I hope to be purchasing a year 2000 XKR Convertible in the first half of April.

I just need to travel down to Tasmania Friday week , take a look and a test and swap the $ if its all okay. I am having an on hoist independent mechanical test done also.

Now , my question is;
Having bought this magnificent piece of machinery , how is it going to bite me.

1. In terms of repairs and potential problems and preventative measures for all things mechanical , I think I am across most of them. Timing chain tensioners , water pumps and thermostats , cruise control , auto , hood pump fluid turning to gel, etc etc . Any other major mechanical things?
2. My question is mainly about it catching me out whilst driving spiritedly! Things like ; certain models of Porsche spitting you off sideways when the back steps out under load , a couple of my early Aussie cars having major understeer issues and stuff like that. Where and how will an XKR punish my poor driving skills or lack of attention? I know there is 370BHP at the rears , we don't have snow here and so any issues with that would mainly be in the wet.

Pete

 

I think a LSD would help with making traction harder to break, and more easily controlled slides once you do.

These cars aren't like 911s though! No Porsche pendulum effect from lifting, a laggy turbo kicking in at just the wrong time, not stuff like those. Like early 930s had a reputation for swapping ends something fierce, these aren't any bit like that.

That said, you can wreck these if you try hard enough! If you're worried about wet traction, spend top dollar and get tires with excellent wet traction. I had meh tires on my XKR, Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sports, and I've had no trouble in the wet. But I don't really push the car super hard in the wet either though.

I'd definitely recommend trying out a track day and a performance drivers training school too. You can learn to be a better driver, and learn car control of cars on general and your XKRs specific works. Money very well spent!

 

Keep in mind these cars are Sport Tourers not Sports Cars. Nothing 4,000 # can be considered a sports car! Anyway since you want to push it I'll recommend you replace (it'll probably need replacing) all suspension rubber bushings front and back, Mounts and ball joints as needed. At 15 years old if you are concerned with handling this will all need tightened up.

 

All great thoughts guys

I might be a dummy but someone told me the XKR does not have a limited slip diff. Is that correct?
A mate of mine who is a race driver of old school historic cars ( 25 out to 60 years old ) and is a very good steerer hates driving anything Porsche or Subaru.
He says Porsches are too square/short in the wheel base and they rotate too easily and Subaru's have too much grip and when they let go ,they let go big.
That can hardly be said of a car that is 4760mm long!
I will remember to behave in the wet.
Club track day and driving school on the list.
Definitely a GT and not a Sports car. I will have to remember that.
I think its a well looked after car and I expect all the bushes will have been done.
The first port of call will be my specialist Jaguar mechanic and he'll check out all the suspension

Pete

 

On a personal note, please lay off Porsche 911 types. You will never get the thrill of taking a curve getting on the the highway driving with no hands, just controlling the car with the gas pedal, or literally accelerating so hard that you are holding on to the steering wheel for dear life in a 930 by driving any Jaguar. A tire life of around 8000 miles on my 928S and around 3500 miles on my later twin turbo 930 were the only real problems for me. I bought my Jaguars for the comfort, style, workmanship, and looks. I did not buy them to scare the heck out of me. I kept my 928S for that since they stopped making them in 95, because they were far out distancing the rest of the Porsche line in price, by going over $100,000 for very little profit. I also still ride superbikes, in my waning years, because being put in the hole after dying going over 200mph is the way I prefer to go. The only positive thing in going to the track on that day will be how good I look in my XK8 convertible.....Be cool.....Mike

 

I'm a huge 928 fan! I love the early 930s too. My comment on the 930 was based upon how you drive possibly causing it to swap ends. If you initiate the wrong weight transfer at the wrong time, they can be unforgiving for an unexperienced driver.

The last 928 I drove was a GT and I love those cars, whether it's an early one with teledials and art deco interior, or a late GTS, I've never not had fun driving a 928.