RE: Shed Of The Week: Jaguar XJ8
Discussion
JamesHayward said:
daytona365 said:
Potentially a fantastic shed, but whenever I look past the deliciousness of it all, a demon in my head say's, Nikasil cylinder bores, nylon timing chain gears, not to mention terminal rust.....Maybe it's just me, but sorry it has to be a No.
Get the X300 then. Same car but with the sublime and bullet proof AJ16 inline 6. Dash board is a little bit more old fashioned but other than that it's the same car.I've had two of each - all long term keepers that have gone over 100k without drama - but give me the V8 anyday, it's a vastly superior drive
Great shed, I have a 1998 4.0 on its original Nikasil engine. The tensioner issue together with a couple of wheel bearings ruined my bank balance last year but in 2014, it has just worked.
Engine runs faultlessly, as other have said, a Nikasil engine that's running fine should continue to do so. 28mpg on motorway which I mostly use it for. The 4.0 is worth finding as it's much gruntier, with its low 1st gear it's so rapid away from lights, and generally such a nice thing to travel in. It does raise the level of what you're used to so most other cars seem noisy and tiresome in comparison.
Wife won't drive it but loves riding in it and does get the point. The kids fit in the back so she generally approves. Infact when the family diesel shed broke down this summer, we used the XJ8 for the family holiday, which earned it extra approval!
The threat of expensive bork is never far away but that's why they are so cheap, so take a punt. Buy the best you can, and stay well away from one with rust!
Engine runs faultlessly, as other have said, a Nikasil engine that's running fine should continue to do so. 28mpg on motorway which I mostly use it for. The 4.0 is worth finding as it's much gruntier, with its low 1st gear it's so rapid away from lights, and generally such a nice thing to travel in. It does raise the level of what you're used to so most other cars seem noisy and tiresome in comparison.
Wife won't drive it but loves riding in it and does get the point. The kids fit in the back so she generally approves. Infact when the family diesel shed broke down this summer, we used the XJ8 for the family holiday, which earned it extra approval!
The threat of expensive bork is never far away but that's why they are so cheap, so take a punt. Buy the best you can, and stay well away from one with rust!
Been contemplating a Jaaag for a while, but the 3.2 V8 is actually less powerful than the 4.0 straight six. Too anal?? At shed prices, it doesn't really matter. I'd go for a look if it was closer.
Found it on gov.uk.
If you look closely at the plate, the second character has been made to look like a B. It's actually a 3. S308 UUK had MoT until June 2015. SORN about 3 weeks ago because the 'tax due' date is in the middle of Nov.
Found it on gov.uk.
If you look closely at the plate, the second character has been made to look like a B. It's actually a 3. S308 UUK had MoT until June 2015. SORN about 3 weeks ago because the 'tax due' date is in the middle of Nov.
[quote=The Don of Croy]To contradict the writer (good piece as ever) - nearly every morning and evening I pass a lady behind the wheel of one of these Jags, reg plate has 'MOO' on it. Previously she drove a Rover 800 Sterling
Wasn't MOO 89 was it? Original plate of my 89 Range Rover.
Also disagree with the 'men only' comment. The mother of a friend had one a few years back - she didn't exactly hang about in it either. She was also a mad keen golfer!
Wasn't MOO 89 was it? Original plate of my 89 Range Rover.
Also disagree with the 'men only' comment. The mother of a friend had one a few years back - she didn't exactly hang about in it either. She was also a mad keen golfer!
Willy Nilly said:
Just skim read the OP.
Not read any of the rest of the thread.
I hate unreliable cars
I really hate unreliable cars.
Seems like a fun way to blow 850 quid though
you did right to do that, the whole thread is a terrible collection of borkage of the highest order proving what utter wallet rappers these cars are.Not read any of the rest of the thread.
I hate unreliable cars
I really hate unreliable cars.
Seems like a fun way to blow 850 quid though
Fabulous cars...
I had an '98 XJ8 3.2 Sport... bought at 115k and ran it to 160k when the big end went due to me not checking the oil and a duff oil light....not a great combo... but still it was cheap to run until that point... £100 each for tyres... about 23mpg overall....
I then bought a '99 XJ8 4.0 - much better... the 4.0 gives you proper grunt - 300 horses makes it feel like a genuine sports car and was plenty quick from the lights to give the boy racers a bit of a fright.... again, completely reliable, I did about another 40k in this from 80k to 120k.. if i recall, I had a dodgy electric aerial that kept sticking, and I did fork out about £500 for new suspension rubber as it was beginning to knock a bit... these aren't the lightest of V8's and the front suspension/brakes do take a bit of a hammering.
Only sold it as I was commuting into London daily and it was sat on the drive doing nothing... genuinely one of only 2 cars out of many I've owned, that I wish I'd kept.....
For £850 its a complete bargain... do it..
I had an '98 XJ8 3.2 Sport... bought at 115k and ran it to 160k when the big end went due to me not checking the oil and a duff oil light....not a great combo... but still it was cheap to run until that point... £100 each for tyres... about 23mpg overall....
I then bought a '99 XJ8 4.0 - much better... the 4.0 gives you proper grunt - 300 horses makes it feel like a genuine sports car and was plenty quick from the lights to give the boy racers a bit of a fright.... again, completely reliable, I did about another 40k in this from 80k to 120k.. if i recall, I had a dodgy electric aerial that kept sticking, and I did fork out about £500 for new suspension rubber as it was beginning to knock a bit... these aren't the lightest of V8's and the front suspension/brakes do take a bit of a hammering.
Only sold it as I was commuting into London daily and it was sat on the drive doing nothing... genuinely one of only 2 cars out of many I've owned, that I wish I'd kept.....
For £850 its a complete bargain... do it..
My XJ8 has 160,000 miles on it. Could probably do with some new bushes and the coolant sensor occasionally sticks, producing a false coolant warning light but apart from that it's fantastic and has worn it's miles very well. It'll get new bushes and whatnot in the new year and I'll fish out and reset the coolant sensor next week.
Top stuff, great cars and very characterful. Someone on here described them as a poor man's Bristol and that is a good description!
Top stuff, great cars and very characterful. Someone on here described them as a poor man's Bristol and that is a good description!
X5TUU said:
these haven't aged well though have they, looks wise.
to me, they exude everything I wouldn't want to be associated with, i just don't get them at all
it is a monster amount of metal for the little outlay, but I just couldn't bring myself to drive it, far too pretentious and Arfa Daley to me (or is that the point that I'm missing?)
I think you are missing the point completely. Old school jag is cool in a retro way. I would rather have one of these than the hideous euroblobs jaguar are currently producing. to me, they exude everything I wouldn't want to be associated with, i just don't get them at all
it is a monster amount of metal for the little outlay, but I just couldn't bring myself to drive it, far too pretentious and Arfa Daley to me (or is that the point that I'm missing?)
VolvoT5 said:
X5TUU said:
these haven't aged well though have they, looks wise.
to me, they exude everything I wouldn't want to be associated with, i just don't get them at all
it is a monster amount of metal for the little outlay, but I just couldn't bring myself to drive it, far too pretentious and Arfa Daley to me (or is that the point that I'm missing?)
I think you are missing the point completely. Old school jag is cool in a retro way. I would rather have one of these than the hideous euroblobs jaguar are currently producing. to me, they exude everything I wouldn't want to be associated with, i just don't get them at all
it is a monster amount of metal for the little outlay, but I just couldn't bring myself to drive it, far too pretentious and Arfa Daley to me (or is that the point that I'm missing?)
GreenArrow said:
I agreed with everything said until the last jibe at modern Jags. Couldn't disagree more. I'd have an XF over a boring Russian doll BMW, Merc or Audi any day of the week and in fact hope father in law passes down his model in, ooh, about 8 years from now!!
Did you invent that "russian doll" phrase? If so it is very apt / snappy summation bencollins said:
GreenArrow said:
I agreed with everything said until the last jibe at modern Jags. Couldn't disagree more. I'd have an XF over a boring Russian doll BMW, Merc or Audi any day of the week and in fact hope father in law passes down his model in, ooh, about 8 years from now!!
Did you invent that "russian doll" phrase? If so it is very apt / snappy summation bencollins said:
GreenArrow said:
I agreed with everything said until the last jibe at modern Jags. Couldn't disagree more. I'd have an XF over a boring Russian doll BMW, Merc or Audi any day of the week and in fact hope father in law passes down his model in, ooh, about 8 years from now!!
Did you invent that "russian doll" phrase? If so it is very apt / snappy summation 
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