Test-driving cars leads to lots of time on the road. And it's amazing what you see.
Americans live, eat and sleep with their automobiles, and many, who otherwise are fine folks,
act like complete imbeciles behind the wheel.
Some drivers want to use their cars to take out their daily frustrations on complete strangers.
Some simply fail to realize that anyone else is around. You've seen them: the inconsiderate
cruiser driving 10 mph below the speed limit. Or the cell phone blabbing, Big Mac-eating
dolt trying to shave and read his Blackberry while changing lanes. These people are
hazardous to themselves and, more importantly, to me.
It's no wonder road rage is a national phenomenon. Spend a few days on the road and
watch your fuse shrivel to subcompact proportions.
Enter the 2007 Jaguar XKR convertible: The panacea for angry driving everywhere.
Behind the wheel of this beautiful machine, other people's annoying driving idiosyncrasies
wash over you as gently as the morning sun. I tested the XKR convertible for a week
during Detroit's recent heat wave and never felt the powerful urge to exact revenge on
overly aggressive or inconsiderate motorists. Instead, I would just turn up the stereo and smile.
I'm in a Jag, life is beautiful; go ahead, cut me off. I'll pass you soon enough.
Just approaching the redesigned XKR convertible in a parking lot gives you butterflies.
This car collects a crowd. People walk around it, agape at its broad stance and long lines.
And unlike other test vehicles I've driven, most of the admiring comments came from women.
After sharing that bit of information with my wife, she decided to ride with me in the $96,000
frost blue soft-top convertible the rest of the week. Good thing there wasn't anyone else
with us, as the 2+2 convertible couldn't fit them in the back. The second row might
handle a box or two but not full-sized people.
Nothing to grouse over though, because from the driver's perspective, who cares who or
what's trying to squeeze in the back. I'm not.
Carefree convertible
The new XKR convertible carries all the sophistication of its coupe sibling, but with a
more carefree attitude. Its wide stance draws the car's body along strong horizontal lines,
a design cue often used to induce tranquility and suggest strength. Its thin oval mesh
grille and bigger intake below the bumper stretch the car's width.
It looks more posh than powerful.
The narrow headlights and fog lights pushed nearly around the corners of the sloping
front end add to the XKR's dramatic styling.
Its well-proportioned profile is even more spectacular. A long front end hints at the
car's powerful Eaton supercharger under the hood. Its flowing profile is broken only
by the vertical trim piece, which includes a turn indicator, behind the front wheel.
While many convertibles have large rear ends to accommodate their fold-up tops,
the XKR's back side remains sleek and includes four exhaust tips and a tasteful
rear spoiler at the top of the trunk. It's an understated beauty.
Surrounded by luxury
From the driver's seat, the XKR convertible feels just as luxurious. My test car,
which included the $2,100 optional luxury package, had a leather-trimmed instrument
panel and 16-way adjustable leather power seats. The controls were on the door
instead of near the floor on the side.
Actually, the number of choices for the seat and power-adjusted steering wheel
can make finding the perfect position difficult. The three memory settings,
which include side mirror positions, help avoid losing that exact position.
Once you find the perfect seating position, staying calm on the road is easy.
Every amenity is at your finger tips. Excellent fit and finish surrounds you.
The burl walnut veneer-finished trim helps set a relaxing mood. Everything from the
leather-wrapped steering wheel to the heated seats adds to the solace.
I had only a few quibbles with the XKR's cabin. When the top is down, the optional
navigation screen can be difficult to read because of the sun's glare. And with the
top up, I could hear a slight whiny whirl from the wind. Other luxury convertibles
I've tested were quieter with their tops sealed shut.
However, those are minor when looking at the XKR's total package.
Brawn matches beauty
If this were merely a trophy car, all beauty and no brawn, it might not be worth its price
tag. But the XKR's performance matches its stellar looks.
The 4.2-liter 420-horsepower supercharged engine allows this British beast to blast most
cars off the road while maintaining an extraordinarily smooth ride. Even with a zero-to-60
acceleration under five seconds, the car remains extremely agile and smooth on the road.
Its Computer Active Technology Suspension actively adjusts the car's dampening
system to maintain a balance between the car's power and handling. Push the envelope
and the ride becomes stiffer; stay calm and it remains mellow. It also includes a
Dynamic Stability Control with traction control to set the car's suspension for different rides.
The XKR rips through tight corners with little body roll and good handling. Its optional
20-inch tires stick to the road and let you push this car's performance. In most cases,
it'll be more car than you'll ever need -- exactly the point of a thoroughbred. Its steering
is clean and precise, whether topping local speed limits or whipping the car through
a left turn.
Staying calm, cool and collected on the highway is easy when you know your car's
capabilities. There's something reassuring when you spy that truck bearing down in
your mirror, deciding it won't let you merge, even though your lane is about to end.
The XKR instills the confidence needed to kick in the supercharger and blast into
your rightful position. No anger, no finger pointing, just driving.
The XKR convertible uses little touches of technology to enhance the driving experience.
The Xenon high intensity headlights with automatic leveling and cornering lights provide
more illumination on the side as you turn the wheel. These things may not sound like
much, but once you use them, you've gotta' have them.
The XKR convertible sets higher standards for luxurious sports coupes. It's the kind
of vehicle that makes it tough to stay mad once you're behind the wheel. That's
something American roads could use a little more of: calm drivers willing to let
bygones be bygones.
While everyone won't be able to throw down nearly $100,000 for one, if they did, they'd
certainly drive with a little more care and consideration.
As the best part of this vehicle is not racing it, it's being seen in it.
