So after five mostly happy years driving around in my old 4.2 XKR (click for old thread) it was eventually time for a change. I spent a while considering other things - 911s, M3s, GranTurismos, Mustangs, C63 AMGs etc. etc. but couldn't think of anything else that ticked all the boxes and was available within budget. I did consider holding out for a nice 4.2 XKR-S or Portfolio but the pull of the larger engine was too strong (in more ways than one) so after a short search I found this at an independent dealer in Southport:
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A couple of fellow forum members very kindly offered to go check the car out on my behalf (thanks again guys!) as I live about 6 hours from Southport and one of them went along for a look and a test drive. Following that and a couple of phone calls to the dealer, a trade in was agreed and deposit placed. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the new car was ready so I drove down and completed the exchange at the start of October and made the trip home.
First impressions all very positive; it feels newer, tighter, much better built, interior is more luxurious and the exterior is in much better condition. Handling is more direct, firmer yes but not at the expense of any refinement. It does not attempt to hide it's weight the same way the older car did, it just feels like it's managing it better, more sports-car like experience overall. And the performance, still getting used to just how much faster it is, much more so than the raw figures would suggest...
Few little things to sort out, the windscreen washers were not working to start with (although the headlamp ones did), some investigation identified a blockage around the pump inlet pipe and further block somewhere just before the passenger-side jets. The iPod connection is a bit flaky - keeps losing connection to the iPod and doesn't charge it. The wheels need aligning too as the steering wheel is a degree or two off-center when the car is travelling straight ahead.
Other than that, very happy so far... Updates here as-and-when.
A couple of fellow forum members very kindly offered to go check the car out on my behalf (thanks again guys!) as I live about 6 hours from Southport and one of them went along for a look and a test drive. Following that and a couple of phone calls to the dealer, a trade in was agreed and deposit placed. Fast forward a couple of weeks and the new car was ready so I drove down and completed the exchange at the start of October and made the trip home.
First impressions all very positive; it feels newer, tighter, much better built, interior is more luxurious and the exterior is in much better condition. Handling is more direct, firmer yes but not at the expense of any refinement. It does not attempt to hide it's weight the same way the older car did, it just feels like it's managing it better, more sports-car like experience overall. And the performance, still getting used to just how much faster it is, much more so than the raw figures would suggest...
Few little things to sort out, the windscreen washers were not working to start with (although the headlamp ones did), some investigation identified a blockage around the pump inlet pipe and further block somewhere just before the passenger-side jets. The iPod connection is a bit flaky - keeps losing connection to the iPod and doesn't charge it. The wheels need aligning too as the steering wheel is a degree or two off-center when the car is travelling straight ahead.
Other than that, very happy so far... Updates here as-and-when.
