Well, daylight savings time got me up early Sunday morning. I never really pushed my '06 XK8 convertible. I have only had her for a month. On an empty & unfortunately short stretch of Freeway she willingly roared up to 110MPH with the top down. 0-90 seems like it is absolutely effortless. Talk about exhilaration. I love this sophisticated gorgeous cat!

Budster

 

When I owned an S2000, the car seem to fight for speed after 110 or so with the top down. Car was capable of 160+ and I did manage 140 with top down, but it took miles to get it up there.

I wonder if that's similar in the XK?

 

Well, I don't know because the freeway was too short. Just a couple of miles literally. Its hard to find an open, uncrowded road in the LA area.

Buddy

 

The fastest I have ever gone was in my 500 HP Twin Turbo 3rd gen RX-7. Had a 2.5 miles straight and level freeway section near my house and the speedometer pegged at 180MPH but, my calculated actual speed was "only" 172MPH. Remember that, despite my road-racing experience, taking the upcoming wide radius left-turn at those speeds made the hair stand up on my back.

It is kind of funny how most of us in the USofA run up to 100+MPH for brief periods of time and we have to feel as if we did something exceptional; when I used to drive on the German autobahns, hardly anyone seemed to go under 100MPH. I remember when once, renting a small BMW 316, I always had the accelerator on the floor to a paltry top speed of 113MPH. Everything passed me, and the top of the insults was when a VW BUS passed me at more than 113 MPH. I don't know what kind of engine he had in that ugly box but after that I was ready to trash that BMW
Albert

 

Albert,
172 MPH, I think I would be too nervous to do it. I used to drive my girlfriend's Golf around 110 all the time in Germany and I would be passed like I was standing still by big Beemers and Mercedes. I also used to have a VW van, but I think a couple of Gophers were on the tread mill - it was seriously slow.

I'm guessing that you live in a less congested area than I do. I'm not sure with stock Continental tires and suspension if it would be safe or smart to go over 120 MPH with my XK8, what do you think?
Best,
Buddy

 

Feels good though doesnt it!! Got 250KPH out of mine recently ...with fairly sweaty palms!! The thought of anything going wrong at those speeds on public roads is quite daunting!!

 

So I guess the roads are in pretty nice shape in Dubai. Is there a speed limit on the highways? 250K (155mph) is pretty screaming fast.

Budster

 

You're right about that! Kind of pathetic in a way, but still fun. I played with a couple 0-100 starts on the back-roads today when I got clear of traffic/houses, and the car was just begging to keep going faster. It definitely felt more stable/smoother/quieter than any other car I've taken up into triple digits.

Don't know that I'll ever get to 155 though! Not in the mountains, at least

 

It is really amazing how well the XK handles at higher speeds.
Jeremy Clarkson once complained on Top Gear, that the front of the car seems to lift a bit at higher speeds and that would make it more difficult to control.
Never experienced that one.

Although I don't bring her up to 250 kph (155 mph) very often (there's simply to much traffic most of the daytime, to really enjoy it.
Ok, ok, there was this highly attractive blonde (mid-40s I would guess) in a grey XK convertible "recently" and we both had really fun taking our cats to the limit together. Remembering the smile she gave me, when pulling out to an exit, still makes me slap my forehead, that I didn't wanted to be late for my business appointment (especially, after telling that story, everbody in the office asked me if I'm nuts - they wouldn't have mind to wait a bit...).

But back to higher speeds:
I normally drive it around 120 mph on the Autobahn, which is a very comforting speed for the car. If I want to go faster, I normally go around 143 mph. At that speed the car revs around 4.000 rpm (and 4.500 rpm at 155 mph), and handles very relaxing.

 

I'm not sure if I've exceeded 100 mph on public roads or not. If I did it was many years ago, and certainly not a common thing or I'd remember. I satisfy my need for speed on the race track where it can be done legally, and in some ways more safely. I ran out of track (and/or nerve) at about 140 in the Supra at Road Atlanta, and 143 in the XKR at Mosport. Both heightened the sense of speed and immenent danger with bends, crests or dips on the fastest parts, and just at the point where you have to brake at the limit to make a sharp corner. Often there was a car fairly close in front or behind you. The XKR feels remarkably well-planted, especially for a car riding at stock ride height and without additional aero mods.

The track is a great place to get your high speed thrills without losing your licence!

Bruce

 

I think the mature response built into us as we get older makes it hard to figure out how we ever did things like this, but to add to this thread, best speeds I've personally driven at:

• ~120mph in my 1994 Ford Taurus SHO. Tried to do this every darn day, cause I was late for work most times. And I wondered why tires lasted 10K miles on her?
• 127mph confirmed with GPS in my 2004 Ford F350 Super Duty Diesel. That was fun and expensive (getting sub 5 MPG). Texas has LOTS of open and pin straight roads and this was done between El Paso and Carlsbad.

But in the Jag? I think I've been close to 100 once or twice now (but I've only owned it a week!), and that was a bit scary. I FEEL like it is too heavy to stop and i know it is also because i do not trust the breaks yet if I suddenly need them and so for those reasons I just don't...

Maybe once I get new tires and get the brakes looked over I will get more comfortable with the decidedly non-American characteristics of this beautiful beast it will be a different story but I will add that I want to go fast with her. Maybe it is enough that she looks fast?

 

I hit about 120 in VT on the way to Montreal a couple of weeks ago. Only for a brief moment as I couldn't verify the road that far ahead as being traffic enforcement free and have to consider the safety of all on the road before going so fast.

 

All of these accounts lead me to a related topic. How many out there have a radar detector? I currently do not, but I am interested. Any recommendations?

Buddy

 

Never had one. Don't think it would help me much since I seem to keep getting tickets for expired registrations.

 

One Saturday morning I "tested" my 2000 XKR against a Shelby 500 mustang and stayed ahead till third gear then at. 120 I passed it and kept my foot in it for an other 5 seconds and passed the 170 reading then passed the DPS trooper. I told the officer I
thought the mustang driver was trying to bring my ex back. It didn't work.
XKR 2000 92000 mi.

 

I have a built-in K40 system, front and back radar both x and k bands and a front laser detector. I think they are a good investment, but they are not foolproof. I have been ticketed twice by popups - no time to react. However, K40 will pay you back for your first ticket if you should get one within twelve months of installation.

 

Thanks, I'll check it out. What is a popup?

Buddy

 

Yikes. Your X now that is scarry. Did he arrest you for doing 170??

 

A popup is he is off his motorcycle or out of car hiding behind a parked car or some other object and pops up about 50 -100 feet in front of you and gets you with his gun. I had no time to slow down in either case. The last time i was caught for doing 55 in a 35 mph zone.

 

Mandatory! Plus tow and no school or deferred adjudication.