Discussion
I’ve had my 2009 4.2 for 4 years now and its been pretty reliable. Issues I have had tend to be the standard ones:
Aspirator fan buzzing – 40 quid fix - its been disconnected for 12months - still to fix
Rear exhaust heat shield fell off. (not bothered to refit as I'm North!)
And well that’s about it….except for the diff which had to be swapped for a 2nd hand one due to oil leaks. The good thing about getting a car at the end of its production run is that issues tend to be ironed out. The 5.0L motors had a few issues with water pumps failing but you don’t hear about that so much these days.
Other fair ware and tear stuff:
Front disks&pads – 300 quid
Tyres 150+ quid a corner
G/Box service 500 quid
And it sounds like I have a wheel bearing on the way now.
I’ve not had the headlight earth fault, or the duckbill issue yet but I’m getting a parking sensor failure reported which may be due to having an original battery.
So generally, a very reliable car for the last 40Kmiles - now showing 85Kmiles. Mines used daily with a 27mpg average over the last 4 years but my 16mile commute tends to be free flowing. I see 31mpg usually on the way home on warm dry days. Wet roads screws up the mpg due to the wide tyres.
It makes a huge difference if your located near a good jag specialist – I’m not and it’s a pain.
Watch out for boggo stereo and the sound quality’s terrible. Also while the cars are stunning they don’t half feel massive on the road – puts my mrs off driving. 4.2 is fast but at needs revs. Not driven the 5.0L yet but am thinking it could be my next car.......
Aspirator fan buzzing – 40 quid fix - its been disconnected for 12months - still to fix
Rear exhaust heat shield fell off. (not bothered to refit as I'm North!)
And well that’s about it….except for the diff which had to be swapped for a 2nd hand one due to oil leaks. The good thing about getting a car at the end of its production run is that issues tend to be ironed out. The 5.0L motors had a few issues with water pumps failing but you don’t hear about that so much these days.
Other fair ware and tear stuff:
Front disks&pads – 300 quid
Tyres 150+ quid a corner
G/Box service 500 quid
And it sounds like I have a wheel bearing on the way now.
I’ve not had the headlight earth fault, or the duckbill issue yet but I’m getting a parking sensor failure reported which may be due to having an original battery.
So generally, a very reliable car for the last 40Kmiles - now showing 85Kmiles. Mines used daily with a 27mpg average over the last 4 years but my 16mile commute tends to be free flowing. I see 31mpg usually on the way home on warm dry days. Wet roads screws up the mpg due to the wide tyres.
It makes a huge difference if your located near a good jag specialist – I’m not and it’s a pain.
Watch out for boggo stereo and the sound quality’s terrible. Also while the cars are stunning they don’t half feel massive on the road – puts my mrs off driving. 4.2 is fast but at needs revs. Not driven the 5.0L yet but am thinking it could be my next car.......
Northern.N said:
paulguitar said:
I’ll be at Silverstone Sunday service in it soon!
You really hit the nail on the head when it said it feels like 'an event' each time you drive it. That is exactly what I want from a car.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed here. The more I read and the more photos I see, the more I think that the XK is the next car for me.
Oh go on then, here's mine:
I've had it 4.5 years now and still genuinely can't think of anything I could realistically afford that I think I'd like better. Mine's an 08 4.2 XKR with some minor modifications - "Portfolio" special edition wheels, the black front grilles from the early 5.0 "Black Pack" option and a nice aftermarket exhaust for extra sound.
I'd echo all the positive comments here, feels special attracts positive attention, enjoyable thing to drive at 1/10th right up to 10/10ths. Most rewarding of a smoother hand/foot at the controls, if you try to throw it around too much it'll bite back but more agile than you'd think and can be hustled along a B-road effectively with the right approach.
I don't understand the hate for the electronic park brake - it's a big, auto, RWD GT car, nobody's going to be doing handbrake turns in it anyway. The EPB will only eat rear pads/discs if you don't disengage it manually before pulling away - you'd never do that in a car with a manual handbrake either. I've yet to hear of it going wrong either. Rear pads/discs get a harder time because the DSC will use the brakes to respond to wheel slip.
Maintenance and servicing costs are reasonable if you have a good dealer or independent handy. Being a "posh Ford" there's nothing terribly outlandish or exotic about the car so you could safely DIY most regular maintenance work or get any competent garage to do it (stuff like basic servicing, discs/pads, changing fluids etc. all fairly standard stuff).
Downsides - they like a drink, my best economy was 32mpg on the motorway between Edinburgh and Aberdeen one weekend last year, typically about 13-14 around town or on a B-road blast, lowest ever was 7mpg on track. Aircon drain blockages on the 4.2s and some early 5.0s not unheard of, electrical gremlins caused by tired batteries and/or infrequent and short drives but go away with a good charge or fresh battery. These are mostly aluminium construction but some rust in certain places not unheard of.
Choose one, buy it, treat and maintain it correctly and you'll have a great time with it.
I've had it 4.5 years now and still genuinely can't think of anything I could realistically afford that I think I'd like better. Mine's an 08 4.2 XKR with some minor modifications - "Portfolio" special edition wheels, the black front grilles from the early 5.0 "Black Pack" option and a nice aftermarket exhaust for extra sound.
I'd echo all the positive comments here, feels special attracts positive attention, enjoyable thing to drive at 1/10th right up to 10/10ths. Most rewarding of a smoother hand/foot at the controls, if you try to throw it around too much it'll bite back but more agile than you'd think and can be hustled along a B-road effectively with the right approach.
I don't understand the hate for the electronic park brake - it's a big, auto, RWD GT car, nobody's going to be doing handbrake turns in it anyway. The EPB will only eat rear pads/discs if you don't disengage it manually before pulling away - you'd never do that in a car with a manual handbrake either. I've yet to hear of it going wrong either. Rear pads/discs get a harder time because the DSC will use the brakes to respond to wheel slip.
Maintenance and servicing costs are reasonable if you have a good dealer or independent handy. Being a "posh Ford" there's nothing terribly outlandish or exotic about the car so you could safely DIY most regular maintenance work or get any competent garage to do it (stuff like basic servicing, discs/pads, changing fluids etc. all fairly standard stuff).
Downsides - they like a drink, my best economy was 32mpg on the motorway between Edinburgh and Aberdeen one weekend last year, typically about 13-14 around town or on a B-road blast, lowest ever was 7mpg on track. Aircon drain blockages on the 4.2s and some early 5.0s not unheard of, electrical gremlins caused by tired batteries and/or infrequent and short drives but go away with a good charge or fresh battery. These are mostly aluminium construction but some rust in certain places not unheard of.
Choose one, buy it, treat and maintain it correctly and you'll have a great time with it.
iain123 said:
II’m getting a parking sensor failure reported which may be due to having an original battery.
It may be water getting in. I've noticed one of my rear sensors sounds falsely after lots of rain, then gets better.Which remind me of one oddity - when you engage reverse the stereo semi-mutes. Do they think we can't reverse if the radio's on?
Simpo Two said:
iain123 said:
II’m getting a parking sensor failure reported which may be due to having an original battery.
It may be water getting in. I've noticed one of my rear sensors sounds falsely after lots of rain, then gets better.Simpo Two said:
Which remind me of one oddity - when you engage reverse the stereo semi-mutes. Do they think we can't reverse if the radio's on?
That's so you don't miss the beeps over the music IIRC in mine it only reduces the stereo volume when it starts beeping, not just when you go into reverse - I'll try and remember to pay attention later on.8bit said:
Oh go on then, here's mine:
I've had it 4.5 years now and still genuinely can't think of anything I could realistically afford that I think I'd like better. Mine's an 08 4.2 XKR with some minor modifications - "Portfolio" special edition wheels, the black front grilles from the early 5.0 "Black Pack" option and a nice aftermarket exhaust for extra sound.
I'd echo all the positive comments here, feels special attracts positive attention, enjoyable thing to drive at 1/10th right up to 10/10ths. Most rewarding of a smoother hand/foot at the controls, if you try to throw it around too much it'll bite back but more agile than you'd think and can be hustled along a B-road effectively with the right approach.
I don't understand the hate for the electronic park brake - it's a big, auto, RWD GT car, nobody's going to be doing handbrake turns in it anyway. The EPB will only eat rear pads/discs if you don't disengage it manually before pulling away - you'd never do that in a car with a manual handbrake either. I've yet to hear of it going wrong either. Rear pads/discs get a harder time because the DSC will use the brakes to respond to wheel slip.
Maintenance and servicing costs are reasonable if you have a good dealer or independent handy. Being a "posh Ford" there's nothing terribly outlandish or exotic about the car so you could safely DIY most regular maintenance work or get any competent garage to do it (stuff like basic servicing, discs/pads, changing fluids etc. all fairly standard stuff).
Downsides - they like a drink, my best economy was 32mpg on the motorway between Edinburgh and Aberdeen one weekend last year, typically about 13-14 around town or on a B-road blast, lowest ever was 7mpg on track. Aircon drain blockages on the 4.2s and some early 5.0s not unheard of, electrical gremlins caused by tired batteries and/or infrequent and short drives but go away with a good charge or fresh battery. These are mostly aluminium construction but some rust in certain places not unheard of.
Choose one, buy it, treat and maintain it correctly and you'll have a great time with it.
Wow, another glorious looking car! I love the wheels.I've had it 4.5 years now and still genuinely can't think of anything I could realistically afford that I think I'd like better. Mine's an 08 4.2 XKR with some minor modifications - "Portfolio" special edition wheels, the black front grilles from the early 5.0 "Black Pack" option and a nice aftermarket exhaust for extra sound.
I'd echo all the positive comments here, feels special attracts positive attention, enjoyable thing to drive at 1/10th right up to 10/10ths. Most rewarding of a smoother hand/foot at the controls, if you try to throw it around too much it'll bite back but more agile than you'd think and can be hustled along a B-road effectively with the right approach.
I don't understand the hate for the electronic park brake - it's a big, auto, RWD GT car, nobody's going to be doing handbrake turns in it anyway. The EPB will only eat rear pads/discs if you don't disengage it manually before pulling away - you'd never do that in a car with a manual handbrake either. I've yet to hear of it going wrong either. Rear pads/discs get a harder time because the DSC will use the brakes to respond to wheel slip.
Maintenance and servicing costs are reasonable if you have a good dealer or independent handy. Being a "posh Ford" there's nothing terribly outlandish or exotic about the car so you could safely DIY most regular maintenance work or get any competent garage to do it (stuff like basic servicing, discs/pads, changing fluids etc. all fairly standard stuff).
Downsides - they like a drink, my best economy was 32mpg on the motorway between Edinburgh and Aberdeen one weekend last year, typically about 13-14 around town or on a B-road blast, lowest ever was 7mpg on track. Aircon drain blockages on the 4.2s and some early 5.0s not unheard of, electrical gremlins caused by tired batteries and/or infrequent and short drives but go away with a good charge or fresh battery. These are mostly aluminium construction but some rust in certain places not unheard of.
Choose one, buy it, treat and maintain it correctly and you'll have a great time with it.
I am slightly concerned by the potential electrical gremlins. I work on cruise ship for 4 months at a time, so my cars do stand idle quite a lot. My stepfather drives my current SLK 350 every 2-3 weeks on average whilst I am away. What’s the feeling here about that, will the XK tolerate such infrequent use whilst I am away?
paulguitar said:
Wow, another glorious looking car! I love the wheels.
I am slightly concerned by the potential electrical gremlins. I work on cruise ship for 4 months at a time, so my cars do stand idle quite a lot. My stepfather drives my current SLK 350 every 2-3 weeks on average whilst I am away. What’s the feeling here about that, will the XK tolerate such infrequent use whilst I am away?
Install an AGM-type battery and put it on a battery conditioner overnight before starting for the first time after a period stood idle. Nothing actually breaks as such, just that some systems don't start right or go a little bit funky if the battery charge is insufficient when the car is started.I am slightly concerned by the potential electrical gremlins. I work on cruise ship for 4 months at a time, so my cars do stand idle quite a lot. My stepfather drives my current SLK 350 every 2-3 weeks on average whilst I am away. What’s the feeling here about that, will the XK tolerate such infrequent use whilst I am away?
8bit said:
Install an AGM-type battery and put it on a battery conditioner overnight before starting for the first time after a period stood idle.
A battery conditioner should be 'plug in and forget'. My TVR was happy with one for years and had a normal battery.From what I read, XKs have rather too much electronics for their one battery - seems to be the way of modern car design - so if the battery starts to tire, weird stuff can happen. However it recovers with a new battery so not a major issue I'd say.
I have less problems with weird electronics on the Jags than the Mercs.
If you've got someone who can fire it up or take it for a short drive occasionally it would probably help.
The only weird issues I've had on my 2010 XKR convertible are that if I have it switched on without the engine running for too long it moans about the battery state and has since I bought it which might have been 4 years ago. And occasionally the motors that drive the swivelling head lights get stuck and the lights stay in the central position and there's an annoying warning light on the dash. Doesn't happen too often and normally goes away when you next start her up.
If you've got someone who can fire it up or take it for a short drive occasionally it would probably help.
The only weird issues I've had on my 2010 XKR convertible are that if I have it switched on without the engine running for too long it moans about the battery state and has since I bought it which might have been 4 years ago. And occasionally the motors that drive the swivelling head lights get stuck and the lights stay in the central position and there's an annoying warning light on the dash. Doesn't happen too often and normally goes away when you next start her up.
In a bid to improve the woeful stereo I installed an amp & sub that drives the rear speakers only. This takes 10-15 seconds to auto power up once a audio signal is detected which can make for a few surprising bumps when reversing if you have not been listening to music! (no parking beeps to the rear speakers)
My ‘parking aid’ works fine for a few seconds before bringing up a ‘unavailable’ message. It bizarrely remembers its knackered even after a long drive/battery charge unless you switch the car off. However, on restart it forgets its fecked
and it usually works fine which suggests there is not enough battery juice for ‘it’ to boot up/get a decent signal from all the sensors?
My ‘parking aid’ works fine for a few seconds before bringing up a ‘unavailable’ message. It bizarrely remembers its knackered even after a long drive/battery charge unless you switch the car off. However, on restart it forgets its fecked
and it usually works fine which suggests there is not enough battery juice for ‘it’ to boot up/get a decent signal from all the sensors?iain123 said:
My ‘parking aid’ works fine for a few seconds before bringing up a ‘unavailable’ message. It bizarrely remembers its knackered even after a long drive/battery charge unless you switch the car off. However, on restart it forgets its fecked and it usually works fine which suggests there is not enough battery juice for ‘it’ to boot up/get a decent signal from all the sensors?
Hmm maybe, or an earthing issue? Did you say you'd had it checked for fault codes? and it usually works fine which suggests there is not enough battery juice for ‘it’ to boot up/get a decent signal from all the sensors?8bit said:
Simpo Two said:
Which remind me of one oddity - when you engage reverse the stereo semi-mutes. Do they think we can't reverse if the radio's on?
That's so you don't miss the beeps over the music IIRC in mine it only reduces the stereo volume when it starts beeping, not just when you go into reverse - I'll try and remember to pay attention later on.I have admired the X150 since it was introduced. I decided last year to treat myself to the car below; I wasn't bothered about having an R and didn't particularly want a black one, so of course ended up with a black XKR!
I am not in a position to comment on long-term running costs, but an average of 25mpg for a car of this type is fine by me and the cost of parts I bought for it as part of my standard thorough post-purchase going over was nothing scary. I am not brave enough to buy an Aston and see the X150 as a very respectable alternative. It is pleasing to read how other owners feel about their cars and I'm looking forward to enjoying mine.
I am not in a position to comment on long-term running costs, but an average of 25mpg for a car of this type is fine by me and the cost of parts I bought for it as part of my standard thorough post-purchase going over was nothing scary. I am not brave enough to buy an Aston and see the X150 as a very respectable alternative. It is pleasing to read how other owners feel about their cars and I'm looking forward to enjoying mine.
After saying how great mine has been, yesterday and today both of my seat backs have lost there ability to function. They recline back but not forward to the normal position. I have not reclined my drivers back to far to test it incase i cant get it forward again to drive sitting up LOL
But my passenger seat has reclined back and wont come forward.
Both seat motors/ or control units cant have gone at the same time, especially when i very rarely use the function at all.
Time for reaserch I reckon.
But my passenger seat has reclined back and wont come forward.
Both seat motors/ or control units cant have gone at the same time, especially when i very rarely use the function at all.
Time for reaserch I reckon.
8bit said:
So I did check this last night and I was wrong - it does turn the stereo down a little bit on going into R, just as you describe. As you were...
I am left wondering why any well-heeled Chairman of the Board would want a well kicking bass in his limousine... Anything more than Radios 3 and 4 would be simply gauche old boy...RB CV8 said:
I am not in a position to comment on long-term running costs, but an average of 25mpg for a car of this type is fine by me
Blimey. I have a 5.0 XK and i drive quite carefully. I do a 42 mile round trip daily commute on mixed roads. And I'm seeing an average of only 19.8 mpg. I must be doing something wrong !OddCat said:
Blimey. I have a 5.0 XK and i drive quite carefully. I do a 42 mile round trip daily commute on mixed roads. And I'm seeing an average of only 19.8 mpg. I must be doing something wrong !
To be fair, mine is not a daily so no commuting and rarely sitting in traffic. I don't go mad in it but do ensure that the supercharger is kept in good working order......Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff