XK8/XKR to replace an XF & Audi TT
Discussion
Hi all
So I'm really keen on the idea of getting an XK8 or XKR. The perfect option would be a 4.2 XKR but the budget won't stretch that far.*
I could just about push to a 4.2 XK8 or a 4.0 XKR. The power and the looks of the R are tempting but with that being the 'older' R/SC model I understand it's less efficient and has a different gearbox which means worse at motorway cruising (which 80% of my 90 mile a day commute is). What sort of MPG are people getting with a 4.0 XKR on a similar commute?
Maybe I could live with a little less economy - you don't really buy one of these for the fuel efficiency! But will it be louder/high revving with the 5 sped auto as opposed to the 6 speed?
I'm aware of buying a later model/one where the tensioners have done; not too worried abou the 'liner' issues as that should all be historical now/would probably buy a 2001+ model where that's not an issue, etc.
Think I'll need to drive one anyway - not sure whether I'll like the supercharger whine or prefer the pure V8 burble.
Another option is to save some cash and buy a 4.0 XK8 - plenty available on the market. Would obviously ensure the critical components have been maintained/replaced but also saving a couple of grand in the purchase price means I can put it aside should something go wrong! (although I'd heard the bills can be much higher than a couple of grand)
Still need to decide whether it's the right car for me though. I had a Jag XF S 3.0 (272bhp) for over a year which was a lovely car, but due to it's length was a pain to park in the small work car parking spaces, and after a while I got a bit bored by it's weight/lack of sportiness. So I went for a smaller, manual, petrol car - an Audi TT 2.0 TFSI.
Now that IS fun, especially on the twisties, but I'm finding it a pain on the commute. The springy clutch is hard work in the traffic and I'm not finding it very comfortable on longer journeys - sports seats usually support my back best (the XF had the sports seats too) but somehow the whole driving position isn't quite right in the TT for me. Plus the damn thing wheelspins all the time accelerating out of junctions - too much power for a front wheel drive, should have gone for the quatrro! And the car may be a lot shorter, but it's wider than the Jag, and the doors are huge and heavy - find it a nightmare to get in and out of in our work's narrow car parking spaces! So... fun it may be, for my commute, it's just p1ssing me off too much - it has to go. Only had it 7 weeks, but hey ho...
Would an XK be any better for parking though? It's 50cm longer than the TT but 20cm shorter than the XF, and 5cm less wide than the TT - the doors look longer but they are slimmer so hopefully so as heavy and won't be so bad!
Again, need to go and test one and have a good drive - might find it's weight/more GT than sportier personality too much like the XF and not enough like the TT - although it doesn't have to be as sporty as the TT. I do enjoy a GT. I can live with getting my manual gearbox on a twisty road fix at weekends with my '94 MX-5 turbo
Any advice/thoughts much appreciated though!
Cheers
Ross
So I'm really keen on the idea of getting an XK8 or XKR. The perfect option would be a 4.2 XKR but the budget won't stretch that far.*
I could just about push to a 4.2 XK8 or a 4.0 XKR. The power and the looks of the R are tempting but with that being the 'older' R/SC model I understand it's less efficient and has a different gearbox which means worse at motorway cruising (which 80% of my 90 mile a day commute is). What sort of MPG are people getting with a 4.0 XKR on a similar commute?
Maybe I could live with a little less economy - you don't really buy one of these for the fuel efficiency! But will it be louder/high revving with the 5 sped auto as opposed to the 6 speed?
I'm aware of buying a later model/one where the tensioners have done; not too worried abou the 'liner' issues as that should all be historical now/would probably buy a 2001+ model where that's not an issue, etc.
Think I'll need to drive one anyway - not sure whether I'll like the supercharger whine or prefer the pure V8 burble.
Another option is to save some cash and buy a 4.0 XK8 - plenty available on the market. Would obviously ensure the critical components have been maintained/replaced but also saving a couple of grand in the purchase price means I can put it aside should something go wrong! (although I'd heard the bills can be much higher than a couple of grand)
Still need to decide whether it's the right car for me though. I had a Jag XF S 3.0 (272bhp) for over a year which was a lovely car, but due to it's length was a pain to park in the small work car parking spaces, and after a while I got a bit bored by it's weight/lack of sportiness. So I went for a smaller, manual, petrol car - an Audi TT 2.0 TFSI.
Now that IS fun, especially on the twisties, but I'm finding it a pain on the commute. The springy clutch is hard work in the traffic and I'm not finding it very comfortable on longer journeys - sports seats usually support my back best (the XF had the sports seats too) but somehow the whole driving position isn't quite right in the TT for me. Plus the damn thing wheelspins all the time accelerating out of junctions - too much power for a front wheel drive, should have gone for the quatrro! And the car may be a lot shorter, but it's wider than the Jag, and the doors are huge and heavy - find it a nightmare to get in and out of in our work's narrow car parking spaces! So... fun it may be, for my commute, it's just p1ssing me off too much - it has to go. Only had it 7 weeks, but hey ho...
Would an XK be any better for parking though? It's 50cm longer than the TT but 20cm shorter than the XF, and 5cm less wide than the TT - the doors look longer but they are slimmer so hopefully so as heavy and won't be so bad!
Again, need to go and test one and have a good drive - might find it's weight/more GT than sportier personality too much like the XF and not enough like the TT - although it doesn't have to be as sporty as the TT. I do enjoy a GT. I can live with getting my manual gearbox on a twisty road fix at weekends with my '94 MX-5 turbo
Any advice/thoughts much appreciated though!
Cheers
Ross
- edit - just spotted a 4.2 XKR * just * in my budget... getting excited now!
Appreciate I may have waffled a bit there! And posted pretty late. Did some more reading since and answered a few questions, I'll give myself a 'bump' and make my remaining queries a bit clearer:
Seems some people prefer the 5 speed gearbox to the 6 for a number of reasons (reliability & feel) but admit that it's not so good for crusing in terms of MPG - but does anyone have any figures regarding ratios / rpms? I.e. at, say, 80, what would the revs of a 5 speed be at compared to a 6?
How heavy/easy to open are the doors in a narrow car park? I'm in my late 30s and in decent shape, but find it really hard to get in and out of my TT.
Any key issues other than tensioners, water pump and floor pan rust to look for buying a 4.2?
Ta
Seems some people prefer the 5 speed gearbox to the 6 for a number of reasons (reliability & feel) but admit that it's not so good for crusing in terms of MPG - but does anyone have any figures regarding ratios / rpms? I.e. at, say, 80, what would the revs of a 5 speed be at compared to a 6?
How heavy/easy to open are the doors in a narrow car park? I'm in my late 30s and in decent shape, but find it really hard to get in and out of my TT.
Any key issues other than tensioners, water pump and floor pan rust to look for buying a 4.2?
Ta
HaylingJag - a Mk1 Mx5 Turbo AND a X100 XKR..? I think I've found my new BFF!!! 
Seriously though, thanks everyone for the detailed responses - some great info there to think about.
Will be keeping the Mx5 for the indeterminate future anyway; had it over 5 years and spent too much time and money and love and sweat and tears on it to be thinking about replacing - although she's still not * quite * right and needs some more work - but that's another story.
Hopefully the XKR will be the perfect combination of comfort and fun for the commute. 3500rpm at 100mph sounds damn good to be honest (on the 98 model so 5 speed); think the TT is close to that at only 80.
Ah yes I'd forgot about bushes. I believe brake discs and tyres can cost a small fortune on 20 inch rims so need to watch out for those too.
Not so keen on the X150. It looks... nice; but it just doesn't have the timeless beauty of the X100. Love the lines.
Plan is to go and drive one this weekend
Seriously though, thanks everyone for the detailed responses - some great info there to think about.
Will be keeping the Mx5 for the indeterminate future anyway; had it over 5 years and spent too much time and money and love and sweat and tears on it to be thinking about replacing - although she's still not * quite * right and needs some more work - but that's another story.
Hopefully the XKR will be the perfect combination of comfort and fun for the commute. 3500rpm at 100mph sounds damn good to be honest (on the 98 model so 5 speed); think the TT is close to that at only 80.
Ah yes I'd forgot about bushes. I believe brake discs and tyres can cost a small fortune on 20 inch rims so need to watch out for those too.
Not so keen on the X150. It looks... nice; but it just doesn't have the timeless beauty of the X100. Love the lines.
Plan is to go and drive one this weekend
Mmm... How am I supposed to check the floor pan when looking at a car if the carpets are such a swine to remove...?
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8-xkr-x100-17...
I know you can look under the car and I'd there's rust there then the floor pans are true and well gone but if it's in an intermediate state of rust you wouldn't see it from there.
https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk8-xkr-x100-17...
I know you can look under the car and I'd there's rust there then the floor pans are true and well gone but if it's in an intermediate state of rust you wouldn't see it from there.
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