First trip to dragstrip
 

Took the XKR to atco raceway this morning. First time with it.
I was actually disapointed in the times. I ran a couple with the DSC on and the rest with it off. Power braking with it on made it worse.
The best times were without DSC and feathering the gas.
I got seven runs in before I headed out.
slowest time 14.866 @100.64
best time 13.697 @102.2 r/t.056 60ft 2.034
I believe it has more in her, just a matter of getting used to it, but I don't think a bunch more. I usually drive my 2001 SS camaro 6 speed so the auto was kind of strange feeling to me.I was really hoping for low to mid 13's.
Will try her again sometime this season.

Folks should understand that these are far from fast cars--even the XKR. I have trouble outrunning Infiniti and Lexus sedans let alone anything really sporty.

Doug

I don't disagree completely, although these are fast cars in the sense that
they will drive all day at triple digit speeds with the occupants in total comfort. I don't think low to mid 13's is really fast although it is quick and I was just hoping for a little quicker.
getting back to fast, When on the road and you punch it, it does get to triple digits pretty darn fast for a 2 ton GT.

I guess the car is "fast" by 1990's standards but the absolute mass of the car is what brings it down. My 1995 Corvette had a "measly" (by today's standards) 300 horsepower but was at least 500 pounds lighter than my XKR. It literally jumped off the line from a red light with even light pedal. The claim to fame with our vintage Jaguar is that, once rolling, the power keeps coming on to the 150mph speed governor. But let's face it most those concerned about "performance" are really interested in being able to beat the guy next to you from this red light to then next red light. For that it is irrelevant that, given enough distance, you will eventually start to pull away from him. For me 0-60 is much more meaningful than "top speed".

Doug

The factory specs for the 95 vette were slower than I ran today. They were rated high 13's, low 14's, unless you were talking zr1.my 2001 SS 6 speed runs low 13s all day not fast but pretty quick.
My whole thing was that I expected to be a bit quicker then the 13.6. I figure with getting used to running the auto I should get to 13.4 or so. quick for a 2ton GT.
I was really hoping for a discussion with owners that have run at the track both stock and worked.
It is all relative, my boss has a worked 2010 SS camaro he isn't happy with the very low 12's.

Vette specs were under-rated. There were guys at the Corvette Forum running bone stock later vintage C4 easily in the low 13s all day long. With a few relatively inexpensive mods you could definitely get it down in that range.

Doug

The zr1 would run those numbers, the std stock vette wouldnt then or now, I see them at the track.
Again, I was looking for a discussion ablut running our cars by people that have done it not read or heard about it. I think you should have one more go at it, then thiscan be over. I am now sorry I even brought the thing up.

No, this is interesting. Most of us understand this is a GT car, but there certainly are some high performance guys out there who have mods designed for speed. You don't add LSD and lower gears for top end after all. Hopefully they will weigh in soon.

The last trip I made to a drag strip (and in my youth I went at least once a week) it had turned into a way more professional event than I was interested in seeing, let alone trying to drive. In the day, my older brother and I would take whatever we were driving that week and run it. The biggest concession to making it race worthy was premium gas, removing the air cleaner and if the budget allowed running Bucron tires. (Any US guy who knows what Bucrons are qualifies for old fart status.)

The guys over in the XJ8 forum are squeezing power out- we should merge the threads.

Where is Jeff in Tucson when you need him?

I believe the "slushy" shifts cost a 1/2 sec in the 1/4 mile ET. I cant understand why there isn't a shift modification kit available from some company...

For the earlier Mercedes 5spd there are the blue top solenoids that will firm up the shifts.

For the ZF box, it's a little more difficult. It could probably be done since it is a pretty common transmission, BMW and Ford among the makes that us it, but there are no direct applications to the Jaguar variant. That means you are down to experimentation to figure it out, which usually comes with a high cost.

Mike,

I was thinking about Jeff In Tucson just yesterday and hoping that his twin screw XKR hasn't put him in harm's way. He was a frequent poster throughout 2013 but has seemed to disappear lately. Hopefully his excitement has simply calmed down and he's fine....

Let's pause for a little perspective. A box top stock 1968 426 Hemi Barracuda (I had one) would run low to mid 13 second quarter mile times in street trim back in 1968. My old 1965 427 Shelby Cobra would run the quarter mile in mid to low 12s while trying to kill me.
Fast forward to 2014 as you point your 8 year old XKR down the strip. Moving that much metal, wood and leather in the comfort of an English drawing room 1,322 feet in 13.6 seconds with a 4.2 liter/256 cu. in. engine is hardly embarrassing. I would not be going out on a limb in saying that about 90% of the cars you'll see on the street that are 8 years old will all be looking at your taillights if they were to piss off your cat. You could have it both ways and buy a used 2006 Veyron and intimidate any car you will ever see. That might be fun.
RB

I truly hope he is OK and just moved on to the next project.

Jeff, you out there? Time to talk HP and red lights buddy.

THIS ^^^

I wouldn't call it a slug off a dead stop, but it also would not be my first choice as a stoplight warrior. Where it shines is when I need to pass someone on a two-lane road with limited passing areas...it is not at all uncommon in the course of a single vehicle pass to see 65-90 come VERY quickly and be backing off even before the pass was completed.

Oh, and doing so while still averaging between 27-28MPG on a regular basis, with the occasional tank at 30.x -I can settle for that type of a tradeoff.

Requesting permission to speak sir. Didn't mean to offend but these cars never struck me as something you would see at a drag strip--kind of like putting filet mignon on a hamburger bun with ketchup--the picture just doesn't seem right. On the other hand these are handsome cruisers and quite comfortable and elegant. A few 10ths of seconds either more or less doesn't disappoint my ownership of this vehicle.

Doug

To me, these cars are not about the drag strip, they are about pulling up in front of the party and watching the fight between the valets for who get to park it. Its important to know what the thing is made for.