Jag XK150 vs Porsche 356
Discussion
Hi
I am contemplating adding a classic to my stable and can’t seem to decide between rhose 2. I love their shapes and their heritage.
Does anyone here have experience with either of those cars? What are they to own in terms of relative reliability (I know they’re 60y/o car), cost of ownership etc…
Although I am not super handy, I can do the little odd job on a car (I also own a series 2 Landy and do most of the work myself) and would like to do the odd job on that 356/XK150 as it helps bonding with them.
I realise that people on this section of the forum might have a preference for the XK150, but that’s OK. I am after owner’s views and experiences.
I am contemplating adding a classic to my stable and can’t seem to decide between rhose 2. I love their shapes and their heritage.
Does anyone here have experience with either of those cars? What are they to own in terms of relative reliability (I know they’re 60y/o car), cost of ownership etc…
Although I am not super handy, I can do the little odd job on a car (I also own a series 2 Landy and do most of the work myself) and would like to do the odd job on that 356/XK150 as it helps bonding with them.
I realise that people on this section of the forum might have a preference for the XK150, but that’s OK. I am after owner’s views and experiences.
I bought an XK150 convertible as a 'distress purchase'...
My 'sensible' XF (my only car at the time) had just been written off and the insurance company paid out so fast that I only had a week to find something to drive. I'd seen XK150s in showrooms before but always discounted them as being expensive to run, only two seats and not much luggage space.
And so I was sitting car-less one evening on the sofa hunting through Autotrader and saw a thumbnail of an XK150. I don't like grey cars, but this had a cream interior and grey went really good with it. I looked closer and it had walnut trim (I like walnut trim) and so I took a test drive. I immediately liked the view over the bonnet, wide like an XJ6 but lower, and the way the car sat on the road. A good ride and very quiet. Coming from other Jaguars I was very much at home. From almost every angle it looked lovely.
I almost never seat to carry more than one passenger, I don't need much luggage space and I could afford the VED. Convertible as well - good enough to take to shows - pretty much everything in one package. A local garage could look after it because there was nothing too fancy inside. I only sold it because I wanted to tick the Aston box. If I ever tire of Astons I'd be happy to go back to an XK150.
I know nothing about Porsches. Perhaps test drives will solve the dilemma?
My 'sensible' XF (my only car at the time) had just been written off and the insurance company paid out so fast that I only had a week to find something to drive. I'd seen XK150s in showrooms before but always discounted them as being expensive to run, only two seats and not much luggage space.
And so I was sitting car-less one evening on the sofa hunting through Autotrader and saw a thumbnail of an XK150. I don't like grey cars, but this had a cream interior and grey went really good with it. I looked closer and it had walnut trim (I like walnut trim) and so I took a test drive. I immediately liked the view over the bonnet, wide like an XJ6 but lower, and the way the car sat on the road. A good ride and very quiet. Coming from other Jaguars I was very much at home. From almost every angle it looked lovely.
I almost never seat to carry more than one passenger, I don't need much luggage space and I could afford the VED. Convertible as well - good enough to take to shows - pretty much everything in one package. A local garage could look after it because there was nothing too fancy inside. I only sold it because I wanted to tick the Aston box. If I ever tire of Astons I'd be happy to go back to an XK150.
I know nothing about Porsches. Perhaps test drives will solve the dilemma?
Rivarama said:
Hi
I am contemplating adding a classic to my stable and can’t seem to decide between rhose 2. I love their shapes and their heritage.
Does anyone here have experience with either of those cars? What are they to own in terms of relative reliability (I know they’re 60y/o car), cost of ownership etc…
Although I am not super handy, I can do the little odd job on a car (I also own a series 2 Landy and do most of the work myself) and would like to do the odd job on that 356/XK150 as it helps bonding with them.
I realise that people on this section of the forum might have a preference for the XK150, but that’s OK. I am after owner’s views and experiences.
Both very cool cars, I would imagine the XK had a bit more performance than the 356 and might be a better proposition for longer runs perhapsI am contemplating adding a classic to my stable and can’t seem to decide between rhose 2. I love their shapes and their heritage.
Does anyone here have experience with either of those cars? What are they to own in terms of relative reliability (I know they’re 60y/o car), cost of ownership etc…
Although I am not super handy, I can do the little odd job on a car (I also own a series 2 Landy and do most of the work myself) and would like to do the odd job on that 356/XK150 as it helps bonding with them.
I realise that people on this section of the forum might have a preference for the XK150, but that’s OK. I am after owner’s views and experiences.
Simpo Two said:
I bought an XK150 convertible as a 'distress purchase'...
My 'sensible' XF (my only car at the time) had just been written off and the insurance company paid out so fast that I only had a week to find something to drive. I'd seen XK150s in showrooms before but always discounted them as being expensive to run, only two seats and not much luggage space.
And so I was sitting car-less one evening on the sofa hunting through Autotrader and saw a thumbnail of an XK150. I don't like grey cars, but this had a cream interior and grey went really good with it. I looked closer and it had walnut trim (I like walnut trim) and so I took a test drive. I immediately liked the view over the bonnet, wide like an XJ6 but lower, and the way the car sat on the road. A good ride and very quiet. Coming from other Jaguars I was very much at home. From almost every angle it looked lovely.
I almost never seat to carry more than one passenger, I don't need much luggage space and I could afford the VED. Convertible as well - good enough to take to shows - pretty much everything in one package. A local garage could look after it because there was nothing too fancy inside. I only sold it because I wanted to tick the Aston box. If I ever tire of Astons I'd be happy to go back to an XK150.
I know nothing about Porsches. Perhaps test drives will solve the dilemma?
Thank youMy 'sensible' XF (my only car at the time) had just been written off and the insurance company paid out so fast that I only had a week to find something to drive. I'd seen XK150s in showrooms before but always discounted them as being expensive to run, only two seats and not much luggage space.
And so I was sitting car-less one evening on the sofa hunting through Autotrader and saw a thumbnail of an XK150. I don't like grey cars, but this had a cream interior and grey went really good with it. I looked closer and it had walnut trim (I like walnut trim) and so I took a test drive. I immediately liked the view over the bonnet, wide like an XJ6 but lower, and the way the car sat on the road. A good ride and very quiet. Coming from other Jaguars I was very much at home. From almost every angle it looked lovely.
I almost never seat to carry more than one passenger, I don't need much luggage space and I could afford the VED. Convertible as well - good enough to take to shows - pretty much everything in one package. A local garage could look after it because there was nothing too fancy inside. I only sold it because I wanted to tick the Aston box. If I ever tire of Astons I'd be happy to go back to an XK150.
I know nothing about Porsches. Perhaps test drives will solve the dilemma?
How reliable was it over your ownership?
The 3 SU carbs are a bit of a worry to me… do you spend your time fiddling with them?
For clarity, I believe OP is asking about the XK150, and not the X150 generation XK.
I would imagine the running costs mechanically speaking would be similar if not identical to a Series one E Type.
I wish you good luck in finding an XK150 in the UK if this is where you're based as i believe the majority of them were sold to the USA.
ETA: I believe they have twin SUs not triple, but yes it would be good to have some experience with tweaking them to keep it at its best.
I would imagine the running costs mechanically speaking would be similar if not identical to a Series one E Type.
I wish you good luck in finding an XK150 in the UK if this is where you're based as i believe the majority of them were sold to the USA.
ETA: I believe they have twin SUs not triple, but yes it would be good to have some experience with tweaking them to keep it at its best.
Edited by Vsix and Vtec on Saturday 10th February 11:30
Edited by Vsix and Vtec on Saturday 10th February 11:30
Vsix and Vtec said:
For clarity, I believe OP is asking about the XK150, and not the X150 generation XK.
I would imagine the running costs mechanically speaking would be similar if not identical to a Series one E Type.
I wish you good luck in finding an XK150 in the UK if this is where you're based as i believe the majority of them were sold to the USA.
ETA: I believe they have twin SUs not triple, but yes it would be good to have some experience with tweaking them to keep it at its best.
There were a lot of engine variations on the XK150 so you can have everything from a twin carb 3.4 to a triple carb 3.8 with all sorts of different cylinder head options. A late XK150S with the 3.8 triple carb engine and the hottest head pushed out about 265bhp when new (iirc - can't be bothered to look it up) and - forget about "keeping up with modern traffic" - is even by today's standards a very quick car.I would imagine the running costs mechanically speaking would be similar if not identical to a Series one E Type.
I wish you good luck in finding an XK150 in the UK if this is where you're based as i believe the majority of them were sold to the USA.
ETA: I believe they have twin SUs not triple, but yes it would be good to have some experience with tweaking them to keep it at its best.
Edited by Vsix and Vtec on Saturday 10th February 11:30
Edited by Vsix and Vtec on Saturday 10th February 11:30
Nobody would accuse the dear little 356 of being a fast car. The most powerful of them pushed out 115bhp and most were 75 or 90bhp. Their lightness means, if you really row them along, they are nippy and fun but not quick. The handling is also an acquired taste.
Both feel very dated and far removed from modern motoring. The 356 is a 'pocket rocket' best suited to spirited motoring in short and focused bursts. The XK is a 1950s grand tourer. The dream that William Lyons sold was impossibly elegant young things loping down the Route Napoleon to bronze themselves in Cannes or Antibes - but the reality was more prosperous middle aged businessman off to the golf club to meet his Rotarian mates.
Both of them rot, both were built down to a price but both are supported by a great network of specialists and good parts availability.
Drive several of each to get a feel for a good one and buy solely on condition
As already stated on here they are very different cars but both very desirable so you might as well go the whole hog and have both of them in the garage.
I love the XKs and have always thought the XK120 looks more focused than the 150 so that would be my choice but the 150 is a very nice alternative.
My wife finally purchased a 356 a few weeks ago, having been thinking about it for some time, and we love the car already.
I guess I had better start looking for an XK120 to park alongside it.
I love the XKs and have always thought the XK120 looks more focused than the 150 so that would be my choice but the 150 is a very nice alternative.
My wife finally purchased a 356 a few weeks ago, having been thinking about it for some time, and we love the car already.
I guess I had better start looking for an XK120 to park alongside it.
Edited by A993LAD on Saturday 10th February 21:17
Edited by A993LAD on Saturday 10th February 21:30
OK, I’ll admit that I’m biased, but think the XK150 is the best car ever, but then I’ve never driven or even been in a Porsche 356. I have an X150 so I’m in a position to compare those 
.
Mine was a standard 3.4SE FHC when I bought it with a close ratio, non-overdrive Moss box. I found that this was more than happy keeping up with modern traffic and importantly the braking of modern traffic, with its four-wheel disc brakes. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, like ride the brakes on a long down hill stretch then the standard brakes were always up to the job. I did several track days in mine at Goodwood and braking at the end of the Lavant straight you could leave it until well after your road brain said you were definitely going to die before hitting the brakes at the best part of 120MPH. Having said that most XK150 will have had their brakes updated these days. Mine was an early car (Feb 58) but had the later cartridge style pads when I bought it but I ended up fitting Zeus callipers front and back following the advise of people with more experience than me, if I was going to continue to track it.
When the engine needed some major work, I ended up replacing it with a highly tweaked 4.2 with triple carbs. The SUs never gave me any issues once they we got them right in the first place. Once setup they didn’t need much adjustment, just keeping an eye on oil level in the damper pots.
When I had the engine changed, I also had an overdrive box fitted. In hindsight this was a mistake. This box was nowhere near as nice to use as my original one, but the main issue was that the overdrive unit really wasn’t up to the job of handling the torque of the 4.2 box and soon broke. I then fitted a 5-speed unit. Various of the XK specialist supply these, it had modern Ford internals in a special case designed to bolt straight into the XK (and E-Type). This made the car much easier to drive, if that is what you’re looking for. Personally, I preferred the experience of the Moss box in the XK. But then I also preferred the experience of driving it on cross-ply tyres, each to their own.
I regret selling it, oh well – it seemed like a good idea at the time.
.Mine was a standard 3.4SE FHC when I bought it with a close ratio, non-overdrive Moss box. I found that this was more than happy keeping up with modern traffic and importantly the braking of modern traffic, with its four-wheel disc brakes. As long as you don’t do anything stupid, like ride the brakes on a long down hill stretch then the standard brakes were always up to the job. I did several track days in mine at Goodwood and braking at the end of the Lavant straight you could leave it until well after your road brain said you were definitely going to die before hitting the brakes at the best part of 120MPH. Having said that most XK150 will have had their brakes updated these days. Mine was an early car (Feb 58) but had the later cartridge style pads when I bought it but I ended up fitting Zeus callipers front and back following the advise of people with more experience than me, if I was going to continue to track it.
When the engine needed some major work, I ended up replacing it with a highly tweaked 4.2 with triple carbs. The SUs never gave me any issues once they we got them right in the first place. Once setup they didn’t need much adjustment, just keeping an eye on oil level in the damper pots.
When I had the engine changed, I also had an overdrive box fitted. In hindsight this was a mistake. This box was nowhere near as nice to use as my original one, but the main issue was that the overdrive unit really wasn’t up to the job of handling the torque of the 4.2 box and soon broke. I then fitted a 5-speed unit. Various of the XK specialist supply these, it had modern Ford internals in a special case designed to bolt straight into the XK (and E-Type). This made the car much easier to drive, if that is what you’re looking for. Personally, I preferred the experience of the Moss box in the XK. But then I also preferred the experience of driving it on cross-ply tyres, each to their own.
I regret selling it, oh well – it seemed like a good idea at the time.
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