For most cars I have owned, including the Jaguar, I am pretty light-footed. By that I mean that I sometimes might accelerate briskly but I can probably count the times I have floored the pedal on one hand (and actually NEVER so far for the Jaguar). In past cars I have usually found that pushing the throttle 3/4 down or so is enough to get me out of any situation that might call for it.

However, over the last few days I have tried that tactic with the XKR and have been disappointed and surprised and the response. One time I was exiting my work onto the main street and needed to pick up the pace a bit to avoid someone racing down the street. When I did my usual 3/4 pedal the car seemed to bog. It wasn't like the engine was missing or anything but rather it felt like an extended pause until the car started moving briskly. The same thing happened again a few days later on another street. If I accelerate hard from a dead stop (with about 3/4 pedal) there is no problem but if the car is rolling and I need to quickly get it moving faster, I get this pause until the car starts taking off.

Is it that you really need to engage the kickdown to get things happening quickly?

Thanks,

Doug

 

I've felt that a few times with my normally aspirated version, and it semed to me to be a shift hesitation with the tranny trying to sort things out and finally downshifting. I found that if I don't want to floor it, it's better to feed the throttle in a little more slowly to give the big brain an extra nano second or two to crunch everything and respond.

 

Sounds like typical drive-by-wire hesitation to me. I agree with Skid Mark that in order to avoid this, you have to feed your throttle in just a touch more slowly....

My old-fashioned 1999 Dodge Ram pickup uses an honest-to-goodness real cable on the throttle. No drive-by-wire on that sucker, and absolutely no throttle response delay either. Some things are just better the old-fashioned way. Throttle response is one of them....

 

My understanding is that if you're not in "sport shift" the car starts off in second gear.

 

Or it could be some supercharger lag or the computer taking an extra nanosecond to figure out what to do. This is my first car with drive-by-wire and that feature is noticeable. However, I just bought a 2012 Acura TL for my wife which is also supposed to be drive-by-wire. However, you absolutely would not know it. The pedal feels and responds just like the old-fashioned cable-connected kind which is a good thing. The pedal responsiveness on the Acura feels lightyears better to that on my XKR.

Doug

 

I have driven by wire many times and not experienced lag of any description (traction control not counting), it should be instant

 

Maybe it is just the characteristics of the XKR (or at least my XKR). I have always checked out throttle responsiveness in other cars by sticking it in neutral and lightly tapping or blipping the pedal. The XKR is the one car where this "test" results in a rather languid response. There seems to be a very slight but noticeable lag between the blip with my foot and the rpm's revving up. And yes, I have adjusted the throttle cable thingie. Maybe it is just the extra time needed for the supercharger to respond. If someone has an XKR locally in the San Fernando Valley I would love a drive to see if this characteristic is typical or unique to my car.

Doug

 

"If someone has an XKR locally in the San Fernando Valley I would love a drive to see if this characteristic is typical or unique to my car."

Nope,,, None,,, Just check the database and you are the only one...(Well they are RARE,,,LOL) However there was one at the corner of Van Nuys and Vanowen St yesterday around 2:00

But as soon as the wife comes home I will check it out on her car the same way you checked yours. Now I am curious,,, and maybe I can take it around the block...LOL

Let you know shortly...

 

"However there was one at the corner of Van Nuys and Vanowen St yesterday around 2:00pm"

Actually they were leaving the Citibank branch right there across from the 99 cent store... Was that you????

 

I just checked out the PBTW's car and there is No Lag on the throttle response,,,

However the tach does show lag is that how you were gauging it????

 

Superchargers shouldn't have a lag, at least not like turbo chargers, due to the drive belt on the impellers. Should be a instant advance along with rpm.

 

Hey Count--I thought you were in Florida?!?!?

No, that wasn't me but I have seen a few other XKR but would be embarrassed to walk up, knock on the window, and ask if I could blip their throttle (especially if it was someone of the fairer sex)

By the way what is PBTW (pimp behind the wheel?)

Doug

 

By the way what is PBTW (pimp behind the wheel?)

IT IS NOW.....LOL

Never thought of that....

No It's Palm Beach Trophy wife,,, A few here have an acronym for their better half...

Yes I am in Florida,,, But you know that Big Brother thing,,, Kinda interesting the things you can do now a days...


"Man I need a hobby" lol... SHHHHHhhhhhhhh!!!!! the wife might tell you to get a job...