XKR what do I need to know
Discussion
I agree with Norman to some extent - if you're mainly after the forums and some answers to questions then there is a great forum at XKEC.
However if you're after anything else and you're outside of the UK I'd forget it. I was a member (from Australia)there , forked out my money and received a welcome pack and that was was all great. From there I received zero contact for the rest of my membership other than the odd email update on local UK functions etc..., none of the promised Growler mags etc.....
What I did get was an email asking why I hadn't renewed. I took the time to email the head honcho explaining why and that I was out of pocket and not happy and I didn't even get the courtesy of a response.
Having said all that there are some great people on the forums and Norman is one. I won't be back though - left a sour taste in my mouth.
However if you're after anything else and you're outside of the UK I'd forget it. I was a member (from Australia)there , forked out my money and received a welcome pack and that was was all great. From there I received zero contact for the rest of my membership other than the odd email update on local UK functions etc..., none of the promised Growler mags etc.....
What I did get was an email asking why I hadn't renewed. I took the time to email the head honcho explaining why and that I was out of pocket and not happy and I didn't even get the courtesy of a response.
Having said all that there are some great people on the forums and Norman is one. I won't be back though - left a sour taste in my mouth.
Edited by bl5150 on Wednesday 4th July 04:02
ewan221 said:
Thinking about moving on from my Chimaera to either a XKR or TVR Cerb. I'd be looking at an earlier one Iguess with my budget. Any advice from knowledgeable owners would be very useful
I had a Chimeara for nine years, loved every minute, but with a young family it was not being used.The Cerb would just be a money pit, so went for a totally mint 2001 XKR Convertible.
Well, just sold the XKR after just a year, i deeply regret selling the Chimeara.
Don't get me wrong, the XKR is a superbly crafted machine, and mighty quick In a straight line.
But it is NOT a sports car, it is a beautiful big luxury GT.
The TVR always felt special, got admiring looks everywhere it went, and was always a topic of conversation.
The XKR just never did it for me (apart from the occasional burst of ultra refined power)
Oh, and don't buy one thinking the rear seats are usable, unless your passengers have no legs.
Yes you can get a child seat in the back, but It ends up being far too upright and cramped to actually use.
This forum will be full of very satisfied and enthusiastic owners, and for very good reason.
But make sure it is exactly what you want, before you sell the Chimaera
Regards
Emley
Emley said:
I had a Chimeara for nine years, loved every minute, but with a young family it was not being used.
The Cerb would just be a money pit, so went for a totally mint 2001 XKR Convertible.
Well, just sold the XKR after just a year, i deeply regret selling the Chimeara.
Don't get me wrong, the XKR is a superbly crafted machine, and mighty quick In a straight line.
But it is NOT a sports car, it is a beautiful big luxury GT.
The TVR always felt special, got admiring looks everywhere it went, and was always a topic of conversation.
The XKR just never did it for me (apart from the occasional burst of ultra refined power)
Oh, and don't buy one thinking the rear seats are usable, unless your passengers have no legs.
Yes you can get a child seat in the back, but It ends up being far too upright and cramped to actually use.
This forum will be full of very satisfied and enthusiastic owners, and for very good reason.
But make sure it is exactly what you want, before you sell the Chimaera
Regards
Emley
Thanks for that I am in two minds as I do love the Chimaera and have spent a small fortune upgrading it. The XKR is on my lists of cars I have always wanted but cant afford to keep both The Cerb would just be a money pit, so went for a totally mint 2001 XKR Convertible.
Well, just sold the XKR after just a year, i deeply regret selling the Chimeara.
Don't get me wrong, the XKR is a superbly crafted machine, and mighty quick In a straight line.
But it is NOT a sports car, it is a beautiful big luxury GT.
The TVR always felt special, got admiring looks everywhere it went, and was always a topic of conversation.
The XKR just never did it for me (apart from the occasional burst of ultra refined power)
Oh, and don't buy one thinking the rear seats are usable, unless your passengers have no legs.
Yes you can get a child seat in the back, but It ends up being far too upright and cramped to actually use.
This forum will be full of very satisfied and enthusiastic owners, and for very good reason.
But make sure it is exactly what you want, before you sell the Chimaera
Regards
Emley
ewan221 said:
Thanks for that I am in two minds as I do love the Chimaera and have spent a small fortune upgrading it. The XKR is on my lists of cars I have always wanted but cant afford to keep both
Ewan, just had a look at your garage.We have very similar everday hacks which are very comfortable and quick.
I will probably get shot down on this forum for saying it, but you will have more fun driving your 320d.
And your Business Edition is hardly a minging place to be.
This was the problem for me, the XKR will feel more opulant, but not sufficiently so to feel special.
If you are looking for something to cherish, that is sufficiently different from your everyday hack in the same way the Chimeara is, go for the Cerbera, just be prepared for the hassle and expense.
Once the economic outlook stabilises, I will look for another Chimeara or Griffith with a good chassis, and keep it till I die.
My question would be why the change. I went from a chim to an XKR just over a year ago and feel that along with my wifes old mini ( a rover one) the chim will be the other car I regret selling. I made the move due a little one and at the same time reduced the number of vehicles from 3 to 2. We use the jag daily and it is a great vehicle that is just as happy sat in a traffic jam as it is unleashing the supercharged v8 on a quiet bit of road. It feels much more solidly built than the chim as would be expected. 90 - 95% of the time though when not on that great bit of open twisty road it is an ideal car to be in
However, the rear seats are pretty useless. We have a child seat in and the wife has to have her seat further forward than would be normal to allow any leg room. It isn't a sports car but a accomplished GT. Whilst it does still get admiring glances and comments no where near as many as the chim. Also I have a coupe and miss taking the roof off.
The TVR was a much more rewarding (and demanding) drive. I sometimes wonder whether sacrificing rwd and a bit of outright pace for a alfa GTA would have been a better choice for the family car. Obviously a Cebera would be the ultimate choice but the increased running costs over the chim and still having a chassis that would need regular attention put me off.
However, the rear seats are pretty useless. We have a child seat in and the wife has to have her seat further forward than would be normal to allow any leg room. It isn't a sports car but a accomplished GT. Whilst it does still get admiring glances and comments no where near as many as the chim. Also I have a coupe and miss taking the roof off.
The TVR was a much more rewarding (and demanding) drive. I sometimes wonder whether sacrificing rwd and a bit of outright pace for a alfa GTA would have been a better choice for the family car. Obviously a Cebera would be the ultimate choice but the increased running costs over the chim and still having a chassis that would need regular attention put me off.
I'm in 2 minds how to reply...
I sold my S'series TVR and bought the XKR - then spent 2 years making it more aggresive, stainless exhaust with 1 box instead of 5 - supercharger pulleys upgraded etc etc. I had my first child which drove the decision
Anyway, what a superb car the XKR is, but it needs modifying from standard spec or you will get bored. It was fantastic if you wanted to drive 400 miles and get out fresh with a grin. But if you want to chuck it around country lanes, then its too big and heavy.
If you "REALLY" want one, then send me a PM, my one is in really great shape and is currently for sale for peanuts at the garage i traded it in at.
My 2nd child is due in August, so ive traded it in for an Evo 8MR - proper back seats and far far far more fun to play with and modify.
I sold my S'series TVR and bought the XKR - then spent 2 years making it more aggresive, stainless exhaust with 1 box instead of 5 - supercharger pulleys upgraded etc etc. I had my first child which drove the decision
Anyway, what a superb car the XKR is, but it needs modifying from standard spec or you will get bored. It was fantastic if you wanted to drive 400 miles and get out fresh with a grin. But if you want to chuck it around country lanes, then its too big and heavy.
If you "REALLY" want one, then send me a PM, my one is in really great shape and is currently for sale for peanuts at the garage i traded it in at.
My 2nd child is due in August, so ive traded it in for an Evo 8MR - proper back seats and far far far more fun to play with and modify.
I'd agree with the GT versus sport car view.
It's a very, very accomplished car for covering long distance at high speed.
Around country lanes, it's interesting. If you get out of a manual, proper sportcar like a Tiv (I came from a 993), you won't be able to drive it the same way and get the same satisfactions of perfectly timed gearchanges, lovely balanced corners, rapid direction changes.
I still find it a very satisfying drive on my daily commute which is 20 minutes each way along narrow country lanes. It takes a good while to relearn techniques (my IAM course helped a lot surprisingly) and change your natural inclinations when driving, but once you start getting it, it's very very satisfying. You won't ever scream out of a tight corner, you'll rumble and growl your way out of it. I reckon I can do this run quicker in the Jag than I would have done in the Porsche 49 out of a 50 times as the combination of traction control and torque make blind, imperfect, damp, slippery roads more accessible in my opinion.
It's also the best car for overtaking I've ever had, pull to the right, check it's clear. LAUNCH.
Inbetween times when you are not on the perfect, clear bit of tarmac, it's a lovely place to be (compared to my 993 anyway) and lets you waft away the boring miles in normal traffic.
The most frustrating thing about the whole car is that I can only every use full throttle on normal roads for about .00001 seconds at a time as it does hurtle you at the scenery in a most frightening way! Still, after a year of punting it about.
I love mine much more than I thought I would, but agree it's not a sports car and definitely horses for courses.
That said, I'm sadly going to have to part with it as winter approaches as I think the said commute will destroy it, and me in the winter. Discovery looms probably so ALL my time will be spent lumbering along in "normal" traffic as even when I've got clear tarmac ahead, I'll be doing it at the same pace non PH drivers seem to.
It's a very, very accomplished car for covering long distance at high speed.
Around country lanes, it's interesting. If you get out of a manual, proper sportcar like a Tiv (I came from a 993), you won't be able to drive it the same way and get the same satisfactions of perfectly timed gearchanges, lovely balanced corners, rapid direction changes.
I still find it a very satisfying drive on my daily commute which is 20 minutes each way along narrow country lanes. It takes a good while to relearn techniques (my IAM course helped a lot surprisingly) and change your natural inclinations when driving, but once you start getting it, it's very very satisfying. You won't ever scream out of a tight corner, you'll rumble and growl your way out of it. I reckon I can do this run quicker in the Jag than I would have done in the Porsche 49 out of a 50 times as the combination of traction control and torque make blind, imperfect, damp, slippery roads more accessible in my opinion.
It's also the best car for overtaking I've ever had, pull to the right, check it's clear. LAUNCH.
Inbetween times when you are not on the perfect, clear bit of tarmac, it's a lovely place to be (compared to my 993 anyway) and lets you waft away the boring miles in normal traffic.
The most frustrating thing about the whole car is that I can only every use full throttle on normal roads for about .00001 seconds at a time as it does hurtle you at the scenery in a most frightening way! Still, after a year of punting it about.
I love mine much more than I thought I would, but agree it's not a sports car and definitely horses for courses.
That said, I'm sadly going to have to part with it as winter approaches as I think the said commute will destroy it, and me in the winter. Discovery looms probably so ALL my time will be spent lumbering along in "normal" traffic as even when I've got clear tarmac ahead, I'll be doing it at the same pace non PH drivers seem to.
I can't comment as an XKR owner, but I am a long-term Chimaera owner and have recently been considering an XK or XKR (coupe, not convertible), but the later 5.0 model. However, and having driven the 5.0 XK, I would agree with other comments that they are very different cars to the TVR, so much so that if I do decide to go the XK route, I will still keep the Chimaera.
In my opinion the XK is definitely more of a GT, albeit a very good one, and is a completely different driving experience. The original XK8/XKR is probably even slightly more of a 'tourer' than the later aluminium versions. They are all excellent vehicles in their own ways, but all different, with different strengths/weaknesses, so I would definitely suggest trying one before finally deciding.
As far as Westfields are concerned (and Caterhams for that matter), they are fantastic fun cars. I had one for about 7 years and still miss it, even with the TVR. There's just something about the rawness of the driving experience, the feel of the car etc.. Whether I could live with one as an everyday car I'm not so sure, the novelty of no doors, fairly basic weather protection (only ever fitted mine once) meant that I would only really consider driving it in the dry. They are obviously very basic cars, but certainly bring a smile to your face every time you drive them, and a decent flying jacket and goggles keep you warm in winter. However, for some strange reason, my wife was never keen on it, messed up her hair, had to climb in, no boot (well, no lid), no radio etc etc.
I would imagine the Morgan 3-wheeler will provide owners with a similar experience, but I doubt that many will be used as the 'only vehicle'.
In my opinion the XK is definitely more of a GT, albeit a very good one, and is a completely different driving experience. The original XK8/XKR is probably even slightly more of a 'tourer' than the later aluminium versions. They are all excellent vehicles in their own ways, but all different, with different strengths/weaknesses, so I would definitely suggest trying one before finally deciding.
As far as Westfields are concerned (and Caterhams for that matter), they are fantastic fun cars. I had one for about 7 years and still miss it, even with the TVR. There's just something about the rawness of the driving experience, the feel of the car etc.. Whether I could live with one as an everyday car I'm not so sure, the novelty of no doors, fairly basic weather protection (only ever fitted mine once) meant that I would only really consider driving it in the dry. They are obviously very basic cars, but certainly bring a smile to your face every time you drive them, and a decent flying jacket and goggles keep you warm in winter. However, for some strange reason, my wife was never keen on it, messed up her hair, had to climb in, no boot (well, no lid), no radio etc etc.
I would imagine the Morgan 3-wheeler will provide owners with a similar experience, but I doubt that many will be used as the 'only vehicle'.
I'm lucky enough to own a 2000 XKR Silverstone, I already race a Westfield, so didn't need an out and out sports car.
I'm really happy with it, we did a run down to Almeria in Spain a couple of years ago, doing the trip in two legs, the first day, 750 miles down to the south of France and the second 600 miles, on the second day. It averaged 21 to the gallon at 80 or 90 most of the way.
We arrived as fresh as daisies and recieved lots of admiring looks and waves at the toll booths.
My wife has a TT and to be honest I can chuck that around a lot more than the Jag, but recently the wife was daft enough to say she thought the Jag was a bit 'Detatched' We were down a wide but twisty country lane with some great undulations at the time and she regreted her remark quite quickly. It's true at normal speed it wafts along effortlessly, but give it some stick and everything comes alive, if it's dry and your feeling brave, turn off the Traction Control too, that gets your pulse going!
It's got a Milltec full exhaust system which is a little loud, but who's complaining?
I love it, but if you can only have one car then perhaps a 911 996 would be worth considering, they are reasonable money now.
I'm really happy with it, we did a run down to Almeria in Spain a couple of years ago, doing the trip in two legs, the first day, 750 miles down to the south of France and the second 600 miles, on the second day. It averaged 21 to the gallon at 80 or 90 most of the way.
We arrived as fresh as daisies and recieved lots of admiring looks and waves at the toll booths.
My wife has a TT and to be honest I can chuck that around a lot more than the Jag, but recently the wife was daft enough to say she thought the Jag was a bit 'Detatched' We were down a wide but twisty country lane with some great undulations at the time and she regreted her remark quite quickly. It's true at normal speed it wafts along effortlessly, but give it some stick and everything comes alive, if it's dry and your feeling brave, turn off the Traction Control too, that gets your pulse going!
It's got a Milltec full exhaust system which is a little loud, but who's complaining?
I love it, but if you can only have one car then perhaps a 911 996 would be worth considering, they are reasonable money now.
Emley said:
I had a Chimeara for nine years, loved every minute, but with a young family it was not being used.
The Cerb would just be a money pit, so went for a totally mint 2001 XKR Convertible.
Well, just sold the XKR after just a year, i deeply regret selling the Chimeara.
Don't get me wrong, the XKR is a superbly crafted machine, and mighty quick In a straight line.
But it is NOT a sports car, it is a beautiful big luxury GT.
The TVR always felt special, got admiring looks everywhere it went, and was always a topic of conversation.
The XKR just never did it for me (apart from the occasional burst of ultra refined power)
Oh, and don't buy one thinking the rear seats are usable, unless your passengers have no legs.
Yes you can get a child seat in the back, but It ends up being far too upright and cramped to actually use.
This forum will be full of very satisfied and enthusiastic owners, and for very good reason.
But make sure it is exactly what you want, before you sell the Chimaera
Regards
Emley
I totally empathise with you Emley. I have personally owned three Jags, the last being a manual XJR6 X300; a totally incredible machine. In fact my life has been filled with Jags from the 3.8 Mark 2, XK150 drophead, XJ6 Series 1, Daimler Majestic Major, XJ6 and finally the XJR6 manual. I wanted to scratch the TVR itch and bagged a 450 Chimaera some 5.5 years ago. I have been tempted (twice) to sell the Tiv and both times I have been simply unable to countenance getting rid of that awesome noise and the many, many smiles per mile that the Tiv offers. In fact, I have just totally refurbished the car with a completely new leather interior, hood, windscreen, carpets, wheels and a full respray. She looks amazing and the cost was less to me than changing her for a late 4.2 XKR (old shape - far more beautiful and classic than the current one). I guess, when all is said and done, I still have the need for a loud, brash car that isn't doing the thinking for me; that needs driving and bites back occasionally. I LOVE the XKR (old and new shapes) but I am happy where I am for the time being. One day the idea of the roof being dropped by the push of one button will grab my attention but not just yet.The Cerb would just be a money pit, so went for a totally mint 2001 XKR Convertible.
Well, just sold the XKR after just a year, i deeply regret selling the Chimeara.
Don't get me wrong, the XKR is a superbly crafted machine, and mighty quick In a straight line.
But it is NOT a sports car, it is a beautiful big luxury GT.
The TVR always felt special, got admiring looks everywhere it went, and was always a topic of conversation.
The XKR just never did it for me (apart from the occasional burst of ultra refined power)
Oh, and don't buy one thinking the rear seats are usable, unless your passengers have no legs.
Yes you can get a child seat in the back, but It ends up being far too upright and cramped to actually use.
This forum will be full of very satisfied and enthusiastic owners, and for very good reason.
But make sure it is exactly what you want, before you sell the Chimaera
Regards
Emley
Happy days guys!
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