Jaguar XJ6 - What to look for?

[Hooli]

Jaguar steve said:

NervySi said:

Forgot to add: get one, it will make you feel happy and slightly special even doing mundane things like going to the bottle bank. And the frantic Euroboxes tailgating each other on the M25 all seem like somebody else's problem, as you ease along with that happy feeling of a man who needn't concern himself with all that nonsense

That's the greatest thing of all with an old XJ - no confrontation or aggression from anybody because everybody has a bit of a soft spot for them and wafting about even in a tatty old one is still a bit special. Sure, Ze Chermans build a better barge but somehow the XJ always seems to attract more positive attention

I'll third that

[anonymous-user]

Stuart70 said:

V8forweekends said:

Stuart70 said:

When wanting an XJ6, in my experience the thing to look for is a Mercedes.

Not trolling, just had bad experience with the quality.... I am sure others will have has the equal and opposite experience with Mercedes and will be along to correct me shortly!

I hd a 2005 X350 that was a disastrous wallet-raping money pit, but I'd still sooner have another XJ than a Merc. If my wallet has to be raped (and it seems it does) I'd rather a Jag did it :-)

To both yourself and JoshyS, I can understand entirely; I can live with many faults but continual lack of starting is hard to put up with! Mercedes was really just to give an alternative brand.

In reality I went for Golf GTI (fast white goods - little character but effective) and a Caterham 7 (character by the bucket, but not a wafting experience).

I was disappointed in my Jaguar experience, but can entirely understand the attraction and for those dedicated enough to get problems resolved (or lucky enough not to experience them) you have my admiration and jealousy!

Fair enough. I however would say that if you want all of the quality, toys and reliability that a 90s Luxury barge without the 'charm' of a Jaguar you would be better served looking at a LS400 over a Mercedes. I do need to give an old 90s S-Class a proper try though.

[BeirutTaxi]

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to reply

RE: The comment about switching from my MX5 to an XJ. Well put it this way, I also spend a fair bit of cash on red and white wine. A white Sancerre is crisp, zesty, light, delicate and fantastically exciting. On the other hand, a red Rioja is full bodied, comforting, warming and yet there is a real depth to the flavour (If you buy a good one).

You can't compare a white Sancerre to a red Rioja. They're two totally different wines with completely opposite characters to love. But I do love both of them, and it's about time I had a glass of red





Matt

Edited to add: At a dinner/event the other day someone overheard me saying I was looking for a new car and suggested I should look at a 2003 Kia Magentis they knew of for sale. If I may go back to the wine analogy, I feel like I've been offered a plastic carton of cold urine.

Edited by BeirutTaxi on Monday 27th January 19:16

[Stuart70]

JoshyS said:

Fair enough. I however would say that if you want all of the quality, toys and reliability that a 90s Luxury barge without the 'charm' of a Jaguar you would be better served looking at a LS400 over a Mercedes. I do need to give an old 90s S-Class a proper try though.

Oddly that is the car which my Dad has run for the past 13 years - an original LS400. Minimal maintenance and still runs superbly. The paintwork is getting a bit faded but all the electrics still work, engine and drivetrain are superb. Still drinks like a pissed fish mind you.

Odd that it is not character, but as it has become an old car - its character has become so clearly defined.

Anyway, better than the OPs cup of cold urine; a Kia Magentis - for which I suspect there could be no forgiveness! OP - apologies for distracting from your thread - unless I can persuade you into an LS400, I will get out of your car search

[jcelee]

I ran an end of the line 2002 X308 3.2 Sport for 2 years and it was faultless. The V8 3.2 Sport is very similar in performance to a 4.0 X300 and in a different league in refinement. In terms of ride quality and the waft they really are very special. If you find an enthusiast owned car that's had new uprated tensioners, water pump, aluminium thermostat housing and gearbox oil and filter change then it really shouldn't be much trouble and specialist servicing can be very cheap (lots of specialist competition and much cheaper parts than for German cars).

Try a few! If only I could run three cars... (and park all 17 feet of it somewhere!)

[joebongo]

OP if you're after an XJ Sov V8 give me a pm. Having got the brakes all renewed I have succumbed to the wife's requests that I chip in more with the kitchen extension money so I'll be selling soon and driving her Nissan Primera instead for a god while.

In wine terms, a (very reliable) bucket of sick with a poo topping.