New XKR-S - it's arrived!
Discussion
You've probably seen me posting in most recent threads relating to XKR's/XKR-S's recently as I've excitedly been waiting for my new R-S to arrive (since the start of June when I handed back my previous 7-month old XKR).
I finally got the call today saying it was ready so, despite being back to back at work all day, I made my excuses and managed to find some time to pick it up late afternoon. And what have I done since then? I drove it home and....erm, I've looked at it! Here it is in all it's glory and I've not even put it in the drive....parked right outside my front door, I can ogle it out of my windows tonight!
(Sorry about the quality but it's dark and I ain't no photographer!)
And here's the thing - I wasn't originally that much of a fan of the looks (over the purer standard XKR) but pictures really don't do the R-S justice because I reckon in real life, this is a VERY striking car. It has as more presence and attracts more attention than anything else I've had (Maserati Granturismo included), the colour making it particularly, erm.....flash! All the aero add-ons definitely make it less 'sleek' and naturally 'pretty', instead replacing those characteristics with a brash, hard-as-nails look which has it's own unique appeal. Above all, I like it and just look how 'phat' that rear wheel stance is!
My driving experience has so far been limited to a 15 mile journey home from the dealer but it feels instantly familiar. My last (12MY) XKR had the factory-fit Dynamic Pack and Performance Exhaust options so it was very nearly an XKR-S in terms of chassis set-up and sound....and so it proves to be as this car feels and sounds almost exactly the same as my previous one. Now, I believe the additional power and the fact the torque limiter is removed from the gearbox does make a difference but this evening, utilising all of 3000rpm, I can't say I've noticed it being much quicker - I'm sure that will change after it's run-in and I use it 'properly' (it has all of 20 miles on the clock now!) but, after 3 months of driving an XF diesel and my other half's Range Rover Sport, this feels insanely fast even at such low engine speeds. The sound....the sound is just awesome after months of diesel power....damn, it's just great to be back in a proper V8 again
And thats it for my first impressions this evening - it's quite odd that my initial focus has been on the aesthetics rather than how it drives but, other than the extra power which I've not had the chance to experience yet (and won't do until it's properly run-in), it is the looks of the thing that are most different to my previous one.
I'll whack up some better pics when I can take some in daylight.
I finally got the call today saying it was ready so, despite being back to back at work all day, I made my excuses and managed to find some time to pick it up late afternoon. And what have I done since then? I drove it home and....erm, I've looked at it! Here it is in all it's glory and I've not even put it in the drive....parked right outside my front door, I can ogle it out of my windows tonight!
(Sorry about the quality but it's dark and I ain't no photographer!)
And here's the thing - I wasn't originally that much of a fan of the looks (over the purer standard XKR) but pictures really don't do the R-S justice because I reckon in real life, this is a VERY striking car. It has as more presence and attracts more attention than anything else I've had (Maserati Granturismo included), the colour making it particularly, erm.....flash! All the aero add-ons definitely make it less 'sleek' and naturally 'pretty', instead replacing those characteristics with a brash, hard-as-nails look which has it's own unique appeal. Above all, I like it and just look how 'phat' that rear wheel stance is!
My driving experience has so far been limited to a 15 mile journey home from the dealer but it feels instantly familiar. My last (12MY) XKR had the factory-fit Dynamic Pack and Performance Exhaust options so it was very nearly an XKR-S in terms of chassis set-up and sound....and so it proves to be as this car feels and sounds almost exactly the same as my previous one. Now, I believe the additional power and the fact the torque limiter is removed from the gearbox does make a difference but this evening, utilising all of 3000rpm, I can't say I've noticed it being much quicker - I'm sure that will change after it's run-in and I use it 'properly' (it has all of 20 miles on the clock now!) but, after 3 months of driving an XF diesel and my other half's Range Rover Sport, this feels insanely fast even at such low engine speeds. The sound....the sound is just awesome after months of diesel power....damn, it's just great to be back in a proper V8 again
And thats it for my first impressions this evening - it's quite odd that my initial focus has been on the aesthetics rather than how it drives but, other than the extra power which I've not had the chance to experience yet (and won't do until it's properly run-in), it is the looks of the thing that are most different to my previous one.
I'll whack up some better pics when I can take some in daylight.
Edited by Palmball on Monday 17th September 23:22
Palmball said:
And here's the thing - I wasn't originally that much of a fan of the looks (over the purer standard XKR) but pictures really don't do the R-S justice because I reckon in real life, this is a VERY striking car.
Completely agree. Having seen it in the metal, it is a much more imposing car than the regular XKR. Also love the colour, great choice.
Enjoy!
Thanks chaps - really excited for when I can get round to enjoying it. I actually sent the missus to work in it today as I had to head off to the big smoke (so a 200 mile round trip from where I live) and, as I don't like whacking big work miles on my cars, I tend to use hers for my longer commutes. You can't believe how hard it was to walk out of the house this morning, walk past my new car and get into her RRS....and she had the cheek to complain about it! How bloody ungrateful huh?
Anyway, back to the aesthetics of the car, when I pulled up at home tonight and saw it 'abandoned' in the drive (she couldn't even park it properly), I just thought how much it looked like a proper 'supercar'
Anyway, back to the aesthetics of the car, when I pulled up at home tonight and saw it 'abandoned' in the drive (she couldn't even park it properly), I just thought how much it looked like a proper 'supercar'
Triple7 said:
Officially jealous!
Spent the day on the 'ring last week in them, simply stunning!
On the contrary, it's me jealous of you....how do you get to be able to drive them round the 'ring? And most importantly, are these opportunities available to mere mortals? Spent the day on the 'ring last week in them, simply stunning!
Palmball said:
Thanks chaps - really excited for when I can get round to enjoying it. I actually sent the missus to work in it today as I had to head off to the big smoke (so a 200 mile round trip from where I live) and, as I don't like whacking big work miles on my cars, I tend to use hers for my longer commutes. You can't believe how hard it was to walk out of the house this morning, walk past my new car and get into her RRS....and she had the cheek to complain about it! How bloody ungrateful huh?
Anyway, back to the aesthetics of the car, when I pulled up at home tonight and saw it 'abandoned' in the drive (she couldn't even park it properly), I just thought how much it looked like a proper 'supercar'
Could you explain, as i struggle to grasp, how you could have taken delivery of a brand new XKR-S just yesterday, spent the whole of today working, yet come on here and post, as oppose to take it out for a drive tonight? Anyway, back to the aesthetics of the car, when I pulled up at home tonight and saw it 'abandoned' in the drive (she couldn't even park it properly), I just thought how much it looked like a proper 'supercar'
Triple7 said:
Officially jealous!
Spent the day on the 'ring last week in them, simply stunning!
On the contrary, it's me jealous of you....how do you get to be able to drive them round the 'ring? And most importantly, are these opportunities available to mere mortals? Spent the day on the 'ring last week in them, simply stunning!
Extremely envious of both the car, and your willpower
Lovely car, still not seen one on the road yet.
It's been a manic couple of weeks and I've actually been using the RRS more than the Jag as it's all been work, work, work. However, I think it's more than fair to say that when I have got in the Jag, it's felt very special and I think herein lies the key for me..drive something else regularly to appreciate the main event more!
The interior seems to feel more upmarket with the black seats / blue stitching combo than my previous one (which had red seats, albeit still the Performance versions) and the leather headlining still makes me smile at how extravagant it feels. It something called Poltrona Frau leather on the roof which sounds like it's better than the stuff on the seats and dash! Saying that, the carbon leather on the seats and doors makes it far less boring than plain back might be but I guess thats a matter of taste....I really like it.
The good news is that this car is (after 1183 miles in 3 weeks...extremely light mileage for me) tight as a welded nut inside....no rattles, no squeaks and no creaks. One of the buttons on the centre console is looser than those around it so the OCD in me is getting that replaced lol (yes, imagine actually having to deal with me!).
One final point on the interior is the steering wheel, never the XK's strongest design point. The dealers' current demonstrator has the Alcantara wheel option and it feels superb so I'm upgrading to one of those in the next couple of weeks.
Driving the thing is, well, insane. I wasn't sure at first if it felt any quicker than my last one but once I'd driven it into the higher reaches of the rev range, it most definitely pulls harder. Well, it pulls for a start....the standard XKR's acceleration remained fairly constant above 5k rpm - i.e. very fast. This one is noticeably more peaky and pushes you harder and harder right up to the rev limit.
If I'm being honest, it's too powerful for a RWD car (in my hands anyway) and I'm really sorry to the PH community for saying such a thing (I was going on about fuel economy last week and now this....I may as well give up now eh!).
Just imagine that it has 10% more power than my Porsche 911 Turbo and that was sickeningly quick (i.e you felt the acceleration in your gut much like a very fast fairground ride). Whilst the Jag is similarly as fast as the 911 best (easily so once it's moving), it's 2WD drivetrain just makes it more, erm, interesting (I grew bored of the 4WD characteristics of the 911 which made for a very competent if un-engaging car). The R-S is an animal and it's hard (on the Queens highway at least) to unleash and use all of it's power. In the damp or wet it's frankly dangerous (in a really good way) and in the dry you just need to hold on for as long as you dare. Will I ever need more power? Probably not and, if I continue to over-index on the usage of our RRS which is definitely not fast, it should delay the time it takes me to get used to the performance.
Dynamically, it's pretty much the same as my last one which means it's brilliant and so well suited to our roads. The ride is amazing for a car with such tight body control and low ride height. I'm again in awe at how good the active e-diff is - it's a proper mechanical diff but electronically controlled so it's proactive rather than reactive (even the new M5/6 has copied Jag's lead on this
). Unlike a purely mechanical diff, you don't need to exceed the limit of adhesion for it to work and instead you can really feel it pushing your angle and working the grip subtly round bends and roundabouts when under load. Brilliant.
Hers a few more pics and it's funny how low it looks sat next to the RRS....
All of this still hasn't stopped my interest in the new F-Type and after visiting the Paris show a couple of weeks back, I can confirm that in real life, it is a looker. The thing appears to be even wider than the XKR and, parked right next to an XKR-S on the stand, it made my new car instantly look dated.
The interior is really nicely designed and modern (the centre air vents are hidden until needed, where they hinge out from the top of the dash). Heres a few pics of it and the hospitality area where I spent an hour supping Bollinger at Jaguars expense (I'm sure I've paid for it somewhere down the line though!).
On that subject, it was my dealer Sturgess in Leicester who sorted it for us to be treated like royalty even in another country and they just keep on getting better - they invited me to a Jaguar track day yesterday at the Jaguar test track in Warwickshire and we've also got a few spaces on a Land Rover experience to try their cars off-road. As an overall 'experience' in making ones custom feel valued, they're doing much more than any other brand I've owned. Oh, and I'm not alone at these events so there's plenty of others benefiting from this....JLR are obviously working very hard at building customer loyalty!
The interior seems to feel more upmarket with the black seats / blue stitching combo than my previous one (which had red seats, albeit still the Performance versions) and the leather headlining still makes me smile at how extravagant it feels. It something called Poltrona Frau leather on the roof which sounds like it's better than the stuff on the seats and dash! Saying that, the carbon leather on the seats and doors makes it far less boring than plain back might be but I guess thats a matter of taste....I really like it.
The good news is that this car is (after 1183 miles in 3 weeks...extremely light mileage for me) tight as a welded nut inside....no rattles, no squeaks and no creaks. One of the buttons on the centre console is looser than those around it so the OCD in me is getting that replaced lol (yes, imagine actually having to deal with me!).
One final point on the interior is the steering wheel, never the XK's strongest design point. The dealers' current demonstrator has the Alcantara wheel option and it feels superb so I'm upgrading to one of those in the next couple of weeks.
Driving the thing is, well, insane. I wasn't sure at first if it felt any quicker than my last one but once I'd driven it into the higher reaches of the rev range, it most definitely pulls harder. Well, it pulls for a start....the standard XKR's acceleration remained fairly constant above 5k rpm - i.e. very fast. This one is noticeably more peaky and pushes you harder and harder right up to the rev limit.
If I'm being honest, it's too powerful for a RWD car (in my hands anyway) and I'm really sorry to the PH community for saying such a thing (I was going on about fuel economy last week and now this....I may as well give up now eh!).
Just imagine that it has 10% more power than my Porsche 911 Turbo and that was sickeningly quick (i.e you felt the acceleration in your gut much like a very fast fairground ride). Whilst the Jag is similarly as fast as the 911 best (easily so once it's moving), it's 2WD drivetrain just makes it more, erm, interesting (I grew bored of the 4WD characteristics of the 911 which made for a very competent if un-engaging car). The R-S is an animal and it's hard (on the Queens highway at least) to unleash and use all of it's power. In the damp or wet it's frankly dangerous (in a really good way
) and in the dry you just need to hold on for as long as you dare. Will I ever need more power? Probably not and, if I continue to over-index on the usage of our RRS which is definitely not fast, it should delay the time it takes me to get used to the performance. Dynamically, it's pretty much the same as my last one which means it's brilliant and so well suited to our roads. The ride is amazing for a car with such tight body control and low ride height. I'm again in awe at how good the active e-diff is - it's a proper mechanical diff but electronically controlled so it's proactive rather than reactive (even the new M5/6 has copied Jag's lead on this
). Unlike a purely mechanical diff, you don't need to exceed the limit of adhesion for it to work and instead you can really feel it pushing your angle and working the grip subtly round bends and roundabouts when under load. Brilliant.Hers a few more pics and it's funny how low it looks sat next to the RRS....
All of this still hasn't stopped my interest in the new F-Type and after visiting the Paris show a couple of weeks back, I can confirm that in real life, it is a looker. The thing appears to be even wider than the XKR and, parked right next to an XKR-S on the stand, it made my new car instantly look dated.
The interior is really nicely designed and modern (the centre air vents are hidden until needed, where they hinge out from the top of the dash). Heres a few pics of it and the hospitality area where I spent an hour supping Bollinger at Jaguars expense (I'm sure I've paid for it somewhere down the line though!).
On that subject, it was my dealer Sturgess in Leicester who sorted it for us to be treated like royalty even in another country and they just keep on getting better - they invited me to a Jaguar track day yesterday at the Jaguar test track in Warwickshire and we've also got a few spaces on a Land Rover experience to try their cars off-road. As an overall 'experience' in making ones custom feel valued, they're doing much more than any other brand I've owned. Oh, and I'm not alone at these events so there's plenty of others benefiting from this....JLR are obviously working very hard at building customer loyalty!
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