SC430 v Jaguar XK 150 (60) comparison

[Boomer54]

6 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

Interesting to see a XK on here, I was nattering on about replacing my Subaru a few years ago on here and some chap mentiond several vehicles that were 'doable' and falling into line with what I was looking for - a few of the cars were a Porsche Panemara and a Jaguar XK - now I quickly - ish ruled out the former as it was just a bit too gangly, boaty and a bit much but the Jaguar XK, well now we are talking. 

I spent considrable time researching these and somehow ended up getting a XKR-S in January, a 4.2 XKR-S - these are so rare even bods on FB groups thought I put stickers and body kits on it - it was a skunk works project by the three lads working for Jaguar back in the day who wanted the 4.2 XK to go out with a final flourish so they came up with this and Jaguar made the 200 units, 50 were sold in England but my guess is less than 15 are actually around

Spotted this in December 2023 and could not stop looking at it and drove over in January a 8 hour round trip to take this home otherwise I would never forgive myself, I still had a Subaru which eventually sold in May.

I am using mine as a daily, servicing on these is absolutely crucial so the person here who has a XK should have replaced all the fluids as a matter of priority, plus the tranmission fluid and a new fuel filter. Mine gets around 18mpg on my crappy commute to work, if you reset the counter and wing it up to Scotland you would get around 30mpg. These engines are good for stellar mileage once looked after, Electrical gremlins need to be treated with caution there is a whole list of DTCs that are actually nonsense - there is a list if you google it.

Its quite low down and it might be my age but you let out a grunt getting out of this thing, not Lamborghini Huracan grunt but getting to that stage - interior finishing is sublime, for a vehicle 15 years old.

Driving this home I was thinking to myself how can I describe this and my words were a guided missile with a free armchair attached - the mad thing is I have not shifted this into S yet and I have it over 8 months. Quoted performance is 0-60 in 4.4s and 174mph but with the limiter removed its good for 180mph+ 

CAR did a review of this in 2008 - they done a 1:1 with a Maserari Granturismo S - the reviewer said not only was the Jag better than the Maser, it was better than an Aston Martin Vantage and a Bentley Continental too and you would need a Ferrari 599 to trump it, Not sure what Mike Cross, Dave Pook and Matt O'Hara done to the 4.2 lump but they done a heck of a job

Cheers to the chap who mentioned Jag...!

I think I will be back to Lexus but not just yet

...Now that S mode is like what Father Dougal was feeling like on the airplane

 

 

Congrats on your choice !. I considered the XKR, but not the S. As you say "rare". Personally, I plumped for the XK, because the extra BHP would have been wasted on me. 5ltr supercharged etc. in your case.

I bought this also in Jan this year when I failed to find a second SC 430 !

Paperwork shows all the fluids were changed 6k ago and it goes to MOT and service next month so hopefully I get a decent pass given the suspension and some other stuff was sorted as failures at MOT in Sep '23. All in all someone spent a bundle on this over 4 years ending in '23. Using my buying logic that's a good thing when that stuff is the same stuff that is identified with as typically needing doing on these cars.

Even on the XK I rarely use S mode unless I feel like having a bit of fun. The handling is superb. Better than anything I have ever driven, but it will never equal the SC 430 ride comfort, but again that might just be the way my car is set up with coilovers. I don't know beyond that. Likewise the interior styling is very good, but it's not the finish quality of the SC 430 which is outstanding (excluding those silly fragile car mat stays).

As an aside what are your boot struts like for corrosion on the finish? Likewise, how are your window trims holding up? Both of those on mine need attention, but they are not urgent. I will see how it goes on the MOT before I start spending on things like that.

In conclusion, at the moment I have no regrets buying the XK has my second ride. The drive is truly excellent. It does turn heads without a doubt, and hopefully though my jury is still out on reliability it will end up being a good outcome. 🙂

[Boomer54]

47 minutes ago, Boomer54 said:

Congrats on your choice !. I considered the XKR, but not the S. As you say "rare". Personally, I plumped for the XK, because the extra BHP would have been wasted on me. 5ltr supercharged etc. in your case.

I bought this also in Jan this year when I failed to find a second SC 430 !

Paperwork shows all the fluids were changed 6k ago and it goes to MOT and service next month so hopefully I get a decent pass given the suspension and some other stuff was sorted as failures at MOT in Sep '23. All in all someone spent a bundle on this over 4 years ending in '23. Using my buying logic that's a good thing when that stuff is the same stuff that is identified with as typically needing doing on these cars.

Even on the XK I rarely use S mode unless I feel like having a bit of fun. The handling is superb. Better than anything I have ever driven, but it will never equal the SC 430 ride comfort, but again that might just be the way my car is set up with coilovers. I don't know beyond that. Likewise the interior styling is very good, but it's not the finish quality of the SC 430 which is outstanding (excluding those silly fragile car mat stays).

As an aside what are your boot struts like for corrosion on the finish? Likewise, how are your window trims holding up? Both of those on mine need attention, but they are not urgent. I will see how it goes on the MOT before I start spending on things like that.

In conclusion, at the moment I have no regrets buying the XK has my second ride. The drive is truly excellent. It does turn heads without a doubt, and hopefully though my jury is still out on reliability it will end up being a good outcome. 🙂

Actually, I made a mistake there. Yours is also the 4.2 ltr not 5 ltr ! Having said which, with a supercharger super quick anyway. My info anyway is that the 4.2 ltr is not as problematic as the 5 ltr so good choice.

[Boomer54]

I never did get around to doing the point by point comparison of the XK and SC although I think I covered the major points based on a limited experience. The one thing I never did was make any conclusion ,but it is this.

If Chancellor Reeves comes along tomorrow with her let's make you poor stick, and you have to sell one car which will it be?

In the words of The Four Seasons " Bye Bye baby XK Bye Bye". My love affair with the SC 430 continues unabated.

[toffee_pie]

Mine is 'only' a 4.2 but as per the performance figures its far from slow - the performance on the 1/4 mile is around 200ms within a 5.0 SC or something like that - the ECU had been meddled with this and they may have done something else also as the value of this was £80K in 2008 which was a serious wedge. The aero kit is all carbonfibre and there are aero deflectors on the underside also - handling is firm but very planted and I dirve on B roads.

My struts look ok, I can take some photos - the window trim I would take to a specialist who does this sorta work - its easy enough to remove these i think - I dont think polishing will work

[Glyn Jennings]

9 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

Interesting to see a XK on here, I was nattering on about replacing my Subaru a few years ago on here and some chap mentiond several vehicles that were 'doable' and falling into line with what I was looking for - a few of the cars were a Porsche Panemara and a Jaguar XK - now I quickly - ish ruled out the former as it was just a bit too gangly, boaty and a bit much but the Jaguar XK, well now we are talking. 

I spent considrable time researching these and somehow ended up getting a XKR-S in January, a 4.2 XKR-S - these are so rare even bods on FB groups thought I put stickers and body kits on it - it was a skunk works project by the three lads working for Jaguar back in the day who wanted the 4.2 XK to go out with a final flourish so they came up with this and Jaguar made the 200 units, 50 were sold in England but my guess is less than 15 are actually around

Spotted this in December 2023 and could not stop looking at it and drove over in January a 8 hour round trip to take this home otherwise I would never forgive myself, I still had a Subaru which eventually sold in May.

I am using mine as a daily, servicing on these is absolutely crucial so the person here who has a XK should have replaced all the fluids as a matter of priority, plus the tranmission fluid and a new fuel filter. Mine gets around 18mpg on my crappy commute to work, if you reset the counter and wing it up to Scotland you would get around 30mpg. These engines are good for stellar mileage once looked after, Electrical gremlins need to be treated with caution there is a whole list of DTCs that are actually nonsense - there is a list if you google it.

Its quite low down and it might be my age but you let out a grunt getting out of this thing, not Lamborghini Huracan grunt but getting to that stage - interior finishing is sublime, for a vehicle 15 years old.

Driving this home I was thinking to myself how can I describe this and my words were a guided missile with a free armchair attached - the mad thing is I have not shifted this into S yet and I have it over 8 months. Quoted performance is 0-60 in 4.4s and 174mph but with the limiter removed its good for 180mph+ 

CAR did a review of this in 2008 - they done a 1:1 with a Maserari Granturismo S - the reviewer said not only was the Jag better than the Maser, it was better than an Aston Martin Vantage and a Bentley Continental too and you would need a Ferrari 599 to trump it, Not sure what Mike Cross, Dave Pook and Matt O'Hara done to the 4.2 lump but they done a heck of a job

Cheers to the chap who mentioned Jag...!

I think I will be back to Lexus but not just yet

...Now that S mode is like what Father Dougal was feeling like on the airplane

 

 

Did you not consider a LC500 in your list. It would be be my choice in that price bracket but I do like Jags as well.

[Boomer54]

35 minutes ago, toffee_pie said:

Mine is 'only' a 4.2 but as per the performance figures its far from slow - the performance on the 1/4 mile is around 200ms within a 5.0 SC or something like that - the ECU had been meddled with this and they may have done something else also as the value of this was £80K in 2008 which was a serious wedge. The aero kit is all carbonfibre and there are aero deflectors on the underside also - handling is firm but very planted and I dirve on B roads.

My struts look ok, I can take some photos - the window trim I would take to a specialist who does this sorta work - its easy enough to remove these i think - I dont think polishing will work

Toff,

Can tell you without a doubt polishing does not work on the Ali window trim. The only polishing style still to try and it is a last ditch attempt is a Dremel working a serious polishing compound. I have heard one person had success with this. Everybodyelse painted over it, or wrapped it. Not surprised as I think this is oxidisation of the Ali.

[Boomer54]

2 minutes ago, Glyn Jennings said:

Did you not consider a LC500 in your list. It would be be my choice in that price bracket but I do like Jags as well.

Glynn, you couldn't begin to buy a LC500 for what he probably paid for the XKR-S. Don't have enough details on it to be precise, but I would guess it came in a range between £12k to £17k.

In fact the real 'surprise' is just how much Jaguar XK ;XKR;XKR-S you can buy for what I think is very reasonable money. Unless you are unfortunate enough to buy a 'porker' in disguise then value for money is seriously good. In that sense it is also comparable to the SC 430. May be I am just out of tune with Mr Market and what it is looking for these days, but I continue to be pleasantly surprised that this performance/quality of car costs less than your everyday instantly forgettable alternatives that will be lucky to still be driveable at this age range. It sits right in there with my ethos 'buy right and buy once'.

[toffee_pie]

25 minutes ago, Glyn Jennings said:

Did you not consider a LC500 in your list. It would be be my choice in that price bracket but I do like Jags as well.

I have looked into LC500 actually but it's too heavy and the Jaguar is far more of a driver's vehicle, reference to the CAR review - it was a bit long ago but still relevant. The chassis of the XKR-S is different than a regular XKR, I was worried initially it would be boaty on B road's but it's actually very well planted indeed obviously not as sharp on corners over a hot hatch but it would be sharper than a LC500.

[toffee_pie]

17 minutes ago, Boomer54 said:

Glynn, you couldn't begin to buy a LC500 for what he probably paid for the XKR-S. Don't have enough details on it to be precise, but I would guess it came in a range between £12k to £17k.

In fact the real 'surprise' is just how much Jaguar XK ;XKR;XKR-S you can buy for what I think is very reasonable money. Unless you are unfortunate enough to buy a 'porker' in disguise then value for money is seriously good. In that sense it is also comparable to the SC 430. May be I am just out of tune with Mr Market and what it is looking for these days, but I continue to be pleasantly surprised that this performance/quality of car costs less than your everyday instantly forgettable alternatives that will be lucky to still be driveable at this age range. It sits right in there with my ethos 'buy right and buy once'.

12K, I don't think you know what a XKR-S is, no disrespect but I was a few years researching the various Jag XKs, won't get for £17k either, check how much they cost in mainland Europe. 

[Glyn Jennings]

The XKR-S cars I have seen for sale are £35-50k. Way more than a normal XKR. Perhaps I am looking in the wrong place.

[Boomer54]

10 minutes ago, toffee_pie said:

12K, I don't think you know what a XKR-S is, no disrespect but I was a few years researching the various Jag XKs, won't get for £17k either, check how much they cost in mainland Europe. 

Perhaps have a look on Autotrader. Think 15 listed although perhaps yours is a different edition to those? I can't claim to have much knowledge of the XKR-S so it is possible I am looking at the wrong model.

[Phil xxkr]

On 3/3/2024 at 2:28 PM, Boomer54 said:

I think what is already clear is that it was the right thing to do to get two different make of cars. I can already see that the differences are going to be a source of appreciation rather than irritation. If I had bought two SC 430's inevitably I suspect I would have gravitated to one with the other doing more standing until I sold it off. With the SC and XK to move between I think there is less chance of that happening. Bit like a great roast dinner and baked pasta dish. Both to be enjoyed for different reasons. You don't have to choose between them !

What a great choice! This is my 24year old XKR and still turns heads 😎. First thing to do is join the XK Enthusiasts Club, there will be one near to you for a wealth of of information and like-minded individuals. The RX is my daily driver these days but when I want to remind myself of the pure joy of responsive V8 driving out comes the Jagwaaarrr🥳. I love it! And that's the point, not only a great car but part of the history of cars, it invokes an emotion not found in other marques. 👏👏👏

[Boomer54]

6 minutes ago, Boomer54 said:

Perhaps have a look on Autotrader. Think 15 listed although perhaps yours is a different edition to those? I can't claim to have much knowledge of the XKR-S so it is possible I am looking at the wrong model.

Looking again it really does depend on factors such as mileage and age as to where the car will be priced. I was assuming in my stated price range that we were looking circa 2008/9 with mid range mileage 70 to 90k. Clearly later models with 5ltr engines and low mileage go for well in excess of my stated price range. I can't talk as to value on specific car upgrades which you may also have.

[Boomer54]

16 minutes ago, Phil xxkr said:

What a great choice! This is my 24year old XKR and still turns heads 😎. First thing to do is join the XK Enthusiasts Club, there will be one near to you for a wealth of of information and like-minded individuals. The RX is my daily driver these days but when I want to remind myself of the pure joy of responsive V8 driving out comes the Jagwaaarrr🥳. I love it! And that's the point, not only a great car but part of the history of cars, it invokes an emotion not found in other marques. 👏👏👏

XK100. Considerably smaller than it's younger brother 150, or in my case 150/60. Not to be ignored when parking and turning. I won't take mine to some car parks I know.

After nearly 1 Yr of SC 430 ownership I am coming towards the end of things to do other than mess with it simply for the satisfaction of doing. Indeed, not liking my version of undersealing it is now sat with a rustproofing specialist who will be giving it the most comprehensive treatment it will ever see using Corrolan products.

After that we commence with the year of the XK where I will try to ensure it is of a standard with the SC. I bought it at good money for  66k mileage so definitely got some spending buffer to work with.

Thanks for the tip on the club.

[Malc1]

And of course we’ll / you’ll never ever get too old to enjoy these cars to the fullest ……….. 😄😄👍😄👍

Malc 

[toffee_pie]

47 minutes ago, Boomer54 said:

Perhaps have a look on Autotrader. Think 15 listed although perhaps yours is a different edition to those? I can't claim to have much knowledge of the XKR-S so it is possible I am looking at the wrong model.

It's not a RS, there's one listed I believe which is actually a RS. AT includes regular XKRs as a RS. I know of someone who got a 'RS' last year from a dealer near me in Glastonbury - I already spotted it. The chap who did buy it realised after it wasn't actually a real one and returned it, I knew from the photos it wasn't a genuine one. The Speedo is the big giveaway as it's got a 180mph limit and RS branding - it can't be retrofitted. Alcon brakes and the large wing can be fitted depends if the buyer at the time had got lucky and Jaguar had fitted them or maybe they were upgrades. 

They really are quite a different beast over a XKR, check out the CAR review in 2008 it has a good driving experience summary 

[toffee_pie]

21 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

And of course we’ll / you’ll never ever get too old to enjoy these cars to the fullest ……….. 😄😄👍😄👍

Malc 

Exactly, my mind was like you only live once and will be dead far longer than you are alive so live for the moment 

[toffee_pie]

46 minutes ago, Boomer54 said:

Looking again it really does depend on factors such as mileage and age as to where the car will be priced. I was assuming in my stated price range that we were looking circa 2008/9 with mid range mileage 70 to 90k. Clearly later models with 5ltr engines and low mileage go for well in excess of my stated price range. I can't talk as to value on specific car upgrades which you may also have.

The V5C has XKR on my logbook too, even the DVLA can't differentiate the models, probably good for insurance!

[Phil xxkr]

31 minutes ago, Malc1 said:

And of course we’ll / you’ll never ever get too old to enjoy these cars to the fullest ……….. 😄😄👍😄👍

Malc 

Spot on Malc. When I joined LOC I chose XXKR as my id with the thought I would sell the Jag - it's still here 🥳

[Boomer54]

20 minutes ago, toffee_pie said:

It's not a RS, there's one listed I believe which is actually a RS. AT includes regular XKRs as a RS. I know of someone who got a 'RS' last year from a dealer near me in Glastonbury - I already spotted it. The chap who did buy it realised after it wasn't actually a real one and returned it, I knew from the photos it wasn't a genuine one. The Speedo is the big giveaway as it's got a 180mph limit and RS branding - it can't be retrofitted. Alcon brakes and the large wing can be fitted depends if the buyer at the time had got lucky and Jaguar had fitted them or maybe they were upgrades. 

They really are quite a different beast over a XKR, check out the CAR review in 2008 it has a good driving experience summary 

Well when I said "I am no expert",   it's good to see I am right again! 🫣

[Malc1]

Hahahaha….. as if I’d bought brand new too my 1932 Triumph Southern Cross Sports Tourer …… one of THE UK sports cars of its time ……. I’d have been age minus 18 then 👌

But I do still have it and for maybe nigh on 30 years too, on and off 🤔

If I had bought a rare Jaguar sports road car I’d sure still have it today too 👍

We’ll done you guys 

Malc 

[toffee_pie]

40 minutes ago, Boomer54 said:

Well when I said "I am no expert",   it's good to see I am right again! 🫣

Well TBF I said quite a lot in my original post, the worst thing you can do is blert on about stuff without being a subject matter expert of sorts.. I've made the same mistake many a time.!

They only sold 50 of these in the UK, there's no hope 15 are for sale on AT 15 years later. 

It's a really special thing indeed, I do plan to get this up on YouTube as many have been asking about it

The 'regular' XKR is fantastic too, astonishingly fast.

[toffee_pie]

And I am weary of parking it, I got another email at work to shift Car reg xxxxxx and park in a normal spot, I parked at the entrance up on grass wasn't doing anything to anyone. It's a tight fit in normal parking bays and people nowadays just don't care do they 

[Boomer54]

3 hours ago, toffee_pie said:

And I am weary of parking it, I got another email at work to shift Car reg xxxxxx and park in a normal spot, I parked at the entrance up on grass wasn't doing anything to anyone. It's a tight fit in normal parking bays and people nowadays just don't care do they 

Tell me about it. These later XK's are a lot of car to park anywhere. On the typical space if the nose is at one end of the space the back is barely fitting into the other end! No excess space to play with at all.

[Boomer54]

All that talk this morning about the Jag's got me feeling guilty for ignoring it in favour of the SC. So this afternoon was spent under the bonnet. All the carpets etc were done the other day so now it was time to put that engine bay into better shape.

Before and after shots with and without covers (no cheating leaving them on).