[QUOTE=jagtoes;1854327]Another +1. Been there, done that with a 1993 600SL. Once was enough.

Here's a photo I took during my first ride in a MB in 1969. It's a bit blurry, but the hood ornament is in the bottom left. Better than riding in a Jeep!

 

I think about the Vantage and the Continental as well. Have never driven either, and I wonder about the cost of keeping them running. Jag's are relatively inexpensive to buy, which leaves margin for repairs (thought my 07 has 80k miles and really hasn't needed any repairs outside of a water pump in the 25k miles I have driven it). Aston's and Bentley's aren't quite so inexpensive to buy and I wonder re: keeping either one running.

 

I'd be VERY hard-pressed to own the new Vantage, it's ghastly. For the same $$$ one could buy a two-year-old Vanquish and have a VASTLY superior vehicle. The reliability and repair costs are still a concern of mine before I pull the trigger on a 2015+ Vanquish.

 

[QUOTE=Stuart S;1854494]Stuart - Viet Nam?

 

Yesterday impressive test drive with C7 - good price offer for my XKR.

In two weeks in my garage:

https://suchen.mobile.de/auto-insera...ction=parkItem

 

The previous car I owned 12 years and about 520 thousand miles. Now I drive much less, only 6-8 thousand miles a year. So I really hope that I can enjoy driving Jaguar for at least 10 years (if I do not die before). I will also try to preserve its original equipment and excellent condition. It seems to me that XK is one of those cars that should stay with one owner as long as possible.

 

Great to hear and wish you luck with your choice. They are 2 different types of cars so being you are a Corvette fan it's nice to see you go back to your brand. There are 2 wins here where someone else will get to enjoy your XKR and you will get to enjoy your C7. Just take it easy on the autobahn.

 

I'm going to drive a 2018 Corvette Sting Ray in a couple hours. I looked a few weeks ago but between all the batteries being dead at the dealer and the crappy weather since then, it is finally nice enough with forecast of 70+ temps.
The dealer has been bugging me every few days for these past three weeks. They haven't had ANY interest in Corvettes since last fall other than mine.
Sad though, I really don't think it'll do much for me, smile-wise. Hard to beat an XKR.
I also am looking at 2015 Vanquishes, there are a few on Autotrader and such that don't seem too horrible. Just have to travel to see them. Course, another $200k is quite a bit of cash to throw out in one lump. Next year the 3-year lease returns will show up.

 

If anyone cares (and even if no one does), I was really unimpressed with the 2018 Sting Ray I just drove. I gave it every chance. I was on the test drive for almost two hours and many, many miles over different terrain and conditions. Here are some of my findings, sort of chronologically;
1) It's pretty. This one was whatever Bright Red they have. Too bad it didn't match the red leather on the interior.
2) The seats were "ok", and they held me straight and secure, but they weren't actually Comfortable at all. By the end of the drive my back was NOT happy.
3) The handling was pretty good, of course. BUT... even in "Tour" mode the ride was harsh. Harsher than our XKRs on the most rigid of settings with 20" wheels. I'd NEVER be able to stand a 1,000 mile drive. Add that seat, and it'd be miserable.
3) While actually SHIFTING was nice for a change, the shifter was a bit clumsy until I got used to constantly pushing away from me while upshifting. The annoying 3-4-lockout under light throttle was VERY annoying. Plus, Reverse is WAY to the right, under 7th gear. The actual Transmission seemed wonderful though.
4) No Power! Ok, to be fair this was the 455 hp Sting Ray and not the Z06, but the thing is lighter and newer. The traction from slow-to-go was quite a bit better than an XKR, and it was sort of fun when it got up into the power band. Still-and-all, unimpressive.
5) The interior wasn't great, but also wasn't horribly appointed; people complain about our InfoTainment, and I didn't tinker with this one much, but MAN it was ugly. I'm sure there are Settings that would make a difference, but I didn't bother.
6) The HUD was sorta cool, but nothing life-altering. The dash didn't change under the different driving modes, but maybe it isn't supposed to do anything. Hopefully there are Options for different dash/gauges that I never found.
7) It was pleasant enough to drive, ignoring the uck seats and on smooth roads.
8) The forward visibility was a bit impaired by the mirror, and the windshield was a bit low as I had to lean forward and look up to see traffic lights.
9) The clutch had WAY too much travel from Floor to Engagement, but those things can be remedied, but why is it like that?
10) Lots of room in the boot! Well, until the roof is taken off and put back there. Still leaves some room below the notch for it, but that's what happens.
11) The brakes are STONKIN'. I hit 'em hard at about 40 mph and about broke my arms on the steering wheel.

Summary) I'd rather have my old XKR than that new Sting Ray. Even on a straight swap.
I sure did like that Red Paint.................

 

Interesting, I differ a little on opinion on a few things when I drove a '17 last summer.

I had the eight speed auto, and it keeps it right dead in the power band, consequently it felt no lack of power.

The gauges do change with mode, the more aggressive the mode, the less information it puts in the gauge cluster.

My single biggest complaint was space, my head was touching roof, my knees were touching dash, my thighs did not have room for good clearance space for my hands to steer in tight corners.

I enjoyed it, but was happy to get back in my XK even with the huge power/brake gap.

I think it'd be fun to try a C7 with a manual sometime.

I really enjoy my C5 Z06 manual I got in January. When the weather is good I make up excuses to go drive it. I wouldn't trade my Jaguar for it, they are so different.

I satisfied my bug for a yellow car, but I also have a bug to once again get a red car. I keep contemplating Corvette #2, but I really want to wait for the right caramel interior 5.0L XKR to pop up locally.

 

Mines a 2008 XK coupe, I've had it since new and I just turned 14,000 km yesterday. I think it's a keeper

 

Weird, I didn't notice any changes in the dash at all. Maybe they were so slight as to not notice? I've also driven a new Mustang and THAT dash pretty much reinvented itself at every turn.
I'm 6-2 and the Vette didn't cramp me at all. Weird again.
The power of the Vette was a disappointment to me and not to you because you went from a N/A 4.2 and my reference was a S/C 5.0. Seriously, it was sad.

I AM now, however, considering a retina-burning-red wrap for my XKR. Bad thing what I've heard though is that the reds tend to fade in the sun after awhile.

 

CeeJay,

you can not actually compare the two cars.

XKR = GT, C7 = sports car.

I test drove the 8 speed automatic (as my new C7)

The C7 ist a litte bit faster 0-100km/h
The XKR ist a little bit faster 100-200km/h

Under the line 0-200km/h nearly the same.

Here in Germany the manual Transmission is not very popular, because of the gear matching.

My new C7 has the Competition Seats - they have very good side stop in curves and are as comfortale as my XKR Performance seats - may be, you have the normal softer seats in your XKR.

In the C7 you can drive very impressive curve speed - best in Track Modus

C7 Tour Modus is much more soft than the normal Mode in my XKR - my wife will use the C7 Tour Mode only in the city.

The Track Mode ist perfect for fun :-)

The dash is changing from Mode to Mode and you can configure for your own style lots of settings.

Now I´m 55 years old and I told to me - don´t wait too long, may be you dont like this kind to drive when you are over 60.

 

I DID compare them and declared them different, in many ways.
I am also 55. I didn't like driving the Vette. It did handle a bit better, and it had a less comfortable ride. I agree that the initial quickness of the Vette is more, but it is also made that way. Put lower gears in the XKR and it'd match it, going by HP, Weight, Gearing and such. It Doesn't have lower gears, so it doesn't.
I totally agree that the Corvette would wallop the XKR on a track. Thing is, I don't DRIVE on a track. I'm also sure 99% of Corvette drivers don't track drive EITHER. At least, 99% of the time.
I wanted to see if I'd like a Vette to drive.
I don't. As per my own criteria, the Vette (at least the Sting Ray) is much inferior to the Jag.

 

Keeping my 2011 XK for now. I was thinking about an f-type, but saw a 2014 Xk and 2015 ftype side by side on the floor at my dealer. I was surprised that side by side they look to be similar in size, but at 6'3 the f-type looked like a tight fit. Part of my reluctance to sell is due to an accident last year in the xk... My resale value has probably tanked even though they did a great repair job. Anyone have a 2012+ Evora? That would be on my short list if I were to come into a windfall.