Rants and Raves
JARED GALL
The previous-generation XK was, in my opinion, the sexiest vehicle on the road, but Jaguar replaced it with what looks to me like a bloated anime caricature. The new XK is still a pretty car but doesn't whip my head when it passes like the old car still does. Regardless, this is the first car in a while that has inspired another driver on the highway to honk at me and yell, "Nice car!" I think the color combination—tan top over maroon metal—has a lot to do with that. This car is infinitely more attractive to me than the blue-on-blue XK convertible in our long-term fleet.
I have to say that the XK has the best steering-wheel audio controls in the business. The industry is split on whether to program the buttons on the steering wheel to seek the next radio station or just skip through the presets. Regardless of which approach a manufacturer has taken, I always wish the buttons did the other function. The thumb wheel in the Jag does both. A quick push up or down seeks the next station, but if you hold it at the detent for a few seconds, it jumps to the next preset in either direction. For helping me dodge the brainless ranting of morning radio DJs, this is the perfect solution—and an easy one.
ERIK JOHNSON
I love the hell out of the XK. The automatic transmission—it perfectly rev-matches downshifts; how cool is that?—is as smooth as Miami Vice-era Don Johnson, and the ride-and-handling balance puts most other sports and luxury cars to shame. Because this car handles and rides so brilliantly, you can shrug off potholes that would swallow a '69 Coupe de Ville while sliding sideways through a bumpy mess of a 90-degree right-hander, all while sipping a cup of Earl Grey, picking the raisins out of your scone, and tightening your ascot.
Seriously, I'd take three of these XKs, and the fact that the roof was off this one made the experience even better, what with the lusty, deep growl of the V-8 pounding an unfettered path to my eardrums. I don't give a damn that the interior isn't screwed together as well as a $4 toy from Radio Shack. If every other car with a shoddily built interior drove and sounded this great, I'd be a much more forgiving fella.
Download this car's window sticker for pricing information.
