[briers]

Hi all

Some of you might have noticed my 335d for sale and i've mentioned a few times since xmas i'm on the lookout for a new motor.

I've really enjoyed the D, it was my first diesel and it's been excellent since i picked it up. Times are changing and i need back doors and a bigger boot. My mrs has been harping on for a year now how we need a more practical car. My parents aren't in the best of health and my dad was in hospital with complications and running them back and forth for follow up appointments which are now going to be a regular thing it was time to pull my finger out and admit a saloon made sense.

I've always had coupes and hatchbacks so it was a big turning point in my life to get a saloon and i'm also turning 30 in a couple of weeks!

I considered quite a few cars over the past few months. I admit i did want to have a change from BMW and despite the M3 DCT being phenomenal i parked that one for a later date. I admit i didnt like the M5 gearbox so the obvious choice was between the C63 saloon and well thats it. I'm not an Audi fan although a B7 RS4 Avant does tempt me.

I drove some C63's and i loved them, ruthless pace and noises that make your palms sweat. I then had a little chat with our resident expert and looked over some of his posts. That's when i stumbled on an XFR. I must admit i never even considered an XFR as a contender, i ashamedly had a little jest at Andrew when he purchased his Jag despite actually liking them.

The test drives i've had in them blew me away so a few weeks ago i put down a deposit on a fully loaded XFR.

I have to admit i wished i didnt have to get a big saloon. Picking it up i couldn't stop grinning so i stopped thinking about it and just drove it.

The thing is ballistic, the acceleration is savage in sport mode and with dynamic mode enabled which stiffens up the suspension and sharpens throttle response yesterday in the sun i didnt want to come home. Burned through all my fuel and 10.8mpg might make some eyes water but f-me it was massively enjoyable.

I'm not sure why i bought this over the C63, if anything i think i preferred the c63 looks but the XFR is just an animal with 2 personalities.

On the way home i travelled down the M6 near Birmingham which has speed control with the overhead cameras. I used this opportunity to figure out the toys, particularly Active Cruise Control which basically speeds up and slows down depending on the traffic all i had to do was steer. The seats are amazing, supporting from all angles and the interior very solidly put together. Not rattles, Andrew would be proud. Slightly disappointed with the trim surrounding the chrome bits which might appear a little cheap on such a car, merc and audi probably have this better covered. Jet headlining and leather stitching matching the seats looks lovely. I have the heated and cooled seats option with heated steering wheel and filament windscreen which i haven't yet tried. I hooked up to the B&W stereo which is stunning and flicking round the touch screen realised that the ACC (cruise control) was producing 32mpg on the M6. Surprising but that soon dropped as i took the long back road home. So whilst it can be a superb relaxing cruising when i'm taking the kids out it can be an absolute animal when you want it to be.

The noise is simply phenomenal, deep gravely growl with wonderful bangs, pops and crackles on overrun and down shifts. Mine has a slightly different exhaust from the original which i think might accentuate the natural sound. Nothing could touch my ride home on the B roads with the sun roof open windows down and the noise. The chassis, suspension, dampers and LSD set up on this car is not to be sniffed at. Whilst it might feel a little big at slow speeds around town the active dampers, electronically assisted mechanical diff do a magical job when pushing on. The car is so planted through the bends, flat and the weight is not felt at all. The chassis remains stiff under significant loading and the dampers do a serious good job at soaking up the rough road surfaces and potholes, almost as if they aren't there.

The gearbox whilst it isn't anywhere near as good as the DCT in the M3 is plenty quick enough in Auto mode and not that slouchy in manual either.

Apart from the slight disappointment with some of trim surrounds the only other thing i miss is the lack of supercharger whine. I've owned 2 other supercharged cars which really make their presence known under full throttle.

I just have to remind myself the car is a paper 510bhp but the particular car rolling roads at around 545bhp - 550bhp. I've already had a few brown pants moments. I was driving it on b-roads like my D but it needs a little more right foot control.

The car needs a good proper valet so once the better weather returns it's going down to my local detailer for a wash, clay and machine polish with paint correction.

I dont have any decent pics but here is one for a taster. I plan on dechromming it a bit. I have ordered a black R grille and it doesnt have the side chrome vents.



Very pleased with it, liking some of optional extras and hope i can make it to some meets this year, i'll wear my flat cap and pipe.

Just got to sell my 335d, so if anyone is interest

Cheers
Ben

[Mani59]

Love it!! Looks absolutely stunning!!
Any chance of some interior photos?

(Good timing of your photo above by the way, with the x-type in the background!!).

[Bobbybmw22]

I love that car. Congrats

[scottc]

Nice car, have to admit I do love the xf and the r looks awesome.

I will be in your position in a few months where I need to replace mine with something sensible, will have to look at the xf :-)

[Kerr]

Good looking car.

Enjoy.

[peterg1965]

Beautiful car, great colour and good choice.

[ELD70]

Lovely car and great mini review. Keep us all updated with how life is with that beast!

[rogerxp]

Ben, that does indeed look a monster, and can believe it goes like stink. Hadn't realised you weren't even 30 yet - you young pup - not often I get to say that

[JLR1969]

You old bastard love it!

[mob17]

Sounds like a beast! Congrats.

Any planned mods or are you going to keep it OEM?

[Palmnuts]

A Jaaaaaaaag Even I waited till I was over 30 to get one

I of course have to concur with everything you say, only none of mine had AAC and in fact, I've never really experienced any form of adaptive cruise control! Looks good in black and it looks like someone has already upgraded your bonnet vents to the chrome ones (they're not standard, but are a proper Jaguar upgrade - I had them on my black XKR).

Interesting you say your car dyno's at 545bhp (although this seems pretty typical from what I've read) - have you already put it on a set of rollers or was it the previous owner?




Told you people would want to read about it....even ol'Rog hasn't had a dig!

[dxb335d]

Awesome!! Old man jags rock! Especially these ones!!

[Danny.B.]

I like that, alot!

[rogerxp]

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

Told you people would want to read about it....even ol'Rog hasn't had a dig!

...just remembered it's an auto - bag o shite

[alzieboy]

Car looks stunning, LuvIt, ENJOY

[willhollin]

Nice on Ben, you better enjoy washing cars though!

That looks like Stratstone Stourbridge ?

[Ste133]

Very tasty ride, congratulations!

[creepy coupe]

Very nice Briers

[briers]

wow i thought you lot would be a tough crowd on an old mans saloon!

Originally Posted by JLR1969

You old bastard love it!

Hahaha, thanks Jon

Originally Posted by mob17

Sounds like a beast! Congrats.

Any planned mods or are you going to keep it OEM?

I am looking into a remap but i honestly don't think they are worth it. Some other owners have roaded theirs which are producing 590bhp with a spires remap (i think this is helped by the higher outputs on slightly older cars). Quite honestly it would be nice but you can't use the power anyway. Considering smaller supercharger pulleys as i miss the noise. I have a black R grille coming and i may put the facelift rear defuser on, but nothing drastic. I dont think i need to mess with the suspension. Only thing i dont like is the slightly snatchy brakes.

Originally Posted by Palmnuts

A Jaaaaaaaag Even I waited till I was over 30 to get one

I of course have to concur with everything you say, only none of mine had AAC and in fact, I've never really experienced any form of adaptive cruise control! Looks good in black and it looks like someone has already upgraded your bonnet vents to the chrome ones (they're not standard, but are a proper Jaguar upgrade - I had them on my black XKR).

Interesting you say your car dyno's at 545bhp (although this seems pretty typical from what I've read) - have you already put it on a set of rollers or was it the previous owner?

Told you people would want to read about it....even ol'Rog hasn't had a dig!

I guess it was a little present to myself

ACC was a bit weird today, it didnt brake in time around town and beeped loudly at me saying driver intervention. It was at a busy turn point and the traffic was turning off the road etc. So it isn't completely fool proof but i loved it again on the motoway today.

I like those bonnet vents and was planning on adding them if the car i found didnt have them. The XFR in pictures doesnt look a million miles different from normal XF's. In the flesh as you might remember, slightly more muscular stance and i think the bonnet vents work nicely with ultimate black making it stand out a bit more. Not that it needs to because of the sound

It was previously dyno-ed and taken to Santa pod and if i remember correctly the time was 12.5 and about 115mph. Something like this. But i rang around this morning to find a Dyno place so i can take it myself. Results can vary between dyno's. I was hoping to find the place recommended on here in the midlands... something like dragon tuning, other side of staffordshire, maybe leek way. They did Paul's M3.

And yes, Roger would have been my biggest critic but even he had positive things to say! Thanks Roger.

Originally Posted by alzieboy

Car looks stunning, LuvIt, ENJOY

Thanks for all the positive comments!

These pictures are all mis-mash of times / dates and locations... oh yes Will it was Stourbridge where that photo was taken

But here are some interior shots from earlier today, only with iphone so not perfect.





And an older shot of the rear from the brochure



I hope the photos do the interior justice, despite the slightly plasticky material around the chrome buttons its a nice place to be. I didnt initially think of that leather colour, called London Tan but after seeing it in the flesh, the photos don't do it 100% justice. My Mrs 1st comment was she loved it, it's different and thats exactly what i was aiming for. So it might not be everyone's cup of tea but i didnt want safe black on black. The red jaguar do on the XFR was quite bold, but still nice. I liked the Ivory a lot but with kids, thats probably a bit more work to stay in tip top condition.

Nice contrast of stitching in the dash leather and the backs of the seats and door cards are all black too so it's not like sitting in a tangerine.

[creepy coupe]

Different

[Dave_3]

Very nice.

Not owned an XF, but a few other Jags.

One thing that is so nice is the ride/handling mix. Very soothing, while retaining good feedback adn handling - and no gritting of teeth when your RFTs spot potholes.

D.

[mob17]

Definitely doesn't look like an old fart's car! Looks mean.

Did it come with RFTs, and if so, how are they?