As far as I'm aware, it's just the wheels.

The 20" Sentas were a 6200€/$7000 option on my car in Finland, originally. It was over twice the price of the optional 19" Carelias, and I cannot imagine 20" wheels, even with their titanium decorative bolts, would be that much more expensive to manufacture than 19" wheels.

 

Ditto with my 2010 (I've also got the window sticker). I think in 2012 or 13 the 20" wheels became standard. (One of my peeves I comment on elsewhere on the forum: I'm not a fan of the 20s. I'd do a clean swap with someone for 19's any day...)

 

 

My 2012 came with the 20" Nevis option for $3500.

 

Although 20" wheels were available as options when the X150 was introduced, I'm pretty sure that the first North American X150 model that came with 20" wheels as standard equipment was the 2008 XKR Portfolio. The optional Portfolio Package included Adaptive Cruise Control, Alcon Performance Brakes, staggered Cremona design wheels and other trim exclusive to the Portfolio models. For 2009, the Adaptive Cruise and Alcon Brakes became options on the Portfolio Package, at a cost of $2,200 and $5,000, respectively. The 2009 XKR Portfolio came with 20" staggered Selena design wheels, exclusive to Portfolio models.

Exclusivity has its price, unless you buy it used.

 

And the 'basic' XKR didn't get 20" wheels as standard until 2013.

The 2008 and 2009 XKRs got these:
Jupiter cast alloy wheels: 8.5" x 19" (front), 9.5" x 19" (rear)
Tires: 245/40 XR19 (front), 275/35 XR19 (rear)

and the 5.0L XKRs got these initially:
Tamana 8.5J x 19″ (front) 9.5J x 19″ (rear) alloy wheels

 

Something to keep in mind is when you buy a different wheel dimension than standard, you also have to factor in the cost of the different tire.

Go check out the price difference on a set of the standard 18" or 19" tires vs a set of the standard 20".

In a high performance wide tire the cost difference is not insignificant.

 

Based on how frequently it appears it was selected, I think it was a smart move. It's like when Porsche charges many hundreds of dollars for factory painted brake calipers. They and Jaguar had plenty of takers even when the price is relatively high, so it's very smart.

 

oh yea - I get that. And if you're paying $90k for a car - what's $5k for the wheels. Just wondered if there was more to it. Thanks all

 

Me thinks it was a smart way Jaguar made just about everyone feel a little special, just like a good choirmaster does.
They never really charged extra, as most of the cars were already built that way, they just added the line on the invoice to denote its premium status.
I bet no one was able to get $5k off by refusing the upgrade.

They charged a fortune for the slightly darker thread on my stitching- It did the trick.

 

It's the same marketing psychology as in the Payless Shoe Store gag that I mentioned in the Snarky Comments thread - the more it costs, the better it must be, particularly when your target buyers have fat wallets.

 

^^^^^
Yep, that's pretty much the difference between Aston Martin and Jaguar, isn't it? Astons are "cooler" so they cost more. Don't matter that they break more and are slower and all that...

 

Because Aston Martins and Jaguars are not identical, they sell for vastly different prices. But Palessi and Payless Shoes are identical - and they sell for vastly different prices! How did this happen?

Some people are gullible, and are easily fooled. If you surround a lie with enough truths you make that lie credible. Cheap shoes become expensive in a luxury boutique setting because that's what the buyer expects. "There's a sucker born every minute." P.T. Barnum

Common sense is inversely proportional to wealth by marriage, inheritance, lottery and luck. Value, like beauty, is in the eye of the the beholder.

So ... this was a test of your perceptive abilites. Did you get it? Are you P.T. Barnum's sucker, or did you see the truth at first reading? Go back and read the previous paragraph until you see what's really there. So much for the reliability of eyewitness testimony. You see what you expect to see; that's why Palessi worked.

 

Could be a double-con job.
Maybe they just hoodwinked us into believing Payless is indistinguishable to an Italian designer. They showed a 15 year old boy calling himself a designer. (40 second mark)
Wonder what a shoeshine guy would have said about Palessi.

 

The primary difference is that the Jaguar was optimized for manufacturing, and the Aston was not.

This gives more design freedom to the Aston Martin.

The Aston is a tighter mechanical package, this gives it a handling edge.

The Jaguar leaves space to work on it, it costs less time to do maintenance jobs.

It will depend on what appeals to you.

Personally I like how Jaguar embraced the use of the ratchet and socket set, leaving clearance for ease on each of the few jobs I have done so far. Not that my car has needed much.

 

The previous owner of my car had the stock wheels powder coated. Works for me.

 

Sorry to bring up an old thread, the principal is relevant.
Looks like I was right. Payless was a total con job as was their stunt in the video above.
They are closing all stores, apparently no one believed their 'Italian Designer' quality even at dollar store prices.

Moral of the story, sometimes cheap is cheap, they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Its easier to cheat with cheap things than it is with quality.

 

And so my wife says of me!?

 

https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2019/2...stores-closing

Agree to a point Q&C, an analogy was made with Aston earlier in this thread, I know 2 owners of new MY 17+ Aston's and they have both sold them, all due to electrical gremlins, namely battery drain after being parked up for a weekend. Aston were unable to remedy the issues and bought the cars back from them with a charge for 'fair use' based on miles covered.

Now doubtless there are 1000's of satisfied Aston owners out there, but based on their experience I'd never buy one. Trust me I was sorely tempted by a 2011 tungsten DB9 with oxblood leather last Sept, but decided to stick with an XK, touch wood no issues since purchase