OK as I was at the track today for the vintage car races I stopped by the Donavan Jaguar race team and had a discussion with one of their tech/engineers. We were talking about their installation of a T-5 transmission in a 67 XKE thus giving it another gear. I asked if they considered doing a manual transmission in a late model X150 XK . He said they are working on it now and have someone working on the SW necessary to talk to the ECM and the TCM. He figured the hardware change wouldn't be that difficult so you gearheads might have a 5 speed gearbox in the future. Just thought you might be interested. He also felt going from the 4.2 to the 5.0 shouldn't be a problem.

 

No back pedaling to a manual transmission for me.

 

Wow, this will be a game changer if they can pull this off as an affordable option.

 

My third pedal days are looooooong gone.

 

Woah...^ What mosesbotbol said....

Problem will be the cost. Even if a trade-in allowance was made for our existing ZFs (or even a bulk buyer willing to take them off our hands at a fare market value) the change will be out of reach financially for most.

At 58, I'd take a 3rd peddle in a heartbeat. I'm old, but I ain't dead yet...

V

 

Perfect world would be a manual 4.2 XK open top on one side of the garage, and an eight speed automatic 5.0 XFR-S on the other.

 

I can't see realistically this conversion coming at a cheap enough price its a huge job it estimate 10-15k

A truly smarter idea would be running the zf8hp in place of our zf6hp

 

He didn't imply it would be inexpensive but it was a request by one of their customers to make this happen. The cost of the mechanical changes won't be the big hit but the engineering and development of the electronics modules and SW will be the greater part. He also mentioned that this has been done in Europe but did not say where. He did mention they are documented the change and would consider making it a kit. They were also looking at the F-Type 5 speed application to understand how the computer interfaces work. I have done several engine and transmission transplants in Jags and even auto box to manual and don't see this as the show stopper. I think it's all of the nanny electronics that require development. As far as price I could see a $10-$15K offer but if you're a die hard 3 peddle guy it may be worth it.

 

Under 15K and you get a new transmission and clutch is not that bad a deal IMO. Think of what you'll have in the end!

I don't remember what the gearing was like in the XK; are the ratios good for a manual.

 

To my knowledge there was a manual fitted to a xk100 called thr xkr-r unsure if had a 5 or 6 spd fitted . It also had a shorter final drive ratio somewhere in the region of 3.65-3.69

The xk/r and all f-types have 3.31 final drive

Yes the hardest part would be the software component

 

If it came in at 5k, I'd do it in a heart beat, 15k that's a bit harder of a pill to swallow. I'd go through rear tires much faster though, my TCS always kicking in!

 

I cant see why one would want a XK with manual, when you can have the Ftype in a manual, a car more suited for it.

However, now would be the time to pickup a water damaged ftype v8 for manual transmission parts. The MT and accruements will be the only things salvageable.

 

I could think of about 100,000 reasons. Most of them being dollars.

 

Post your top 600... :-)

 

Trans-regendering illustrates how complex the human mind is.
We would pay good money to remove utility.
We would pay to sit through a sad movie.
Clearly emotion is the only real utility we are after
All the science and engineering that went into going to the moon, was purely to cater to emotions.

It all makes you wonder if Lucy in the sky with diamonds had found a shortcut to it all.

 

I already own an XKR, with a superb v8 supercharged engine. Why would I go with an F-type that only offers the manual transmission in a v6 with only 340hp? Dropping 80hp and $100k isn't worth it for a manual transmission for me.

 

FYI, only the base six can be had with a manual. There isn't a manual for the higher HP models of F-type.

And you can't get wood trim in an XJR.

Why did I buy used? They don't make what I want anymore.

 

If Jaguar could match the ZF tweaks Maserati does to the same transmission, the automatic would be more exciting in the Jag. The transmission has been a down point across the range for Jag. Manual would fill that void for me.

 

I seldom use the paddles as the car doesn't lend itself to need them. With my old 308 you were forced to shift but with the Jag there is no need and it just isn't the same without that 3rd peddle. I have the same feeling driving an F1 gearbox. I guess it's just being a little lazy . Usually I sometime will downshift to slow down or come to a stop but then just hold the up paddle and go back into D. Now if I had a 5 or 6 speed manual it would be a different story.

 

a manual xkr would interest me.

I am an ex scca and imsa racer. I still love to drive. I simply love my xk convertible and I think it is as sexy car as one can find on the road. but...I would rather enjoy a 3 pedal xkr coupe. I would enjoy it more than the aston vantage gt. the aston is a bit small for me and the xkr w/ zf does not quite get me there. I have even been shopping for a vanquish s lately but I just don't like the gear box. I am actually getting frustrated car shopping recently as I just don't know what to get. no more Ferraris...I have what I want. no more prosches...the 930 is IT to me. I have begun to appreciate the beauty and grace of the british cars but the aston is not quite right and the xkr is not quite right for me

I think the xkr 3 pedal would be bloody proper!!!!