Cdaa's Test Drive In A Xr8 (this Time)

[CDAA]

Well as you all know from my recent post and test drive of the XR6T, I was mighty impressed to say the least. Well this morning I call up Frank at my Ford dealer and we took the dealer principles BA XR8.

The XR6T and XR8 were parked side by side, both in Phantom and both with the optional 18”. Now I know they are the same, however that bonnet bulge makes such a major statement or rather promise in regarding the cars performance, you find yourself feeling excited about driving it before you have got behind the wheel.

Which lead me to the following problem.. My expectations. Frank started her up and we drove out of the Dealership and up a couple of streets. Although fighting it, I was finding myself to be disappointed asthe car was quiet, mannered and well behaved. At this point it might as well of been a Fairmont with a Tickford/FPV body kit. I had expected nothing really from the XR6T and it blew my mind. I expected everything from my old sparing partner (the XR8), and I was left feeling that she had grown up and matured (unlike me maybe??).

Then Frank handed me the keys…..

At this point I decided to drive this car with a little spirit (if you know what I mean). I found that the XR8’s power range and characteristics had changed, which was the primary reason for my initial disappointment. What I did next was to take the time to find where all the things I loved had been placed. I will tell you all now that these ‘things’ are still there and a lot more of it!

On the down side, in the lower rev range this 5.4 BOSS V8 is reserved and makes you feel as though there is so much more behind it, however it has been tuned to be reserved somewhat, unlike the AU versions of old. Take the time however to give this car some mumbo and it comes on smooth, angry and strong. It does not ‘sling shot’ you like the Turbo, however the velocity in which you find yourself propelled is likened to a plane taking off. At this point I was starting to love this car. Up in the rev range the sound is just beautiful, inside and out. The pulling power of this car reminds me of the GT 351 Cleveland’s of old, however with much more refinement.

The gearbox in the XR8 was nicer than the turbo and delivered a ‘top loader’ like style to it. Gear change throws on the other hand were not as good as I felt they were a little too long.

And then it happened, the moment of truth. I was just pulling out of a side street onto the main road when one of the General’s best in black went by. Forgetting Frank was sitting next to me I went around the corner and gave this car almost full throttle.

With in a matter of seconds we caught up to the black SS Ute and went passed him. In this fleeting maynover the acceleration I can only describe as awesome. I pulled in front of the SS, apologised to Frank and waited for the SS to retaliate. Well, he didn’t, in fact he kept on slowing down seeming so not to catch up to me. Thou this was no race and nor would it have been, it left me feeling very, very competent in this car.

Ok, summaries….

Despite many of the reviews to date on the XR8, this is one muscular beast with balls of steel. If you are a V8 person you will love it, it’s just that simple. Like the LS1 (although better IMO) it needs a rev, but if your willing to take it there it delivers the goods on all fronts. Handling wise it feels a little heavier, however I like and prefer the weighted feeling personally.

Is it better than the XR6T? No.

Its not worse either, its totally different altogether.

Does it feel faster than the XR6T? No, but stronger Yes. The XR8 feels like it’s got so much more as the XR6T does not. What I mean by that folks is both cars are very conservatively set up with loads more potential to be had, however the XR6T makes you feel like what it delivers is enough. The XR8 on the other hand does not and leaves you impressed, excited, testosterone charged and wanting more.

It had become clear to me that this car has been built for XR8 or SS, V8 loving people and not to impress so much others that seek the performance and characteristics of the XR6T or WRX’s.

Which one will I buy? Logic tells me the XR6T, emotionally I want the V8. Conclusion is I would be happy with either, however I would like to drive the GT.

Cheers,

Colville

[Mondie]

Great review, makes me want to get a test drive myself.

l think you hit it on the head when you said the choice between the T6 and XR8 comes down to whether you are a V8 nut or not. Performance seems pretty much equal, they just do it in different ways. The XR6T has a significant price advantage though that's hard to ignore.

[Cashie]

Great review, a good read.

I liked the bit when you said "Then Frank handed me the keys….." :-)

[CJF077]

Love the review.. you write like your a magazine journalist.. good to see a real life every day driver compare the differences and give feedback.. good stuff CDAA.

[Robbo]

Great review ... Love your work. Can't wait to read about the GT !!

[daninme]

mate you had me on the edge of my seat!!!

[HSE2]

I must say I concur with many points although I give a clear points win to the turbo, and that coming from me is saying something.

I too expected little from the turbo ride and came away impressed while the XR8 experience wasn't quiet what I expected.

The new manual box in the XR8 is very good although driveline shunt can still be induced with careless attention to lower extremity co ordination (read two left feet).

Initially the turbo felt dead below 2000 rpm. I must say that the XR8 didn't feel particularly good in that direction either, not in the way my XR8 performs anyway. It did appear to need the revs for modest overtaking. This is the only real area where I don't see eye-to-eye with the review afforded in motor mag. Hopefully it was just a question of the motor needing more time but if I am going to be constant in my criticism of the LS1 needing a rev then the same too applies to the Xr8

Handling was a clear-cut winner to the turbo. Actually the VY SS felt better than the XR8. There is no question in my mind that the excellent precision feedback of the Au has been traded in the quest for refinement, and refinement is definitely a strong suit of the entire BA range but the XR8 has a problem and that is balance. For and aft the balance is found wanting when the road turns left and right.

The turbo is more coherent in switch back situations, it flows where as the Xr8 is stop and shoot, stop and shoot. Even the SS has improved in feel as in weight but not necessarily in feedback.

On B grade surfaces the normally restrained ride quality suffered through front-end crash. Where the turbo remains compliant the XR8 had to deal with more weight under compression and you feel that in the tiller. When this happens the Xr8 doesn't feel as refined as the rest of the range.

The turbo looked to have the edge in fuel consumption using the TC as a guide but the XR8 motor wouldn't be at its best yet.

Ultimately there can only be one. It is the driver’s car when you require it to be so. It is the family car when the need arises, and the cruiser where the occasion warrants it. It is cheaper with out being cheep, more responsive to inputs at the wheel and gives little away in the pub brag ritual. I suspect it is going to have better retained value as well. The winner for me is the turbo and that hurt big time

Where does this leave the XR8?

For me, the bulge in the flesh was take it or leave it. Originally I thought it added toughness, an element of aggression lost on the BA, but I am coming to doubt my original sentiment. It works but I don’t think the other Xrs lose anything by not having it, if that makes sense.

The box is worth having no question. I didn't feel the throw was too long as I was able to get the seat just right. Maybe my body shape was more suited in this manner.

The XR8 is a hard car to put a finger on, a car I felt I had to reflect on more that I should. With the Turbo and the SS I had instant gratification, while I had a feeling of questions unanswered with the XR8. I guess it comes down to expectations and what prejudice one carries with one. Regretfully I do expect the SS to come out on top.

I believe it will be quicker have an edge in handling and value. The visual appeal should go the way of the XR8, as should refinement and packaging.

If the Xr8 is to appeal to the Ford V8 faithful then the owners have to over look one of the best performance buys in Australian History. If the XR8 is to knock off the SS, then this segment is going to have to crave a change. A change normally associated with maturity, a change instigated by the weathers of time by watching and learning

.

[Mondie]

Great comments HSE2.

l too fear the SS will be faster than the XR8. Sure the XR8 is a more refined car but that's not what counts in this market segment unless the maturity you mention kicks in! l really thought Ford would not have let Expensive Daewoo have any glory with the new BA, but the car is just so heavy performance is still not what you may have expected from the XR8.

Its interesteing that the MOTOR review only mentions the XR6T at the beginning, and not anywhere else. The T6 vs XR8 debate isnt even touched on. Probably saving it for another issue to sell more copies.

Like l have posted before, Ford should have shown King Kong sized gonads and dropped the 8 and spent the saved development money on developing the T6 even further. Imagine that!!

[HSE2]

I am not sure dropping the V8 would be the answer. I mean Ford are back in the V8 super cars in a big way. We have Flint himself looking after the so-called factory effort. Does the Turbo and the Xr8 offer an alternative to the buyer or offer the best of both worlds. Not in my opinion and I have a very strong V8 bias, but each to his own. What are you looking for in the car you drive?

That would suggest that the XR8 is a bad driving experience, and I am not doing that.

It is a great V8 sedan when viewed in isolation.

During development I met a guy who swore black and blue that the Xr8 was 240kws SOHC. He is a mechanic that does work for Ford racing. He drove this so called mule. Either he had the car wrong and it was some other Falcon, which we haven’t seen yet, or at a very late stage the XR8 changed motor.

For me they would have been better off sticking with the SOHC if it served the purpose of balance. Then it would have provided a serious option to the buyer and in particular the V8 owner wouldn't be losing out in an area where the XR has a strong tradition to live up to.

I am not going to go for a test drive and not put it through some corners or at least some quick directional exercises. I go for a drive to enjoy the experience. The XR8 I could use some of the time, but the turbo I could use all the time and that was the difference. I don't really care about the cost to buy or run.

To this end I wouldn’t like to say which way the finding will go, because proper testers have the ability to push the limit and that can bring out a different set of characteristics. All I can say is that I read the Motor appraisal and found myself saying I found that and yes I know what you mean. The same applies to that drive impression from CDAA.

I think Dave said the front-end situation wasn't worth grizzling over. I did raise an eyebrow at that. If you can fix that situation then why wouldn't you. If you are coming from a position where that situation isn't prevalent and it is important to you then why go backwards.

I am after a total driving experience where corners are a big part of my enthusiasm. This is more important than any straight-line dash, but that is I. Down here we have great roads and you don't have to break the law to get a rush. I want a car that exploits that element of enjoyment without compromise. Ok you miss out on some noise but you would be changing the system on the XR8 anyway to exploit that!

[Mondie]

Yep, dropping the V8 isnt an option for sure, just a thought

l read a few months back that Ford were working on a junior burger version of the XR8 with somewhere around 235kw so they could compete with the SV8 on price. Dont know if this is has anything to do with the car you describe or if the car is ever going to make it to market. The XR8 is a fair bit more expensive than the SS when you option it upto the same equipment level.

l agree its not really good enough that Ford would sling another 50kg+ in the front of the XR8 and run an identical suspension setup to the XR6T. l guess it comes down to what the beancounters say, but it must have some sort of effect on the cars handling.