Jaguar XKR 5.0
Discussion
Coming out of a M135i, I knew the next car would have to be more powerful and still RWD. Fast forward to a new job with a hell of a lot of driving involved in a pretty damn boring company diesel VW and I decided I can push the boat out and get something I've always wanted for a weekend car.
Found a car I loved the look of but it was all the way up in Edinburgh and I live on the south coast. A cheap flight booked and a ride from the airport in a Rolls Royce to the dealership and here we are!
2011 Jaguar XKR 5.0 Supercharged (never had a supercharged engine before so looking forward to this).
Salsa Red with the speed pack, black pack and most importantly the performance active exhaust (amongst other extras).
The dealership was Leven Car Company, they were amazing. Picked me up from the airport, put me up in a local hotel overnight and were just generally great to deal with. They have some amazing cars there too but they specialise in Astons and RRs.
Staying here overnight then driving it all the way back down to the south coast (via a friends in Leeds) with a massive grin on my face!
Found a car I loved the look of but it was all the way up in Edinburgh and I live on the south coast. A cheap flight booked and a ride from the airport in a Rolls Royce to the dealership and here we are!
2011 Jaguar XKR 5.0 Supercharged (never had a supercharged engine before so looking forward to this).
Salsa Red with the speed pack, black pack and most importantly the performance active exhaust (amongst other extras).
The dealership was Leven Car Company, they were amazing. Picked me up from the airport, put me up in a local hotel overnight and were just generally great to deal with. They have some amazing cars there too but they specialise in Astons and RRs.
Staying here overnight then driving it all the way back down to the south coast (via a friends in Leeds) with a massive grin on my face!
Well done sir! Fantastic choice 
I'm just over a month into XKR ownership (also a 2011 plate); previously from a Noble M12 GTO 3R and TVR T350t; all I can say is what a machine, you will certainly have a massive smile on your face for the trip back down - the car is so comfortable for those long motorway cruises.
Just be careful, you think you are pottering along at 70 (which it will do at less than 2000rpm with your foot just brushing the throttle) and its gently crept up to the ton mark without you even realising - it's a magnificent GT machine!
Then when you bury the throttle, the thing is absolutely savage, from any speed to any speed.....which is addictive......especially with the sports exhaust.
Enjoy!
I'm just over a month into XKR ownership (also a 2011 plate); previously from a Noble M12 GTO 3R and TVR T350t; all I can say is what a machine, you will certainly have a massive smile on your face for the trip back down - the car is so comfortable for those long motorway cruises.
Just be careful, you think you are pottering along at 70 (which it will do at less than 2000rpm with your foot just brushing the throttle) and its gently crept up to the ton mark without you even realising - it's a magnificent GT machine!
Then when you bury the throttle, the thing is absolutely savage, from any speed to any speed.....which is addictive......especially with the sports exhaust.
Enjoy!
Strudul said:
Do like these and they are a strong contender for the next car.
Bit wary of Jaguars reputation for reliability though and big costs when something inevitably goes wrong.
I had 5 years between my last 'weekend' car and choices for the current one, so I did a bucket load of research to make sure I chose something with both ballistic performance and great reliability! (Especially coming from a Noble and a TVR which, whilst both fantastic cars, always had some little niggly (or not so niggly!) thing requiring attention and a not insignificant outlay of finances to sort!)Bit wary of Jaguars reputation for reliability though and big costs when something inevitably goes wrong.
I spoke to a lot of owners and trawled through hundreds of pages on different Jaguar forums, and generally the XKR (in X150 form - with the 5.0l power plant) is pretty bullet proof - particularly the engine. The only thing I really found mentioned by a very small handful is an issue with the aircon system clogging and leaking into the passenger footwell, which can be an expensive fix if you use a main dealers hourly rates (it's an easy fix, but labour intensive as the offending pipe is a bugger to get to apparently!).
Other than that, everything I hear or read is extremely positive on reliability and servicing costs (even with a main dealer - and there are also plenty of excellent indies). The major and minor services are half the cost of that of my previous cars and I'm not expecting any of the additional 'rectification' costs that rapidly totted up with their other repairs/fixes.
I'm only a short period into ownership, so time will tell, but everything I've heard/read/experienced so far indicates to me that fuel purchases will be the biggest embugerance - which I'm prepared to live with; especially every time I plant the foot and let that 500+bhp supercharged V8 engine do its thing!
grantXKR said:
I had 5 years between my last 'weekend' car and choices for the current one, so I did a bucket load of research to make sure I chose something with both ballistic performance and great reliability! (Especially coming from a Noble and a TVR which, whilst both fantastic cars, always had some little niggly (or not so niggly!) thing requiring attention and a not insignificant outlay of finances to sort!)
I spoke to a lot of owners and trawled through hundreds of pages on different Jaguar forums, and generally the XKR (in X150 form - with the 5.0l power plant) is pretty bullet proof - particularly the engine. The only thing I really found mentioned by a very small handful is an issue with the aircon system clogging and leaking into the passenger footwell, which can be an expensive fix if you use a main dealers hourly rates (it's an easy fix, but labour intensive as the offending pipe is a bugger to get to apparently!).
Other than that, everything I hear or read is extremely positive on reliability and servicing costs (even with a main dealer - and there are also plenty of excellent indies). The major and minor services are half the cost of that of my previous cars and I'm not expecting any of the additional 'rectification' costs that rapidly totted up with their other repairs/fixes.
I'm only a short period into ownership, so time will tell, but everything I've heard/read/experienced so far indicates to me that fuel purchases will be the biggest embugerance - which I'm prepared to live with; especially every time I plant the foot and let that 500+bhp supercharged V8 engine do its thing!
That's good to hear, though it makes the decision harder. Currently a toss up between an XKR (4.2) and a Corvette (C5 Z06 / C6). Everything seems to point towards the Vette being cheaper to maintain, but it's never that simple.I spoke to a lot of owners and trawled through hundreds of pages on different Jaguar forums, and generally the XKR (in X150 form - with the 5.0l power plant) is pretty bullet proof - particularly the engine. The only thing I really found mentioned by a very small handful is an issue with the aircon system clogging and leaking into the passenger footwell, which can be an expensive fix if you use a main dealers hourly rates (it's an easy fix, but labour intensive as the offending pipe is a bugger to get to apparently!).
Other than that, everything I hear or read is extremely positive on reliability and servicing costs (even with a main dealer - and there are also plenty of excellent indies). The major and minor services are half the cost of that of my previous cars and I'm not expecting any of the additional 'rectification' costs that rapidly totted up with their other repairs/fixes.
I'm only a short period into ownership, so time will tell, but everything I've heard/read/experienced so far indicates to me that fuel purchases will be the biggest embugerance - which I'm prepared to live with; especially every time I plant the foot and let that 500+bhp supercharged V8 engine do its thing!
Strudul said:
That's good to hear, though it makes the decision harder. Currently a toss up between an XKR (4.2) and a Corvette (C5 Z06 / C6). Everything seems to point towards the Vette being cheaper to maintain, but it's never that simple.
A great dilemma to have - both awesome machines. There are of course inevitable costs owning these type of performance cars, but as you say, it's never just about the maintainence aspects - it's as much about how they make you feel - if you haven't already, get some time behind the wheel of each and I bet you'll soon know which one will suit your requirements, driving style and fit the budget. Good luck with the hunt! Strudul said:
Do like these and they are a strong contender for the next car.
Bit wary of Jaguars reputation for reliability though and big costs when something inevitably goes wrong.
I'd be wary, I had the official warranty on my XFR and had £4500 of claims in 6 months.Bit wary of Jaguars reputation for reliability though and big costs when something inevitably goes wrong.
It's ultimately the same car as an XKR.
Edit - it was awesome, though!
Lovely car mate! They're still a great looking thing, and In my biased opinion they're prettier that the F-Type.
Pretty much the same spec as mine. Do you have the performance seats? I do, but you lose the seat cooling which is a shame.
The engine is a peach, they respond really well to tuning too
.
What tyres are you running? If you're still on Dunlops I'd recommend a switch to Michelin Pilot Super Sports; they transformed the traction on mine.
I've had mine over 2 years now and never had anything go wrong with the drivetrain. I have had the sat nav receiver (wasn't showing traffic), air con aspirator fan (constant buzzing noise from little baby next to steering wheel) and a key fob replaced under warranty though.
Servicing is really reasonable too under Jaguar's Three Plus scheme - £199/£299 for minor and major. Always quote this to the dealership when booking though as some aren't part of the scheme and the ones that are often forget to apply the discount!
Gratuitous picture of mine...
Pretty much the same spec as mine. Do you have the performance seats? I do, but you lose the seat cooling which is a shame.
The engine is a peach, they respond really well to tuning too
.What tyres are you running? If you're still on Dunlops I'd recommend a switch to Michelin Pilot Super Sports; they transformed the traction on mine.
I've had mine over 2 years now and never had anything go wrong with the drivetrain. I have had the sat nav receiver (wasn't showing traffic), air con aspirator fan (constant buzzing noise from little baby next to steering wheel) and a key fob replaced under warranty though.
Servicing is really reasonable too under Jaguar's Three Plus scheme - £199/£299 for minor and major. Always quote this to the dealership when booking though as some aren't part of the scheme and the ones that are often forget to apply the discount!
Gratuitous picture of mine...
Great cars - and a bit underrated I reckon. I've owned a couple.
I have some concern about their ability to aquaplane having nearly lost one (I miraculously didn't hit anything).... driving at 50mph in heavy rain on a dual carriageway wheels straight ahead - suddenly went. Fairly new tyres too. So do exercise a dab of additional caution in serious wetness.
I have some concern about their ability to aquaplane having nearly lost one (I miraculously didn't hit anything).... driving at 50mph in heavy rain on a dual carriageway wheels straight ahead - suddenly went. Fairly new tyres too. So do exercise a dab of additional caution in serious wetness.
philmots said:
Strudul said:
Do like these and they are a strong contender for the next car.
Bit wary of Jaguars reputation for reliability though and big costs when something inevitably goes wrong.
I'd be wary, I had the official warranty on my XFR and had £4500 of claims in 6 months.Bit wary of Jaguars reputation for reliability though and big costs when something inevitably goes wrong.
It's ultimately the same car as an XKR.
Edit - it was awesome, though!
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