Best Year XKR to buy
#21
12-24-2019, 09:10 AM
Veteran Member
To me young means social media influencers and clout-chasing.
On interior trim - aluminum and carbon fiber, unlike wood, is harder to passably fake. That is, I like real wood panels in a car, but aside from maybe Bently or Rolls Royce nobody does them this way anymore. Some of my classic BMW and Mercedes have real wood interior trim parts, I have been in a modern BMWs and Mercedes and it is all fake plastic that made to look like wood (and you have to be an aging Boomer with going eyesight not to notice the fake mile away). At the upper range you have wood veneer in epoxy instead of an actual wood. I would rather have lesser, but non-fake finish than fake wood or IKEA-like veneer on everything.
Personally, I prefer aluminum because - a) it is unlikely to be fake plastic b) it is more durable than fake plastic finishes c) it is light.
On interior trim - aluminum and carbon fiber, unlike wood, is harder to passably fake. That is, I like real wood panels in a car, but aside from maybe Bently or Rolls Royce nobody does them this way anymore. Some of my classic BMW and Mercedes have real wood interior trim parts, I have been in a modern BMWs and Mercedes and it is all fake plastic that made to look like wood (and you have to be an aging Boomer with going eyesight not to notice the fake mile away). At the upper range you have wood veneer in epoxy instead of an actual wood. I would rather have lesser, but non-fake finish than fake wood or IKEA-like veneer on everything.
Personally, I prefer aluminum because - a) it is unlikely to be fake plastic b) it is more durable than fake plastic finishes c) it is light.
Last edited by SinF; 12-24-2019 at 09:19 AM.
#22
12-24-2019, 10:02 AM
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#23
12-24-2019, 10:47 AM
Veteran Member
Regarding your comments about modern Mercedes wood being cheap plastic - not true. I recently had a dispute with MB US over some faded wood. They had a TSB regarding a series of cars (VINS) that had wood that wasn't treated with UV protection and caused fading. Since the car was CPO, I had to argue that it should never have been certified since wood condition was one of the checks. Can't speak to BMW though.
#24
12-24-2019, 03:03 PM
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#25
12-24-2019, 03:36 PM
Veteran Member
I'm opposite that ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^.
Way I figure, if a car has low mileage it COULD be because it would never run right enough to be trusted on the road for more than a few miles. A goodly sum of miles but not outlandish would mean that it was a trusted vehicle that evidently hadn't let the owner stranded.
Plus, the 2012+ look newer.
Way I figure, if a car has low mileage it COULD be because it would never run right enough to be trusted on the road for more than a few miles. A goodly sum of miles but not outlandish would mean that it was a trusted vehicle that evidently hadn't let the owner stranded.
Plus, the 2012+ look newer.
#26
12-24-2019, 04:02 PM
Veteran Member
How about a 2010 XK with 10,800 miles? The main reason for the low miles, is I find that when I take the car out for a long drive every few months, it's like purchasing it for the first time. It's just so much fun! It also helped that it only had 4,500 miles when I purchased it 6 years ago. Still has the original tires, although the dealer replaced all the rotors under warranty and I changed out the OEM pads to ceramic. Car still smells new. No repairs either. Of course if you don't drive it, nothing breaks!
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#27
12-24-2019, 04:17 PM
Veteran Member
How about a 2010 XK with 10,800 miles? The main reason for the low miles, is I find that when I take the car out for a long drive every few months, it's like purchasing it for the first time. It's just so much fun! It also helped that it only had 4,500 miles when I purchased it 6 years ago. Still has the original tires, although the dealer replaced all the rotors under warranty and I changed out the OEM pads to ceramic. Car still smells new. No repairs either. Of course if you don't drive it, nothing breaks!
#29
12-24-2019, 08:16 PM
Veteran Member
Was the wood shift knob optional, or did the rich oak just not come with it?
You have wood on the doors near the window controls on a first gen! I so want!.... My 2010 has that in walnut, but the 07 XK is silver plastic. IIRC the 2nd gen will not fit the 1st gen door. Not sure where I saw that, but you have given me hope!
#30
12-24-2019, 09:45 PM
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#31
12-29-2019, 06:04 AM
Senior Member
I'm opposite that ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^.
Way I figure, if a car has low mileage it COULD be because it would never run right enough to be trusted on the road for more than a few miles. A goodly sum of miles but not outlandish would mean that it was a trusted vehicle that evidently hadn't let the owner stranded.
Plus, the 2012+ look newer.
Way I figure, if a car has low mileage it COULD be because it would never run right enough to be trusted on the road for more than a few miles. A goodly sum of miles but not outlandish would mean that it was a trusted vehicle that evidently hadn't let the owner stranded.
Plus, the 2012+ look newer.
#32
12-29-2019, 06:24 AM
Veteran Member
Having gone through this decision process when considering what to buy ended up with me looking for the latest model which closely fit my budget. Mine was to go for a 2012 back in 2014 with low mileage. Now if I were looking in 2020 I would guess I would go for a 2015 with the lowest mileage I could find. Now if you have financial constraints it make the process harder as it will put you back into the 2010-2012 model's with 30-50K miles. That being the case then the service records start to play into the equation. Then again if you are a DIY'er you can look at some of the higher mileage cars. Whatever you do just buy one as it's an experience you'll cherish forever. Life is short.
#34
12-30-2019, 09:58 AM
Veteran Member
Ya know, when I first got mine I thought it a bit weird. NOW, however, I feel like the ridiculous stick-type shifter is antiquated and pedestrian. You know, gauche and uncool.
#35
12-30-2019, 12:49 PM
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#36
12-30-2019, 12:57 PM
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#37
01-04-2020, 10:31 AM
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Although the original 4.2 was right "out of the box" when introduced in 2006, the same was not true for the 5.0 litre. The original engine has proved less troublesome than the later one but that being said, we don't see many reports of serious issues on our forums.
More important than YEAR is the PO. Future reliability depends to a great extent on how well the vehicle has been maintained. Not just scheduled maintenance but keeping on top of the little things that go wrong. A Jaguar from a mechanically sympathetic and enthusiast owner is worth the search.
When I last changed, I specifically wanted the final model year to benefit from development and build specification. The one I have now is the eighth I looked at but maybe I'm too picky!
Graham
More important than YEAR is the PO. Future reliability depends to a great extent on how well the vehicle has been maintained. Not just scheduled maintenance but keeping on top of the little things that go wrong. A Jaguar from a mechanically sympathetic and enthusiast owner is worth the search.
When I last changed, I specifically wanted the final model year to benefit from development and build specification. The one I have now is the eighth I looked at but maybe I'm too picky!
Graham
and a completely unbiased viewpoint: early model 2007, fully loaded. ;-)
#39
01-04-2020, 10:37 AM
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:-). I enjoy driving mine so much I’ve done road trips to Maine for pleasure as well as Boston for Business. And I am constantly given compliments everywhere I go.
I don't know how typical I am, but I went for the 4.2 SC car, 2008 MY. I could have afforded to buy one of the earlier 5.0 SC cars (2010 on?) but I made my decision on the basis that the 4.2 engine had had years of development and so was maybe more reliable overall. I'd heard the word 'bulletproof' from more than one source. I have no idea if this is true or not but it was my thinking at the time. I accept that the 2008 4.2 XK-R is not as fast as the 2010 5,0 XK-R but it is plenty fast enough for me, so that didn't influence me too much. I do prefer the looks of the front end of the 5.0 models but I am happy enough with how mine looks in Lunar Gray with Ivory interior. If money was no object, I'd go for the very last model they made, hoping that by then, any problems had been ironed out in production. Not suggesting this as a course of action to anyone - just saying what my own thinking was, right or wrong.
#40
01-08-2020, 09:51 AM
Veteran Member
IMO, the best year to buy is 2014-15 for the following reasons.
1. In 2014 the Dynamic R package came out which included a fully loaded XKR at an incredible price. It included dynamic pack, suede steering wheel, quilted performance seats, performance exhaust, black pack, speed pack, metal foot pedals, and vortex rims with over size Perrelli rubber. This package made the XKR equal to an XKR-S less the XKR-S body kit.
2. 2015 was the final year of this icon. A final fifty version is extremely rare.
3. You get a version of the car which has most of the bugs already dealt with and the latest options available.
4. Because I own one, lol.
1. In 2014 the Dynamic R package came out which included a fully loaded XKR at an incredible price. It included dynamic pack, suede steering wheel, quilted performance seats, performance exhaust, black pack, speed pack, metal foot pedals, and vortex rims with over size Perrelli rubber. This package made the XKR equal to an XKR-S less the XKR-S body kit.
2. 2015 was the final year of this icon. A final fifty version is extremely rare.
3. You get a version of the car which has most of the bugs already dealt with and the latest options available.
4. Because I own one, lol.