Considering an XKR 4.2 - thoughts?

[GreyKnight]

Hi folks

I'm currently a Lotus Elise owner with a '99 series 1 Elise in ruby red with cream leather interior. I've owned the Elise for 16 years and have done a lot to keep it tip top, but there's no denying that despite the unparalleled handling and fun factor of the Elise, as I get older (43 this year) I'm finding the harsh ride and lack of creature comforts less appealing and it's just getting used less and less. Add to that the fact that I can't go anywhere with the family in it due to it being a 2 seater (there's my wife and our 8 year old son) and I'm finding myself wondering whether I'm keeping hold of the Lotus for all the wrong reasons, the main reason being that it's appreciating in value now and is a good investment car as well as a toy. I paid £12,5k for it in 2005 and it's now worth approaching £20k and rising. I only tax it for the summer months, it's SORN'd now until April.

I can't deny that I am experiencing an itch to have something more comfortable, more useable and with a lot more power. I'd love to own a V8 sports car at least once before electric ruins everything enjoyable about owning a car, but I'm always wary of such cars being unreliable, or likely to attract huge maintenance bills. After watching a lot of YouTube videos I've come to the conclusion that a Jaguar XKR (150 series) seems generally to be considered a reliable vehicle and quite a lot of bang for your buck. Looking at the prices the 4.2 seems the best value, the 5.0 is a bit more than I'd want to spend.

Bottom line is that selling the Lotus would easily cover the cost of buying an XKR, but I'm not certain whether that's a financially good idea. There's a real possibility that S1 Elise prices could be set to sky rocket in the coming years and I'd feel a complete mug if I sold it now. On the other hand, I don't know what's happening with XKR values, are they steady / falling / rising? The other option is to keep the Lotus and buy an XKR anyway, but at the moment I only have a single garage and realistically room on the drive for 2 cars, though three at a push. I could even just buy an XKR for six months and see how I get on with it I suppose.

Anyway, looking for opinions and thought on the future value side of things really. I never make a purchase like this purely from the heart, my head has to say it's okay too. That would be a great help.

thanks

Graham

[reddiesel]

You wont get your 8 year old son with any degree of comfort into the back of an X150 and I am absolutely stunned you are even considering such a car if this is important to you . As regards future values I certainly wouldn't want to be depending on one for my pension fund , although I believe they have dropped as far as they probably will , sizeable increases I feel you can probably forget about . Any idea that these cars will go the same way as an RS Ford for example is utter nonsense . These cars although now within the budget of many still cost the same to run as they did when new and many potential owners overlook this reality . As a long standing Jaguar Enthusiast and Owner I absolutely cringe when I hear muppets talk in the terms of " bang for bucks " it always stinks of people living beyond their means and chasing a fast buck . Good luck with waiting for your Kit Car to appreciate in value , I fear you will have grown a beard like Bin Laden before that happens .

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 17:11

[Simpo Two]

He'd fit behind the passenger seat if your wife isn't too tall so the seat could be moved forwards.

See if anyone's had the same issue at https://www.jaguarforum.com/forums/xk-xkr-x150-200...

Easiest answer is to go and see one and judge it for real. Enjoy!


PS Either way, taking the profit on the Elise might be a good idea just in case things go south again.

[reddiesel]

Simpo Two said:

He'd fit behind the passenger seat if your wife isn't too tall so the seat could be moved forwards.

See if anyone's had the same issue at https://www.jaguarforum.com/forums/xk-xkr-x150-200...

Easiest answer is to go and see one and judge it for real. Enjoy!


PS Either way, taking the profit on the Elise might be a good idea just in case things go south again.

I think you must be struggling for members over there John as all you ever seem to do is post a link without giving your thoughts . Let me ask you about future values of the X150 4.2 , whats your thoughts , you have owned one I assume ?

[GreyKnight]

reddiesel said:

You wont get your 8 year old son with any degree of comfort into the back of an X150 and I am absolutely stunned you are even considering such a car if this is important to you . As regards future values I certainly wouldn't want to be depending on one for my pension fund , although I believe they have dropped as far as they probably will , sizeable increases I feel you can probably forget about . Any idea that these cars will go the same way as an RS Ford for example is utter nonsense . These cars although now within the budget of many still cost the same to run as they did when new and many potential owners overlook this reality . As a long standing Jaguar Enthusiast and Owner I absolutely cringe when I hear muppets talk in the terms of " bang for bucks " it always stinks of people living beyond their means and chasing a fast buck . Good luck with waiting for your Kit Car to appreciate in value , I fear you will have grown a beard like Bin Laden before that happens .

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 17:11

are you for real? Could that be the snobbiest answer on PH ever? Sorry, this muppet will move on.

[reddiesel]

GreyKnight said:

are you for real? Could that be the snobbiest answer on PH ever? Sorry, this muppet will move on.

Keep saving

[Simpo Two]

reddiesel said:

I think you must be struggling for members over there John as all you ever seem to do is post a link without giving your thoughts . Let me ask you about future values of the X150 4.2 , whats your thoughts , you have owned one I assume ?

'All I ever seem to do'? Bit of an exaggeration!

I mention it because, unlike here, everyone there is, or plans to be, an X150 owner. There are more X150 owners on the dedicated X150 forum. Amazing but true. That is why I suggest they go there - because they are more likely to get answers.

I own an XK X150 4.2 which I bought in 2017. It's my only car and I've done 40K miles in it. The value has gone up a bit this year. HTH.

[GreyKnight]

reddiesel said:

GreyKnight said:

are you for real? Could that be the snobbiest answer on PH ever? Sorry, this muppet will move on.

Keep saving

But I don't need to keep saving I happen to enjoy making the most of my money with the cars I choose. That's part of the fun for me. I will never spend a fortune on a newer car as I believe them to all be a total waste of money, depreciation ruins the enjoyment for me. I certainly don't expect to get a pension from a car investment - my real cash goes into property and that's that. However, if I can get a fun car for a sensible price and be reasonably confident that it will either keep its value, or go up a bit during my ownership, then that's the sweet spot for me - it means the wallet of cash I have to try different cars keeps at a certain level and will probably go up over time. I'm also fully equipped to do most routine maintenance work and quite a bit of more serious stuff on any cars I buy and my brother is in the classic car restoration business so what I don't have, he does. No main dealer service costs for me.

[reddiesel]

Simpo Two said:

'All I ever seem to do'? Bit of an exaggeration!

I mention it because, unlike here, everyone there is, or plans to be, an X150 owner. There are more X150 owners on the dedicated X150 forum. Amazing but true. That is why I suggest they go there - because they are more likely to get answers.

I own an XK X150 4.2 which I bought in 2017. It's my only car and I've done 40K miles in it. The value has gone up a bit this year. HTH.

Speaking of actual cars John this to me is absolutely delightful . Ok perhaps not its best interior colour and these certainly wouldn't be my choice of wheels but what a lovely looking thing and at sensible money .

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 20:45

[reddiesel]

GreyKnight said:

But I don't need to keep saving I happen to enjoy making the most of my money with the cars I choose. That's part of the fun for me. I will never spend a fortune on a newer car as I believe them to all be a total waste of money, depreciation ruins the enjoyment for me. I certainly don't expect to get a pension from a car investment - my real cash goes into property and that's that. However, if I can get a fun car for a sensible price and be reasonably confident that it will either keep its value, or go up a bit during my ownership, then that's the sweet spot for me - it means the wallet of cash I have to try different cars keeps at a certain level and will probably go up over time. I'm also fully equipped to do most routine maintenance work and quite a bit of more serious stuff on any cars I buy and my brother is in the classic car restoration business so what I don't have, he does. No main dealer service costs for me.

What do you think of the car above ?

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 20:48

[snafu10]

Ignore the negative comments and go for it having owned an xkr purchased 2007 model in 2014 one owner 60k owned it for 6 yrs apart from usual tyres ,oil changes only major expense was alternator failed at 90k great car rapid when needed

Edited by snafu10 on Monday 4th October 21:22

[miniman]

reddiesel said:

Speaking of actual cars John this to me is absolutely delightful . Ok perhaps not its best interior colour and these certainly wouldn't be my choice of wheels but what a lovely looking thing and at sensible money .

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 20:45

Wow, you found the one that my Nan specced up. That is just a horror.

[GreyKnight]

reddiesel said:

GreyKnight said:

But I don't need to keep saving I happen to enjoy making the most of my money with the cars I choose. That's part of the fun for me. I will never spend a fortune on a newer car as I believe them to all be a total waste of money, depreciation ruins the enjoyment for me. I certainly don't expect to get a pension from a car investment - my real cash goes into property and that's that. However, if I can get a fun car for a sensible price and be reasonably confident that it will either keep its value, or go up a bit during my ownership, then that's the sweet spot for me - it means the wallet of cash I have to try different cars keeps at a certain level and will probably go up over time. I'm also fully equipped to do most routine maintenance work and quite a bit of more serious stuff on any cars I buy and my brother is in the classic car restoration business so what I don't have, he does. No main dealer service costs for me.

What do you think of the car above ?

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 20:48

It's very nice, but it's a regular XK - I would be after an XKR. This is a weekend toy / going somewhere nice car, not a daily driver, so it would need to have that X factor.

[reddiesel]

miniman said:

Wow, you found the one that my Nan specced up. That is just a horror.

A 4.2 from that era , there isnt actually that much missing

[reddiesel]

snafu10 said:

Ignore the negative comments and go for it having owned an xkr purchased 2007 model in 2014 one owner 60k owned it for 6 yrs apart from usual tyres ,oil changes only major expense was alternator failed at 90k great car rapid when needed

Edited by snafu10 on Monday 4th October 21:22

Future values ?

[reddiesel]

GreyKnight said:

It's very nice, but it's a regular XK - I would be after an XKR. This is a weekend toy / going somewhere nice car, not a daily driver, so it would need to have that X factor.

http://www.parkwayspecialistcars.co.uk/stocklist/?brand=7&update=y

Being a sad bloke I physically look at a lot of them in various showrooms up and down the Country . This Garages stock I think are amongst the best examples though I have to question some of the prices being asked . The X350 and X358 Models for example have remained static for over a year and I have to wonder who is buying at this money . It would for example defeat your object of seeing some appreciation in value as you are buying in at such a high level in the first place . Personally I think this is your greatest problem , this idea of Investment Potential . Buy the best at 40K for example and as soon as you put some miles on her you have a depreciating asset ignoring the fact that you have probably paid too much in the first place . I think an Aston could probably attain some growth better than a Jaguar and they can be had for similar money .

[GreyKnight]

reddiesel said:

GreyKnight said:

It's very nice, but it's a regular XK - I would be after an XKR. This is a weekend toy / going somewhere nice car, not a daily driver, so it would need to have that X factor.

http://www.parkwayspecialistcars.co.uk/stocklist/?brand=7&update=y

Being a sad bloke I physically look at a lot of them in various showrooms up and down the Country . This Garages stock I think are amongst the best examples though I have to question some of the prices being asked . The X350 and X358 Models for example have remained static for over a year and I have to wonder who is buying at this money . It would for example defeat your object of seeing some appreciation in value as you are buying in at such a high level in the first place . Personally I think this is your greatest problem , this idea of Investment Potential . Buy the best at 40K for example and as soon as you put some miles on her you have a depreciating asset ignoring the fact that you have probably paid too much in the first place . I think an Aston could probably attain some growth better than a Jaguar and they can be had for similar money .

Yes they are all newer and more expensive than I would be looking at. I'm happy with an older, higher mileage car that's been looked after, sub £20k price tag. 4.2 is my preference, honestly that engine should go for 200k+ easily if treated well.

I'm not specifically looking to get a car that appreciates at all, it's just nice if they do, I just want one that isn't going to depreciate massively, if it holds steady then that's perfect. This is where my uncertainty about selling my Elise comes in though - prices for those are definitely going up and a lot of it has to do with the 25 year USA import laws, there are S1 Elise's coming into that bracket now and there is definitely a federal market for them.

[jamieduff1981]

miniman said:

reddiesel said:

Speaking of actual cars John this to me is absolutely delightful . Ok perhaps not its best interior colour and these certainly wouldn't be my choice of wheels but what a lovely looking thing and at sensible money .

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202109107...

Edited by reddiesel on Monday 4th October 20:45

Wow, you found the one that my Nan specced up. That is just a horror.

Agreed. It takes real skill to make the X150 look like it belongs to a walnut polisher but that one achieves it. Yuck.

[reddiesel]

jamieduff1981 said:

Agreed. It takes real skill to make the X150 look like it belongs to a walnut polisher but that one achieves it. Yuck.

A set of 20" Sentas would work wonders for it , its the interior I would struggle with and thats big money to change . I dont think anyone can argue with the mileage and the overall condition and in a rare colour for an X150

[The Leaper]

An off centre post....

I have always hankered after one of these, probably as a second car. In succession I had

S Type 4.0 V8 for 3years
S Type 4.2 V8 for 10 years
XF 5.0 V8 n/a for 2 1/2 years

Other than a repeating gearbox problem with the second S Type, all three caused no problems....just consumables. I had hoped to keep the XF for maybe 10 years but the wife's arthritis meant she had problems getting in and out, so it had to go.

My point is that, if I did get an XKR, I would prefer to have either the 4.2 or the 5.0 without the supercharger. Both engines, based only experiences with the other cars, were superb as far as I was concerned: great long drive cruisers, plenty of umph when required, totally unstressed engines, and driver!

R.