I've driven both as well as Porsche, the Porsche is smaller, lighter and more fun, but that's my opinion.

I'll add I can't think of one person who thought what I did was a good idea and I don't disagree. I'm also not pretending this is a McLaren or any other true track car as unlike those it was never engineered to be.

There are however 3 instances where the X150 XKR was converted and used in professional GT series competitive racing including the 12 hours at Sebring, Pirelli GT Challenge and other major international racing events.

But as I said the fun is in the journey and way points, not just the destination....

EDIT: By the way I said Mustangs and Corvettes were common and easy, and they are, as in tons of them at drag strips and tons of aftermarket parts support and they are less costly compared to most others...my point was I wanted the challenge because for me that's part of the fun.

 

Funny, as I have followed your car mod threads (very enjoyable by the way) I have thought the same as BetaSteve, just wouldn't have worded it quite so bluntly. Never needed to ask the question though as it makes perfect logical sense that you enjoy the challenge, I leaped to that conclusion a while back. Clearly there are easier paths to a track car than starting with the X150 platform, but then again there are many people at the track who like to put the best version forward of a car that is not like everyone else's.

Like all things an obsession to an activity can be consuming. I have a former coworker that bought a Boxster, starting tracking it as a stock unit. Then he started the lightening process that involved removing and replacing components like you have done. Then it went into engine and suspension mods. Then a full out swap to a 911 engine. Once it was a dedicated track car he bought a 5th track trailer with all the trimmings needed for track maintenance. And a fifth wheel truck. And then a new track gaiter. I only see him occasionally when we have a ex-workers drinking reunion, seems he stopped talking about the cost when he surpassed $250,000, counting vehicle and travel expenses around the country. Some of it could be recouped on resale, like trailer and such. But he still would laugh about how much he has spent.

He is having a blast though so no big deal, plus he can afford it so why not.

 

Well said and if you look at it by the cost, well……needless to say there’s nothing practical about it.

As a serious hobby done right, cars are going to be expensive. Boats, as a serious hobby are going to be expensive….take those to the next level, serious racing, then you’re in the millions and were not talking about super or hyper cars.

 

. We’d get along just fine. Monies spent on cars and boats (and all things related) are necessary expenses.
But I’m more of a Lotus 7 guy for the track.

 

I am loving this dialogue (though I'd dial down the "waste of space" comments...).

One thing I read somewhere that I'm sure you know: the cooling unit for the cooled seats adds something like 30lbs per seat-- which I thought was nuts but given how much I'm hearing these seats weigh, there you go. Apparently the add'l weight is also why you can only get sport seats (heated but not cooled) in the R-S versions.
Had you thought of simply swapping out for sport seats or would they still not have been light enough?

(UPDATE: re-read another poster's comments about the sport seat weight and your response to it. You got yourself some light seats! That's all, carry on...)

 

A veteran member calls a junior member a waste of space, two other veteran members mildly disapprove… I guess it’s undecided.

 

Oh, it's decided all right. "Mildly" is the Queen's English for a massive argument.

 

Did a full interior swap, incl seats. Performance seats are very similar in terms of weight compared to luxury seats. Saying that based on how I felt taking in and out both of them couple of times. Not a night and day difference. Bear in mind performance seats are a bit bigger (in my opinion). And cooling definitely is not 30lbs. Two plastic blowers and pipes - maybe 5-10lbs.

 

I like the car as it was as a GT car and loved the interior enhancements you did jahummer! That said, I do find it fascinating turning it from GT to sports racer. This may not be to my own tastes but this seems well done and it's cool. This isn't reddit personalfinance, and you know what this road means in terms of $$$, so I just want to see pictures and stuff!

 

I've done similar, but not as high a preliminary cost. Course, I was a poor guy way back then.
I say, Kudos to the Do Something Different effort.

 

Interesting. Ignorance on my part, but I'm curious: given that they're cooled and not simply "ventilated," there must be some sort of compressor, yes? I know there's a fan, I can hear it, and compressor's ain't light. I assumed each seat has some sort of small compressor mechanism.

Is it this?
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...142327545.html

 

Also interesting. The video about the Mercedes seat is fun to watch, starting at the 3:20 mark. (The dude's annoying but they often are)
This seat just LOOKS heavy-- and a friggin fire extinguisher?
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/heated-...ed-seats-work/

 

As tmich notes, there isn't much of a performance or weight difference difference between the lux seats and the performance seats. Had I not decided to make it a track car, I would've gone with the them though. 5+ years ago when I had the stock seats customised, I actually preferred the diamond stitch Jag seats, I thought they were more up to date and looked the part compared to the sedan ones fitted. However the cost difference of getting all new seats and door cards from Jaguar at the time was ridiculously expensive so it made more sense to spend a couple grand and use what I had.

The Sparco's are race seats and as such, provide the confinement needed for high speed cornering and will easily shave seconds off of lap times.

Some here will no doubt cite this a blasphemy, but the X150 as a GT is really tired and dated now. I loved these in 2008 but they've been surpassed long ago. If I wanted a modern GT, I'd go back to the X100 convertible I had 17 years ago.

 

Jaguar uses a system using the Peltier Effect, not standard cooling. I'll look for a link............

 

Learned something new today, thanks! I thought they were just ventilated seats, never heard of the Peltier method. From the Service Manual it shows there are two Peltier modules, both bottom and back. Too bad you can't have super light seats and keep cooling, sure do like that option. Does the 4.2L even have vented or cooled seats?

This cooling explains why my Jag seats get so cold that I have to turn them down (when both ambient temp in cabin is cooled with top up) whereby my Jeep I can keep on full blast (just ventilated).

 

Pics aren’t the best but here you go.

​​​​​​​

 

Did you ever sell your seats?

 

Yes the seats are sold but I have other trim pieces from the interior to sell such as carbon fibre steering wheels, leather rear quarter panels, boot trim, etc.

 

shoot me some pics and prices to Frank@hotrodlincoln.org
Thank you.