I have used my xk daily for 7 years. It always amazes me how in reviews that there is no mention of auto rev matching on the down change when put in sport mode. A great car
@@andrettransformer there speaks a fool who knows nothing about which he talks. Do you know the history of their designs? Clearly not, rhetorical question.
Ive had my 2007 XKR for just under a year. Its my daily driver and i just love it. Ive never had so many compliments from complete strangers in any of my other cars as i get with the Jag. She is a beautiful car.
Fully agreed on your comparison when it comes to looks. As a car without comparison it has an understated cool look, sounds amazing and are excellent value for money if looked after
My XK-R is new to me. I absolutely love it. I don't have Aston money but picked the Jag up for a song. They're criminally cheap. I think it's the nicest thing I've ever owned and feel incredibly lucky to have it. I hope to keep it into retirement and enjoy it for many years to come.
I’ve a 2011 (final facelift) XK 5.0 Portfolio and it’s fantastic. 385bhp makes it more than fast enough, will do 30+ mpg on a careful run and being a portfolio has all the nice stuff you expect from a Jaaag. Also being a facelift it has a far better looking front end with the LED DRL’s in the headlights. Although it will be up for sale in the new year sadly, upcoming home improvement projects and the fact it hardly gets used means the extra funds from the sale would be helpful. Will be very sad to see it go, being only 25 years old owning a 5.0 Jag has been a real pinch me moment and a memory I’ll cherish forever👌
Very good comparison. I have a 2011 XK Jag 5.0...I love it....but I was not looking for a tight sports car. The best summary of the Jag vs Aston was an old article of the period I read as I researched the cars before purchase. It said if you want more performance and sports car feel, (or simply must have the badge) then go for the Aston...... if you want to drive from London to the south of France, then go for the Jag. Rear Seats: I don't see them as impossible seats (which they are) but as indispensable open cargo space. I use them all the time as such, and would never move from an XK to an F Type because of this.
@@minimeee04 I understand what you are saying but they were an 60k car when new, so top tax is not surprising. For example the XKR is £700 to tax, 503hp I have a MG ZS 180 which is 180bhp which is now £400 to tax My Rover 100 is £300! 56 hp!
My dad gave me his 2006 XK 3 months ago as he’s not well. At first I thought it was boring etc but as the weathers got worse I’ve been dailying it and started to love the thing Brilliant as a daily , the auto box is ace it’s a comfy smooth car, handles really well I think and is nippy-ish although I would ideally want more sound and power as it’s not a quick car I was meant to sell it as I’ve got 3 other cars but now I’m thinking of getting an XKR convertible as I reckon it’s so useable that I could sell this and my TVR sbd have that one that would get more use with roof down
Really great to see you in an XK! My 2012 5.0 N/A is such a lovely thing for a road trip. We can fit; a 22lt picnic box, and 22lt ice-box, a fold up table, two fold up chairs, a Coleman dual-fuel stove and two overnight bags along with coats, boots and hats!! (Try that in an F-Type or 911). Its a true GT car. Plenty of pace, plenty of space and plenty of grace. The series 11 facelift has looks that, I think, are as good as it gets. Its also surprisingly agile with the driving aids disabled. Thankfully you can turn them off and they stay off... unlike some German rivals. Just a wonderful car.
Not an issue, been terrific ...BUT ... caveat emptor... IMHO..a manufacturers oil spec doesn't necessarily align with an owners best interests. Jag recommends 5w20 oil globally for the 5L which is based on a smorgasbord of targets where longevity figures well down the list. Extended service intervals on light weight oil will only end in tears...I run a 5w30 top quality oil, the motor is a quiet as a lamb and runs beautifully. The ZF gearbox needs servicing every 50 to 60k and the battery should be replaced as soon as it hints at going soft. Water pump is original but at some point I anticipate changing it. I fitted a temp alarm (not coolant based) which is mounted in the glove-box and will sound a warning if things got hot. I admit to being a bit anal but cars are sadly an obsession..! I've been rallying for more than 25yrs!
I have loved my Jaguars over the years V12s and 6s... have not driven a V8 yet, but they look like bargains compared to Astons. I watch #27, JayEmm s well as yours from California :-) Keep up the great work!
About 1989 I visited Jaguar's Whitley research centre on a dealer tour. There they had what was meant to be the new, long awaited, Jaguar F Type prototype. Ford then took over, looked over the F Type and stated that it wasn't suitable for mass production and shipped it down to Aston Martin as the DB7.
The rear of the DB9 looks like an afterthought. The XK is cohesive and sensual all around. My 2013 XKR is my daily driver, no issues, lots of “nice car” comments, gets 18 miles to the gallon in the city and screams like the panther she is when I get on the go pedal hard. First time I overtook a couple of semi trucks (lorries for you lot in the UK) I put my foot on the floor going 75 miles an hour, she shot up 120 mph in about 3-4 seconds and the howling that came from the exhaust literally scarred me so much I started looking around trying to find out what was happening! Best sound ever. I kept my foot planted and listened to the cat scream until I started to worry about a speeding ticket!
I have a 2011 5lt XRK Black and Speed Pack and l can honestly say it’s THE best car l have owned and a keeper. Love the Aston’s, horses for courses, each to their own. Nice review but definitely try a later XKR 👍
I love this car, it's what the XJS was 15 years ago: a special car that people don't understand. They don't sell for as little as the XJS used to, but they are still a bargain considering what it is. I drive a XJ8 X350 now with the same 4.2 and it's a great engine.
I am driving the XKR 5.0 Supercharged Convertible and it is just amazing to drive. And yes, it is a four seater on paper, but to be honest I never met anyone crazy enough to actually try it.
The real problem with a Jag V8 wasn’t addressed until the F type when they finally put in a decent gearbox in the form of the ZF 8 speed. The XK is a terrific used bargain though.
They used the best available box at the time way back in 2005, the same ZF6HP26 box used in Audi, Jaguar, Bentley, Rolls Royce, Astin Martin and even Ford had an agreements to use 6HP transmissions.
My XK is a 2006 with just 60k miles on the clock and it hasn’t missed a beat since I got it, normal servicing is all that’s been done and I get 25 mpg. My convertible puts a smile on my face every time I’m in her, you can keep your Aston with it’s 12 mpg and my jag looks as good as any Aston of the same vintage.
I had a 2001 xkr for about 6 years. Great car to drive although running costs are a bit steep. Not sure a comparison with the db9 is a fair one. Not the same, but similar. XkR is great value car. Great video.
We have proudly our 2008 Jaguar XK since 2011. I absolutely loved it as a kid. It is an incredible car. It has been extremely reliable (knock on wood), even at 160k MILES! It is a very fun, stable driving, reliable, and well built, and an extremely handsome machine!
Jaguar have consistently over decades provided great value in this sector. I have owned both marques and would genuinely opt for the Jaguar. You have to go there to come back as it were .
I’m in your camp when comparing the Jaag and the Aston. Prefer the looks of the Aston but can’t fault the boot practicality. Defo designed as a GT cruiser for a Euro road trip for two and their luggage.
Now that you're a Jag dad - the ''Jag staring at you'' emblem on the steering wheel and front grill is known as a ' Growler ' - it's a bit like a secret handshake when talking to other Jaguar owners.
😅 it’s not mine, Jack (Number27) just let me drive it. But I’m impressed with how welcoming the jag owners have been in the comments 🤙 I’ll own a jaaaag at some point 😉
I have just discovered your excellent channel (a recommendation from someone else). I have an XK Convertible and she is a stunner, easy to drive and goes like whatsit off a shovel when you press hard on the pedal. She is also fantastic in Summer (when we have one in the UK), top down and roaring away. Plus, you get so much for your money with the XK - what's not to like?
Was very tempted to with a XKR but went for an e46 m3 instead recently. The only thing that put me off, big bills of the Jag. I have two customers with them. And constantly in the dealer being fixed. Where as I have several customers with Astons which look far better and they have had no issues apart from servicing, ok, that’s more expensive but it’s only once a year and you can budget for it.
Try an XFR - surely a great Dad car candidate? Same powertrain as the XKR (but with an 8-speed for added motorway cruising and MPG) but proper back seats! I should know just how good they are as it was mine that James Martin drive a few years back.
My first two Jags were Es. Forty years went by and my third Jag is an XK. I'm keeping it. Aston Martin is a beautiful car, but to my eye, the XK, not the XK-R, wins, hands down.
The nose of the XK is too "saggy" for me - the XK8 was more finished to me. It's the opposite way around at the rear though. I know this is personal preference but I had an XK8 rather than an XK. With that said, I'd still take the DB9 over both. There is just something about it that looks so much more
I have nothing at all against the XK but It's definitely the poor man's DB9 especially as every owner seems to delight in saying how much cheaper it is to own than A DB9 😂😂
Glad you finally got chance to drive an XK. The Jag is definitely aimed at being a GT car. I've got a 2007 4.2 XKR and the extra power makes it fantastic. A 5.0 XKR is mind blowingly fast by all accounts. The more direct comparison is between the DB9 and the XKR. Jeremy Clarkson reviewed them side by side in an old Top Gear and found them comparable. As much as I love the Jag I agree it'd not as pretty as the DB9. Great video
Original F-Type replacement was the X600. I knew some people at Jaguar that worked on it. Even they said that it had got too heavy, too complicated and too expensive. It had a turbo straight-six AJ6 engine and 4WD, so fuel consumption was taking a clobbering too. It was this parked project that AML picked up to become the DB7. They grafted an XJ-S platform underneath to keep the costs down. I think that the overall silhouette of the XK (X150) is stunning but the front lamps and grill look a bit like a pouting fish. I think the the rear 1/4 is the best view. The rear looks good but is a little bit fussy.
I would argue that the DB9 was Aston's best looking design and not the 7 so would probably pick that over the XK. But if it was my money, I would swap that opinion around. My brother has the 2009 XK convertible with the V8 and that is still a very nice place to be...
I have one of the first X150s registered Dec06 for about 4 years now. It's had some issues but being UK manufactured it's been well worth the cash. That said, despite the lovely V8 gurgle from the exhausts, it lacks in torque compared to for example the turbo BMWs, that power forcing. Then again it's a great GT car and from my experience is pleasant for long trips... or just driving to the local shops! I don't see why anyone would pay twice the price for a db9 that's most likely on it's way to being written off.
The story of Jaquar is really their reliability and perhaps that's why they depreciate so much vs Aston or even a Maserati. Love to see what will be your experience owning it.
I am like you a young dad, I got 2 kids, 1 baby seat & 1 isofix seat and I was looking at the jaguar XK as a fiscally attractive car to buy here in The Netherlands. Well glad I didn't as I had the same thought about the rearseats. Staying with my Audi A5 8T for now. In the future I might still go for it, but the front lights... Meh. If there was a good retrofit for that, I wouldve been more sold!
Did you see last weeks video on the S5? If you have 2 young children the XK won’t cut it right now… when they are a little older it’ll be a lot of fun 🤙
The problem I have with DB9s have is if you start really using them and putting miles on them they don't wear it at all well, 60k mile cars often look very tired. The X150 can do 200k and still look good. I do 1500 miles a month in my 5.0 XKR, I'd kill a DB9 in no time. Facelift/5.0 XKs are improved in many areas over the 4.2 too.
I have a 5.0 XKR as well and that thing is an effin' delight. People have asked what it's like to drive it, and I tell them every stoplight is a carnival ride when the light turns green. Even after a year and a half of owning it, it still genuinely surprises me at times how fast it hits 60. On top of their inherent qualities, the facelift 5.0's are holding their value reasonably well too because people are starting to snatch them up and there were never that many facelifts sent over here to the states to begin with. Supply is starting to dry up. The longer I own it the harder it is to imagine driving anything else.
I've never considered the "Everyman's Aston" to be an insult to Jaguar's. Things like the Mustang, Capri and Boxster are/were all an 'everyman' alternative to more expensive models or brands and they're all timeless and popular cars. And I think it's the same for the XK8 and XK. They'll always be compared to their Aston cousin, but they are still lovely cars in their own right, and actually achievable. It's the kind of car that will always feel special. The only thing that disappoints with the XK is the back seats, they're so compromised they are unusable and yet it's still a near-5m long car, and plenty of similar cars offer better back seat space and a big boot and lots of front space. The infotainment system looked painfully slow. That would infuriate me!
The DB9 (last gen) is prob the greatest looking modern GT. I've driven both 4.2 and 5.0 and wonderful things they are. I'd say a 4.3 XKR is your best choice. And yes..its a cheap DB9 or the feeling at least and still stunning looks. People compare but I could run an XKR...I couldn't run the costs of an Aston haha. The Jag has its own rightful place to help those lower down the food chain so be grateful it exists on the used market lol
I believe they have the same designer in design language. But I never heard no one saying this about the jaguar. it's his own thing. X j's are x k's been made since the sixties
I have the exact same XK 8 4.2 and before i changed the exhaust the sound at low revs was completely absent. Fine at middle and pleasant at high but always very muted. The sound that i hear in this video is exactly as per the adamesh exhaust i've put in it. Very growly and full at low and excellent, american V8 type at middle and high. The only thing different are the tips that mine has now a two way in each side but i think adamesh sells it with one. Any (as far as i know) aftermarket exhaust eliminates the rear huge muffler and substitutes it for two separated ones. Would love to know if this one has the separated (aftermarket) or one big one (standard) as this sound is for me 100% aftermarket and actually exactly as per mine.
Yeah Jack seemed to think it was a standard setup but it sounded a LOT better than I was expecting, it would make sense if something has been changed by a previous owner.
Agree with you on the front lights looking a bit weird, they remind me of a Greenland Shark, an interesting animal to google if you're not aware of them.
The back end of this car may be prettier than the Aston - but that’s the only angle. I test drove the previous gen of XK and loved it when this gen was out of my price range. If it’d been this model - it would probably be in my driveway
I got a rare one of 200 4.2 XKRS over the last month - its quite unique and its replacing a equally rare Subaru Legacy 3.0R SpecB 6MT - which is surprisingly difficult to shift because I dont have space in the back for a fridge, kitchen, bedroom and 2 labs. I needed a special car to replace that Scooby, I got 31mpg on the way home but dithering around as a daily at 30/40mph EV traffic guidelines is like 15/16mpg
Welcome to have a review of mine, I believe its one of the few or last on the road in the UK - A 2008 3.0R SpecB Saloon with the 6 Speed, its a crazy good car but vastly understood at that - I had to get a rare XKRS limited edition to replace that Subaru - I am in S.Gloucs@@dadcars
Good morning and thanks for your work, all the videos are a joy from the visual quality to the content. I would like to ask if anyone can help me: is there any way to place a group 0 rear facing baby seat in this Jaguar XK? Thank you in advance. Best regards.
Great looking car, as are the Aston's. I do like the fact that you showed just how impractical the rear seats are, to all intents and purposes, it's a 2 seater, same as the Astons. The Bentley Continental gt, is another that markets itself as a 4 seater, but in reality, is a 2 seater. Those cars have rear seats that are really only of any use for maybe, small children, or a dog.
Always had a soft spot for Jaguars. For me though, the XK generation before this were much better looking cars. Just a shame you couldnt get any of them with a manual.
@dadcars I've seen some of them as they were going through the process, not all of them though. Such a shame it's left hand drive, but it has inspired me. I would love to convert an XKR to manual and update it to a more modern interior but I'm sadly lacking the money. Maybe one day.
@2702simmo ah I always loved them. The newer ones are definitely better cars overall. But the styling to me just looks like a cheap knock off of an Aston Martin V8. The older ones had E-type vibes and were more Jaguar-ish. Plus I was a child when Die Another Day cake out and as much as that was a terrible film, the XKR loaded with missiles and a mini gun just calls to my inner child 😆.
You drove Brittan's cheapest XK, try a later/better version. I had two XKR's (510bhp 5.0l supercharged) and drove the 550bhp XKRS on a couple of occasions, and these are different animals w/o breaking the bank (all things being relative). BTW, I love most Ian Callum designs, but much prefer the XK over the DB9, especially from the rear
The XK is beautiful BUT that example, being an early example, the look wasn't yet perfected. Still a stunning car but the DB9 is more beautiful. The 5 litre in the later Jags is a lot more powerful and sounds even better BUT less reliable than the 4.2. You need to sample XKRs over XKs. The supercharged engines are just better.
@@dadcars definitely do. Or an XKRS if you're really lucky. The supercharged 5 litre, especially in the XKR is brutal and lairy so take care 😂 Really enjoying the channel. Currently contemplating replacing my 2010 Audi TTRS with a DB9 so your Aston Martin content has been very useful 👍 And if you think the back seats in the DB & XK are tight, try getting in the back of a TT 😂. Would make a barbie doll feel cramped.
@@dadcars you know, I've never looked that closely at them. If you do try one, see if you can get a TT-RS. Fast as an XKR, glorious 5cyl sound track. If you try a TT, might as well try the Daddy 😂
The 4.2 is more reliable than the 5.0 I've had mine 5 years, they do have common issues but the 5.0 has more and 4.2 doesn't have fuel line and timing chain issues.
Got an XK 5.0 V8 and your right the infotainment centre is woeful, I think it was obsolete when the put it in! As far a child seats are concerned, no. It's not the kind of car, get a SUV. It's like saying the XK is not good off road - of course not. Now the interior, you say the Aston's interior is "timeless", I say dated! Running cost, you have to favour the XK.
@@dadcars Ah, cheers. I started watching and then one of the dogs decided it was toilet time. When I got back inside I got distracted by the TV. Sorry I didn't make it that far😔
So I can gather from your video that it wouldn’t be suitable for a child seat of six years? Shame I have a six year old and a 2 year old which both need seats and thought the Xmas would be a good shout for the 4 us all for day trips, what would you recommend as an alternative, I love jags tho
I managed to make my DB9 work with children of similar age… it’s just not easy, but if you’re committed to the idea I’m sure you’d find a way of making it work. I’ve done loads of videos on alternatives :)
I am very interested in getting an XK but would like to know if I can make all four seats work with wifey, an 11 and 9 year old for short to medium journeys?
Depends what child seats you want to use with them, the rear seats may even make booster bases tricky… where there’s a will there’s a way though. When they are 135cm tall they will be able to fit in the back seats alone perfectly but not for long.
To me, comparing the XK and the DB9 and saying one is better looking than the other is a bit like comparing a 250 GTO and an E Type. Both cars, imo, are two of the most beautiful 2 door GT cars designed in the past 25 years. The Aston is like a supermodel who wears expensive clothing and drinks a fancy cocktail, the jag is like an athlete who gives off the impression of being beautiful and gentle, but could absolutely kick your ass.
The head lights of the XK are designed to look like a cats eyes and the tail lights are designed to look like the circles on the wings of a Spitfire. They look just as good if not better then the DB9s lights in my opinion
Interesting take! And that's good. It gets boring watching everyone come to almost identical conclusions. Definitely not as elegant as the DB9, but mainenance costs are probably more like a third than two-thirds. Personally, I'd want to compare the power delivery and handling of the base 5L car with that of the early the DB9. As far as the looks of the XK8 vs the DB7, IMO the DB7 wins, no contest, but I also think the XK8 coupe is ageing nicely, and IMO late cars with low to moderate miles and no rust will continue to rise in price for a while yet.
Yeah the X100s have been cheap for many years and I’m sure numbers have dwindled, meaning the remaining well cared for examples will rise 🤙 stunning looking modern classics
As a man who has no children, can i ask...why not put the kids in the boot? Thats where my dog goes on excursions! LOL. Of course now i should start an "inspired" channel where i cram an aging springer spaniel into the boot of various cars to assess their usefulless. The DOGCARS channel incoming....lol.
@@dadcars negative comments on the internet? Surely you jest. ! lol. Just had a click (and a like, obviously) on that video. Did the complainers not understand they dont make doggy child seats? Surely, to be driven around in a Aston by their human is every doggys dream?
Did tou try that 4.2 on the twisties? I'm convinced (based on experience and other reviews) that it'd be more nimble and more fun than the bigger, heavier DB9. It'd be worth comparing their gearboxes too...
Via job cars I have driven dozens of cars mostly brand new over 40 years however I have been driving an XK for the last 13 years and is the best car by a huge margin. Fast enough and comfortable ideal for touring. The sat nav is the worse thing ever but hey ho I have a TomTom
I really wanted to love these (xkr) but they just don’t look that great. A nice 2013 XKR is within spitting distance of sorted Granturismo which has some serious road presence.
Where do I start ? Why do we even try to get into the back seat ? Why are they even there, and where is Jimmy Hoffa. No answer to either question. No, a XK8 is not an Aston Martin. I own 2 07 XK8s, a coupe and a convertible, why do I own the Jags and not a DB9. I spent 45 years in the car business and I think I learned a few things, people buy when perceived value exceeds price. To me, the XK8 just makes more sense.I just had to put an alternator in one of my XKs and I was able to source it from my local parts store for $325. Second reason, everyone has a way that we judge what we want in a car. I judge my GT cars by an eight -hour trip I make every year to the Grand Prix of Canada. In the 80s I did it in a 928,wonderful ! In the 90s I did it in my 328, fun but not the right car for the job. This year I drove the XK coupe and it was an absolute pleasure. I'm 73,older and wiser than I once was. I love my XK8s.
I've had my 5L XKR for more than 10 years and 210,000 miles. Far and away the best, most reliable automobile I've ever owned in 56 years of driving. Pulleyed and tuned to about 600hp, it is still such a pleasure to drive, i just can't justify replacing it even with the high mileage. It has been tracked many dizens of times over the years and never skips a beat. And by the way, the pulley/tune upgrade cost less than $1000, and will outperform the V12 handily. Find a DB9 with 200 000 miles that's still an enjoyable drive, you can't because it doesn't exist. These are brilliant cars.
Have you ever driven one? At no point do I think it's slow, they regularly do well in excess of 150k miles with standard servicing. I have both and the XK is far easier to drive than the XKR. Dated looks? Are you blind?
@@Noahgames123my dad gave me his 06 XK the other week I’ve grown to love it for the comfy smooth wafty delivery , gearbox is ace and it covers ground so well and surprisingly nimble Only downside is it’s too quiet on standard exhaust and although not slow it’s definitely not that quick I’ve quicker cars and the lack of power disappointed me on the XK
@@2702simmo the 09 cars onwards were 5.0 instead of 4.2, which upped the car to 385bhp. Once you get to supercharged XKR they are too fast, and that's an honest opinion.
@@Noahgames123 yes it’s a 4.2 Xkr I’m going to get but will try one first . Should be a more useable convertible than my TVR and the wife would come in it :)
