XKR 5.0 as a weekend toy ??
Discussion
Reliability won't be an issue so long as it does get used but you may find it'll behave a little better if you use a battery tender like a CTek MXS5. There's a lot of electrics in these and light use can see batteries getting a hard time.
I had a 4.2 XKR that was essentially a weekend toy, nothing out of the ordinary happened with that one given correct maintenance and servicing. Eventually we had kids and the weekend use became a bit less and I started using it for the nursery run a couple of days a week. Similar amount of usage, just different type. I have a late '09 5 litre XKR now. I've not driven a 911 so I can't compare the two but there's little, if anything, that can imagine matches the sense of occasion that the XKR delivers for anywhere near the same money, hence why I bought another one.
I had a 4.2 XKR that was essentially a weekend toy, nothing out of the ordinary happened with that one given correct maintenance and servicing. Eventually we had kids and the weekend use became a bit less and I started using it for the nursery run a couple of days a week. Similar amount of usage, just different type. I have a late '09 5 litre XKR now. I've not driven a 911 so I can't compare the two but there's little, if anything, that can imagine matches the sense of occasion that the XKR delivers for anywhere near the same money, hence why I bought another one.
Phil Dicky said:
An XKR Conv is on my radar for next year... also considered an SLK 55 and another TVR (done to death). Still think the XKR is an amazing shape, can hustle if required. Plus cruise in top comfort when the mood takes you.
It's the option I always return to when I consider others.
Have owned an SLK55 so ticked that box.It's the option I always return to when I consider others.
a8hex said:
I've been running 5L XKR convertible for 4 or 5 years as a weekend toy, it's not given me any troubles. As others have said keep the battery on a conditioner. Fast when you want it, happy to pootle when you want to be laid back.
Thank you that’s good to know, my Westy lives hooked up to a C tek to stop battery problems so no issues their. Phil Dicky said:
An XKR Conv is on my radar for next year... also considered an SLK 55 and another TVR (done to death). Still think the XKR is an amazing shape, can hustle if required. Plus cruise in top comfort when the mood takes you.
It's the option I always return to when I consider others.
I considered SLK55 when I was changing my 4.2 XKR last year. My mrs. has a ML320 which serves as the family car with, from what I can tell, the same 7G-tronic transmission that the SLK55 has. In the ML it's a hateful contraption, sluggish, unpredictable, temperamental. Everything I could find on the SLK seemed to say it wasn't a whole lot of fun on them either. I never actually drove one though so maybe I'm wrong but the transmission in the XKR is light years ahead of the one in our M class so I went off that idea.It's the option I always return to when I consider others.
Westfield69 said:
... comfort, reliability and something I look back at when I get out is my need.
An XKR would seem to fit the bill there.I've had my 5.0 convertible for about 2 years and it's use depends on where I'm working. Since last September it's been used very infrequently and has been sat out on the drive.
The only thing I've done is go out and connect up the CTEK battery tender for a few days if I've not used the car for 3 weeks or so. The longest I didn't use it for was about 5 weeks over xmas period. Started on the dot and was perfect.
The only 'issue' I've had was having to re-bed in the brakes with a 100 mile trip a couple of weeks back because I hadn;t used the car again for a good few weeks. The corrosion must have got a bit more aggressive than just brown surface dust and it needed some decent distance and high speed brakes to clear the corrosion from the discs.
Otherwise, just park up and use as required!
The only thing I've done is go out and connect up the CTEK battery tender for a few days if I've not used the car for 3 weeks or so. The longest I didn't use it for was about 5 weeks over xmas period. Started on the dot and was perfect.
The only 'issue' I've had was having to re-bed in the brakes with a 100 mile trip a couple of weeks back because I hadn;t used the car again for a good few weeks. The corrosion must have got a bit more aggressive than just brown surface dust and it needed some decent distance and high speed brakes to clear the corrosion from the discs.
Otherwise, just park up and use as required!
To give you my first hand experience (and not what a mate has done with a totally different car) I did the sports car bit
with a Noble GTO3 for ten years then in 2012 saw and fell in love with a XKR 5.0 in Salsa Red. Had to buy it .
This resulted in two weekend cars to play with. Over the next year I did 3500 miles in the Jag and only 920 in the Noble.
Although I could afford to run both motors I decided to let the Noble go and let someone else enjoy the same thrill that
I had experienced for ten years. Still have the Jag and there's no car I want to change it for.
with a Noble GTO3 for ten years then in 2012 saw and fell in love with a XKR 5.0 in Salsa Red. Had to buy it .
This resulted in two weekend cars to play with. Over the next year I did 3500 miles in the Jag and only 920 in the Noble.
Although I could afford to run both motors I decided to let the Noble go and let someone else enjoy the same thrill that
I had experienced for ten years. Still have the Jag and there's no car I want to change it for.
I have had my 5.0 l xkr convertible for nine years averaging about 5k per annum mostly on trips all over Europe and weekends
Have tried various other cars but nothing is better than the Jag in my opinion and it is relatively cheap to run considering performance hence I have kept it all this time and will keep for foreseeable future as it ticks many boxes
Have tried various other cars but nothing is better than the Jag in my opinion and it is relatively cheap to run considering performance hence I have kept it all this time and will keep for foreseeable future as it ticks many boxes
I have had my 4.2 XK-R for coming up to 6 years now and have averaged no more than 2000 miles per annum and have probably spent more time cleaning it than driving it, but it's caused no real issues. I've fitted a new MAF sensor and 2 new o2 sensors, but other than that it's needed nothing apart from the usual serviceable parts. I've just done an oil service, 2 new J-Marked front tyres and and brake pads all round.
I've never fitted anything other than genuine parts and the car has covered 59,000 miles from new.
I've never fitted anything other than genuine parts and the car has covered 59,000 miles from new.
honestbob said:
To give you my first hand experience (and not what a mate has done with a totally different car) I did the sports car bit
with a Noble GTO3 for ten years then in 2012 saw and fell in love with a XKR 5.0 in Salsa Red. Had to buy it .
This resulted in two weekend cars to play with. Over the next year I did 3500 miles in the Jag and only 920 in the Noble.
Although I could afford to run both motors I decided to let the Noble go and let someone else enjoy the same thrill that
I had experienced for ten years. Still have the Jag and there's no car I want to change it for.
I have a Noble GTO-3R too, and am currently on the lookout for an XKR 5.0 convertible to join it.with a Noble GTO3 for ten years then in 2012 saw and fell in love with a XKR 5.0 in Salsa Red. Had to buy it .
This resulted in two weekend cars to play with. Over the next year I did 3500 miles in the Jag and only 920 in the Noble.
Although I could afford to run both motors I decided to let the Noble go and let someone else enjoy the same thrill that
I had experienced for ten years. Still have the Jag and there's no car I want to change it for.
I'm thinking with these two weekend cars I've covered all bases.
The Noble will inevitably get used less, and I only do about 2,500 miles a year in it anyway, but I couldn't lose the performance and track ability of the Noble. The Jag is something that I'd be happy to use in all weathers.
Just bought a 5.0 XKR cab after doing similar research and its awesome. I previously have had a 997 C4S and unless you are pushing it, it didn’t have anywhere near the sense of occasion you get in the Jag. The V8 rumble puts a smile on your face at sensible speeds. Also for sub 30k you will get a pretty crap Porsche with potential RMS and engine liner problems and you’d probably only get a high mileage car or 996
Jarcy said:
I have a Noble GTO-3R too, and am currently on the lookout for an XKR 5.0 convertible to join it.
I'm thinking with these two weekend cars I've covered all bases.
The Noble will inevitably get used less, and I only do about 2,500 miles a year in it anyway, but I couldn't lose the performance and track ability of the Noble. The Jag is something that I'd be happy to use in all weathers.
Another ex Noble owner, current XKR owner here!I'm thinking with these two weekend cars I've covered all bases.
The Noble will inevitably get used less, and I only do about 2,500 miles a year in it anyway, but I couldn't lose the performance and track ability of the Noble. The Jag is something that I'd be happy to use in all weathers.
I'm only driving a 4.2 but it's got under my skin more than any other car before. I love it and rarely think about the Noble
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