Lexwang07

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epxbQ2xfBZg
Vehicle: 2010 Jaguar XF Premium
Odometer: 1,345
Date: 05/05/09
Driver: Chris Walton

Price: $65,075

Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 6-speed automatic
Engine Type: V8
Displacement (cc / cu-in): 5,000cc (305 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 6,800
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 385 @ 6,500
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 380 @ 3,500
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): Ventilated disc
Steering System: Speed-proportional power steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, unequal-length forged double wishbone with electronically controlled, two-stage adaptive dampers, 31mm stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink with electronically controlled, two-stage adaptive dampers, 16mm stabilizer bar

Tire Size (front): 255/35R20
Tire Size (rear): 255/35R20
Tire Brand: Dunlop
Tire Model: SP Sport Maxx J
Tire Type: Performance
Wheel Size: 20 X 8.5 front and rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): Alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 4,185


Test Results:
0 - 30 (sec): 2.3
0 - 45 (sec): 3.9
0 - 60 (sec): 5.7
0 - 75 (sec): 8.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 13.9 @ 102.5
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.4
30 - 0 (ft): 28
60 - 0 (ft): 106
Braking Rating: Excellent
Slalom (mph): 63.8
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): .82
Handling Rating: Very good
Db @ Idle: 47.1
Db @ Full Throttle: 73.5
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 71.1

Acceleration Comments: I tried everything possible to get some wheelspin to no avail: Drive, Sport, the little flag that indicates dynamic mode with manual shifts, TRAC DSC, etc... Crispest upshifts in Sport mode, but not manual. Nice upshift indicator, but it's too conservative. Great V8 sounds.

Braking Comments: Tremendously powerful brakes that are virtually fade-free. Hard pedal from start to finish. Little dive and no squirm.

Handling Comments: (Skidpad) Cannot shut off DSC -- which begins with breathing the throttle, then gentle braking. Steering gets a little heavier and tracks well. Eventually held my foot to the floor w/DSC on. (Slalom) Hard to predict DSC. Grip feels trustworthy, then a brake clamps down to mitigate understeer. Good steering response, but doesn't care much for transitions.


Vehicle: 2009 BMW 550i
Odometer: 1,207
Date: 05/05/09
Driver: Chris Walton

Price: $72,345

Specifications:
Drive Type: Rear-wheel drive
Transmission Type: 6-speed automatic
Engine Type: V8
Displacement (cc / cu-in): 4,799cc (292 cu-in)
Redline (rpm): 7,000
Horsepower (hp @ rpm): 360 @ 6,300
Torque (lb-ft @ rpm): 360 @ 3,400
Brake Type (front): Ventilated disc
Brake Type (rear): Ventilated disc
Steering System: Speed-proportional power steering
Suspension Type (front): Independent, MacPherson struts, coil springs, lower control arms and adjustable stabilizer bar
Suspension Type (rear): Independent, multilink, coil springs and adjustable stabilizer bar
Tire Size (front): 235/35ZR19 Z
Tire Size (rear): 275/30ZR19 Z
Tire Brand: Continental
Tire Model: Sport Contact 2
Tire Type: Performance
Wheel Size: 19 X 8.0 front/19 X 11.0 rear
Wheel Material (front/rear): Alloy
As tested Curb Weight (lb): 3,998

Test Results:
0 - 30 (sec): 2.1
0 - 45 (sec): 3.7
0 - 60 (sec): 5.5
0 - 75 (sec): 8.2
1/4 Mile (sec @ mph): 13.7 @ 102.7
0-60 with 1-ft Rollout (sec): 5.2
30 - 0 (ft): 28
60 - 0 (ft): 111
Braking Rating: Very Good
Slalom (mph): 64.9
Skid Pad Lateral acceleration (g): .87
Handling Rating: Very good
Db @ Idle: 47.9
Db @ Full Throttle: 70.8
Db @ 70 mph Cruise: 66.3

Acceleration Comments: Could muster only a little tire scratch, and this engine doesn't have much down low. Upshifts are very smooth and not especially quick.

Braking Comments: Reliable feel and distances. No fade or squirm. Little dive.

Handling Comments: (Slalom) Steering feel unnecessarily heavy, but responds well. This car likes to be chucked around. The active antiroll bars are obvious but not intrusive or awkward. (Skidpad) Excellent balance between understeer and oversteer, easy to find limit and keep it there with throttle input. Steering feel was so-so -- a little heavy.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

The most shocking thing about this is the $73,000 price for the 5 series.

Great car? Yes. Overpriced? Completely.

There is no way I would dish over an extra $10k+ for that car when the GS460, M45, and new E550(cheaper) are available.

LexFather

2 fantastic cars. Jag continues to get rave revies with the XF. In EVO/Car they even like the R over the M5!

I saw 2 yesterday on 20s or 22s and it looked great.

M5Guy

Hate to be the defender of BMW here (hell, my screen name is M5Guy), but go check out e60.net and bimmerfest.com and see what 550 owners say about their cars. It is pretty scary. Many of these people have owned cars that cost a lot more and yet claim the 550 is one of if not the best car they have ever owned. IMHO, I don't think the car is overpriced if it is that amazing. You should maybe go test drive one - then again, maybe you shouldn't

CDNROCKIES

You must have missed the memo.

Didn't you know that the propellor on the hood alone costs +$5K?

LexFather

Not to mention MSRP means nothing, most are leased...you get the 550 for the lease price of an old Jag X-type

Fantastic car though. Both of them.

M5guy, thanks for posting, I am sure its a beast to own. Where is doug, he loved his and upgraded to a M5.

FKL

I honestly don't understand this "BMW steering is too heavy" crap. The steering feel on the 5-Series, especially the 550i is close to perfect. If anything, I wish Audi and Mercedes would tune their racks to be that heavy.

Fleainat

I have to agree. I have driven both the current M5 and 550i, and I have not ever driven anything close to either. You can't take a simple stat (braking, etc.) and make a car. The current 5, despite being out for several years now, has a tank-like feel that makes my IS350 feel like a total joke.

BMWs are much more expensive, but there's a reason they are...

FKL

The "tank feeling" common on German cars comes partly from the finely weighted steering, the same steering they are complaining about here. The IS is light and numb, which makes it feel more darty, less heavy. This is just my opinion.

Fleainat

Yeah -- it also makes the IS feel cheap and light. To me, it's the seats, suspension, insulation, steering, materials, leather, engine sound, pretty much everything that make the 5 so much better (except the electronics!)...

I'm very happy with my IS and I plan to keep it for a long time, but if I had unlimited funds, I can't imagine a better car than the 5 (for me personally).

I8ABMR

I think its hilarious that they were compared on a track. Both of these car, although very qiuck, will never see a second on a race track. I personally like the Jag more, but when you read the long term tests in Road and Track, they say that the car has had some serious mechanical issues like a blown differntial, shifter module, etc. I will stick to my underpowerd, but overly reliable Japanese sedans. The BMW drivers must be slanging good **** to be able to pay that price for a 550. No wonder I never see them on the streets. actually the other day I followed one ( 1st one I have ever see) and he tried to pull. I punched it and was a good 3 lengths behind him, but because he was an old guy he was afraid to take it over 100 mph I passed his elderly *** quickly.

92 SC400

That Jag has a lot of body roll compared to the 550i and an interesting exhaust note.

dunnojack

i wish my GS exhaust could sound like that bmw's straight out of the factory.

bmw has some of the best factory exhaust sounds