Yes, I know what you mean. My Nissan GTR and sold Infiniti G37 have the shifters attached to steering column, which I prefer. You always know where they are they never move.

 

With the RS you don't ever need 1st gear, unless you want to do burn outs (which isn't my thing). Therefore, u don't need to grab 3rd gear til the wheel is straight. Is this different for other models?

 

Meanwhile back at the ranch...

Hmmm...I am in agreement with an earlier poster in that the upgrades without the extra power is not attracting me.

The F Type R is becoming more of an option for me...I did not buy the 2013 Octurbo bought (You are welcome! ) because I decided to wait and get an Aston Martin Vanquish in 2016.

I do love my 2010 XKR...if I stick to my plan and get my Vanquish the 2010 XKR will remain my daily driver; I *might* upgrade it to a later year or an F Type R. The F Type R coupe looks like an XKR...but has that huge maw in the front. Wish that would be scaled down a bit.

I also agree with the poster that pointed out the gawdy front end of the XKR-S. I have considered whether it could be modified in a body shop to remove the "ricer" look of the front end...I could live with the side "vents" on the front bumper.

Anyway, these XK upgrades were put out by Jag for a reason. Maybe the XK sales are slow? That's the question I'd like to know the answer to...

 

Maybe Jaguar isn't targeting current 5L owners that might specifically need a power increase to pry them out of their cars, but rather owners of the older ones and non-Jaguar owners. These new ones offer the same great power that attracted all the 5L buyers in the past, plus more features/better value. It also gives them an opportunity to better position the top F-Type as their top performance Sports/GT. Seems like a good move for them to help bolster a little media buzz and sales until production ends.

 

What I think, that it is the last "hurrah" for the current generation of XK(R)s. People need to be enticed into buying a model that will look outdated in just a year when the new models are announced.

Albert

 

I tend to agree - they'll sell these until the replacement comes along in 2015 or so.

 

You don't ever really "need" first gear on any modern Jag. But sometimes it's nice to hear the exhaust just putting around town!

 

With spirited/track driving you should rarely remove your hands from the 3-9 position, which always puts the flappy paddles where you need them except in the tightest of turns. I watched a video of an auto blogger driving something with the paddles "on the tree" (an Aston maybe?) and he was constantly removing his hands from the 3-9 positions to grab for the shifters. I can't imaging how much time was lost every time he did that.

 

My 5L XKR starts up in second unless you nail the gas.

 

Hey Muddydog, I don't drive my cars on the track and have no desire to. For regular street use, IMO, I find the paddle shifters on the steering column more convenient.

 

Ok, then you just have to kick the tail out and drift around the corner! That way you won't have to turn the wheel so sharply to make a 90 deg turn.

For regular street use I enjoy the automatic. I have other things to do... Like trying to text and stuff.

I guess it's all what you get used to. I was surprised to hear other members like the up-down thing-a-ma-bob in place of a gearshift. I love my dial that rises from the console. That's just cool.

 

Agreed; I find the shifters too much hassle when zig-zagging around London. In fact, I seldom use them anyway - the 'box is pretty smart in Sport mode, and it leaves me free to concentrate on braking points, line, apex, etc.

 

Isn't this incorrect? X150 XKs and XKRs start in first when in automatic mode.

I don't know why this idea persists! I think it must be carried over from the X350 sedans, which do start in second gear. Don't believe me? Try accelerating from a stop in automatic mode and count the shifts. Then hit a paddle shifter to downshift (or upshift) and see what gear it says...