Thanks. Yeah it does really suck because I finally got most of the other bugs sorted out with the help of a great service dept but the misfire is a much more serious issue. The XKR is still not fixed and is awaitng a new head or engine. Aside from the bugs I really did like the car; it's quite nice!

Looking forward to the SL just wish it had cooled seats but there is a bunch of guys on the W211AMG forum trying to do just that.

Good hearing from ya and thanks!

 

I like those!

 

Thanks, damn they do look quite good in the large pic!

 

Jag dealership should also pay the monthly note on the car whilst your not driving it.

 

The dealership gave me a very nice brand new XF Portfolio loaner to use and I'm still driving it even though my lease was already paid off by Jag USA yesterday; my last lease payment was good through 5/23 and I will return the loaner then.

 

No doubt that the new SL has outstanding performance and is a fine automobile. It was on the short list of cars I was considering for my wife, but I ended up ordering a 2013 XKR because I really don't like the looks of the new SL. IMHO, MB went backwards in that department from the 2012 model--the nose is too blunt and squared off (seems to be a trend for MB--maybe European pedestrian safety standards?) and they made the rear too bulbous to give more trunk head room. I thought I might like it more in person than in the pictures I had seen, but I didn't change my mind after test driving one recently. Most of the car magazine critics are panning the looks as well. Also, it's really hard to tell the difference between the new SL and the SLK--not a good thing when you're paying $115K+ for an exclusive car.

 

I think the safety standards are forcing car companies to square off the front ends. I looked at the SL and the CL, and didn't like the looks of either front end. Even from its best angles, the SL only looks cute...whereas, the XK looks sensuous from every angle.

 

Those AMG's are nice, really nice. Good choice.
I'm a little more extroverted and want my car to be different so no stock wheel, regardless how good it looks, would work for me.

When I had a Benz many years ago I did put AMG monoblocks on it but back then, not many people had them. AMG was still an aftermarket company back then and those wheels cost an arm and a couple toes.
Now AMG is a part of Benz and I consider their wheels to be stock.

They look good though and I'm sure you'll enjoy the look.

 

Every SL except the previous one (R230) had this type of front end.

 

Still doesn't make it beautiful...LOL Just because all the sisters are ugly doesn't make the least ugly one pretty.

Seriously though, I think it is the rake-ish headlights with the blunt front make it look snub nosed. IMHO the car looks agressive but not "pretty" But then again, it isn't my money.

 

The new SL looks great in person especially with the AMG appearance pkg and I agree the headlights could have used some tappering. Other than the 2012's I was not particularly fond of the 07-11 XK's somewhat bulbous headlights nor giant side slats; if it weren't for the '12 restyle I would not have gotten one. Ian Callum did a splendid job on the XK and I'd bet the 2014 new body style will be smashing!

The SL was never a "pretty car" but a solid, well built, performance inspired, classic looking German engineered roadster, which the latest edition evolved from and reflects much truer than the last. The new SL's performance numbers are also truly exemplary and equal too or surpassing the current XKR in areas and with a folding glass hardtop. I tried the pretty car route and it was nothing but trouble.


Great news, the new SL hit the port today, a day early!

 

I guess you'll be hanging out on www.mbworld.org or some other site. I'm on most of them so I'll see ya round. Others I'd suggest are www.luxury4play.com and the benz section of www.6speedonline.com

 

Yes, been on MBworld for years and like it very much. The new SL forum is pretty slow right now but I like the new E and W211 AMG forums too. I'll check out the luxury4play, never been on that one. I'll post pics of the new car here when it arrives and chime in whenever I can help someone and I'll catch you on MBworld too.

Thanks,

 

The current XK/XKR will be built through the 2014 model year and either dropped or stretched in the 2015 model year. That's why I'm only leasing my 2013 XKR for 2 years--at that time I will explore other options. Maybe MB will redesign the SL more to my liking by then--no, it didn't look any better in person even with the AMG package and I thought the 2012 model was a giant leap forward in appearance from prior models. Most everyone agrees that the current XK/XKR is drop dead gorgeous and if I wanted a faster car there are a lot better choices than the new SL that don't look like a box, no matter how "classic" it might be.

Your XKR was a lemon and you dumped it. Period. This is not a reflection of the overall quality of Jaguars as you insist on bashing.

Have fun on the MB forums.

 

23rd out of 27th in initial quality...sure no reflection

Thanks for the good wishes you're most kind...

 

Every single person that owns an XK who I have ever come in contact with, whether this contact was in real life or online, has absolutely LOVED their car. They don't simply like their car...they LOVE it!

You are the only exception.

So, for me, those numbers that you keep quoting are meaningless, because by my own calculation, the percentage of thrilled owners is basically 99.99%. I doubt that any other car has numbers that good.

 

I've told many here several times I'm sure their experience will be better than mine and gave Jaguar and my dealership the benefit of the doubt and was even willing to try another car. I've also said my XF loaner has been great several times.

But the FACT is Jaguar overall initial quality is not great and that's a fact and the numbers don't lie and the JD Power numbers are a far greater sample than 10 or so of the same guys in the XK forum most of which bought their car's used and never even dealt with the initial quality issues to begin with!

There's a reason the same marques are always in the top five year after year in quality...they have fewer problems!

My car was a 2012...how many XK posters here have 2012's other than me OC snd Mike? Their cars thankfully has been great mine was a lemon, so it's 66/33 so far, not very good odds is it? Perhaps as someone stated earlier since Ford left maybe quality has taken a nose dive.

Whatever makes you feel better about your car/Jaguar, is fine

 

Actually, it's not a fact that Jag's initial quality is worse. It's only a fact that JD Powers ranks them as worse. However, there is no science involved in their ranking system.

It's like saying that Justin Bieber is a better musician than Miles Davis, because he sells more records, and the teenaged girls who buy his music go crazy over him.

 

Believe whatever makes it better for you.

It's all good.

 

It must be incredibly difficult to be objective about such things when you're having difficulties dealing with numerous repairs to your car, and those survey results would naturally seem to explain the situation, and perhaps convince you that warranty repairs are futile, or will be never-ending.

The really unfortunate part is that they probably contributed to the loss of faith in Jaguar as a whole, despite not being based on the XK/XKR, and that attitude is what likely led Jaguar and the dealer to cancel the lease. I think most others would have gone through the normal process of having the dealer do any and all warranty work, and if it couldn't be repaired (and an engine would surely be fixed or replaced) then the whole vehicle would be replaced, rather than predicting it would eventually fall under the Lemon Law and all that. Cancelling a lease would never normally even be a consideration.

This should be a lesson to everyone that if you are having a problem with your car, no matter the nature, you have to follow the warranty procedures that you accepted when buying the car, and let the process run it's course. Don't pre-judge the outcome, let the dealer figure it out with the manufacturer, and "if" they can't fix it "then" they'll make it right.

RJC, when you claimed you couldn't deal with the problems due to your health and started working on your ultimatum, I suggested letting a lawyer or someone else do it for you...not to get you out of the car...but to facilitate keeping you in it! You should be joining our ranks of happy owners, and it's just tragic that you aren't. Believing in what you did made it worse for you, and the community.

Bruce