Finally got off my arse

Cheers Chris! I saved them in my google photos as well (I love that service!) as the advert photos were, for once, really good. They show it a bit more of a chrome-red than it looks in real life, but so far my photos are making it look more of a pinky red than it looks to the eye (I've not had the full-fat DSLR on it yet). Cameras - film or digital - all interpret colours differently. 

It's no shrinking violet, less of a Q car than any I have owned back to the orange Caterham I think. Though the facelift XF's in "r sport" trim often have bodykits, black wheels, and badges all over them so in reality its no more obvious vs its peers than the last one was.

That looks absolutely amazing and I must admit I don’t mind the wheels. I still think the original XF looks so much better than the new one. Glad you’re loving it and have no buyers regret, it sounds like the right decision especially as I reckon it’ll be about three years until good Guilia QF’s reach that price point.

When the black pack was introduced on facelift X250s, that boot plinth was body colour - but this is why you could only have the black pack with 5 colours.

When the black pack was then offered on all colours, they reduced complexity by fitting a black plinth to all BP cars.

I managed to find some pictures of an XF-RS sportbrake where the owner swapped the wheels for the standard 20 inch Nevis alloy - it looks superb - see below




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Thanks - I was wondering what in hell a "boot plinth" was when I was going through the spec of mine at the dealer. I don't dislike it in black. Overall the rear of the facelift car, with the spoiler and diffuser, looks a lot meaner and in a 500bhp car that is how it should be!

I like the standard Nevis wheels, though they are a little old school and suit the pre-facelift better. Of course, I have a nice set of them already, and for 4 months a year my car will be wearing them!

I have to say, aside from the fact I've already taken a little of the black paint off the NSR and this may be an ongoing issue (if easily solved with some black touch-up paint) I am quite liking the black wheels, they work with the car somehow. The best looking old-shape E63 AMG I found was black with black wheels, and before my red one came up I was going to go and see this XFR this week, which I think looks fantastic, on the outside anyway, though on other colours I don't love the Draco wheels (which I think are very dark grey):

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201805176604972

Also this is one like mine but without black pack and with Nevis wheels, it looks nice but there is no doubt the amount of silver on show, and the wood interior trim, however darkened (mine is carbon fibre) makes it look a little old school, though I do like the cream leather stitching:

www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201804215782402

Here is mine, taken with a compact camera, second shot is not a good one but there for amusement as that's the ex rugby-playing neighbour's Jaaaag too!

I think the dark grey and even black Dracos wheels (as in the first autotrader link) look good as they have the polished rims which offsets the dark area.

That black XFR with the black pack and dark Dracos wheels is the ultimate stealth fighter external spec for an XFR, utterly naff carbon fibre wing mirror and vent covers excluded. But internally it needs black seats to go with the black headlining.

The second red one is pretty much a copy of my spec, although I have silver Dracos wheels. I agree it is more "old school" - but then I am older ;-)

Great pics, it really is a great looking car in that shade of red. Bet your neighbour’s jealous, is he still talking to you?

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Had my first proper run in it today, 6 hours or so. It does drive quite differently to the old one, with a lot more (and smoother) gear changes, less tramlining, and so overall an even more refined and relaxed feel, helped by an interior which is both more modern and has lovely matte, soft leather. There are no rattly windows, door panels resonating with the speakers, and so on - the interior and the infotainment are much better, all bar the cheesy american lady on the voice control. Even the navigation seems fit for purpose, not that I'll use it much. The dials too look much nicer and I have yet to have the TPMS errors that were previously almost non-stop! And I find the stereo every bit as good as the B&W.

The engine note I am still getting used to - its louder and angrier than the other one at idle and low speeds, but does not develop into the same lovely bassy woofly V8 note either at higher revs, or the occasional spot lower in the rev range where the old one resonated a little even at small throttle openings. It sounds like a V6 at times, with the V8 note coming more when it is revved hard. It's a more modern sound, I need to explore the upper rev ranges a bit more, and hear it from outside, before a verdict. The old one got louder with miles too, as the baffles in the exhaust broke down presumably. Given that the rear P Zeros - despite nearly 4mm tread - try to kill me every time I get on the gas hard, even in this weather, learning the high revs notes may take a bit longer!

Those tyres are shocking. I see people liking the P Zeros, I will be going for PS4's soon on the rear, I may treat myself and get them all round despite the front Pirellis feeling OK and having 5mm on them - tyres make such a difference, why compromise for a big % of your time with a car?

The big surpise so far is MPG. I used to get very high 20's on long runs (75 indicated cruising speed typically) but this one averaged nearly 34 today, one section was 36. That's amazing. The stop start works really well too, some are awful but this one barely delays driving away. I reckon it's using 15% less fuel than the last one for the same trip and for a remap of the same engine plus an 8 speed box that is superb! It's still pretty awful MPG on short town trips but at least stop start lets me dream its better.

That is great fuel economy. I think the best we've ever seen with the 6 speed box is 28.

Thats lovely Alf,enjoy.


Stunts what are you getting mpg from the gt4 ? I averaged 17,I am actually getting 20 from the gt3.

I might talk about MPG sometimes, but you're right - you have to make a purchase like this with your eyes wide open and to hell with common sense finances.  I'm still impressed at the MPG that ALF's XFR is delivering.  I'm happy enough with the M3's fuel economy and it's getting (slightly) better as the car gets older.

Exactly.  Whilst it might not be an issue when making the decision, saving money vs what you expect is something to pleased about.  I budgeted on 25mpg and am getting 31-32mpg overall.  That’s a big saving on 25k miles a year.