Jaguar XJR-15
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Jaguar XJR-15
Thread Starter
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Registered User
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 86
From: Europe
Rep Power: 22
Latest on the XJR-15:
Sunday I had a great drive in the XJR-15. The big break through in terms of driving was realizing that it really is set up as a race car and needs to be driven like one. I.e. you need to set it up in advance for each change of direction, gear shift, braking, etc. Driving it for the 3rd or 4th time on the same roads that I know well, it just all came together. First time I can really say this, we really started to bond.
In general I have a set route that I take for most of the short weekend runs out that is a roughly 20 mile loop. Yesterday at the end of the loop, I wanted to keep going. Every time in the past, making it to the end has brought with it a feeling of relief -------akin to riding the dragon and surviving. This time, it all flowed. Part of it is having just that much more experience behind the wheel and knowing the "15" that much better. Part of it is the "15" getting a few more miles under its wheels after far too many years sitting in a private collection.
The handling continues to improve as the tyres bed in and the suspension gets more work. Everything feels like it is now moving that much more smoothly. The clutch is very different from any other car I have driven, but once you get used to it, it quite manageable. Power from the 6 liter V12 even 20 years later, is brain mashing. Put your foot down in 2nd gear (with all four wheels pointing straight ahead) and it just flies. A quick upshift into 3rd and you are not far from hitting triple digits. The steering rack is geared for the track, so it requires plenty of input to navigate on the road. The lack of any sort of insulation or sound deadening imparts the impression that you really are strapped to the front of a rocket. Headphones are a must and the totality of the experience is exhilarating. It is a car that is truly alive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2MUxluEYY
Sunday I had a great drive in the XJR-15. The big break through in terms of driving was realizing that it really is set up as a race car and needs to be driven like one. I.e. you need to set it up in advance for each change of direction, gear shift, braking, etc. Driving it for the 3rd or 4th time on the same roads that I know well, it just all came together. First time I can really say this, we really started to bond.
In general I have a set route that I take for most of the short weekend runs out that is a roughly 20 mile loop. Yesterday at the end of the loop, I wanted to keep going. Every time in the past, making it to the end has brought with it a feeling of relief -------akin to riding the dragon and surviving. This time, it all flowed. Part of it is having just that much more experience behind the wheel and knowing the "15" that much better. Part of it is the "15" getting a few more miles under its wheels after far too many years sitting in a private collection.
The handling continues to improve as the tyres bed in and the suspension gets more work. Everything feels like it is now moving that much more smoothly. The clutch is very different from any other car I have driven, but once you get used to it, it quite manageable. Power from the 6 liter V12 even 20 years later, is brain mashing. Put your foot down in 2nd gear (with all four wheels pointing straight ahead) and it just flies. A quick upshift into 3rd and you are not far from hitting triple digits. The steering rack is geared for the track, so it requires plenty of input to navigate on the road. The lack of any sort of insulation or sound deadening imparts the impression that you really are strapped to the front of a rocket. Headphones are a must and the totality of the experience is exhilarating. It is a car that is truly alive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI2MUxluEYY
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