DBS V new XKR Test Drive
Discussion
Below is a story of a man and a test drive: Yuriy is a associate from Russia and these are his thoughts - not mine.
Story begin%
I test drove the new XKR on Monday thanks to the very helpful Swindon Jaguar. I was also given a decent route across some very nice scenic country roads as requested. I know the car is supreme on motorways so no need to check that.
Unusually I was driving an Aston Martin DBS for the day, as hired for me by MrsPits for my birthday. I wanted a back to back comparison and to give the XKR a tougher test. Jag fans probably won't be surprised by my conclusions but for those who prefer minimalist posts, my conclusion is - even if they were close to the same price I'd struggle not to go for the Jag.
Both weigh around the same and both have 500+ bhp so it was an interesting comparison. No surprises to discover that there was nothing in it in a straight line which you have to chalk up as a win for the Jag given the Aston costs £160k new! But the simply felt Jag felt better developed at the end of the day. And rightly so, they probably had a much bigger budget to spend on it. Certainly build quality is even better (and easily the equal of its german competition if not better) and the cabin was a wonderful place to be, even if not quite as avant garde as the Aston. The ride is definitely better. Anyone who thinks the ride quality has suffered in the new XKR can only be comparing it to other jags. Compared to any other car of it's performance the ride is every bit the magic carpet and makes the XKR unique among its peers. It glides the way only a Jaguar can and it's the most relaxing way to go ballistically fast I've ever experienced. I'm quite familiar with my Dad's XJR (latest model) and I was amazed how alike the XKR felt, you can tell they were both made by the same people. But don't think for a moment the Jag is wallowy. If you're used to 911s you'll probably think it's too soft on the test drive but the XKR has subtle qualities that can only be properly appreciated during ownership I suspect. But it's ability to cover ground is not one jot less than the DBS. If anything down a bumpy road it would be faster, with me driving at least.
The Aston under full power was seriously quick, the sort of car that has your passenger reaching for the imaginary brake pedal. It has the huge torque of the DB9 but adds a lovely freer breathing and howling V12 top end to the repertoire. But at full chat you can feel a sort of corkscrewing motion through the car. The DB9 did this too. It's not a big thing but does require corrective steering down a bumpy road with cambers. The jag by comparison just gets on with putting it's eye-widening power down without any fuss or drama. For some that's probably a minus but for a supercar you could and should use every day, I think it's a good thing. Overall, the XKR comes across as an exhaustively developed, honed, polished product.
Unique for a car this fast, the jag is shot through with a relaxed, calm demeanour and it does everything, including going like a bat out of hell seemingly without any effort or mechanical strain. I know of no other car that does this. It encourages a smooth driving style. Again for some that's not a good thing but for an everyday car I think right now, it's the best you can get at any price. I was blown away by it to be honest. It's a heady cocktail of performance, competence, comfort and silky smoothness all wrapped up in an exquisite, uniquely Jaguar feel. It also sounded lovely, very growly, appropriate for a Jaguar. And I really don't like autos but this new box with the paddle shift was outstanding. Very smooth of course but very quick on the gear changes and light years ahead of the paddle shifts on the DB9 I tried. I still love the idea of Jag offering a manual box for their top sportscar and I admire Aston for at least giving you the option. But the new auto does suit the car very well and is in keeping with the calm, soothing nature of the rest of the car.
It's not for everyone but I came away thinking it's very much for me.
In fairness to the Aston it is a thing of utter beauty and an experience I'll never forget. There will always be something very special about a 6 litre V12 at full chat. It was breathtakingly fast and has a great sense of occasion to it while being much cooler and more understated than a Lambo or Ferrari for me at least. An amazing car and if I won the lottery I'd have both.
Story ended%
Best regards,
Yuriy
Story begin%
I test drove the new XKR on Monday thanks to the very helpful Swindon Jaguar. I was also given a decent route across some very nice scenic country roads as requested. I know the car is supreme on motorways so no need to check that.
Unusually I was driving an Aston Martin DBS for the day, as hired for me by MrsPits for my birthday. I wanted a back to back comparison and to give the XKR a tougher test. Jag fans probably won't be surprised by my conclusions but for those who prefer minimalist posts, my conclusion is - even if they were close to the same price I'd struggle not to go for the Jag.
Both weigh around the same and both have 500+ bhp so it was an interesting comparison. No surprises to discover that there was nothing in it in a straight line which you have to chalk up as a win for the Jag given the Aston costs £160k new! But the simply felt Jag felt better developed at the end of the day. And rightly so, they probably had a much bigger budget to spend on it. Certainly build quality is even better (and easily the equal of its german competition if not better) and the cabin was a wonderful place to be, even if not quite as avant garde as the Aston. The ride is definitely better. Anyone who thinks the ride quality has suffered in the new XKR can only be comparing it to other jags. Compared to any other car of it's performance the ride is every bit the magic carpet and makes the XKR unique among its peers. It glides the way only a Jaguar can and it's the most relaxing way to go ballistically fast I've ever experienced. I'm quite familiar with my Dad's XJR (latest model) and I was amazed how alike the XKR felt, you can tell they were both made by the same people. But don't think for a moment the Jag is wallowy. If you're used to 911s you'll probably think it's too soft on the test drive but the XKR has subtle qualities that can only be properly appreciated during ownership I suspect. But it's ability to cover ground is not one jot less than the DBS. If anything down a bumpy road it would be faster, with me driving at least.
The Aston under full power was seriously quick, the sort of car that has your passenger reaching for the imaginary brake pedal. It has the huge torque of the DB9 but adds a lovely freer breathing and howling V12 top end to the repertoire. But at full chat you can feel a sort of corkscrewing motion through the car. The DB9 did this too. It's not a big thing but does require corrective steering down a bumpy road with cambers. The jag by comparison just gets on with putting it's eye-widening power down without any fuss or drama. For some that's probably a minus but for a supercar you could and should use every day, I think it's a good thing. Overall, the XKR comes across as an exhaustively developed, honed, polished product.
Unique for a car this fast, the jag is shot through with a relaxed, calm demeanour and it does everything, including going like a bat out of hell seemingly without any effort or mechanical strain. I know of no other car that does this. It encourages a smooth driving style. Again for some that's not a good thing but for an everyday car I think right now, it's the best you can get at any price. I was blown away by it to be honest. It's a heady cocktail of performance, competence, comfort and silky smoothness all wrapped up in an exquisite, uniquely Jaguar feel. It also sounded lovely, very growly, appropriate for a Jaguar. And I really don't like autos but this new box with the paddle shift was outstanding. Very smooth of course but very quick on the gear changes and light years ahead of the paddle shifts on the DB9 I tried. I still love the idea of Jag offering a manual box for their top sportscar and I admire Aston for at least giving you the option. But the new auto does suit the car very well and is in keeping with the calm, soothing nature of the rest of the car.
It's not for everyone but I came away thinking it's very much for me.
In fairness to the Aston it is a thing of utter beauty and an experience I'll never forget. There will always be something very special about a 6 litre V12 at full chat. It was breathtakingly fast and has a great sense of occasion to it while being much cooler and more understated than a Lambo or Ferrari for me at least. An amazing car and if I won the lottery I'd have both.
Story ended%
Best regards,
Yuriy
Edited by FloPlast on Sunday 17th May 11:35
After seven months of grief with my 06 DB9 Volante I have just changed it for an XKR but the 4.2 not 5.0. The XKR build quality is far superior to the Aston, the ride is quality not jarring like the Aston (I understand the 07 on are better). I had 5 warranty jobs done in 7 months on the Aston as well as various squeaks in the cabin sorted out. In the end the Aston just put me in the wrong frame of mind, perhaps I had a Friday afternoon car, it just wasnt the car for me. A dream shattered!
Edited by changingman on Sunday 17th May 15:26
Looks like a great car, haven't driven the current model, but the last one I drove wasn't driver focussed or involving enough & had a super charger squeal that drove me nuts!
Having said that from press reports, the new car is better on both counts, so bears out your report, but tiny rear seats aside I think the 911S & Vantage V8 are more its real competitors than the DBS.
Having said that from press reports, the new car is better on both counts, so bears out your report, but tiny rear seats aside I think the 911S & Vantage V8 are more its real competitors than the DBS.
I haven't driven the new XKR. I have driven the 4.2 and found it quick, but underwhelming. There was no excitement in driving it. That said, the normal TT2 DB9 is a little underwhelming too. Thee old XKR's interior was just horrible. The new one is a massive improvement, but not close to being as special as an Aston (even allowing for the Aston rattles). The Jag's exterior is fine apart form crass detailing (the lights both ends are awful), but it's merely handsome as opposed to beautiful like the Aston.
Pure competence is not the measure of cars like these. My M5 is faster than my DB9. It is a fantastic all-round car, but there is something special about a car like an Aston that makes it worth more, which is why people pay more for them.
Pure competence is not the measure of cars like these. My M5 is faster than my DB9. It is a fantastic all-round car, but there is something special about a car like an Aston that makes it worth more, which is why people pay more for them.
changingman said:
People just THINK there is something special about them, the something special is the aura that surrounds them not the cars themselves
I've only had one Aston to date - a mere 'cooking' (4.3) V8V. It WAS special in many ways. Not perfect, in fact far from it, but quite certainly special in identifiable aways - not just some imagined aura. I could list them for you but, if I have to do that, you have no soul man! changingman said:
Zod said:
but there is something special about a car like an Aston that makes it worth more, which is why people pay more for them.
People just THINK there is something special about them, the something special is the aura that surrounds them not the cars themselvesI love both of these cars, but just on a simple and basic level, take a look at the seats in a DB9 (never mind a DBS) and look at the seats in an XKR. What are Jaguar thinking of? Why is there such a premium on old shape XK's with the Recaro seats? Because they are comfortable and supportive. ordinarry seats in any car ultimately make it feel like a saloon.
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