New owner

[painter]

well at last the deed is done. Gone is my Merc. SL500 with all whistles and in it's place a much brighter thing with not so many whistles. (not that I used many of the Merc. functions - too busy watching the road!). The Merc. may well be a technically superior car (arguably of course) but when it comes down to the pleasure of driving one of the two, the XKR is poles ahead - no argument there. Purchased from Apex Cars in Wiltshire, in my opinion probably the best and most helpful dealership I can recall in the last twenty years or so. Some pics attached

[mike020150]

Looks good! Mike.

[Andy P]

Hi painter,
Very nice,hope she gives you many happy and trouble free miles.
Enjoy your car
Take care.
Andy

[davidr]

Well done Painter. The head says Mercedes and the heart says Jaguar! Always follow your heart when you're buying toys!

[painter]

many thanks all, now I know what I've been missing - all these years!!!

[jeff1954]

Lovely motor painter is it the 5 or the 4.2 Ltr

Jeff

[painter]

Hi Jeff,
it's the 4.2 L, I did see a 5.0L but they seem rare compared to the 4.2. (are they supercharged?)

[Robban59]

Hi Painter,

good to know you prefer the new XK to the SL500, last year I was after a convertible and I researched also an SL350 ( R230 or R231 ) but then settled for an XK convertible, so it was a very good choice I learn from you now !

And my XK is even rarer..it is a 3.5L never sold in UK !

Enjoy your new big cat !

[painter]

Hi Robban,
3.5L ? is that a V8. (supercharged?) where did they make these? A good choice over Merc. although I'll have trouble keeping to my 5000 per annum now!

[JimMann]

See the April 2020 edition of the JE magazine for a quick summary of the 3.5L Modern XK engined cars.
Jim

[Robban59]

Hi Painter,

the 3.5L is anormally aspirated smaller version of the 4.2L V8, has a shorter stroke and same bore than the 4.2.
Has around 40 HP less which is fine with me, the XK is a gentleman GT not a sports car as the Boxster.
Total production by Jaguar of the XK 3.5L : 1275 -> 644 convertibles, 631 coupes

Total 3.5L convertibles sold in Italy : 127 !

Production numbers courtesy of Jaguar Customer Care

Jim : thanks for pointing us to the April 2020 issue for info on the 3.5L XK !

Roberto

[painter]

well I guess their scarcity marks them out as future collectors cars, also more practical on long motorway journeys as the supercharger is only intended to wake up elderly residents (! wait, I am elderly). The whole range of the new XK seem to be holding prices at present.