[gonzo]

On Top Gear the other day they drove the XKR and Aston Martin. For the money, ride, usable features etc.. they picked the XKR. Has anyone driven the car and if so what were your impressions? The next vehicle is going to be a departure from my usual brands. With a few mods this can be a unique vehicle that is not slow by any means. Thanks for any input.

[DougLikesBMW]

Sure it may perform well any everything, but it's just so cheap and Ford-ish looking.

[Sedan_Clan]

My co-worker has one, and I have driven it on a short lunch excursion. It's okay, but not tight enough for me.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

My co-worker has one, and I have driven it on a short lunch excursion. It's okay, but not tight enough for me.

I am mid aged and go fast in straight lines. A bit softer of a ride is OK for me. Ford-ish...what Ford looks like that? So the Aston must look like what, a Mustang Cobra and the Jag is the GT? Cheapish...uh...OK there champ. I asked for people with experience in the car, not any everything conclusions.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by gonzo

I am mid aged and go fast in straight lines. A bit softer of a ride is OK for me. Ford-ish...what Ford looks like that? So the Aston must look like what, a Mustang Cobra and the Jag is the GT?

The Aston does exhibit cleaner lines, but the Jag is a close comparison aesthetically.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

The Aston does exhibit cleaner lines, but the Jag is a close comparison aesthetically.

And, I believe around $50,000 less. An Aston would work just fine, but for pretty much the same car I would rather put that money elsewhere.

[sflgator]

Aston Martin > Jag...all day long, any day of the week.

[neuzpeed]

for some reason it looks like a suped up buick... not my cup of tea

[sinnet112]

I've never been able to get over the horrendous looking headlights.

[Year's_End]

This is just like comparing the G37 to the 335i. Sure, the G37 has near-similar performance, and for $9k less, but at the expense of that little extra something that the Bimmer has.

[Etnies]

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

Sure it may perform well any everything, but it's just so cheap and Ford-ish looking.

Uhm...ok....

The same guy was design chief on the DB9 and the XKR. I've driven the XKR and thought it was fabulous.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Etnies

Uhm...ok....

The same guy was design chief on the DB9 and the XKR. I've driven the XKR and thought it was fabulous.

Thank you for posting. YOU have actually driven the car. The older guy on Top Gear just loved everything about it. He is English though.
Road & Track had it at 4.4 0-60. 1/4 mile at 12.9@110.4. Skid pad,g .92. And got 18.5 mpg. Pretty strong numbers. And, to me would be more unique on the road.

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist

This is just like comparing the G37 to the 335i. Sure, the G37 has near-similar performance, and for $9k less, but at the expense of that little extra something that the Bimmer has.

What? The Aston and the Jag are the same cars with different make badges.
Big brother and little brother. Not complete strangers as in your comparison..............

[dxb335d]

im young and english, not a car i would have because of my age, the Aston is a better looking and holds higher prestige!

the xkr is a good looking car tho, and does turn many many heads here in england

Carlos

[YS1]

A close friend of mine acquired an 08 XKR convertible recently. I've driven it a handful of times. Very nice car overall. Good amount of torque... decent sounding exhaust with a sporty burble.. Overall I was pleasantly surprised as I was pushing him to get an M6 convertible. I must admit that the Jaguar is probably cleaner looking than the M6 but drives totally different. I've driven the M6 convertible (my cousin has one) and though I personally prefer it, I could see how someone with different preferences could favor the Jag. The M6 is a faster car (if you rev it to redline) but the Jag is quicker down low in a much more effortless way. Based on your comment about being middle aged and into straight line speed more, the XKR may be a practical choice. If you do decide to go that route after test driving it, may I suggest the convertible since it's only 110 lbs heavier and better looking IMHO (esp with the top down). Oh, the fact that it's more rare did influence my friend's decision also...

[gonzo]

Originally Posted by Yardspeed

A close friend of mine acquired an 08 XKR convertible recently. I've driven it a handful of times. Very nice car overall. Good amount of torque... decent sounding exhaust with a sporty burble.. Overall I was pleasantly surprised as I was pushing him to get an M6 convertible. I must admit that the Jaguar is probably cleaner looking than the M6 but drives totally different. I've driven the M6 convertible (my cousin has one) and though I personally prefer it, I could see how someone with different preferences could favor the Jag. The M6 is a faster car (if you rev it to redline) but the Jag is quicker down low in a much more effortless way. Based on your comment about being middle aged and into straight line speed more, the XKR may be a practical choice. If you do decide to go that route after test driving it, may I suggest the convertible since it's only 110 lbs heavier and better looking IMHO (esp with the top down). Oh, the fact that it's more rare did influence my friend's decision also...

Good info. Thanks.
The only thing about a rag top here in Texas is you only have about a third of the year that you can go topless. I had an M3 convertible, 98, loved it. But I was always sun burned or wet, pop up showers here somewhat like you have in Florida. I guess I could get a SPF 30 water proof/sweat proof mister...

[Year's_End]

Originally Posted by gonzo

What? The Aston and the Jag are the same cars with different make badges.
Big brother and little brother. Not complete strangers as in your comparison..............

No no no...that's not what I meant. Throw out the fact that they're both Ford owned products (I know that's kind of a big deal...but just play along). We have two cars that perform similarily, albeit one's priced higher, yet it offers very similiar styling cues. I know that most of us see the Aston as a sexmobile comparison to the Jag, but that's not how many other non-enthusiasts would see it. This applies to the e92 and the G37; they perform similarily, hold a similar level of presence, yet have a price gap that's similar to the Aston/Jag gap...just on a much, much lower scale.

Originally Posted by DougLikesBMW

Sure it may perform well any everything, but it's just so cheap and Ford-ish looking.

damn man you gotta show me the fords you've been looking at

[ALPINE6SPD]

Its not a bad car at all but you have to get the 20" rims to make it look better IMO. The Aston is totally different. They dont even share the same engine and transmission. The Aston is more sports car than the Jag is. The Jag is a GT car through and through. I like the new one and have driven the non supercharged one and it was a very nice car and really surprised me. The grill on the front reminds me of the old ford taurus but looks better with the mesh found on the R model. I just hope they are not like the older model in resale. The old ones have awfull I mean awfull resale. You may be better off getting used one in a few years. Its a nice car and I do like it more than the Caddy XLR which to me is its real competition (not a BMW).

I like the coupe look a lot more also. The pics also do not do this car justice as it looks 1000 times better in person. The best color is the green they make only on the R model. Its not the deep green you always see its a very very metallic green and brighter. That is the only car I would ever get in green because that color is sooo nice. I dont know if you have seen it but its the color to go with IMO. They have it on the other R models as well. I dont think you can even get it on the regular one. Overall its a nice car and a lot better than the older one. I have a good customer who has BMWs as well as one of these and the car is very well made also. I think most people are talking out of their asses and have never even been in or driven the car. If you like it then get it and the Arden version (like ACS to BMW) is very very hot looking. Check it out on google.

[gonzo]

Here is that green. Now I am looking at the Audi S5. Saw my first one rolling on the street. Yum Yum. Next week..who knows.

[RBP]

Aston Martin is one of the very few brands that look fantastic years later. In 3 years, the Jag will look outdated. In 10 years, people will still be drooling over the Aston.

[Neema]

wow i discovered this thread a bit too late i see. I have a freind of mine from who has one of these as well. We're good friends, and after a party one night he asked me if i could drive him home becuase he had too many drinks. I didnt really get nervous or anything becuase i dont really care to much about the XKR.

Though I didnt do ANYTHING with it but strictly drive him home, and in the most cautious and safe manner, so as not to get pulled over or damage his car in anyway. It just felt decently put together and felt well composed and sporty, yet deffinately had a soft and typical jaguar feel to it. In all honesty, I wouldnt take my review too serious since I was pretty tired and when I say I didnt do ANYTHING with this car but safely drive my friend home, i mean it. I didnt get to test anything out, didnt accelerate hard, i didnt hit any turns......nothing. But the overall ride was decent. Who cares, its just an Aston Martin wanna be and both aston and jag are pretty much fords these days anyway