XK or XKR... that is the question

[a8hex]

TorqueDirty said:

"Jump sideways" is indeed my main handling memory from that car.

The XKR jumps sideways it in the same way it like to move in a forwards direction - with startling enthusiasm.

I bought the car because my wife decided she loved it. She drove it home after we picked it up because I was heading abroad the next day for work and I wanted her to get used to it. At one point she decided to accelerate out of a roundabout on a dual carriageway because an aggressive white van man had undertaken us.

She said "watch this" and then we were instantly facing the central reservation, next we were facing the white van man (who looked suitably concerned). Then we had another very close look at the central reservation before the car eventually straightened up and we had a chance to breathe.

She wouldn't drive it much after that first trip home.

Edited by TorqueDirty on Friday 12th February 17:35

Glad it's not just mine then
It seems the traction control is setup in such a way that if the car is heading somewhere within 45degress of the normal direction the TC just assumes you're playing.
My wife drives it in winter mode, where the TC behaves more like the one in her Merc and immediately controls any traction issues.
I think a lot of the issues are switching back and forth between cars. I drive her car more often than the XKR even before the last crazy year. Hers is turbo diesel where the technique to get it off the line reasonably seems to be be stamp on the throttle and then back off, particularly after they did a firmware update on the engine management system due to the dieselgate issue which has made it much trickier to get the turbos going as you pull out of junctions. But try that sort of thing with your right foot in the XKR and all hell breaks loose.

When the road is good and the tyres are warm, it can be very satisfying burying the loud peddle and letting rip, but it always seems to reward smoother movements of the throttle foot.

SweptVolume said:

As an all-round tyre, I cannot recommend these enough. Expensive, but you get what you pay for.

https://www.blackcircles.com/catalogue/michelin/pi...

Thanks Swept, a few people have mentioned the Michelin Pilots, I'll certainly take a look when the time comes to change the tyres.

[chazwozza]

Some good points put across on here, thanks folks.
Think the XK is winning, Mrs C and the dog aren't fans of speed so the extra oomph may well be wasted...

Unless somebody is after a petite brunette and a cavalier king charles, he he he.

Besides, can always buy more motorbikes...!!

Thanks

C

[hashluck]

Good choice

[Simpo Two]

a8hex said:

It seems the traction control is setup in such a way that if the car is heading somewhere within 45degress of the normal direction the TC just assumes you're playing.
My wife drives it in winter mode, where the TC behaves more like the one in her Merc and immediately controls any traction issues.
I think a lot of the issues are switching back and forth between cars. I drive her car more often than the XKR even before the last crazy year. Hers is turbo diesel where the technique to get it off the line reasonably seems to be be stamp on the throttle and then back off, particularly after they did a firmware update on the engine management system due to the dieselgate issue which has made it much trickier to get the turbos going as you pull out of junctions. But try that sort of thing with your right foot in the XKR and all hell breaks loose.

This is the problem with 'driver aids' - you never know which bit is the actual car and which bit is the aid working. Hence you never know where the limit is. In the Griff 500 which is just a big engine connected to the back wheels, you quickly learned a sense of feel and knew that if you just 'stamped on it' it would go horribly wrong. But in 'normal' cars they sort it all out and you never know, so you think stamping on it is normal. And of course in many cars they don't have the power to do anything anyway. You have to develop a feel for the tyres on the road and the road surface/conditions, and that the accelerator is not an on/off pedal..

[chazwozza]

So..... neither for the time being. Inheritance will be now almost all spent on a house. But have bought a 2001 4.0 Sovereign instead as a project although needs very little doing. Beautiful car, will do a RR thread when I get some pics and time. Thanks for all the input though folks.

Chaz

[ExecutiveAction]

I appreciate that you are not going to buy one now.

I was going to say, for someone asking your question, get a 4.2 or a 5.0 X100 or X150. Personally I prefer the X100. I find it a nicer drive and more like a Jaguar. I accept that the X150 is faster on paper.

Beyond that, get a nice one in top condition. Whether it is an R or an NA doesn't, in my view, matter very much. Either is a fast car, and the bragging rights of the R is in my opinion, completely offset by the linear response of the NA engine.

[hashluck]

ExecutiveAction said:

I appreciate that you are not going to buy one now.

I was going to say, for someone asking your question, get a 4.2 or a 5.0 X100 or X150. Personally I prefer the X100. I find it a nicer drive and more like a Jaguar. I accept that the X150 is faster on paper.

Beyond that, get a nice one in top condition. Whether it is an R or an NA doesn't, in my view, matter very much. Either is a fast car, and the bragging rights of the R is in my opinion, completely offset by the linear response of the NA engine.

Agree with this. X150 will be less rust prone. And something like this

https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C1290826

[chazwozza]

Cheers for the input folks. I still want one, 100% a convertible now though with the X308, but lots going on with properties and btl's so potentially laying £15-£20k on a car wouldn't be prudent right now!

I'd probably be happy with 'just' the N/A and even they make a nice noise