Jaguars are not for beating the best lap time, they are built to put one massive smile on your face. Jaguars are made to entertain and clearly, by looking at your face, you bloody well enjoyed it.
It looks hideous in my opinion, especially in that blue. I mean what the hell were they thinking with that front end? A standard XKR looks so much better.
ianiva It's not really the colour I dislike, it's the way it highlights that piece of recessed bodywork under the oval grill. If they hadn't recessed that piece, I think it would have looked great.
I suspect the traction control (TC) was turned off on the XKRS (probably on both cars) - and you need exceptional skill to pilot the Jaguar around a circuit without this control. I had some race tuition with Palmer Racing who used the less powerful XKR. With the TC engaged, it was impossible to spin the car (or hang out the tail) - no matter how much power you put down and where you were pointing the wheel. The TC on the XKR(S) inter-acts with the steering, the suspension, the throttle and (I think) the differential - at lightning speed, correcting things to give maximum performance. My (and my instructor's) lap times were a lot faster with the TC engaged. BTW - it's the Jag for me - has more soul...
This guy sucks at driving. I just commented on it but I have to reiterate that he is a FOOL of a driver. This boy of a driver is an embarrassment...... I can also drift my XKR-S if I want to. if I'm actually pushing the car I leave the E-Diff on and it RIPS in the canyon. I have stayed directly behind a Gallardo Superleggera, F430, C6Z06 ect. this guy has no idea how to drive
I'm a Merc CL 500 owner and even I can admit that Jaguar XK is much better looking than the current SL. Ian Callum is easily the best designer in the car world right now. F-Type Coupe looks SPECTACULAR.
Which gets us to a conclusion that modern car companies don't bother tuning the chassis to make car stable and balanced, but simply put a clever stability control to do all the stuff for you.
Jaguar looks better. Sounds better. More unique. More fun. Less up tight. Less stuck up. Less serious. I'd take the Jaguar. In fact. I'd take any Jaguar over any of their German rivals. Have at me German car Nazis!
Dont forget that all contemporary Jags have "German Nazi" genes as they are entirely based on a Ford platform, so in essence you are paying 3-4 times the amount you normally would for a Mondeo when you get a Jag, plus the horrid quality.
Narrowc ross To each his own man. Everyone has a different preference in things, and I respect your opinion. I think the SL looks like a fat and ugly old mans car. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
heart says jaguar xkr-s, brain says sl63 amg. brain also says both of these cars are top notch and that if any of the people on here bashing either one got the keys to the car the next day, they'd be pretty chaffed. i know i would, so lets just appreciate these fine pieces of engineering hey
Light? When has ANY Merc ever been light weight? Ok ok so an SLS is fairly light for what it is (does) blah blah blah... But SL's have always been a beautiful big heavy man hammer in my mind. Same for the jaguar XK, there not lightweight sports cars, that's not really the point of either of them.
MotorsportMonkey I think he is talking about the 300sl, in which case he has a point, but you do too. Mercedes might have made the 300sl but the majority of their cars are massive and fairly heavy, although they are working towards making lighter cars.
You are absolutely spot on! Whats the point of so much power if you cannot drive the damn thing? You're better off getting a standard SL500 or a XK. They look better and have way enough power to cruise around very fast.
MotorsportMonkey SL originally stood for "sport lightweight" its just looks like an absolute pudding now, and that Jag looks downright awful in that XKRS guise.
Would the result have been the same if the XKR-S coupe had been driven? Surely having the additional flexibility of the convertible shell wouldn't help the situation... Also, I've read in other threads that the TC on the Jag is very good, and makes it considerably easier to handle, without stifling the performance. Would like to see the coupe tested and with and without the TC engaged. Regardless, very entertaining video, and great driving. There's no doubt that the "Drop Dead Gorgeous" Jag is a beautiful design. And given that I don't drive on a race track every day, I think I know which I'd choose if I was in the enviable position to have to make such a choice for a daily driver :-) Especially for the price.
EVO Team, first of all thanks for these amazing videos. Second: can you put it i to context with the other cars you test and rank them all together in some kind of short overview? Even supershort, but at least like this we would know.. Thx. O
Does the XKR-S have some kind of an electric locking diff (if yes, doesn't seem to lock up/work that well) or a limited slip diff (needs more of it)? Those one wheel wonder out of the corner -slides look and must feel terrible. Looks like a pain in the ass to drive quickly. In my opinion a RWD car is much more fun to drive when you have to work a bit to get it sideways.
You know what would make evo really good? If they fired every presenter and just kept Jethro. Easily the best reporter behind Chris Harris in my opinion.
Yes, the XKRS is pretty bad on the track. I've driven it on both track and road. On the road, it still likes to go side ways if you are not careful with trottle
I've driven an XK-RS in damp conditions, full throttle and the back doesn't fly off the track like this. Don't turn all the traction control off and it flys around with just a little kick at the back. There's no way I'd pay for that Merc over the Jag, it's just not interesting at all.
Eh, he hit the nail on the head when he asked "What is this car all about?" - if you want to go sideways all the time you can much more cheaply than the XKR-S. Buy a Holden or something
Jaguar made some nice cars that where almost up with the german competition a few years ago, but know they show their age. They still looks quite good, but the engines are not the best, the navigation units are really bad in jags etc...
.......doesnt the XK have more seats and the structure is heavier? F-type will be a better comparison because they r both 2 seater convertible. Maybe wait until they have a R for convertible. right now V8S is only against the SL550. R is the Couper version which looks fantastic..but not fair if comparing to SL because F-type Coupe doesnt have that extra weight carrying the engine.
Hey guys! That's not even the Performance package SL63! It goes to 564 HP and 660+ Torque! And you get better suspension and brakes! And what a car it is this!
Realize, as these cars come off lease and value comes down to where middle class can afford it we visit these videos for the first time. Also the demographic who watch these videos have always been us. So here I am, buying a used XKR.....
Add Toyo r888r s, drop in tune and pulley, transforms the car. 12.4 1/4 mile stock (my time slip), 11.9 after aforementioned bolt ons (my time slip) God, I love grip and boost. lol
Why not the coupe, as that has much less roll? Why not the XKR-SGT, which has even less roll? Why does this driver claim to be able to demonstrate "as good as it gets" driving - does anyone know who he is?
I dunno, Mercedes these days are are where BMW was 5-8 years ago in terms of chassis and suspension development, well and Jaguar was where Mercedes was about 10 years ago in terms of car 'concept' per se, with its big Supercharged V8 and lack of chassis finesse, where big power and torque is more important than all out handling (BMW). Sometimes the 'lairy-er' car is more fun tho.
Well not a Mercedes Fan and this jag is dated, though both cars are really nice. Think I would opt for something else - F-type perhaps, much better looking than both of those. And this SL63 AMG in this battle should be better than the XKR-S, it´s a nearly brand new car. Btw Is the XKR not coming to end production cycle?.
XKR-S, easily. I've always looked at the SL's to be devoid of any distinguishing traits. It's one of those cars that will be forgotten and outdated in a matter of years. Assuming these cars are in the $100-150,000 range, I'd buy a used Ferrari California or a save up a bit for a '14 Porsche 911 Turbo instead.
Well that was quite disappointing. I was hoping for some decent cars lurking under the hooligan image but they really are one trick ponies. The Merc looks very contrived on that suspension and looks like a pain to drive. The Jag is just silly. All that power and a chassis that could probably cope with half of it.
I've owned my XKR-S for about 7 years now.......this guy had absolutely no idea how to drive this car. He isn't Randy.... he shouldn't have turned everything off. I have PUT THE CAR TO ITS LIMITS and watching this made me want to throw up, what a JOKE of a driver. If he had left the E-DIFF on and TC off it would have been a different animal. This guy has no idea what he is doing.........
I just don’t care that 1 second slower on the track, the xkr-s looks much better than the Mercedes. I used to love the design of Mercedes SL, but the hilarious headlights on this generation ruined the beauty of the car.
Jaguars are not for beating the best lap time, they are built to put one massive smile on your face. Jaguars are made to entertain and clearly, by looking at your face, you bloody well enjoyed it.
XKR-S for me, easily. It may be a worse car but just look at it. That's enough for me.
It looks hideous in my opinion, especially in that blue. I mean what the hell were they thinking with that front end? A standard XKR looks so much better.
TheFlyingPineapple The XKRS looks nice but I prefer the more refined look of the XKR.
TheFlyingPineapple We just have different tastes because I love that colour. Oh and btw I'd get the coupe version.
ianiva
It's not really the colour I dislike, it's the way it highlights that piece of recessed bodywork under the oval grill. If they hadn't recessed that piece, I think it would have looked great.
That looked like the most fun he has ever had in a car, in the jag
2022 and this vid is still shot like artwork 8 years already
Its 2024 - still agree!!
I suspect the traction control (TC) was turned off on the XKRS (probably on both cars) - and you need exceptional skill to pilot the Jaguar around a circuit without this control.
I had some race tuition with Palmer Racing who used the less powerful XKR. With the TC engaged, it was impossible to spin the car (or hang out the tail) - no matter how much power you put down and where you were pointing the wheel. The TC on the XKR(S) inter-acts with the steering, the suspension, the throttle and (I think) the differential - at lightning speed, correcting things to give maximum performance. My (and my instructor's) lap times were a lot faster with the TC engaged.
BTW - it's the Jag for me - has more soul...
This guy sucks at driving. I just commented on it but I have to reiterate that he is a FOOL of a driver. This boy of a driver is an embarrassment...... I can also drift my XKR-S if I want to. if I'm actually pushing the car I leave the E-Diff on and it RIPS in the canyon. I have stayed directly behind a Gallardo Superleggera, F430, C6Z06 ect. this guy has no idea how to drive
Gotta know how to handle that Jag.It's giving you the power to win if you really know how to use it
I'm a Merc CL 500 owner and even I can admit that Jaguar XK is much better looking than the current SL. Ian Callum is easily the best designer in the car world right now. F-Type Coupe looks SPECTACULAR.
Would be interested to see lap times with traction control on..
That'd be interesting to see considering he was pedaling it the whole time in the Jag.
Best car journalist along with Chris Harris
Every one will look at the XKR-S there's a Mercedes every corner..
Jag!! No question!! Nothing looks better than going round a corner in ur own tire smoke!!
Should have tried the Jag with traction control for the fast lap.
Which gets us to a conclusion that modern car companies don't bother tuning the chassis to make car stable and balanced, but simply put a clever stability control to do all the stuff for you.
Whenever I see this Jag I can't help but think how much better it would look in British Racing Green
///AMG
XK...the original 4.2 is better in itself as a GT long distance cruiser.....and that is that...in my view
that jag is catchy by all means . i would go for that XKR-S all day
Jaguar looks better. Sounds better. More unique. More fun. Less up tight. Less stuck up. Less serious.
I'd take the Jaguar. In fact. I'd take any Jaguar over any of their German rivals. Have at me German car Nazis!
Dont forget that all contemporary Jags have "German Nazi" genes as they are entirely based on a Ford platform, so in essence you are paying 3-4 times the amount you normally would for a Mondeo when you get a Jag, plus the horrid quality.
Ferrari Scuderia i only liked your comment because of your name ! :D
Racist people don't love cars. They pretend to.
I'am not German but I would pay double the asking price for the SL, the ugly ass Jaq is so bad that even Jaguar stopped making them.
Narrowc ross
To each his own man. Everyone has a different preference in things, and I respect your opinion. I think the SL looks like a fat and ugly old mans car. But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
These videos are much more the sort of thing the Evo demographic is looking for guys! Much better than the NFS stuff previously. Well done!!
Man that French Racing Blue is so mint!
heart says jaguar xkr-s, brain says sl63 amg.
brain also says both of these cars are top notch and that if any of the people on here bashing either one got the keys to the car the next day, they'd be pretty chaffed. i know i would, so lets just appreciate these fine pieces of engineering hey
at 7:35 which video of the sls black series is that?
I'd take the Jag! That paint and hell cat looks... Beautiful!
If you will do drift laps prior to a fast lap, it's not surprising you got so much oversteer!
Power cars , but i prefer Jaguar , that sound
They should have put the Mercedes against the Jag F-type
Since this vid is about lapping, why don't you leave the drifting until AFTER so you have decent tyres for the lap ?!
i remember a time when an SL was a beautiful, light and elegant machine. now it's just a tasteless lump.
same goes for jaguar, but to a lesser extent
Light? When has ANY Merc ever been light weight? Ok ok so an SLS is fairly light for what it is (does) blah blah blah... But SL's have always been a beautiful big heavy man hammer in my mind. Same for the jaguar XK, there not lightweight sports cars, that's not really the point of either of them.
MotorsportMonkey I think he is talking about the 300sl, in which case he has a point, but you do too. Mercedes might have made the 300sl but the majority of their cars are massive and fairly heavy, although they are working towards making lighter cars.
Couldn't have said it better.
You are absolutely spot on! Whats the point of so much power if you cannot drive the damn thing? You're better off getting a standard SL500 or a XK. They look better and have way enough power to cruise around very fast.
MotorsportMonkey SL originally stood for "sport lightweight" its just looks like an absolute pudding now, and that Jag looks downright awful in that XKRS guise.
Great review as always Jethro !!! Can't wait for some track beasts next episode : D
Please do a New updated 2013 evora S manual vs Exige S. Could be very fun to watch:)!
Which is better for long-term reliability? I have heard horror stories of the merc's suspension needing $6000+ repairs after 60,000 miles
I wonder whats the name of that music clip at the end of the video
Drifting around on the in-lap surely doesn't help traction on the "fast" lap.
Where those flames coming out of the SL's exhaust? at 3:19
Would the result have been the same if the XKR-S coupe had been driven? Surely having the additional flexibility of the convertible shell wouldn't help the situation... Also, I've read in other threads that the TC on the Jag is very good, and makes it considerably easier to handle, without stifling the performance. Would like to see the coupe tested and with and without the TC engaged. Regardless, very entertaining video, and great driving. There's no doubt that the "Drop Dead Gorgeous" Jag is a beautiful design. And given that I don't drive on a race track every day, I think I know which I'd choose if I was in the enviable position to have to make such a choice for a daily driver :-) Especially for the price.
would have rather had the camera on the outside watching the slides
EVO Team, first of all thanks for these amazing videos. Second: can you put it i to context with the other cars you test and rank them all together in some kind of short overview? Even supershort, but at least like this we would know.. Thx. O
Why didn't you take SL65?
NEJKO077 why people always assume 65 is faster than 63?
both nice cars, but the one that made this guy smile the most was the jaguar. i think it would be better in every day use.
and the jag looks better in my opinion.
Awesome! I can't wait McLaren P1！
Does the XKR-S have some kind of an electric locking diff (if yes, doesn't seem to lock up/work that well) or a limited slip diff (needs more of it)? Those one wheel wonder out of the corner -slides look and must feel terrible. Looks like a pain in the ass to drive quickly. In my opinion a RWD car is much more fun to drive when you have to work a bit to get it sideways.
Old school evo videos are the best
Not to mention the SL63 is more refined, stiffer body structure and looks better. I drove the SL550 and that car in itself is a beast!
Kind of funny that german cars seem to always win against non-german cars. Just shows how much attention they pay to detailed engineering.
they actually are the better cars. just look at this jag interior
I don't care about lap times. the jag looks so fun to drive
Jethro, you're my favorite EVO presenter! And you have a badass name.
You know what would make evo really good? If they fired every presenter and just kept Jethro. Easily the best reporter behind Chris Harris in my opinion.
SL looks far better tho, and that AMG sound is just impeccable
the SL63 is so god damn ugly. That XKR-S, now that's something
No, I wouldn't call the SL ugly but it's not that pretty compared to the previous SL and the Jaguar
Yes, the XKRS is pretty bad on the track. I've driven it on both track and road. On the road, it still likes to go side ways if you are not careful with trottle
Turn off the ABC system in the SL, the under steer will reduce, widening the sweet spot of balance, although it will increase body roll
Can you turn it of?
I couldn't care less about track times as I'd likely never drive on one. Between the two, for sheer looks, the Jag wins. Toss the Merc in the trash.
Beautiful driving John, as I saw a dragrace that car spin at the finish at ~180 and the comentator exclamed that, anyway
Nice drifting Jethro
I own the Merc. It's okay but doesn't turn enough heads. I may have to upgrade to something more exotic / sexy.
Xkr-s for the win!
Jag is mental!😀
Wow, this is the only person who doesn't like the jag. Everyone else gave it top reviews.
I've driven an XK-RS in damp conditions, full throttle and the back doesn't fly off the track like this. Don't turn all the traction control off and it flys around with just a little kick at the back. There's no way I'd pay for that Merc over the Jag, it's just not interesting at all.
Eh, he hit the nail on the head when he asked "What is this car all about?" - if you want to go sideways all the time you can much more cheaply than the XKR-S. Buy a Holden or something
Jaguar made some nice cars that where almost up with the german competition a few years ago, but know they show their age. They still looks quite good, but the engines are not the best, the navigation units are really bad in jags etc...
.......doesnt the XK have more seats and the structure is heavier?
F-type will be a better comparison because they r both 2 seater convertible. Maybe wait until they have a R for convertible. right now V8S is only against the SL550. R is the Couper version which looks fantastic..but not fair if comparing to SL because F-type Coupe doesnt have that extra weight carrying the engine.
So if neither car is made for the track or at home on one, why are we watching them being compared there?
Maybe cos making things do stuff they weren't designed to do is not only very fun, but often revealing!
So then maybe they should do an off road comparison!! :)
How can you see the track with the sun in your eyes? I become totally blind when it happens xD
Hey guys! That's not even the Performance package SL63! It goes to 564 HP and 660+ Torque! And you get better suspension and brakes! And what a car it is this!
Realize, as these cars come off lease and value comes down to where middle class can afford it we visit these videos for the first time. Also the demographic who watch these videos have always been us.
So here I am, buying a used XKR.....
Please compare apples to apples, convertable vs coupe
I like the Merc AMG, but that Jag's Supercharged V8 sounds great!!!
California T all day every day. Great video, Jethro!
I would still buy the Jag.
Add Toyo r888r s, drop in tune and pulley, transforms the car. 12.4 1/4 mile stock (my time slip), 11.9 after aforementioned bolt ons (my time slip) God, I love grip and boost. lol
Why not the coupe, as that has much less roll? Why not the XKR-SGT, which has even less roll? Why does this driver claim to be able to demonstrate "as good as it gets" driving - does anyone know who he is?
I love both companies, but I rather take a BMW, and if I can afford it, Porsche
If I was to choose, it 'll be the jag rather than bmw
Jaguar only make eye candy , Mercedes make vans , trucks and taxi cabs ! But some good sports cars
Things that go vroom...
I dunno, Mercedes these days are are where BMW was 5-8 years ago in terms of chassis and suspension development, well and Jaguar was where Mercedes was about 10 years ago in terms of car 'concept' per se, with its big Supercharged V8 and lack of chassis finesse, where big power and torque is more important than all out handling (BMW). Sometimes the 'lairy-er' car is more fun tho.
BMW M6 Convertible was watching..........
Chris Harris did a versus of a SL 63 AMG convertible against a M6 coupe, and the SL won, because it was sportier, and felt lighter, quicker ..
gianhet Well, he said that he'll take the M6, but spend a whole year regreting not picking the SL.
gianhet Well, he said that he'll take the M6, but spend a whole year regreting not picking the SL.
idh0530 if he prefer m6, it doesn't mean that m6 is winner.
The question is how many people goes on a track with a car like this ?
Steevenoo haha.. I want even take my XKRS on the highway!! It’s so beautiful why muck it up... a track?! Hell to the no!!
I love SL.
Well not a Mercedes Fan and this jag is dated, though both cars are really nice. Think I would opt for something else - F-type perhaps, much better looking than both of those. And this SL63 AMG in this battle should be better than the XKR-S, it´s a nearly brand new car. Btw Is the XKR not coming to end production cycle?.
4 years too late, but correct me if I'm wrong, I think the coupe version of the Jag would set a better time....
XKR-S, easily. I've always looked at the SL's to be devoid of any distinguishing traits. It's one of those cars that will be forgotten and outdated in a matter of years. Assuming these cars are in the $100-150,000 range, I'd buy a used Ferrari California or a save up a bit for a '14 Porsche 911 Turbo instead.
Jag please
😊 Mercedes for me ofcourse Fantastic car and quality❤❤❤❤🇳🇴
I personally love the AMG that's my choice out of the two
Both cars need wider and lower profile tires. To much power for tires.
all though ill never drive the SL63 pushing the paddle a moment before I want to change gear would be so anoying
jag for me.
Well that was quite disappointing. I was hoping for some decent cars lurking under the hooligan image but they really are one trick ponies. The Merc looks very contrived on that suspension and looks like a pain to drive. The Jag is just silly. All that power and a chassis that could probably cope with half of it.
One each please...😎
What's the point of driving a non track specific car on a track just to say it sucks?
Jaguar best!!!
Don’t drive like hooligan the SL 63 and it will do give happiness and bliss whatever the lap time.
Pound foot of torque. Did you mean feet? Common British error.
I've owned my XKR-S for about 7 years now.......this guy had absolutely no idea how to drive this car. He isn't Randy.... he shouldn't have turned everything off. I have PUT THE CAR TO ITS LIMITS and watching this made me want to throw up, what a JOKE of a driver. If he had left the E-DIFF on and TC off it would have been a different animal. This guy has no idea what he is doing.........
Gotta b the Jaaaaag
boring image with the cam at the front of the cars ...
This guy is back here? After he hit a curb with that ferrari?
I just don’t care that 1 second slower on the track, the xkr-s looks much better than the Mercedes. I used to love the design of Mercedes SL, but the hilarious headlights on this generation ruined the beauty of the car.
no one will ever drives these cars on the track so this is pointless.
I'd have the jaaaaaaaaag.