Mate my just went down the shitter. Well pkay, it wasnt the Jags fault. My Mechanic thought he did me a "favour" and put some expensive racing oil into it when he changed the oil back in summer. Unfortunately that oil was to "thin" and ran out of the pump over night. That caused, that for the first few rotations when I started the engine, the oil pressure wasnt really there. The chain adjuster for the control chain and the adjustable camshaft rely on oil pressure, and therefore the control chain jumped a tooth or two after short time. Its nothing actually broken, but to get it back right is more expensive, than what the car is worth...
With the NA motor I’ve saved $2k by not having two of the 100,000 mile supercharger services, so there’s that 😂😂 bushings have been the biggest service item. I’ve got one strut that’s weeping, not a big worry but they’re not too horrible price wise to replace. The suspension bushings are really the thing to look for over 150k miles, it can rack up quick because the parts aren’t quite as readily available as Mercedes or BMW.
I've had one of these for about 7 years now and absolutely love it. The major selling point for me was that other V8 rivals like the M3 at the time had a wonderful engine, but you had to be at 5000 rpm plus to get to the special bit, and these days, where can you drive at those engine speeds without looking like a complete t**t? The XK-R has a V8 that is much more usable everyday with it's low down torque and a sound that you can enjoy anytime. It also gets a far more favourable reaction on the road than a BMW or Porsche. I had a BM for years before the Jag and got used to just waiting to get out a junctions and often found myself caught out in the Jag as people actually stopped to let you out. On a road trip down to Italy and back it was brilliant, including the Stelvio, and in dynamic mode sounded great. The only downside really is the SatNav, which is just hopelessly out of date now. The rest of the infotainment still does ok, it's got DAB and I have an iPod plugged in and I'm not sure you need much more. Cooled seats are great in the summer, and the ride is superb. No major faults to speak of, and running costs are reasonable for what is a 500 bhp car., and there aren't many of those around at reasonable money.
That’s a pretty good assessment, I have the M3 V8 and agreed the power comes above 5000 rpm. But it does sounds sweet at 8400 ;) As far as the Jag, I had an XK8 convertible for a longest time. absolutely loved that car. I have been looking at the xkr 5.0 I like to pick up a convertible., Or an F-Type R in a coupe in some cool color
It's a beautiful machine, thinking I'll get an 07 XKR coupe just as soon as it's sensible to do. The one and only downside for me is the tax. I'm currently in VED band B, paying £20 a year which is nothing. Unless I'm mistaken, XKRs are in band M, making the yearly tax £630. That's quite a punch in the wallet. We all make sacrifices though I suppose.
A decent review. Having owned Astons and Jags - there are few issues with Astons. Their servicing costs are ridiculous. Not sure about the V8 but the V12 Vanquish and DB9 service intervals are 6,000 miles and Aston will take between £1500 & £4000 off you for a service. If you get your aluminium Aston dinged - that's another £2,000 to £4,000 depending on the extent of the damage. Aluminium Jaguar bodies seem less stressed and cost less to repair. Aston seats are less comfortable - in fact the DB9 is about the least comfortable car I've sat in. Finally, much of an Aston, in, in fact, Jaguar! The convertible hoods, engines and almost all ancillary components are made by Jaguar. BTW - the Aston V8 engine is a Jaguar AJV8 Gen II, whereas the later XKs have the AJV8 Gen III - which is more advanced. Astons are a 'right-of-passage' and once you've owned a few, you 'see the light' and end up buying a Jaguar.
Very accurate information, thank you for it. Aston Martin places itself above Jaguar in terms of pricing, but I genuinely believe Jaguar makes superior cars for less. Plus, when it comes to branding...a Jaguar is much cooler symbol, brandname and imagery than "Aston Martin".
@@Celestias no one cares about the newer cars because they're all garbage, but people put the older astons above the older jags because they're better cars, actual transmission, better sounding and more unique engine, better looks, better legacy. Sure the jag could be a better daily, but there's no reason to daily a big 2 seater v8
28 and just bought my first car 2007 XK coupe 4.2 naturally aspirated, take out the rear muffler with after market and you have gr8 sounding v8. Slate grey, ivory seats and burr walnut cabin. 20 inch Senta wheels. Been detailing it past 2 months. Learn as you go. The lines on this thing are second to none! makes you feel proud to be British. 🇬🇧
I have an XKR and I would say that was a very accurate and fair review. Well done JayEmm. To answer the “maintenance” question, I have just had mine serviced at a Jaguar main dealer for £250, yes, I repeat two hundred and fifty quid.
They are rare indeed, particularly here in the Midwest, but I was lucky enough to find a 2013 XK in Virginia that had had done 20,000 miles. And those appear to have been summer weekend miles driven by a very kind owner, who looked after it properly. I really think the R versions would be wasted on me because this vehicle, particularly in Dynamic mode, already encourages too much naughtiness. As I drive I sometimes think the old song “Falling in Love Again” should be playing.
Such good looking cars, classically beautiful. I think it looks better in a regular subdued color, I like that bright blue but I don't think it really fits this model that well.
I used to drive these new, plus the F Type, XJ, and XF, and my favourite modern Jaguar was always the XK 5.0 V8 Coupe, non R. I always felt that the XKR broke loose too easily, but the 380hp in the vanilla V8 was the *perfect* amount of power, and you lost only the slightly sexier noise of the supercharged engines exhaust with the NA V8 which could be easily solved with an exhaust swap. I've always felt that a GT style Jaguar should be capable but not overtly sports focused, and that's exactly what this XK is. I'm all for Jaguar supercars and sports cars in their line up, but this GT is in my opinion excellent as a GT, and I'd take one over an Aston Martin any day (and I drove plenty of them too).
Phil Atkins I own the 09 XK with 380hp that actually just Broken in for Lack of Road use 52,000 miles. I had been wanting an XKR for performance but after a 700 mile road trip it’s WOKEN UP and I have Changed my mind , I FREAKING LOVE THIS CAR!!!! It’s Perfect Now and since I am now 65 it’s Time I Grew Up , I think I‘ll keep it another 11 years . Great assessment.
@@gordonrettmann8302 2010 without a doubt. It is a delightful engine, just test drive both types and you'll see exactly what I mean. The R models are sadly incompetent at putting down power and it really saps the enjoyment, so stick with the "mere 380hp" that the 5.0 naturally aspirated one has. It is an absolute dream
@@gordonrettmann8302 I know you didn't ask me, lol, but if you're talking just "XK's", I'd say the 2010 as that extra 80hp over the 07 is definitely worth it, and like Phil said, it's way useable and fun hp! Good luck in whatever one you choose!!
@@joannaatkins822 "The R models are sadly incompetent at putting down power and it really saps the enjoyment" Haha, sorry to differ with you my fellow Jag man, but, I have a 2015 XKR and there is nothing "sad" or "saps the enjoyment" about this car, IMHO, lol. Had a 2010 XK and it's definitely fun, but nowhere in the "enjoyment" range, for me, in comparison. The XKR with a good quality tire puts down the power just fine and then some! I will say, any temps under 50 degrees she can be scary no matter the tire. But I love scary along with waxing 99.9% of most cars on the road! Apparently it's still not scary enough for me as she is getting a tune and smaller pulley to take her to nearly 700rwp. But that's what makes life good in that we are all not the same, lol.
my late father had a 2006 XK4.2, was as you say better as a grand tourer - managed to get my bike in the boot once with both wheels off after some juggling, always felt strong with a lovely engine but uninspiring auto gearbox - however it always felt huge, heavy and hard to place or drive quickly on anything but wide roads.
Pussed out and bought the 2010 XK, while it was an awesome ride in it's own right, I just couldn't handle not having the XKR. Sold the XK last week and the one that wants to kill me will be here in two, can't effin was wait!!
It's the inside that lets it down,. First generation XK8/XKR are what Jaguar were all about. Wood and leather and great styling. I wouldn't compromise my old generation just for the superior performance of the later generation. If possible I would drop today's engine into the old model.
It's a taste thing. The leather is pretty much the same in both cars but the veneer trim in the 150 is more constrained than in the 100, but I lways felt, that for a GT, there was too big an area of veneer in the 100, that dash and cubby box is too deep, it has even more veneer than the XJ. But like I said, it's a matter of taste, we are all different (fortunately)
I own a 2009 black on black Jaguar XK I love this car almost more than my 2014 Stingray and the looks I get from people whenever I park the car is phenomenal
Review is accurate. My 7 yr old XK has not required any repair outside of routine maintenance. Best driving car I ever had. I can only imagine how the R is my XK on steroids. The only negative of car was the display panel and infotainment system. Needed some modernization for sure. Big mistake for Jag to stop production of one of the most beautiful autos ever made.
I've had an xkr for a few years now and I love it. It's absolutely amazing for daily driving and showing off. It's 5 litre V8 is fantastic and the exhaust sound is better than most.
The first XKRs without the flims and flams and wing extensions was absolutely gorgeous. The later versions (in my opinion) detracted from the majesty. Reasons to go for the cheaper 4.2l XKR I guess. =)
Nice review I love my 2013 XKR. It’s a daily driver and along with those oh so gorgeous looks, it’s a joy to be in. I’d say it’s more comparable to.a DB9 in terms of its intent and purpose than a v8 vantage. Nice review I shall look forward to the rest of jag weekend :)
Astons are a 'right of passage' - when you can afford one you buy one. Then you realise their limitations and you buy a Jaguar... Having owned several Astons, including a Vanquish, DB9 and V8, I now drive a 2012 XK Convertible and love it! (For those interested, the 4.2L XK rides better than the 5.0L) BTW - the Aston V8 is fitted with a Jaguar Gen 2 engine with an Aston head. The last XK's had a Jaguar Gen 3 engine which is much superior and slightly more economical.
I agree, Jaguar as a brand is criminally overlooked. They have achieved so much through such a relatively limited number of vehicle models. The XK120 fastest car in the world, the E type generally held as the prettiest car in the world, the XJ220 fastest car in the world, the 1997 XJR the fastest 4 door saloon car in production of its day, the D type an incredibly successful race car. They achieve so much, more than many other companies with a far greater model history but yet seem to see so little recognition. It's a shame they became lumbered with the old man image which no doubt bogged them down.
You are right apart from the bloody headlining falling down. Every Jg I have owned thee headlining has dropped inc my latest the XF which was a nightmare the windscreen and rear window had to be removed to fix the headlining. Tip here. If this happens to your XF store the car in a cool place overnight have the windows removed first thing in the morning nd the windscreen won't break. If you do the job on a hot day the screen WILL break. Because of this I will never buy another Jag. They know what the problem is which is using the wrong glue and the wrong foam which they are too mean to fix
@@algail44 I own a 1998 Jaguar XJR, there are replacement aftermarket headlinings which can be folded so that all you need to do is lower the seat backs in order to get it fitted, no windscreen removal. If that is really the only major problem you have had with your car then you would be foolish to avoid the brand entirely due to one oversight.
A car dealer said to me once, an Aston Martin is just a Jag in a party frock, not too sure I believed him but they do seem to have improved over the years, and the Jag is a nice mover, I remember being more than impressed many years ago after driving a new just announced XJ6 and they still look good today.
Great review. I traded in my Aston for the XKR, and having just completed my first year with the Jag, i can look back and say that I made the right choice. The XKR can be best described as the Gentleman Pirate.
@@davidgreen1504 I have had mine a year. The car is bullet proof, and when unleashed it has more power than you will ever use. You are going to fall in love.
Jaguar could have the F-type and the XK in their line up. The F-type being a sports car, while the XK being a GT. At least they could have made a new XK based on the XF.
That’s the XKR I have, the X100. I prefer the looks to the X150. Seems classier, simpler, less fussy. Makes me feel special when I drive it. Always a smile on my face.
Big fan of the XKR although I'd suggest its rival would be closer to the DB9; whilst the Aston has 4 more cylinders, power, size and shape are similar to the DB9 over the V8V. Being a V8 Vantage owner, I'd have that all day long, the noise alone makes it more desirable for me, then there's the exclusively and its looks. The V8V is strangled on power by its awful exhaust manifolds and very dense catalysts. Aston's Sportshift is absolutely fine and gets a very unfair rap, when you get used it and use it as intended, a manual gearbox with automated clutch, it's a great system. Read the AM guide and it helps you understand the system (yes, it's without its quirks), but it's good. 'Hypershift' actually makes quicker gear changes than the traditional manual box. I prefer it to a torque converter for example. I like it as much as a traditional manual and I've always been a 'diehard' manual fan, but the SS system bridges that gap between automatic and manual and is perfect for fast road driving. Get used to the system and understand it, and it's highly enjoyable. Autoblip on downshift is also a neat function - the best system for the roadster on long continental touring trips, I'd not use it on the track for example. Nevertheless, Aston aside, the Jag XKR is a beautiful car, I've always loved them and would definitely have one if I had a bit more space!
How weird, another automatic Aston trying to justify his laziness on buying a shit transmission. I’m sorry the jag is an auto because it is a grand tourer, the Aston was made to compete with the 911 ergo it’s supposed to be a sports car.
The F-Type reminds me of a hairdressers car.....the XK is far better looking and I'm only surprised Jaguar stopped making it, although the normally aspirated XK has more than enough BHP for most....and is significantly more economical than the 'R' version.
Great review Jay! I use my 2010 XKR as a daily commuter (in good weather) and now have 229,000 km on it. It has been an excellent GT with room for the kids too. Cheers
Bigsal I have not changed the transmission fluid. Just injectors, plugs and regular oil changes and filters. The rest is just wear items like tires and brakes. I also had one issue with a coolant leak that was a cheap part but 8 hours to correct.
The US version was still 420hp until 2010 which then hit 510hp and I've watched stock 420hp cars hit mid to high 12s.. The 0-60 is off. The XKR with 510hp ran 0-60 in 4 seconds and a 12.3 1/4 mile. Car and Driver. I ran that in a non-supercharged 2019 Camaro 2SS with the 10 spd auto with 455hp and 455 torque. All kinds of variables can change these numbers. A 2010 XF Suoercharged runs 60 in 4.2 seconds.
Great channel you and Harrys garage are now my 2 go to car channels I've watched you on my phone my x box and my pc to get you more views also I've had a couple of jags love a jaaaaag!
I had one of these in 2009/10. Wish I'd never sold it. You're right, it was very tail happy in the wet but otherwise a lovely car. That sound is still incredible.
The single best piece of advice for owners and potential buyers is this: change the tyres. Michelin pilot sport 4S' changed the car completely for me. Gone is the twitchy back end, the scary wet weather handling and the wheelspin. The Dunlop sport maxx's are horrendous and make the car awful to drive.
These are perfect companionship on a trip to the riviera. Not the fastest on Nurburgring but surprisingly agile and capable and gives a soft supple ride. And that’s what I want 99% of the time. Tired of overdamped nervous cars.
Had a 1998 Lotus Esprit Coupe, faster, handed like a dream but lacked many interior niceties. Now have a 2010 Jag. R, can’t complain about the power, the sound makes the stereo irrelevant, handling is terrific, interior is perfect for an old ‘gent’ + will hold a hockey bag full of kit!! 🇨🇦
I put Firestone-Indy 500 tires on my jag and they absolutely brought the car to life, dramatically improved how planted the car feels and gave much more rear end confidence and balance (even in the wet!)… it’s incredible how much the right tires can bring a car to life! Yes, they are unfortunately an American brand, but the Jag is very much an American style “hot-rod” (big, heavy, powerful and automatic).
My dad had a 2010 XKR in Silver - we named him Jazz after the transformer who was a Pontiac in the first ever movie, but they loved similar to me aha! We went to the Nurgburgring in him and absolutely hammered him & he was like a rabid dog when you stepped on the accelerator and we both loved it. The sound system was amazing too with Sixouise & the Banshees - Spellbound blasting! The engine was bulletproof up untill around 70,000 miles where one of the cylinders failed. This is a 0.000001% chance of happening and we had him fixed in no time. In 2015 we parted ways unfortunately but the new owner still lets me drive him from time to time 😊❤
Great review as always, I enjoyed that😁 Yep, my every day car is a 2008 xkr, love that bloody car. Got an after market exhaust on it that really shows of the auto rev match on the down change. It's my first jag and I love the thing.
Same here my daily drive 09 xkr convertible with smaller pulley, hiflow catalityc with cat back exhaust ! I just passed 100,000 miles last month! Just love the car it is a head Turner for sure
@@benladiajr I'm thinking of buying a 08 xkr with 100k miles, should I be fine as long as I get it inspected first. Heard mixed things about reliability
I own a 4.2 XKR coupe 2008 .I always find Jaguar over bling the mid term updates of their care of including the x150. I have owned a 2001 S Type and 1998 XK8. All their launch designs are the purist form. OK there are often mechanical upgrades that accompany the facelift but these cars are ALL about the look yes? When I bought my XKR a guy at the same dealership was finalising a deal for an AM Vantage at 2.5x the price of my car.He called me over to verify the driver's door was out of line whilst the salesman was there--it was massively out -I was shocked how poor the finish was on a premium brand but I guess the guy was in love... The salesman involved in the AM sale said to me he would always buy Jaguar over AM because of reliability and finish.....
Ooh cool a new video about xkr's I recently bought the 2011 with only 22k miles and was thinking of making a video myself for anyone who is thinking of getting one because there is so little new content around these days. I'll be taking it to Germany on the autobahn next week so I can really appreciate it. One thing I can say is you are absolutely right to be concerned about that rear end. I have banned myself from driving this thing even slightly riskily when it's wet now after experiencing a couple scary fish tail moments when not even using anywhere near all the power it has. It's just a shame I bought the car at the start of autumn and the British roads have been wet nearly every day since.
Seriously thinking of selling my Cerbera & getting another one of these, they’re so useable and comfy as a daily. So reliable and cheap to service. The Cerb keeps trying to kill me when the roads are even slightly damp as it’s got no TC 😂, I doubt it’d hold its value like a Cerb but who cares.
Had a 2010XK and now a 2015XKR, bottom line; ridiculously good-looking from every angle, pulls looks from damn near everyone who are into cars, doesn't get lost in a sea of Corvettes, Camaro's , BMW's, Porsche's etc, the XKR is faster than most people can handle, very reliable as an everyday driver as I do mine, decent MPG for a 510hp car (I get 23mpg HWY) cheaper to repair if something does go wrong over your BMW's, Porches's etc. and because everyone still thinks they are the electrical nightmare's of the past, the depreciation drops through the floor after buying new (NEVER BUY NEW) and the average Joe can pick up an extremely nice ride that will hang with most of the rich boys!! Sorry, could go on-and-on about these and how much I love them, lol. Not a bad review!
Great review, you should be on the tv. Nice to see more north Essex countryside on the screen. The Wethersfield to Sible Hedingham road is quite a good drive so long as farm vehicles haven't dumped most of a field on the tarmac.
Agree. Got an X100 XKR. Birdseye maple ”Spitfire wing” dash and two tone black and cranberry interior. I love it. Can’t stand most modern cars. Just an expanse of bland black leather and plastic. One reason I avoid the likes of BMW, Audi and Merc. The interiors have me drifting off to sleep.
@@sparky4878 The dominating use of interior wood and grey leathers was what stopped lots of jaguars selling, a 2005 XK8 badly shows its age compared to a 2006 XK. Im going to be buying a 07 XK 4.2 next year as I've always wanted a Jag V8 after owning a couple of rotaries, alfa busso v6's and various sports cars. Although i love the exterior of the 2005 facelift xk8 and lusted for one as a kid i cannot bring myself to buy one as an adult after i sat inside one for less than a minute. Why because the wood and grey leather slapped everywhere tastelessly belongs in the past, now wooden interiors done tastefully like in modern jags are okay because the wood does not dominate the interior though i still prefer the piano black finish to wood in an XK as it reminds me of the Jaguar e type which also reminds me that Wooden interiors are not a requirement for a jag to be proper, the e type only has wood on the steering wheel as does the xk150 drophead coupe and they are voted as some of jaguars best ever cars made historically...
@@sparky4878 I sooo much agree with you. I have used my BritishRacingGreen 2011 XKR with a cream interior as my daily drive for the last 4 years, doing trips to Norway, Italy etc. I just love it, you just have to learn to live with the tailhappyness.
@@picdar16 I agree with what you say. The veneer on the X100 dash was too prominent even for an XJ never mind a GT. Jags were always traditionally walnut burr and they were more suited to the XJ rather than XK's. The introduction of more contemprary veneerrs, Birds Eye Maple, straight/linear veneers and Piano Black (which is real veneer dyed black prior to lacquering), and finally carbon fibre (real stuff not plastic), gave a long overdue alternative finish to suit those who found traditiinal veneers too stuffy. For an XJ Vanden Plas, wafting along in a stately manner surrounded by walnut burr is fine, but I agree, an XK needs the more contemporary finish.
i remember seeing a normal 4.2 convertible about a year ago thinking how cheap it was and how modern it still looks for its age. if i could afford a second car and that v8 running cost i would seriously consider it
Had mine since 2017, love it. Had the Xkr upped to 560bhp, by putting a bigger cog in the supercharger. Fitting sports exhaust and getting it chipped. Really head turner ( sound) when I put my foot down. But always keep the traction on, helps stop wheel spin plus keeping it in a straight line. But don't floor it until you have the wheels straight - or the big cat will bite you !!!
If it has to be a manual and you want something a bit more lively, then it has to be the Aston. If it has to be an automatic, then its a toss up between an XKR and a Maserati Granturismo. Whilst the XKR is still a very pretty car and sounds great with an aftermarket exhaust like Milltek or similar, I'd argue that the Maserati is a more special place to be. More exclusive. It will easily carry four adults and their luggage across continents. You don't need an aftermarket exhaust. Nor do you need nor want, body kits of any kind. The Pininfarina styling is timeless and a thing of beauty. If you want to drive it like a hooligan, the engine just loves to rev its nuts off, being a Ferrari unit. Maintain it sensibly and its incredibly reliable. Even parts can be relatively inexpensive, if you find out which are common across the Fiat group. Styling by Pininfarina, an engine by Ferrari and a gearbox by ZF. What more could you ask for? :)
Spot on review. I bought a XKR 2009 3 weeks ago. I love it, had a bit of trouble with it a the begining on wet roads. You really have to be gentle with the gas pedal ! Infotainement is rather dated to say the least but you don't buy a XKR for that. Rear seats are more an extension of the boot than for passenger though my 11 years old daughter can endure it for short period (no more than 20 mn) before complaining. My biggest gripe with this car is rearview wich is awfull but all in all it's a minor inconvenience compared to the tons of fun I have with it. Thumbs up for your review and the XKR.
The biggest drawback of XK/XKR is the lack of proper manual like the V8 vantage! And this is a reason big enough (for me) to dislike the car or at least make me not consider it as an option... Apart of that great car!
I was looking at one of these and love the noise when you press the starter button. Very Aston Martin like. However I needed the use of the back seats so went for a Mercedes CLK 500. A more useful coupe......................but its far too quiet I need to release the 5 litre v8 growl. Great review as ever
Picked up my xk 5.0 2010 last month having never driven or sat in one before, but searched for 3 months for the right one, ZERO LOCALLY to me. My budget was for the 4.2 Supercharged but a 5.0 XK came up that was newer, fresher looking and had the full portfolio spec and trim I wanted, for the sake of a handful of horses it was a no brainer. I flew an hour to get it, and a 6-hour drive and 3-hour ferry crossing to get it home..... moving from a 2012 C-class wagon, it was worth every penny! I have a big love for the auto box, the auto blip on downshifts, the pops and crackles from the stock exhaust on downshifts too has me grinning constantly coming to a set of lights or tight corners. Auto cornering adaptive lights, 20" wheels, heated steering wheel, heated and cooled seats, and the adjustment on them is ridiculous, the bolsters and lumbar fill with air and deflate as necessary. I thought I couldn't get on with the interior at first as the merc is much more modern but with a few perks like the heated wheel, it's clad in a mix of leather with contrast double stitching, plush carpet and Alcantara headlining, B&W Sound system, nice instrument cluster, the rising and descending auto selector knob, keyless entry/start and slowly glowing START/STOP button that cries " Push me you bastard, you know I'll rev up by myself." Were new to me and very much a pleasure. My only gripe is the lack of Bluetooth connectivity for audio, yes it'll pair for calls, it has DAB, radio, a 6 disc changer, wired for the old ipod, and a usb port for mp3 files...... can't really grumble here, I bought a bovee Bluetooth adaptor for £100 to solve the connectivity. No big deal. Go and get one, I finally feel like I don't have to keep upgrading anymore! BMW'S and merc's I've had plenty and always had to spend ££££ on wheels or extras to make it stand out a little more. The jag is... there's no other way to put it.... It's sexy AF.... It's a lot of car for the money. Great video! Thank you for posting.
If considering the XKR... might as well step up to the XKR-S... the depreciation has really got the prices down. I have had an 08 XK and a 11 XKR and I currently own a 12’ XKR-S and a 14’ XKR-S GT. All have been very reliable. There really is a big difference from the R to the R-S. The R-S is a monster. The R-S GT on the other hand is much more refined, precise and track focused. The GT will run with any of the super cars that I accompany on rallies. Really wish the would bring the XKs back! Great video! Subbed.
Bigsal 45 hp... but the real differences are the brakes, suspension and exhaust . I have run all 4 on the Tail of the Dragon... the brakes on the XKR really heated up after a couple runs. Big difference in the exhaust noise, the R-S is much louder. As far as the suspension, you could really feel the weight of the car in the XKR in the curves. Under normal driving circumstances... I think they will feel pretty similar. Its not really that it is faster, its how it feels when it is pushed a bit. Besides the more aggressive appearance with the extra aero, wider stance, carbon pieces... the exhaust noise and the tire spinning rear end... it really has an attitude. You will lose your cooled seats tho, the R-S has the sport seat package that only has heated seats. It may have been hard to justify 3 years ago when there was a $30-$40k price difference... now you can pick up a little higher mileage R-S for under $40k... not bad for the front spot next to the valet!
As I've said many times, I preferred my 2009 XKR portfolio edition to the 2010+. I liked the shifter better, the styling better and 420 h.p. is more than enough, the 510 h.p. is too much for normal driving.
Driven the previous and later version of the XKR, cancelled an Aston to buy the first, and I had 911s and the XKR beats the lot. Convertible is the best version. Just check the used prices of XKRs and Ftypes...it’s a classic.
Great video and review. I've had mine for a little over a year now, and I love it. Everyone loves the looks. It's a great touring car with good space in the trunk, and it will GO when you want it to. It's exactly what it it looks like. I haven't had any maintenance yet, but tires and brakes will probably run $2k, which is not good. But, it's practically a race car, so I'm ok with that.
I've had the thrilling pleasure of owning three Jaguar XK8's, Oh My, the thrill of driving this sweet car is truly an endless love affair. Jags best fan
Others have mentioned a 4.7L Maserati Granturismo from the same era as an interesting GT competitor to the XKR. I would like to see you do a review comparing the two!
I bought my 2012 French Racing Blue XKR-S (it's not called Riviera blue btw) over the Aston line (used) for similar budget. The traction issues are real, especially with a tune and pulley (now 600 fwhp) but easily addressed with Toyo r888r's as this is not my daily driver. I still think it's one of the most beautiful coupes of the last 30 years.
I own a base 2011 XK. Outside of a few wires chewed by chipmunks, the car has been reliable and required nothing but standard servicing. The base XK has the open diff, XKR has the electronic diff. The base engine without the supercharger still sounds great, has a great flat torque curve that pulls and pulls. The main downside are the integrated screen which lacks any reasonable upgrade path. The other thing to consider is the aluminium body. Any minor fender bender may lead to the car being totaled by the insurance company due to the cost to repair vs the depreciated value. As a tall guy, I appreciate the seats and legroom, but the back seats should be considered as extra storage space.
Hey James. I've recently been thinking about getting an XKR. The idea of owning such a raucous, British mark is hugely appealing to me. I've also noticed models I would want are appearing approved used in my price range. Then I thought, I bet James has a video I can watch. And here I am!
Absolutely Love these, I've been watching "Beard & Cars" ' Great channel ' & i can see me buying one of these, Superb video James as always !& a Happy New Year!
I own a French Racing Blue 2013 XKR-S. Use to have a 2012 XKR. The R-S drives so differently that I instantly traded the XKR in for it. Different steering rack, different subframes, a ton more low-end torque, much better handling, etc. And the looks...It gets a ton of attention. It's also extremely rare, as they made just under 1000 XKR-S.
Jaguars are in a true petrolhead sweet spot (in Germany that is): incredibly rare, jawdroppingly gorgeous yet a "normal" car to enjoy everyday without looking like a showoff and ruining one's finances.
It's better,I repeat BETTER than an Aston Martin V8 vantage and just cause it's a V8 don't mean other V8's are competition for it.With that supercharger that comes stock with the XKR that gives it V12 power like the DB9 and DBS have and their V12 power have hard time even being a match for the XKR💯
Had a V8 Vantage N400 and thought it was the slowest car I've owned, a good hot hatch would eat it for breakfast. The XK 5.0L was so much better car in every way and half the price and the Bluetooth worked.
Agree with you 100 percent regarding revvy engines etc. I set out to buy an s2000 thinking of love the high revving engine. In reality though I found it to be frustrating and the lack of torque made it feel slow 90 percent of the time. Porsche flat sixes can suffer a bit from this when driving below 4K rpm, but not as badly as the vtec’s.
As an owner of an '07 XKR, couldn't agree more. I love the Aston's, but try and find a shop to do a single thing. Small thing, but my iPhone XR still Bluetooth's in....sure wished the music played though .... overall, gets looks everywhere and grins when you hammer it.
James, had an S-type R and then an XKR, both 4.2L SC, both bought new. They were great cars with no problems EXCEPT: the lack of a limited slip diff. was a major oversight. In slippery conditions, the car was frustrating to drive. If the one rear wheel was on anything slippery, it would barely move. I had BMWs with this same problem (non LSD). The 4.2 was great, assume the 5.0 would be equally great.
