This Lightning Lap video commentary seems consistent with most of the driving reviews of this car. In my limited fairly aggressive canyon driving so far I've never once encountered any understeer, and it certainly is easy to get the tail out with throttle. I intend to do at least a couple of track days a year with this car and would like to improve the balance. I'm thinking maybe 305s in the back, possibly running a softer compound in the rear than the front, and of course playing with tire pressures. I prefer not to lower the car more than stock, since I have to get over a sidewalk hump at the end of my driveway and occasional speed bumps. Are there other suspension or alignment mods I should look at without putting a lot more money into the car? Can steering weight and feedback be improved by adding caster?

 

Watching the video all I hear is whining about the tires not sticking while the driver gives erratic inputs... Pushes the tires too hard front and rear, then complains it's a handful to drive and he's 'fighting' it. Refuses to find harmony with the machine so blames the car.

We call this operator error...

 

I agree but don't have another same class car's lap time. Is 3:02 a good , bad or great lap time. How does it fair out against maybe a Camaro or Mustang or Mass. and even an AM. Also do we assume this is a professional driver or a magazine hack.

 

I like Randy Probst's reviews. Watch his hands and he's driving with the aids turned off as well.

2012 Jaguar XKR-S Laguna Lap - Motor Trend

Personally I wish he had done another lap with the aids turned on for reference.

 

For comparison, the XKRS-GT

 

Driver - Aaron Robinson, Executive Editor/magazine hack

 

Probst is the real deal, and finds the same flaws as other reviewers. The car is a handful to drive, to the detriment of lap times, and could use better steering and balance. There may or may not be some simple and effective remedies.

 

Is this a surprise to anyone? I can't talk for the XKR-S but this pretty much sums up my XKR, the thing is demon quick but it's no sports car. It is however a lot of fun!

 

I just think both drivers would have benefited from some of the electronic stability controls turned on.

I do find it insightful that Probst says the GT got the suspension 'right' so perhaps the direction the OP can go. Look at different part numbers for each version and do some comparisons. Although I think you need a GT VIN to buy some of the components.

 

The biggest handling mod are tires. Get new Michelin Pilot 4S and it will transform your car.

 

You could say the same thing about driving an old Buick fast. Obviously, there is the right and wrong way to drive any car, but there is also wanting to do more with the car and not being able to do it due to its limitations.

 

Yes, which is the whole point. If you drive the car within it's limits it will go faster around a track vs. playing slip and slide. Old '60's Nascar drivers understood this. Over driving the car kills the tires and makes it over drive easier.

 

You should Align the car to XKRS-GT Specs and take off the Pirelli's PZero's. ( Very appropriately named ) and put on Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Porsche "NO" spec work very well. This is what I did.
20 year old Pirelli technology will not do you any favors and they do in fact go off very quickly. When they get hot, they get greasy. The GT uses PZero Corsa, which are better but in my opinion, still not as good as the Sport Cup tires

 

I'll have to look for those specs, and see what the range of adjustment is for my car. I'm tempted to try the Pilot 4S when I'm ready for another set, they're about the same price and have a 300 treadwear rating, vs. 220 for the PZero. The Cup 2 are at least $100 more per tire and only a 180 treadwear. I'm sure they're a better track day tire, though.

 

I have the XKR-S GT alignment specs here, send me a PM I can email them to you.

There's not a great deal you can do to improve on the XKR-S, the only step up from there was the GT, and a lot of the suspension parts were bespoke to that model and cost a fortune to buy as spares.

What is available and not too expensive;

Lowering springs - take your pick from the usual vendors
Front & rear sway bars - from J-Craft in Korea
Steering rack from the F-Type / XKR-S GT (faster ratio)
Wheel alignment settings
Tyres - +1 on the Michelin PS4S, have them on my XKR and they are AWESOME

There was already so many improvements to the chassis of the XKR-S over the regular XKR; the shocks, springs, steering knuckles, steering rack (XKR-S is already a faster ratio than the XKR)

If you find the E-Diff overheating from hard driving, there is a software fix for that, but it needs an unlocked SDD tool to upload it, dealer can't do it.

 

I forgot to mention, I use 245/35/20 front and 305/30/20 MP Sport cup 11 tire size. With the NO spec, the tread width is 9.6” front, 12.1” rear. An increase in tread contact front and back from the standard JJ spec Pirelli’s.

 

Side question - do you know if this fix would apply to V8 F-Types with e-diff?

 

I don’t have the R-S, but have made a lot of changes to the suspension, including Cup 2 tires (265 front 305 rear), F-type/GT rack (huge improvement), poly bushes, Moog end links, Eibach springs, etc. I still have a few more tweaks to do but all have improved the handling and predictability of the car. The biggest complaint I have is the rear end is a little “light” and sometimes a little challenging to control.

 

jahummer, if your rear end too light in the corners, you might have over-stiffened front or both ends.

There is good hotrod article that talks about it:
http://www.hotrod.com/articles/ctrp-...handling-tips/

 

hi
just joined here ,here in the uk the xkr-s is very thin on the ground and I have been trying to find info on who has done what as like many I just want to take my rs to the next level on the handling, the Michelin PS4s tyres seem to be the way forward in that department.
has anyone changed there springs? And what are the preferred choice?
where can I get info on the anti roll bars and geometry settings
sorry for the 20 questions ☺️
Regards
lee