To make a long story short, I don't think the subject XKR was mis sold so much as mis bought.

 

Excellent two points regarding the backward steering and the clutch. Sure glad both you and the E-type lived through that experience without any damage.

My "best" spin ever came one extremely windy day at the Thunderhill racetrack in N. Calif. Gusts of wind were hitting, up to 60 MPH. I asked the start to be delayed due to what those gusts can do to winged, downforce-using formula cars, like my Formula Mazda. No delay, the race was started on time.

I had my highly modified FM in the unlimited class running with Formula Atlantics and even a V12 BMW Formula 2 race car. Last lap and I was leading the race. Hard breaking from the long straight, turn into the very high speed Turn 1 and my rear end started drifting around, probably hit and lifted by one of those gusts. After reaching that 45 degree spin, I straightened the wheels locked the brakes and prepared to fly off the track into the barriers; here we go, Save Me Jesus (again and again). Not bad for a non-believer...ha..ha..ha...

To my surprise the car spun 540 degrees in a huge cloud of tire smoke and remained on the pavement as it slowed and regained traction going backwards. I had the clutch pushed out but, the engine still died due to the Weber carbs fuel splashing and flooding that were typical for them. As I rolled backwards and executed a quick 180 I was trying to restart the engine, spinning and spinning it until all the flooding had cleared. By the time the engine started two FA cars passed me for 1st and 2nd place. Trying to salvage third with the tires that were totally fried and basically useless I was helplessly watching the rest of the field catching up with almost a full lap to go...

5 turns from the finish as I crested a hill with the field right behind me, I spotted the two leading FA cars spun, facing each other with just enough gap in between them for me to get through. The yellow flags were thrown, which meant that I was home free with the victory.

No other spins of mine ever worked out quite so well. Particularly in Formula cars with downforce that go so much faster around the corners than GT race cars that basically the runoff areas at our tracks, such as Laguna Seca, Sears Point etc, were simply far too short to stop them before hitting something very hard and solid.

Albert

 

as requested pic of the new xkr next to my porsche
IMG_2101.jpg picture by boultons911 - Photobucket
hope this is how to show a pic on this forum?

 

Axr6;

That is a great story with a happy ending for you.

Not often that the virtuous triumph.

Must've been all that clean living.

Thanks for the story.
Cheers
J J

 

911;

That is a sweet combination....this should be your signature picture for the Forum.

Which one does your wife like better?

Is that a C4 or a GT3?

cheers,jj

 

how do i make the pic my signature pic for the forum?

Avoiding getting a wife at all costs hence i am free to spend all my money on cars and motorbikes :-)

The porsche is actually a 996 gt3 and i had a 997 gt3 front end put on it as i prefer the rear end of the 996 and the front end of the 997.....so now she's perfect!

 

You're asking the wrong guy about posting photos...I still haven't been able to do it on the Forum site itself.

You're taking Simon Cowell's advice on marriage then.....Marriage is a good way to get rid of things not get them?

Or the Military's view on marriage...Just pick a woman you hate and give her a house?

And your house looks a little too nice and bucolic to give away.....ah don't show your girlfriend these posts....

enjoy all the freedom's of the road.

cheers,

jj

 

Hey, this is the link for you

How To Edit Your Signature - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum

 

One of my escapades with traction control off, left a lot of smoke Skips patch - YouTube

 

Well after giving up waiting for the dealer to contact me I drove many miles to pay them a visit and they were actually really great!
they admitted they told me incorrect information regarding the car I purchased and gave me three options: they would buy the car back from me, they would upgrade the car to the newer 5.0 XKR that has an upgraded diff at cost, they said they would pay to have one fitted but it would invalidate my warranty so won't do that, or i can keep the car and they will give me free servicing or open to hear what i might want and they will work something out.
I like my car as it's a special portfolio edition with double stitching, the 20" vortex wheels, larger brakes, all options etc etc and i prefer the shape to the 5.0 model so i'm going to stick with my car and try and think of what they can do for me....or i might just take the free servicing and maybe ask them to extend the warranty?

 

If you like power than definitely get the 5.0 XKR.

 

911 That is great and surprising news....good for you....hope you get what you want out of the deal.

Those are really amazingly generous terms they offered you.

Look forward to seeing your photos of the car.

I finally figured out how to link mine through Picasa.

cheers,

jj

 

Unless the car has a means of delivering torque to the wheel with traction, all of the traction control can't overcome that. LSD is passive where an electric locker must be switched on. If you turn off the traction control expecting old school lsd you will only disable the locker and spin one wheel a lot.

 

Yes I was wondering why, if the XK/XKR doesn't have a LSD, Top Gear could throw an XKR into such epic slides.....