It's pretty unlikely you got in Dynamic mode accidentally. You have to hold the button down for a few seconds, then a checkered flag is present on the message center display for the entire time it's on.

Dynamic mode is my default. Much better response.

 

So I am assuming my 2008 XK does not have dynamic mode?

 

Correct assumption.

 

Is Sport mode the same on a Jag as it is in most other cars like a Honda Accord, basically just drops the car into 3rd gear vs. 4th so you're getting higher revs? Curious how often you all use it, even when on the open road no cars around, for fun? Worth using on the highway? Does it have more chance of ruining your tires? Trying to avoid any tire spinning.

Thanks!

 

I personally don't like 'Sport' mode. As you noted, to me it just seems to alter the shift points so that the car revs much higher in each gear. With an engine as torquey as the XKR's, there's rarely much need to rev so high. The thing I find annoying is that even when you're not flooring it in S mode, the car will rev to 5000 rpm in first gear before shifting, which is silly and just sounds like you forgot to shift when puttering around town. If I want to wring out the revs, I just use the paddles.

 

Yeah, Sport Mode actually is made for the track and not normal roads.

 

I notice this on my XK when first putting it in Sport mode, but it only does that when first I make the switch. For about 5 minutes you are cruising at one speed at 4k RPM, which as you said seems like you don't know how to shift. Once it finally downshifts it doesn't seem to do that so drastically again. I chalked it up to the programmer assuming you first put it in S mode to get on it and is giving you an opportunity to really hotdog. After that it will hold a more reasonable RPM.

 

Same for me start car in morning, select dynamic, into S and use paddles.

If I'm coming home late at night I do for the sake of the neighbours switch off dynamic to quieten the exhaust, but that's about it.

 

It's not really a track car it's a long distance GT continent crosser with alternative settings if you want to play cross country or on twisty bits.

 

Use the paddles you chose the shift point can short shift if you want to.

 

I was doing some rapid back-road rat-running on my way to Silverstone last week, with the car in Dynamic & Sport. It was being tossed about by the rough surface and felt a bit unstable, so I turned off Dynamic - instantly much easier to control. Because it stiffens the damping, Dynamic mode makes the car less compliant on uneven surfaces, which is actually detrimental to speed.

I use Sport mode for twisties and track days - it downshifts more aggressively so gives better engine braking, and keeps the car in lower gears so gives better response out of corners. In straight lines or on motorways, all it does is hold the gears too long before upshifting. For example, if you'e doing a Vmax run on the autobahn, it takes longer to reach the limit in S than in D.