet advice.
HaylingJag - a Mk1 Mx5 Turbo AND a X100 XKR..? I think I've found my new BFF!!!
Seriously though, thanks everyone for the detailed responses - some great info there to think about.
Will be keeping the Mx5 for the indeterminate future anyway; had it over 5 years and spent too much time and money and love and sweat and tears on it to be thinking about replacing - although she's still not * quite * right and needs some more work - but that's another story.
Hopefully the XKR will be the perfect combination of comfort and fun for the commute. 3500rpm at 100mph sounds damn good to be honest (on the 98 model so 5 speed); think the TT is close to that at only 80.
Ah yes I'd forgot about bushes. I believe brake discs and tyres can cost a small fortune on 20 inch rims so need to watch out for those too.
Not so keen on the X150. It looks... nice; but it just doesn't have the timeless beauty of the X100. Love the lines.
Plan is to go and drive one this weekend
Seriously though, thanks everyone for the detailed responses - some great info there to think about.
Will be keeping the Mx5 for the indeterminate future anyway; had it over 5 years and spent too much time and money and love and sweat and tears on it to be thinking about replacing - although she's still not * quite * right and needs some more work - but that's another story.
Hopefully the XKR will be the perfect combination of comfort and fun for the commute. 3500rpm at 100mph sounds damn good to be honest (on the 98 model so 5 speed); think the TT is close to that at only 80.
Ah yes I'd forgot about bushes. I believe brake discs and tyres can cost a small fortune on 20 inch rims so need to watch out for those too.
Not so keen on the X150. It looks... nice; but it just doesn't have the timeless beauty of the X100. Love the lines.
Plan is to go and drive one this weekend
Mmm... How am I supposed to check the floor pan when looking at a car if the carpets are such a swine to remove...?
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8-xkr-x100-17...
I know you can look under the car and I'd there's rust there then the floor pans are true and well gone but if it's in an intermediate state of rust you wouldn't see it from there.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8-xkr-x100-17...
I know you can look under the car and I'd there's rust there then the floor pans are true and well gone but if it's in an intermediate state of rust you wouldn't see it from there.
They all rust , there. It is very cheap to fix. After 20 years , mine has only gone on the nearside and was clearly visible from the underside with a quick poke with a blunt object. No need to worry, just look and see if it has already been done. Mine was a simple welding job by the local car repair garage about £100. If bad you can get full replacement floors. On the inside you will get much worse condensation inside the car but both Convertibles and Coupes are prone to this anyway. Lots of moisture means that the headlining will either have already failed or be soon to go if you get a Coupe.
Simpo Two said:
mrrossi said:
Not so keen on the X150. It looks... nice; but it just doesn't have the timeless beauty of the X100. Love the lines
Ideally I'd have the front of the X100 and the back of the X150 - but lack the talent to make one 
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