SOTW: Jaguar XJ6

Author
Discussion

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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StoatInACoat said:
In fairness his did go to the garage every time it had a funny noise as we were under no illusions that it would need to be maintained properly. OE tyres and parts etc. Having said that I tend to do the same with my cars (although do the work myself usually) and the Jag was lovely to work on compared to the French tin boxes I'm used to so that doesn't worry me too much. I think an oil change on this engine is about 8 litres worth though!
Yes indeed, they do take 8 litres or so. I remember taking my X300 Sport for an oil service at my mate's BMW specialist garage, and even he was shocked that it took so much oil!

But, they need good maintenance in order to be running 'right'. Sounds like you guys pampered your one... Hence why it behaved!

blartbox

48 posts

143 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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I have to disagree with some of the comments the author makes about the Series III XJs. They were the best looking XJs with the later glasshouse & flush doorhandles. The fuel injection systems on these were pretty reliable, from an era when the engineers wanted to make it reliable, before experimenting with how they could make it cheaper. The heatsinks in the ECU were the size of a small pacific island. The diffs were weak though, & the inboard rear brakes were a pain. The main SIII bogey was terminal rust. The X300 cars are not immune; a look behind the front wheelarch liners can be sobering...The engine has fewer bogeys than the troublesome V8, & it's a six which is naturally better balanced. Car magazine summed up the XJ as 'wheeled emolliant'. Quite

rejn

1,991 posts

221 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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pSyCoSiS said:
wildcat45 said:
I sniff round these now and then. So much potential heartache, so much to love.

The only problem is my wife hates Jags like this. She associates them with Minder and dodgy old blokes in camel coats.

That's a good thing surely? Apparenlty not. I came across an reasonably good 1996 XJR a few months ago. and about a mile from my house, there is a gorgeous, moody old R reg Daimler X300 LWB. Light met blue with cream hide. It may even be one of the last V12s....I think they put them in the X300, but I could be talking rubbish there.
They did put a a V12 in the Daimler, think they were the Double Six models?
yes As well as the Daimlers, there were a few X300 Jaguar XJ12s - and a friend of mine has a factory manual X300 XJ12 - a pretty rare beast (which he might be selling - if you're interested, mail me).

One of the first cars I drove after passing my test when I was 17 was an XJ6 - it was only a 2.9 (the older XJ40 shape), and I was so impressed by it - it felt so wonderful back then!

I haven't driven an XJ recently, but I agree with the sentiment above that we should all own one at some stage!

king arthur

6,541 posts

260 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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Love these, I must get another one sometime. But the Executive is not the one to go for - it's either a Sport, for the interior and the slightly tweaked suspension, or a Sovereign for the toys.

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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Alfa159Ti said:


So in summary, the cars are massive, heavy, slow and thirsty as hell, but with nice ride quality!

Not really my bag...
I wouldn't class them as 'slow'. Even the 3.2 V8 is surprisingly brisk for what it is.

The 4.0 V8 models have around 290 bhp, so have a fair bit of grunt under their belt.

The X300s have less power, but IMHO, they're still adequate...

But, totally agree. Fuel ecomomy is poor and they are not everyone's cup of tea...

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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king arthur said:
Love these, I must get another one sometime. But the Executive is not the one to go for - it's either a Sport, for the interior and the slightly tweaked suspension, or a Sovereign for the toys.
The Sport model in BRG with off-white leather. Lovely.

Big Fat Fatty

3,303 posts

155 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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Much want for me and I couldn't care less about it's potential bork factor, I've promised myself a Sport this year and I'm reasonably young and very pipeless too.

Which is the better engine, the 3.2 V8 or the 4.0 straight 6?

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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rejn said:
yes As well as the Daimlers, there were a few X300 Jaguar XJ12s - and a friend of mine has a factory manual X300 XJ12 - a pretty rare beast (which he might be selling - if you're interested, mail me).
WOW! The manual V12 - VERY VERY rare cars.

I have too many at the moment mate, including a Mercedes V12, so if I even thought about getting another car, my wife would literally kill me!

I bet that thing flies though!

Twincam16

27,646 posts

257 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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pSyCoSiS said:
And I love the 'dodgy' image these cars have!

Something sinister, yet ministerial about these old beasts...
Exactly.

They are 'gangster' (as opposed to 'gangsta'), the sort who conducts dodgy property deals and protection rackets, and is actually respected and feared by the police to the point where he doesn't have any need to carry a gun unless he's shooting pheasants with the Chief Inspector, as opposed to the sort who deals drugs, drives around in an armoured Range Rover, carries a machine gun, and has literally hundreds of people wanting to kill him.

It's the 'gangster' to which even the 'gangstas' defer.

PatrickOUFC

179 posts

152 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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Saw this one for sale at Daley Motors a few days ago - lovely motor wink
"Terry......"

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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Big Fat Fatty said:
Much want for me and I couldn't care less about it's potential bork factor, I've promised myself a Sport this year and I'm reasonably young and very pipeless too.

Which is the better engine, the 3.2 V8 or the 4.0 straight 6?
The 4.0 litre straight 6.

The AJ16 are absolutely bullet-proof engines.

The V8s need more attention, and have more problems than the earlier I6 models (timing chain tensioners, water pumps, rocker cover gaskets, etc).

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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Twincam16 said:
Exactly.

They are 'gangster' (as opposed to 'gangsta'), the sort who conducts dodgy property deals and protection rackets, and is actually respected and feared by the police to the point where he doesn't have any need to carry a gun unless he's shooting pheasants with the Chief Inspector, as opposed to the sort who deals drugs, drives around in an armoured Range Rover, carries a machine gun, and has literally hundreds of people wanting to kill him.

It's the 'gangster' to which even the 'gangstas' defer.
That was poetic! Could not have been described in a better way.

Proper old school 'east end' cars!

pSyCoSiS

3,581 posts

204 months

Friday 25th January 2013
quotequote all
blartbox said:
I have to disagree with some of the comments the author makes about the Series III XJs. They were the best looking XJs with the later glasshouse & flush doorhandles. The fuel injection systems on these were pretty reliable, from an era when the engineers wanted to make it reliable, before experimenting with how they could make it cheaper. The heatsinks in the ECU were the size of a small pacific island. The diffs were weak though, & the inboard rear brakes were a pain. The main SIII bogey was terminal rust. The X300 cars are not immune; a look behind the front wheelarch liners can be sobering...The engine has fewer bogeys than the troublesome V8, & it's a six which is naturally better balanced. Car magazine summed up the XJ as 'wheeled emolliant'. Quite
Totally agree, the Series III was a very elegant car.

Mine was an '84 4.2, silver, with red leather and 'real' wood cappings.

It turns more heads than most Ferraris. And I loved the dainty gear selector, the twin fuel tanks and the howl of that 4.2 straight 6.

The Don of Croy

5,977 posts

158 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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That advert wording...he must know people buy these cars almost regardless of what is written.

I've not experienced anything Jag based since 1991 - but the sensation is still memorable.

fareaster

234 posts

178 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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"The Series 3s and early XJ40s were a bit trying, with ....... self-ruining rear suspensions"

What an earth is meant by that? For a start the Series 3s and early XJ40s had different rear suspensions, the series 3 rear suspension being used by other Jags of that era including the E type...if my memory serves me correctly. It was generally regarded as pretty good for it´s time!

nicfaz

430 posts

229 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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I like. Will have to scratch this itch some day. This one is close to me too.

(closes browser and attempts to ignore temptation to go and buy a Jaguar...) boxedinwhistle

B10

1,226 posts

266 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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MichelV said:
Are you high on Tulips?

I thought shed meant troublefree motoring for at least 6 months under a grand.

If you like this car simply buy it in modelcar. Resin preferably cause if it is 1/18 white metal it might start to rust.

Michel
Oh you are so funny. Just like that Mr Clarkson. I cannot stop
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.
Laughing.

NOT

V8 FOU

2,970 posts

146 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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My first XJ6 experience was in 1972. Did a couple of jobs on a near new one. The owner told me to use it for a day or two... I was about 18 at the time! Did it impress the girls. Thank gawd for wipe clean leather....ahem.

There is nothing like an early XJ6 - these are about the last of the line. If these are proper gangster / men in camel coat then XF are driven by arrogant cocks in my experience.

Excellent Shedding!

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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pSyCoSiS said:
I wouldn't class them as 'slow'. Even the 3.2 V8 is surprisingly brisk for what it is.

The 4.0 V8 models have around 290 bhp, so have a fair bit of grunt under their belt.

The X300s have less power, but IMHO, they're still adequate...

But, totally agree. Fuel ecomomy is poor and they are not everyone's cup of tea...
The 6ers are 10ish to 60 (a bit less new, but the ravages of time and all that!), 3.2 8s are ~8ish, the 4.0's are sub-7. I've only experienced a 3.2 V8 one of the 300's being given the loud pedal (a friend's mum drove one for ages, but she never opened it up), and it went well enough.

Matt UK

17,649 posts

199 months

Friday 25th January 2013
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I've recently taken the plunge and can see why people own a string of them. Jaguar XJ cloud9