Aston's need the remote valve control that replaces the fuse for the exhaust valves. Totally transforms the car. DB9 is quiet when valves are closed. Removing the fuse to the valves leaves the potential for the valve to freeze in an open position. Not only does the car come alive from the sound, using the paddles comes the primary way to drive. Sound and programming of the shifts really become cohesive. The rev matching is really great.

https://www.cccharger.co.uk/product-...irage-model-s5

 

Another vote for the XKR. Two things happened today that reconfirm the XKR choice (for me over a DB9). I was stopped at a hardware store early this afternoon and when I got out, the gentleman driving a panel van parking next to me commented as I was getting into my car, "Boy, that's some good lookin' car you've got!" This is a ten year old 175,000 mile car that wasn't even clean today. Then later on in the afternoon, I was on the 101 freeway westbound into the late afternoon sun and about a quarter mile in front of me, I could see a car whose shape I could tell I really liked, but with the sun in my unshielded eyes and my terrible eyesight, I couldn't really tell what it was, I just knew even then that I liked it. I suspected it might be a DB9. As I sped up to get a better look, it was after all, a late model XKR in a dark charcoal color, and damn, it was beautiful! Even after 14 years of pretty much the same body style, it's still beautiful, attractive, and we all know it will outperform a DB9 at a fraction of the cost. As Cee Jay would say, "why go sideways?" We're already in front!

 

Good points, only thing is I have 3 supercharged V8s! And owning a V12 engine has been a sort of life goal checklist. It's too bad Jaguar never experimented with one like Mercedes and the 600/65 line. I guess they had had enough of the XJ12 and the bad reputation it had.

 

Not sure why you would think that. I drove Jag V12s as daily drivers for around 16 years so would have done between 150,000 and 200,000 miles with them. I managed to blow my first one up but that was my own stupid fault for locking in in second gear while thrashing it round a race track so I think a combination of oil surge and over revving it finished it off. No idea what failed but there was a bad knock from the bottom end when it was warmed up so I used the rest of the car as spares for my 2nd XJ-S as it wasn't worth repairing.

My last V12 was a '96 XJ12 and the last of the V12s in 6 litre form were super engines and pretty much bullet proof. The V12 is a big heavy engine though and my current XKR has twice as much power and is more economical.

 

Well I wouldn't want a vintage Jag anyway, if I go vintage it's Corvette. I'm happy with what I have. I think I am going to give up the Aston search and look at Bentley Continental GT for my 12 cylinder fix. It is distinctly different than Jaguar.

 

Forget the mundane V12, it's W16 or nothing.

 

I followed a DB9 in my 09 XKR upspeced convertible away from a car show up the coast from where I live in Australia. He put the foot down so I followed, as we darted around some fine twisting road the Aston let out a load band, and ground to a halt. I think it was a gearbox issue but didn’t have the heart stop and see what happened.

i would not swap my machine for an Aston.

 

+1 XKR-S

 

A Bentley Cont. GT is a nice car, but it's no Aston Martin...

 

That's what I'm going for. An Aston Martin is an Aston Martin, but my XKR is too close a cousin for me to own both.

 

Good luck on that one. If you ever thought an Aston might be much to own. Continental GT's have the highest payout cost for extended warranty companies on average.

 

I think it may have more to do with the space factor.

Still, good info to have added to the flow in the noggin'.

 

I love the Continental GT and might still be stupid enough to buy one eventually. The absolute biggest piece of **** car I've ever owned was an A8L W12, and the Continental GT is objectively a needier car (and it is semi related to it) compared to it.

 

A friend has a Bentley GT Speed (I think that is the variant). 2 door coupe with two seats and an upholstered roll cage. Looks very sharp; in a very light blue color..

 

I have at the moment, two cats Cat Nr 1 is a 2013 XKR and Cat Nr 2 is a 94 6 liter 12 cylinder. So, in addition to having multiple 12 cylinder Jaguars as daily drivers going back to 1974; today I am fortunate to have a supercharged V8 and a 6.0 L 12 cylinder. The V12 XJS is an entirely different at than the X150. here is a pic of my cats at rest.

 

How do you like the Maserati GT compared to the XKR? I'd initially considered the GT but opted for the XKR due to lower maintenance costs and higher performance for similar prices. Now I have a Ferrari 360 and I'm looking to get back into a GT car. I was thinking of another, newer XKR but your post has me thinking about Maserati, and a quick check shows there are nearly 10x available vs the XKRs I'm looking at, for very low prices (mid-$30k).

Would like your opinion on the differences, and the model year of your XK as well.
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Thanks!

 

I specifically selected a 2007-2009 XKR as I wanted the 4.2. I already have a 5.0 SC XJ, so I wanted something different. As far as this thread goes, I ended up with a Bentley Continental GT over the DB9.

As far as reliability, the Granturismo is dead reliable. Just keep your battery charged, and if you're looking at 08-12 models, see if the variators (start up rattle) have been addressed. It's about a 1 of 3 problem on those model years and around $3k I believe. As the owner of both I would choose Maserati 4.2/4.7 reliability over Jaguar 5.0 reliability all day, every day.

It's also very easy to DIY maintence.

Performance, however, is what to watch out for. It's a heavy GT car with a naturally aspirated engine. It has nearly no ability to mod and will be nowhere near as quick as an XKR.

The exhaust note is the best in the world, IMO. The interior is dated, but unquestionably exotic. And if you want tech, there are great OEM looking touchscreen replacements for infotainment and climate control, look up AuCar.

 

We'll see, I ended up buying one under warranty. I decided not to touch and 04-06 model, too many vacuum line issues. The big issues with the CGTs seem to not be reliability (aside from the plastic vacuum lines) but the fact that a tightly packed W12 engine requires engine out for quite a few basic things.

 

I have not owned a Maserati, but I have never heard the terms reliability and Maserati used in the same sentence let alone universe. I, personally know three people who have had their cars (3 different Maserati models) bought back by the factory due to lemon laws. On my 2010 XKR 5.0L, I now have nearly 180,000 miles. It has had a couple of fuel injector replacements, a couple of sensors, shocks and bushings replaced, but still drives and performs exceedingly well. Obviously, silvertonesx24's experience is quite different, but certainly do some research on Maserati reliability (if this is of concern) before you take a leap.

 

Other Maserati's may be bad (F1 quattroporte), but the Granturismo is most definitely not. I own both and been reading Maseratilife for years as well as JaguarForums x351 section. The differences between the two are very apparent.

I have never once seen anyone there talk about parting out their Granturismo for cracked engine blocks or trashed timing chains or $42k engine replacements like you can read over at the X351 board.