EL xr6 vs xr8

[scattastic]

considering getting myself and el xr8, and was just wondering is it worth the extra money over the xr6. of course theres always going to be stigma of having those lovely extra couple of cilinders and a six just wouldn't sound the same. but i'm more conserned about is it really worth the money for that extra bit of speed? is there much difference in speeds? is there any concerns about either vehicle i should know about.

thanks in advance.

[INJECTED_250]

if speed is all that matters.. THEn the xr8 has to be a series 2 to be faster than an xr6 manual. All xr6 manuals were faster than the XR8 up untill EL series 2 which had the 185kw motor and 3.45 Gears.
If it was my choice id get either an Xr6 EL manual or an xr8 series 2.
If u want an auto i think the xr8 is the only real choce...

[EDXR8]

There isn't much difference at all, infact in the series 1's the XR6 is probably a bit quicker. Really depends on what your prefer driving, personally I like the V8 engine far better, better torque characteristics and cleaner reving IMO, plus they do sound much better too.

[QUIKXR6]

However you can make a 6 cylinder sound nice aswell....depends on how much power your after...with all the work u do to a six you might be able to get out of it about 180kw at the wheels...otherwise you can get heaps more power out of an 8 but you'd have to spend more $$$...the 8's tend to weigh a bit more and there fore are bit more sluggish on takeofff..

[LowEL2XR8]

EL XR8 series 2 isnt as quick as an EL XR6. I've got a EF XR6 and EL XR8 series 2 and my XR6 is quicker down the 1/4 by .3 seconds. Even feel the difference driving. The XR6 has more poke and feels lighter. Both my cars are manuals. If I was going to pick between an EL XR6 and EL XR8 series 2 I'd still take the 6 but it has to be manual.

[EDXR8]

There are a few EL2 XR8's (and some earlier model 165kw XR8's) running sub 15 1/4 mile times with only exhaust. Normally it takes a fair it to get a 6cyl into the 14's. In stock form the 6's are great, but it doesnt take much to get the V8's going really nicely, and these days even the more serious V8 mods like heads, cam etc are getting far cheaper. Either way you will have a very nice car.

[vegabass]

Both are nice cars but i think its cheaper doing mods to the 6 rather than the 8's (based on 2 heads/extractors/fuel/ so forth)

Bloody nice car though. I wouldnt mind having one

[stockstandard]

Originally Posted by QUIKXR6

However you can make a 6 cylinder sound nice aswell

I am yet to hear a I6 that sounds nice :(

In stock form it seems to come down the the condition of the indervidual car. When you start modifying them, the I6 get results which cheaper mods but will hit the limits of power far sooner than the V8.

Each has good and bad points but overall I dont think there is much between them. I would pick the 8 just for the exhaust note.

[EBFalcs]

and the fact of having a V8, they're just so damn intimidating when your in a six

[LTD boy]

what about handling, I haven't driven an eight to compare the two does that extra weight over the the front wheels effect the feel of the car that much ?

[scattastic]

thanks for the info lads.

i should have been more specific. i will not be buying anything other than a manual. i originally learnt how to drive with an auto, but only really started to love driving after i got a stick. i also should have mentioned that i was thinking of getting the series 2, if i decided to go with the xr8.

just looking arround on car point and car sales ect, theres a bloody lot of xr6's of quite good quality for sale, and only one xr8, a 97 model, don't know wether it's a series 2 or not. i've heard that manul xr8's are pretty rare.

has anybody had any problems with either vehicle?

[347Stroker]

My ELII XR8 ran 14.94 in total factory stock trim. Exhaust and all.....

[EDXR8]

Originally Posted by LTD boy

what about handling, I haven't driven an eight to compare the two does that extra weight over the the front wheels effect the feel of the car that much ?

The V8s run stiffer springs to counteract the heavier engine and IMO they both handle pretty much the same. You would have to be really pushing it to find much of a difference, and you quickly get use to that little differences after driving it for a bit,

[FPVWEPN]

Originally Posted by stockstandard

I am yet to hear a I6 that sounds nice :(

well u obviously haven't heard mine

[EFFalcon]

dunno about that, I6 sounds ИИИИ compared to V8 :P
and unfortauntely we always compare to a V8 :P

[mcflux]

A grey motor with twin stommies always sounds horn to me

And there's about 40kg difference between the V8 and I6 I think. Slap on some alloy heads (hehe) and the difference is probably only 20kg.

[Kenaz]

Originally Posted by 347stroker

My ELII XR8 ran 14.94 in total factory stock trim. Exhaust and all.....

Well there you go. I've never heard of a stock E-series 6 coming anywhere near that sort of time.

well u obviously haven't heard mine

But even yours thats had a fair bit of money spent on the engine wouldn't sound as good as a stock Windsor with a cheap 2.5" or 3" exhaust.

[EASPRINT]

I've got a Series 1 EL XR8 5speed, and it floggs my mates EF XR6 5 speed. Mine did a 15.01sec pass with my first and only run.

[BroncosXR8]

I got a Series II XR8 and is absolutly awesome, haven't had a 6 beat it yet and it's fairly stock, there's some on carsales.com.au (including mine... had to give it a plug).
Beat my mates VS Clubbie easily too.

[XplosiveR6]

you also got to take into consideration, weather the extra fuel costs are worth it for bit of noise

[LowEL2XR8]

I obviously dont launche very well with my car then if you guys can get low 15s and into 14s with a stock/next to stock EL XR8.
Someone teach me how to launch!!!! lol

[INJECTED_250]

Originally Posted by EBFalcs

and the fact of having a V8, they're just so damn intimidating when your in a six

It just makes them more fun to BEAT :> when youre in a 6.
I hardly find the sound of a stock Wheasor anything to get excited about either :>

[devilracer_01]

I find my EL XR6 very easy to drive and very nimble feels very light, do sturggle at time to get it to launch, mainly cause its an auto, this worries me a little for heathcote in a few weeks time, any advice on launching an auto???

[EL XR8]

Performance wise they're pretty much equal. There's hardly anything in them whether it be a Series 1 or 2.
The fuel economy thing is no where near as bad as people make it out to be.
I got 800kms out of tank crusing on 110km/h to Canberra out of my Series 1 EL XR8. Still got 600+ with the blower. used to get 450+ around town, only with exhaust and extractors.
The pro's about an XR8, they sound better, hands down winner, and you wont do head gaskets like the sixes do. Will last longer than a six.
The Con's, Harder to find and more expensive, for not a lot of speed difference (if any). Power increases aren't cheap.

[mcflux]

Originally Posted by devilracer_01

I find my EL XR6 very easy to drive and very nimble feels very light, do sturggle at time to get it to launch, mainly cause its an auto, this worries me a little for heathcote in a few weeks time, any advice on launching an auto???

Compare tromping it off the line with stalling up to around 2000rpm and launching (left foot firmly on brake, right foot feathering accelerator, but so that wheels aren't spinning).

[xr8ute]

I would pick a manual EL2 XR8 over an XR6 without a second thought. So much more potential, than the I6, if/when you are after some extra herbs as well...

[devilracer_01]

Originally Posted by Ghia5L

Compare tromping it off the line with stalling up to around 2000rpm and launching (left foot firmly on brake, right foot feathering accelerator, but so that wheels aren't spinning).

Thanks for the advice.