I spent Saturday afternoon with the XK coupe......final conclusion??? It's gorgeous

Thanks for the heads-up. Will definitely check it out.

 

That doesn't make much sense. That's like saying that since Jerry Lewis has dropped from 350 pounds to 300, he's not bloated anymore.
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Black IS universally flattering. I had a black Porsche 993, after passing on white and red ones that just didn't look right to me. I recently saw a black 512TR at a concours event and it has a presence like nothing else. Now I have a black (metallic) 328, and I would never have any other color.

I'll need to see an XK in black. So far, though, I don't find it very inspiring. The Jag F-Type -- lean, stylish, real sports car would have been an unstoppable hit for Jaguar.

 

I think you'd need to do a power to weight ratio comparison, to be fair. Also, this article that shows the 650i bettering the XK suggests that your curb weight is a bit light: http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=115853/pageNumber=3

 

Odd since I got those numbers from Edmunds own specs for each car.

http://www.edmunds.com/new/2007/jaguar/xkseries/100686846/specs.html

 

I agree in the US market it is more about HP numbers than low weight. 300 hp doesn't seem like a lot in that market segment, but the XKR is now available.
I think one of the reasons why the edmunds review came out in favor of the BMW was that over the years everyone has been 'trained' by BMW to prefer their driving experience. It was likely the first and best driving experience most people had so they think the BMW feel of a car is what should be in a driving machine.

 

Each his own, some of us actually like "BMW feel" over 90% of the offerings of other manufacturer's. My (now gone) '82 6 had better steering feel then my '04 SL.

 

Not surprising actually.
In one comparison I read between the 645 and the new XK they chose the 645 as winner for that same reason.
So no one should be dilusional........BMW does make a good product.

Still, I cannot say it's as inspirational.........
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Ditto there. The new 6 is a *yawn.*

 

I wish I liked them more! They're great cars, with interesting interiors which, personally, I like. I'd say generally I like BMW's direction these days. I don't 'love' everything, but I generally like their distinction. Look at a Z8 dash...it's like nothing else.

Plus, that 6 is a few years old so you can start to pick them up for less. I think the wheels look very nice and sort of save the style. Without them the car would be severely lacking in style.

So there ya have it: One car has a "taurus like" front end, the other has a diaper for a rear end. Pick your poison.

 

True, Aura, I competely forgot about the NSX. I was thinking of the latest Ferrari's, and a few all-aluminum Audis that are noticeably wider than the cars they replaced.

But I recall reading something about Ferrari's need to make the aluminum frames wider to enhance rigidity and impact safety.

And I didn't mean to imply that only aluminum cars are wide. Obviously, there are and have been plenty of wide steel cars.


Forza,



Cavallini

 

3,600 pounds in this day and age is not particularly "bloated" for a sports GT. Its not meant to be a light weight racer.
It also depends on how fat you are. If you drop 50 pounds but weigh 400, well hey your still pretty large. The new XK lost I believe close to 300 pounds from the outgoing model. Not to shabby. Anyone looking for a nimble light weight sports car should probably look elsewhere.

 

I understand your point now Brim and to some degree share it. But Jag has evolved in such a different direction over the last 25 years that I don't think a car like that is possible from them, at least not as long as Aston is top-dog in their automotive family

I think your perspective and therefore expectations are different from mine for Jaguar in general. This I believe explains why we view the car so differently. I was expecting a clean, sensual GT, like the DB9 but a little lower on the design totem pole. You had much greater ambitions because of your knowledge of what Jag was and to some degree could be. To you, this XK would be uninspired and predictable. To me, it's beautiful.

Technically, it is Tauri but that car is so boring it doesn't deserve proper Latin. LOL.


I've enjoyed the exchange and the education on Jaguar's history. Many thanks.


Forza,



Cavallini

 

Why should that need to be the case? But if so, then give me back the previous XK8/XKR with its elegant shape instead of this whale.

A Lexus 430 SC with a Taurus nose.

 

Ok,
Been driving the XK convert for the last couple of days, It is leaps and bounds beyond what the old car was, now this being said the old car was possably the oldest chassis in the market having its roots back into the 80's.

Power is very tactile and subtle when in Drive, a fantastic exhaust note and handles quite well. When you hit it over to SD or Sport Drive by sliding the shifter over (kind of a backwords L instead of the traditional J gate) the engine and shift points create a completely different car. Almost like a split personality one reserved and cultured the other roudy and ready. there are paddles that snug well up to the back of the wheel that allow you to override the autobox at will. you don't have to switch the gear selector to M you just grab the levers. The trunk is pretty good considering how much top there is. There is still a bit of torsional flex when the top is stowed (not as solid as a Benz but have driven FAR worse) The pictures i have seen of the car prior to getting it make it look pretty good to my eye and in person it is even better. There are subtle design cues that lift from the past and the overall Classic line has been refined. Calling it bloated is not even close. The rear arches are somewhat Contental GT ish and the front is VERY aston. This is not a bad thing by any measure.

With the top down the buffeting is not great but acceptable, if yea old head had less hair would not be an issue but the lenght i live with makes this a Baseball Hat necessary car.

All the wiz bang can be turned off so you can really romp with it or be controled by loads of gimmicks. The fit and finish is exceptional and has a far warmer interior to the touch and site than any BMW or Benz. lots of real wood and stitched leather. The back seats are a joke, unless a double amputee or a midget you are not getting back there but then the 911 you wouldn't do either.

This is by far the best Jag i have ever driven and i would choose it over a 6 series because it has that inbred class and warmth that is inherent to the brand.

 

Fair enough, HJ. I think what I was driving at was that the power to weight ratio was still not favorable.

Put another way, it's simply not quick enough. For me anyway, the 0-60 is pretty ho hum.

After owning 2 XKRs, 2 SL55s, 1 360, and 1 Murcielago, I would state that this XK just does not have enough power. Then again, your likely argument that the cars that I mentioned are not in the same price category would indeed be valid.

 

writerguy: Thank you for the hands-on review. With the level of excitement that you professed, it would at least pique the interest of any casual buyer.

Cavallini: I too am fluent in Latin (and Greek). (Thank you dad for springing for extra classes in uni). At any rate, I think I finally understand your perspective - as a standalone, ignoring Aston as the premier marque, Ford has manufactured a vehicle worthy of the Jaguar heritage and, although it doesn't do it for me, will motivate and excite many buyers out there.

For the first time, I can safely say that I agree.

Best.

 

I am going to pick up a AM V8 Vantage in the morning to compare them...

 

Good discussion, thanks.

writerguy, nice quick write up.

 

I second that.

Although, I think I might have used the word "purebred" rather than "inbred".

 

You're definitely more fluent than I, my friend. LOL. I've forgotten most of my Latin from high school and I only studied a few Greek words for etymological value.

I'm glad you see my expectations were nowhere near as lofty as yours, which I'm now not so sure is a good thing.


Forza,



Cavallini

 

Excellent review. Glad to hear it performs as well as it looks.


Forza,



Cavallini

 

F1, that's the way to do it, the best of both worlds.


Forza,



Cavallini

 

So I picked up the V8 Vantage this morning and it is as different from the Jag as a Corvette is from a Caddie xlr.

The Aston is much smaller inside and out It may not look it but the similar lines but was on a weight training setup. The Jag exhibits Far More GT (Grand Touring) abilities where the AMV8 is SPORT. Far more grunt pushing the rear tires with more low end and a rougher ride than the Xk.
Rougher but handling is %%% better. The wingback doors on the AM are light and fluid where the Jag still has a bit of clunk to it. The seating position is the same if not a little more abrupt in the AMV8 (more cushin for the tushin in the Kitten)

The weight distribution and chassis set up in the AMV8 almost reminds me of a 911s, linear power great in the low end but builds in a way that is very predictable. the one i was driving was a proper 6 speed (which is my preferance) but for good measure i also took out a Sport Shift DB9... again

 

Now thinking about it....

The Jag is a more livable package if comfort is key. If you are going for a in the face performer the AMV8 is the kicker. Really impressed with how well balanced it is.

but it is harsh. The AM dealer has a GREAT facility in an AWFUL location with some of the worst roads around. The car was unsettled over the bumps but never really did anything out of expected. Over the same route the Jag was smoother but again the AMV8 had a more solid feel.

The Jag gathers glances like a funnel. I stopped by Best Buy, then Starbucks, and a couple of other places last night and you could notice eyes following you everywhere. At Starbucks 4 people made "Wow that is beautiful is that the new one...." comments.