RE: PH Heroes: Jaguar XJR-S

[BMWill]

Being born in the late 80s, the E type was never a contemporary of mine. Grew up in Brazil as well, so Jaguar for me, is about big saloons and premium luxury, and not so much about sportiness and going fast. So a coupe version of a saloon is definitely up my street. I remember when I came over to the UK during the holidays these were a common sight and have rapidly become a rare spotting these days... Shame really...
As much as I love these, can't see myself owning one for as long as say an XK8 or an XJ from the late 80s...


= )

[Affalterbach]

Good old Tom knew how to make a few bob out of anything. He even won Bathurst in an XJS that started his involvement in V8 Supercars.

[LuS1fer]

M666 EVO said:

johnxjsc1985 said:

LuS1fer said:

I was 16 and it was the biggest disappointment of my petrolhead existence, not least when Jaguar's brochure was a combined effort with some fashion house like Jaeger with lots of bad models trying to portray the sophistication of it all. The older Citroen SM blew it away...no, wait, everything did. I have the '76 Motor Show Review too - compulsory buying back then!

It isnt a boy racer car and dosent really bother getting going until it hits 90mph+ then stick your Citroen next to it and see it dissapear into the distance.Its a Grand Tourer a long distance car not a drag racer.

Agreed... I had mine easily at 140 on the M2 before I sold it, had more to go and it was effortless. My Uncle had an SM years ago, it wouldn't keep anywhere near it. V6 vs V12? Uhem...

I have never doubted it's waftiness or power credentials, the above was merely a comment on it's design which IMHO is revolting but clearly other people have a different view. When I said "blew it away", I meant in the looks department. I would take an SM at twice the price without blinking. I'm not anti-Jag either - I love the old XJ6s and 12s which again IMHO I would far rather have on aesthetic grounds.

FWIW, an XJS V12 did once throw the gauntlet down to my 1985 Corvette. Unfortunately the digital instruments on my Corvette had failed so I have no idea at what speed his engine blew but the trail of sparks from the exhaust was certainly a terminal affair. I should emphasise there that I am not casting a slur on Jag reliability or ability to cover distance at high speed either as in the same Corvette I once had a very enjoyable high-speed blast with an E-Type (I think that was V12 also) and it did remarkably well.

[chunkymonkey71]

Oddball RS said:

Stuff the Jag, i want/NEED that TR7/8!!!!!

Exactly what I was thining!

[P9UNK]

vixen1700 said:

P9UNK said:

back in the day, I was 9 when it came out, it looked very modern and a quick flick through a Motorshow guide of the day (there was a red one front on on the 1976 Daily Mail motor show review) would show you that it did look pretty good beside what else was available. Today it hasn't aged like the classic E-type but back then the E Type looked a bit yesterday and the XJS was tomorrow.

I found that very publciation whilst at my mum's house the other week, it's sitting in my car at the moment. That red one always looked great on the cover.

I knew someone on here would remember it, odd thing is I haven't seen that magazine for years. many years but remember the picture really vividly, and hence have a soft spot for early XJSs. Hope you enjoy looking at the models from 1976...

[M666 EVO]

LuS1fer said:

M666 EVO said:

johnxjsc1985 said:

LuS1fer said:

I was 16 and it was the biggest disappointment of my petrolhead existence, not least when Jaguar's brochure was a combined effort with some fashion house like Jaeger with lots of bad models trying to portray the sophistication of it all. The older Citroen SM blew it away...no, wait, everything did. I have the '76 Motor Show Review too - compulsory buying back then!

It isnt a boy racer car and dosent really bother getting going until it hits 90mph+ then stick your Citroen next to it and see it dissapear into the distance.Its a Grand Tourer a long distance car not a drag racer.

Agreed... I had mine easily at 140 on the M2 before I sold it, had more to go and it was effortless. My Uncle had an SM years ago, it wouldn't keep anywhere near it. V6 vs V12? Uhem...

I have never doubted it's waftiness or power credentials, the above was merely a comment on it's design which IMHO is revolting but clearly other people have a different view. When I said "blew it away", I meant in the looks department. I would take an SM at twice the price without blinking. I'm not anti-Jag either - I love the old XJ6s and 12s which again IMHO I would far rather have on aesthetic grounds.

FWIW, an XJS V12 did once throw the gauntlet down to my 1985 Corvette. Unfortunately the digital instruments on my Corvette had failed so I have no idea at what speed his engine blew but the trail of sparks from the exhaust was certainly a terminal affair. I should emphasise there that I am not casting a slur on Jag reliability or ability to cover distance at high speed either as in the same Corvette I once had a very enjoyable high-speed blast with an E-Type (I think that was V12 also) and it did remarkably well.

Ah I see. Well beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I like them both but for me, the Jag just edges in front but each to their own

Both my Jags were faultless but I have heard horror stories from other people, just depends on how much research shopping around you do I guess. Then again I have a Lancia that is faultless so maybe I am just VERY lucky!

[johnxjsc1985]

It is not a race runless you want to get up and above 140 mph which it will do all day long and in some comfort.I wouldnt touch an American car with a barge pole looks performance or otherwise gross.

[chrisg330d]

This looks like a tasty project...

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1983-JAGUAR-XJS-HE-5-3-V12-S...

[derestrictor]

I'm sorry but as fabulously smooth as the V12 is/was, it was mountain in promise yet a mole hill delivery.

Yes, I had one, for years and yes, I loved it (still do) but my esteemed colleague, Norfolk (aka Vario-Rob) who amongst various strokes of inspiration had/sort of still has a Lister version, recently claimed elsewhere that the claimed 298 bhp was, well, reaching.

The difference between mine and a late 928S2 (itself stating just 310 brake with some ballast, too) was farcical.

They were many, many things but remotely swift?

[911motorsport]

This in my garage at the moment. 7ltr Lister LeMans

[

And yes, there is an awful lot going on under the bonnet

Edited by 911motorsport on Monday 6th June 18:19

[johnxjsc1985]

IT was a Grand Tourer it was never meant to be "swift" you could drive all day in comfort at high speed ho whard is that to understand.
Yes it had faults and still has but comparing it against cars which are not in the same class i.e GT 4 seaters (yes I know)is just silly. Its a heavy car so it doesnt exactly leave the lights like a rocket and I believe it was never intended to do.
I have had all variants from 3.6 to 6.0 they do exactly what they were designed to/. Tom Walkinshaw did show that the car had a great chassis and the V12 could challenge cars in the same era with some notable victories.
Never had a TWR or XJRS so I cant say how much quicker they were than the standard but please judge it fairly not with continual outdated anectdotes.

[VinJ262]

In the article Brett mentions Steed's Broadspeed XJC, I loved that car, it was easily the coolest car on TV at the time, a quick Google search revealed this video of it
Steed in the Broadspeed
http://www.veoh.com/watch/v16298755kr5N4Gc7
which had me in hysterics so I thought that I would post it here to brighten an otherwise dull day.
My mate's dad gave him his old 5.3HE XJS last year to make more room in the garage, he owned it from new and it has been garaged ever since so it is in vgc, lucky bloke.

[johnxjsc1985]

Thats funny good old Steed he knew how to handle a Jag

[deadslow]

johnxjsc1985 said:

Never had a TWR or XJRS so I cant say how much quicker they were than the standard but please judge it fairly not with continual outdated anectdotes.

I've had a 6.0, like yourself, and I have driven a facelift xjrs. The 'r' was just a bit more hunkered down, solid on the road, steered beautifully. Both about the same performance as I recall, also about the same performance as my 928 S4, another great car which is incessantly slated for not being a 911. Some folks just don't get it.

[911motorsport]

911motorsport said:

This in my garage at the moment. 7ltr Lister LeMans

[

And yes, there is an awful lot going on under the bonnet

Edited by 911motorsport on Monday 6th June 18:19

Sorry for image size lol. That's better!

Edited by 911motorsport on Monday 6th June 19:14

[johnxjsc1985]

911motorsport said:

Sorry for image size lol. That's better!

According to some thats no good because a) it isnt an E type and B)it isnt a Corvette
I have seen a couple of listers and they look like my car on steroids very scary but they look fantastic and again probably only come alive well in excess of 100mph.Beautiful car.

[johnxjsc1985]

deadslow said:

I've had a 6.0, like yourself, and I have driven a facelift xjrs. The 'r' was just a bit more hunkered down, solid on the road, steered beautifully. Both about the same performance as I recall, also about the same performance as my 928 S4, another great car which is incessantly slated for not being a 911. Some folks just don't get it.

The biggest fault ever levelled at the XJS is that it isnt an E type I expect you understand what I mean from your Porsche 928 S4 conversations.

[moe]

"...the suspension geometry was left unchanged - and the fact that it could wear the widest tyres permitted in the regs."

I was under the impression that TWR hacked away a good bit of the rear inner wing so that the suspension could be brought inwards and bigger tyres could be fitted. I read somewhere that Walkinshaw BS'd the scutineers into believing that a S.African model existed with these specs and therefor it was eligible.

[LuS1fer]

johnxjsc1985 said:

It is not a race runless you want to get up and above 140 mph which it will do all day long and in some comfort.I wouldnt touch an American car with a barge pole looks performance or otherwise gross.

You wouldn't be able to catch one to touch it with a barge pole.

Edited by LuS1fer on Monday 6th June 19:57

[300bhp/ton]

johnxjsc1985 said:

It is not a race runless you want to get up and above 140 mph which it will do all day long and in some comfort.I wouldnt touch an American car with a barge pole looks performance or otherwise gross.

Sorry but that's a little niave. You can't tar every American car with the brush.

For reference I went from an 82 V12 XJ-S to a 99 Camaro. The Jag was great and super smooth but the Camaro out performs it in every way - easily. And returns 24mpg when the XJ-S would be more like 11-14mpg.