Hi guys. New to this forum and to Jaguars. I'm looking to replace my 2008 535xi with a gorgeous XF Supercharged. I can really only afford a 2011, but know there were some cosmetic updates in 2012. I'm trying to decide if I can justify the extra few grand for the more current look. Any thoughts on how "dated" the 2011 looks in comparison to the '12? Or are there any easy cosmetic upgrades to update the 2011's?

 

Thats interesting I have a BMW 535xi and I'm looking into the XF as my next vehicle. I currently own a 2001 S-type and definitely like the fit and finish of the Jag better. It's funny whenever somebody comes by my house they allways tell me how beautiful the Jag is but never say anything about the BMW. Anyway I'm going to test drive 3 XFs next weekend a 2009 4.2 supercharged, 2010 5.0 supercharged, and a 4.2 premium luxury non supercharged. When I get back Monday (hopefully with one of those three) I'll give you a detailed comparison between the BMW and the XF.

 

Besides the cosmetics, the head unit is way nicer and the seats have the nice bolsters. Plus the extra 60 horsepower is nice. It's ranked only 30 horses less than the XFR. And without the extra cash it would take to own a XFR. You wouldn't even feel the difference. I currently own a 2009 XF S/C with the 4.2. If I could do it all over I would get the 5.0 with S/C. If you go with Pre 2012, make sure it is 2010 or 2011, that's when they changed the engine and now produces 480 vs my 420. And believe it or not I get 15 mpg and the 5.0 gets around 24 mpg. Go figure. But all in all I am happy with my car. Just wish I would have bought a year later.

 

I had the same decision to make a year ago when I bought my '11. if you can swing it get the '12 in my opinion. Seats, headlights, controls are better in the '12. Some are saying the car handles better, but I didn't have a '12 SC to compare it to at the time. If you ca't swing it financially then you'll still love the '11. Love my car. Good luck and post photos. What colors are you considering?

 

The SC 5.0L has 470hp not 480hp. The base 5.0L loanders I've used still only get ~20mpg on the same roads (mostly highway; mild to hard driving). The SC 5.0L will be about the same as the SC 4.2L. You'd hope it would get 1-2mpg more because it's supposed to be more efficient but you'd be lucky to get that. No way in hell would it get 8mpg more (16mpg vs 24mpg) in the same conditions. You'd have to baby the crap out of the SC 5.0L on the highway (under 60mph on a flat road) to average 24mpg or more. If you get 16mpg in the city then that is fine. If that is highway mpg then you may want to check the filters, plugs, etc.

If all you really want is more power to match the SC 5.0L then swap a supercharger pulley on for $500 and meet or beat the SC 5.0L power output for much less money vs. trading up.

 

My mistake on the horsepower rating. And I can only go by the 2012 SC I had as a loaner. And the first thing I did was look at the average mph and it read 24 mpg and I had it for 3 days and never changed. As a matter of fact when I turned the car in I asked the service adviser why my car was only getting 15 mpg and if there was something wrong. He said the 5.0 was more fuel efficient. So I only based the mpg on one car. As for the pulley upgrade, I have considered. I have Mina Exhaust for now. But also considering a tune as well.

 

I thought I read somewhere that the XFR and the XF S/C both have the same 0-60 time or same 1/4 mile time? IT seems to be kinda spot on as I have seeing some dyno sheets from both cars in stock form on the same dyno getting the same exact power rating within 5-9 hp areas.

I would go for the 2012 for the new looks or the 2011 and tune it for the money difference depending on your goal and taste. Cant go wrong with either choice in my book.

 

Big collection of improvements between 2011 and 2012. Buy the later car if you can afford to. Better looking (facelift was 2012 was it not?). Better handling and ride. Better seats maybe? Quieter.

 

As for the infotainment upgrades, 2012 will also have the new dark gray UI skin on the touchscreen, plus other tech. improvements with cell phones, bluetooth streaming, and better responsiveness. Also should have HDD storage for ripped CDs and HDD navigation, which improves navigation load times a little.

 

I much prefer the looks of the 2012+. The major factor is the headlamp area which is much more cat like and doesn't look like a Chrysler. I recently went to the Jag dealer and test drove both the 3.0 XF AWD versus a Lexus GS350. Hands down XF. The Lexus GS 350 shifted like very abruptly and sounded like a 4 cylinder car. The XF 3.0AWD engine sounded like a V8. I told the dealer that I wasn't going to like the 3.0 as it probably didn't drive like a V8. I was wrong. Very impressed. Fast and had a nice growl. Then he gave me the keys to the 5.0 Supercharged XF. Wow. Pure power and speed. I took it on a road and got up to 130 mph without any trouble, it was almost too much power. Nothing like a nice V8! If I go with a XF next, it will probably be a 2012 XF 5.0 or supercharged.