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COMPARISON TEST: Jaguar XKR Vs. BMW M6

Before you read so much as a sentence more of this story, let’s get one thing clear from the outset: despite what the pictures and your preconceptions might lead you to believe, this is not in any normal sense a twin test.

If we were at all flippant about what we do on this magazine, it could quite easily be construed as such. Because we know already that Jaguar’s new XKR is a fine sporting coupe, having discovered as much when we drove it in isolation and came away breathless about its attributes.

We know too that the BMW M6 is a thumping good car, one that already operates in a broadly similar market to the XKR, in that it has two doors, comes with a prestige badge on its nose and costs more than the British Prime Minister will earn in a year...

But in the real world we know that the M6 and XKR not only appeal to very different audiences. The Jag has an automatic transmission, and is designed primarily to waft its way across the motoring landscape, albeit at a fairly serious lick courtesy of its supercharged 420hp V8 engine. The M6, on the other hand, boasts 500 rip-snorting horsepower from its V10 engine and is to the world of luxury coupes what a backhoe is to a spot of household gardening.

More at link...
http://www.speedtv.com/articles/automotive/newmodels/32561/
COMPARISON TEST: Jaguar XKR Vs. BMW M6

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1995e341995e34 - 9/24/2006 12:15:43 AM
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both are good. the bimmer is probably the winner in most reviews. but jaguar has put forth a reasonable competitor. i lean heavliy in bmw's direction on most cars, but but i could favor the jag just to try something new from a maker that's every model is not a platinum hit.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/24/2006 12:29:02 AM
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Most comparisons so far of the Xk and 6 series have went in the way of the Jag. Except for the Edmunds review which did state that they purposely drove the 650i harder than the Jag.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/24/2006 12:31:07 AM
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From the link above:

"Yet in its way the XKR feels every bit as impressive as the BMW in a straight line, especially across the sort of gently undulating, constantly winding motorways that typify the northern Spanish road network. They are the equivalent of a fast, sweeping country road or a decent divided highway, and that’s where there’s virtually nothing to separate an XKR from an M6.

Except for the way their chassis respond, where the Jag once again shows the M6 the way home. It’s so soothing to drive rapidly across roads like these that I find it difficult to think of any car, at any price, that does it better. And by “it” I mean waft effortlessly from apex to apex, steering wheel fidgeting delicately between the palms of your hands, tires relaying every nuance of the surface beneath, but without ever intruding unnecessarily into the cabin.

The XKR is such a composed machine that at three-figure speeds on a flowing highway it makes the M6 feel surprisingly neurotic, edgy and unrefined.

And here are some other observations you might find surprising, controversial or hard to stomach, depending on your perspective and loyalty to the two brands. The Jaguar steers better than the M6. It has more feel, more precision and it delivers more readable feedback about what the front tires are up to – be that at 10mph or 110mph. It also rides better, on any road and at any speed. And it has less understeer when you really start to lean on it, again either at 30mph through a tight hairpin or at 100mph through a fast sweeper.

It’ll also go just as sideways as the M6 if you want it to. If you press the traction control button and hold it down for 10 seconds, all the safety systems on the Jag disengage. Which makes you wonder about the necessity of BMW’s expensive M-differential. No, you can’t do 150-yard powerslides in the XKR, whereas you can in the M6, but just how high is this on your list of priorities when you’re buying a $100,000 high-performance, luxurious coupe?"

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Matthew1Matthew1 - 9/24/2006 2:12:33 AM
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urbansouljah,

I know that the XKR is an achingly beautiful car and despite what people may think, the chassis (as reported in your quotes) is every bit as good, and in some places better, than anything BMW has to offer.

But one thing gets me about the XK. The 80's style telescopic aerial. Unacceptable for a car in this price range, or in any new car for that matter.

Given your enthusiasm for the Jaguar brand, and therefore having a good knowledge of their products, is this (aerial) issue going to be rectified on later cars?

I'm assuming XK customers are not amused by this cost-cutting measure.

An irritating blemish on an otherwise outstanding car.

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528i528i - 9/24/2006 2:49:55 AMView My AgentSpace
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Ford paid those magazine to say that xk is better than the M6 ...to help Jaguar get back up like befor....


that's what I think.....

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Matthew1Matthew1 - 9/24/2006 3:20:29 AM
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Well you would be wrong. Because the general consensus with ALL motoring magazines is that the XK range is very good indeed.

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BMW530iBMW530i - 9/24/2006 4:17:53 AM
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528i,

Ford paid those magazine to say that xk is better than the M6 ...to help Jaguar get back up like befor....


that's what I think....
=============================================

That's pretty childish thinking. ;)

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MunichRobMunichRob - 9/24/2006 4:30:05 AMView My AgentSpace
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XK better than M6? Please... The M6 even looks better.

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M53RM53R - 9/24/2006 4:44:46 AMView My AgentSpace
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The M6 is definetly sportier in the looks and surprisingly has a better interior. Both r awesome machines, "M" is for the magic that u get with the M6.


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Matthew1Matthew1 - 9/24/2006 4:59:53 AM
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People,

Let's not forget these two cars are not direct rivals.

In this instance, the 'better' car is based purely on the individual's expectations for that car.

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senorgatosenorgato - 9/24/2006 5:14:21 AM
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I am continually impressed by the reviews the Jaguar has been getting. Hopefully its realiability will prove good, too.

And Ford can't afford to pay any car magazine anything other than regular advertisements.

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BMW530iBMW530i - 9/24/2006 6:47:43 AM
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Matthew said it. These cars aren't direct rivals.

The Jaguar is similar to the Mercedes SL: sporty qualities but biased towards cruising.

The BMW M6 is what I would call a "cruiser with extreme sporty pretensions".

Naturally, the M6 would make the better sports car and the Jag the better cruiser.

And who cares if the M6 lost? Heck, I am not the slightest annoyed by this. Both are great cars and whoever wins this comparison did so because of EDITOR OPINION. Big deal.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/24/2006 8:53:08 AM
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BMW530i, The reviews prove that the XK is just as sporty as the M6 and still rides better. It's not just a cruiser. The normal XK has outhandled the 650i in every comparison with the exception of the Edmunds review where the author admitted his bias for wanting to push the 650i harder because he "knew" it was the better car. The only thing that seperates the XK and 650i is that the Jag handles much better and the BMW has more power. In the case of the R and the M6, the only difference is power. The M6 is not a good car to drive everyday because of it's harsh ride and horrible sequential manual.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/24/2006 8:57:09 AM
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Matthew, They probably had to find a way to save money to keep Ford happy. They will probably change it with a later update. I'd rather have a retro antenna than for Ford to force Jaguar to use Ford engines, suspension, and transmissions in their cars as was done in the x-type. I'm not sure why they chose to compare the "optional" leather package of the standard interior of the XK. A fair comparison would have been if the XK has the luxury package.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/24/2006 8:58:15 AM
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Should say: I'm not sure why they chose to compare the "optional" leather package of the M6 to the standard interior of the XK.

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KTMpilotKTMpilot - 9/24/2006 11:12:38 AM
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wrt the aerial, my dealer said that by next yr, they would lose the existing eyesore and incorporate an integrated design. my current lease is up next july, and he said that would not be an issue at that point.

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DarkOneForceDarkOneForce - 9/24/2006 11:25:36 AM
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Well with P Zero Corsas the M6 went from 0 to 100 Km/h in 4.2 sec. and o to 200 in 12.8 sec.
So these times are incredibely crapy.

Also most people in Europe deristrict their M6, and end with ~ 540 HP, and witch won't have a problem going over 325/330 Km/h.

Let's see how the Jaguar does.

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S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 9/24/2006 12:25:02 PM
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Wow...

Fighting over which of these fantastic cars are better...

I'd take either for sure, but the XK's looks get me. I think I'd take the XKR and use the extra $30K in the bank for a Miata hardtop!

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528i528i - 9/24/2006 3:01:31 PMView My AgentSpace
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I was just kidding .....I want to see people reaction...

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S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 9/24/2006 9:07:31 PM
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Will-

If you're into luxury and style, I would pick the XKR if I were you. For me, it's just a more compelling choice- it may not be quite as ferocious, but it's just too beautiful to pass up.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/24/2006 9:20:21 PM
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The M6 has more power and the XKR has less weight, more feedback, better ride, and better steering.

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M6willruleoverurassM6willruleoverurass - 9/24/2006 9:30:04 PM
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Come on, its just a waste of gas test driving to c which car is best!! No doubt its gonna be the M6. So goodnight jag and goodmorning series M no. 6. And this XKr looks like a cockroach from my point of view.

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JCF110JCF110 - 9/24/2006 10:06:55 PM
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hard choice!... but i'll take da Jag'!

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S4cabriofoxS4cabriofox - 9/25/2006 6:52:51 PM
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Wow, "M6wilruleoverurass", what a completely un-biased point of view.

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M6willruleoverurassM6willruleoverurass - 9/26/2006 1:37:42 AM
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I never said it was a point of view/opinion.
IT IS A FACT.

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M53RM53R - 9/26/2006 7:33:25 AMView My AgentSpace
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M6willruleovertheirasses

agree ;)

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/26/2006 7:42:40 AM
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So the majority of the road tests of the XK/650i and XKR/M6 have all been wrong, M6willruleovertheirasses? The XK has won 9/10 times so far. Only edmunds who stated that they purposely drove the 650i harder has ranked the 6 series higher than the XK. Car & Driver and Autocar, for example, have even said that Xk was more fun to drive than the 650i and gave more feedback.

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urbansouljahurbansouljah - 9/26/2006 7:46:49 AM
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There is more to a car than power. The clearly M6 wins there but handling is simular, the XK rides better, steers better, and has the best auto transmission in it's class while the M6 has a horrible sequential manual that ruins the driving experience and a choppy ride. The XK is the better car to own if you will use it as an everyday car and still gives you the same thrills as the M6 when you want to push. Now that is what you call a fact.

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JaguarXKR1JaguarXKR1 - 9/26/2006 2:10:14 PM
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Apples and Oranges!

Having owned several different manufacturers vehicles, I can attest to every one of them having their allure. I have owned Porsche, BMW, Mercedes and now a Jaguar XKR.

As I get older, I find the Jaguar XKR looks are elegant and sensual compared to other fine sport coupes in the market. That’s just my tastes as I only get to see my 20s with a telescope now (grin). As an added benefit, I am unique on the road as there are too many BENZs and BMWs out there. There is something about cruising around and noticing heads turning when seeing the Jaguar XKR. Even the younger males notice the XKR and wonder what kind of car it is. The aerodynamic lines of the JAGUAR with all due respect to BMW just captivate you. I even had an individual drive up besides me on the highway, honk his horn to get my attention, and when I looked over he gave me the thumbs up!

In my opinion, German Engineering is very difficult to compete with. I would not race a BMW at a light because in the end, I don’t have to! I get accolades parked.

The XKR does drive comfortably in my daily commutes and I am pleased with its reliability so far – FORD at least did something right in this department. I as well experience respect around the DC Capitol Beltway during rush hour traffic with drivers yielding a 2 to 3 car length from the rear! I was always tailgated with my other cars.

All in all, I would take any one of these fine automobiles if they were given to me. Unfortunately, no one presented me the offer so I purchased the XKR and never looked back.



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JaguarxkrsJaguarxkrs - 9/28/2006 7:11:53 PM
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Omg people who think BMW is Better than Jaguar is really really stupid. We all know that Jaguar could win mostly all of the events if Bmw and jaguar would ever go into a contest of some sort. Cause the M6 cars don't handle there speed as good as the XK.As the XK well thats a whole other storie.And so... JAGUAR will smoke any bmw asses! any time anywhere!

ok?=)(p.s. BMWs are gay)

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