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

[CDAA]

  HSE2 said:

It is a great V8 sedan when viewed in isolation.

Bang!!, you hit it straight on the head HSE2.

Though I do not agree, or more rather lets say ‘interpret the experience’ in the exact way you have regarding the XR8, I think it goes without saying that the XR8 compared to the XR6T (taking the V8 emotional addiction out of it) is a better all round package for anyone in that market. Gee that hurts.... :nugget:

On the other hand we ARE talking about an "V8 addiction' here where the XR8 comes into play. It’s one awesome car in general and I am really struggling with the decision to let it go this time around. It’s not that I view the T6 as a compromise, its more that I relate to it as something else altogether.

The question for me…is the XR8 enough? At the moment my answer is no and that I would not take one off the lot without an exhaust modification or such to boost things up a level. Only then I think I would be satisfied, however at that point the GT is on my door step. The XR8 as it stands is in no-mans land for me and needs to be adjusted to suit my emotional requirements, which I am confident after my driving experience can be done easily.

I have no idea were my emotions lie with the XR6T and that why I have not committed to it...yet. I actually believe the GT will deliver on all fronts for me, however I am unsure about the commitment at this stage as the XR6T even compared with THIS car has me wondering….

What the hell has Ford done to me..lol My V8 heart is aching.

[Guest woosh]

The bonnet bulge is what I like on the XR8 and Pursuit/GT range. But at the end of the day I think the XR6T is value for money and damn quick too!

[Falchoon]

Excellent reviews! A quick trip to Herrods should fix any (lack of) power problems that the XR8 is perceived to have.

I msut say I was impressed with the light clutch & gearshift of the manual BA V8 (non-XR) I drove the other week. An advantage the V8 might have over the turbo is it's consitent performance, I have noticed a marked difference in performance from the turbo during hot days.

[CDAA]

  Falchoon said:

An advantage the V8 might have over the turbo is it's consitent performance, I have noticed a marked difference in performance from the turbo during hot days.

Thanks Mate

You may have a point there, however would the power difference on a hot day be noticable in normal driving conditions? I drove the XR6T last week on a 35 degree day in the mid afternoon. It was a stinker and car was very hot. I have never driven one of these cars in cooler conditions yet, however in the hot conditions it remained a very impressive package performance wise. Down the 400m strip however may have told a different story.

I am yet to drive a 5.4 220, however would like to in the near future. I personally think the XT 5.4 manual sports pack maybe Fords's 'underdog' performer.

[Falchoon]

I find the turbo has a noticeable (seat-of-the-pants) performance drop if you are driving around (normal, not boosting everywhere) on a hot mid 30deg day and then you park the car and come back a bit later (say an hour, sometimes more) and go for another drive. Turbo just loves the cool night air, pity it takes all the next day to clean all the bug guts off the front of the car though...

[Guest JESMAL]

I like the way CDAA differentiated the XR6T from XR8....very nicely said and I respect you for you. Yes, the XR6T will feel faster....but the XR8 will feel stronger. Guess that's why its a V8 as compared to a 6. Not saying which is better, both have great potential for serious modding, reaching greater heights but in very different ways.