Hi. I own a low mileage 2007 Jaguar XKR. It drives really tight with no knocks, vibrations or wobbles.I took the car to a higher speed and it seemed quite floaty, not very confident inspiring. Ive owned a 2013 XJR and that was planted all the way up. The XKR seems a little unstable at higher speeds. Any ideas?

 

Obvious guess would be tires.

 

Shock absorbers (dampers in USA)?

Richard

 

IIRC, Jeremy Clarkson, in his review of the XK, said that the front end lifted at higher speeds (I don’t recall what that speed was) and said it was due to the rear spoiler.

 

I have a 2010 with both front and rear spoilers and it seems planted. Maybe that's the key?

 

I'll get the shocks looked at, the tyres are all pirelli P 0s all recent. The speed she seems to become unstable is under 100mph though. Normal driving everything is tight, like a new car.

 

I've heard some comments about an owner that had removed the underside engine cover which caused instability at high speed.

 

I thought that was about the X100 aero stuff. Something else about a bag of golf clubs in the same segment.

 

Maybe he said the same about the X100, but this was definitely in his review of the X150.

 

I have a 2007 XKR, occasionally go south on Autobahn. I've done 45 minute stretches of 170-180 km/h and topped at 200+. To me it feels totally planted, I feel safe at any speed in this car. It has 103k km on it. Don't remember tirebrand, but never buy cheap. Just saying

 

Wrong tire pressure? Alignment issue? Aged rubber bushings?

 

Hello, I felt the same on my 07 XKR, what I found that fixed the issue was to remove the CATS fuse or drive in S mode, it changes the shock setting. I have replaced the CATS fuse and if I feel the need for speed I use the S mode.

 

would the car drive tight at lower speeds if I had worn bushings?

 

The bushing idea is a good one. I noted a major improvement in the ride after I had the rear control arms replaced..

 

the ride would be firm, but with instability… if that makes sense.
And don’t overlook the importance of the anti sway bar bushings.

I concur, at a spirited speed on a winding, rolling road, my car hugs the ground.
I am running 1-2 lbs under pressure in the tires. And i try to have the right rubber for the conditions.

 

What is a higher speed?

I have an XK and it floats a lot. If I drive in S this lessens the ‘floating’ but it is not planted. From my many questions it seems that the XK is a softer ride than the ‘R’. If you had described the characteristics as dancing or jittery I would look at worn bushings but you didn’t and haven’t mentioned any clunking.

If your elevated speed is over 100mph I would probably look at shocks first and then consider the aero either lifting the front end or the dirty air out back pushing it down (lifting the frontend as a result).

Try diving in S and report back.

wj

 

Huge difference between D and S, I suppose.
Yes, spirited driving feels “safer” in S.
On highways (in fact, German autobahn) however, I prefer D.
Even though, at speeds up to 220km/h, no “light” feeling, and I do not really enjoy going any faster.

This is just my experience, consistently with three XKR (4.2) convertibles by now.

 

Bushings are shot.

 

Thanks for all the great replies. I will take the car to get looked at.