RE: Shed of the Week: Jaguar XJ

RE: Shed of the Week: Jaguar XJ

Friday 29th July 2016

Shed of the Week: Jaguar XJ

Why an X300 XJ is most definitely still worth a punt, even at nearly 190,000 miles



Shed is a country boy at heart. Well, 'boy' might be stretching it a bit, but there's no doubting his affection for simple animals and the ancient, clanking steam powered tools that are still used on farms down his way.

Ooh, now this does look smart
Ooh, now this does look smart
He attended a county fair the other day. Walking towards the main showground from the car park, Shed could immediately hear the plaintive lowing so typical of the lumbering beasts of the field.

Naturally, things quietened down considerably once Mrs Shed began chowing down on her first 12-inch hot dog of the day. While she was admiring the meaty lads in the caber competition and considering tossing a couple herself, Shed caught sight of a Harley-Davidson sidecar hearse. An interesting conversation with the owner ensued, with some whispered talk of quick-release sidecar mechanisms and outings to Beachy Head.

Now Shed has found this sumptuous black Jag XJ, a car that could easily serve as funereal transport for members of Mrs Shed's family (at a suitably lucrative rental rate of course), with Shed behind the wheel, struggling to suppress a smile.

Not smiling might be his biggest problem, because these XJs are a lovely drive. And despite what you might think, not necessarily an expensive one. They'll return mpg figures in the mid to high 20s on an easy run. Get yourself into a Jag owners' club and your classic insurance premium will be low.

Let's hope that dash stays unlit
Let's hope that dash stays unlit
Mechanically, six-cylinder X300s with the AJ16 engine are as tough as old boots. There may be a whiff of diff whine when the car's warmed up but there'll be none of that 'sealed for life gearbox' nonsense that compromised the eight-pot X308 model. Complex electronics shouldn't be an issue either, as they're not, though you may see some warning lights now and then. Seat memory and heater elements fritz out, the clock goes dim, the J-gate lighting goes and the auto-dim mirrors can leak.

Suspension bushes top and bottom fail (wishbone failure being marked by uneven front tyre wear) but top bush replacement is easy and cheap. Not sure how big the alloys are on this one, but finding cheap tyres for wheels bigger than 16-inch diameter wheels might not be as easy. Boot locks can seize up. DIY servicing is perfectly feasible with a plentiful supply of cheap parts on t'net.

Rust is your major nemesis, especially on the sills, wheelarches, bottom edges of the wings and doors and around the windows. In your favour here is the fact that the pre-'95 cars were worse than later ones, and this is a '96er.

Bet this has seen some sights in 189K miles
Bet this has seen some sights in 189K miles
The car is now based in Cheshire. If the car lived most of its life there, it's entirely possible that at least one of its four owners lavished a fair chunk of attention on it. It's also possible that at least one didn't, as the service history is only partial. You'd like to hope that the part of the car's life it covers is the most recent part. The X300 is a car you buy on condition, not miles, and this one looks good to Shed.

Once you settle down into that creamy leather (which is either beige or grey, the vendor doesn't seem sure), fire up the six, slot her into D and experience the full majesty of the XJ ride, you'll wonder why you put up with anything less and possibly kick yourself for wasting all these Jagless years. Many X300 fans prefer the manual, but for loping indolence you can't whack the auto.

Like the winsome sheep that fluttered its eyelashes at Shed at the county show, some things exert a powerful attraction. Old Jaguars fall into that category. A German exec will demand your respect, but a Jaguar exec will earn your love.

Here's the ad

FULL GREY HEATED LEATHER SEATS ALLOY WHEELS PARKING SENSORS RADIO CD SPARE KEYS AND FOB GOOD DRIVER, Next MOT due 25/11/2016, Part service history, Beige Full leather interior, 5 seats, Sapphire Black.

 



Author
Discussion

paulyv

Original Poster:

1,016 posts

122 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Always interested in these. One of the few old school autos I would be happy to drive as opposed to the manual.

VF7

3,115 posts

214 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
LOVELY! ! !

I'd have this in a heartbeat!

ETA
Truly great interior colour combination. I'm a big fand of the dark wood and the black dash coupled with cream leather seats! Just a shame the steering wheel isn't the same dark wood (birch?) as the rest.

Edited by VF7 on Friday 29th July 09:15

X5TUU

11,907 posts

186 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Is it just the pic or does the back look really cramped??

Looks a lot of potential Bork for the moolah but could be a giggle

WigWonder79

24 posts

96 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Great article, nearly spat my tea out across the desk!

Nice looking motor.


The Don of Croy

5,975 posts

158 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
A very handsome beast (not Mrs Shed).

A smooth 6 cyl engine and tidy body for under £1k? Great VFM. Good Shed!

J4CKO

41,275 posts

199 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Still seems strange how cheap these are, but I suppose it always has been the case, I wonder if as they start dwindling whether old school Jag saloons will start appreciating ?

I am 45 and I just about remember the original S Type being a cheap old banger, then mid/late eighties they got all "classic" and very expensive.

This looks really nice based on the pics, Shed Gold.

renrut

1,478 posts

204 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Want!

Although I'd love to take both a modern XJ and a tidy x300 down the local country lanes near me to see if the ride has progressed at all.

wildcat45

8,056 posts

188 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
I've wanted one for decades, old or new, I don't care. Sadly my last foray into barges led to unreliability,flooded footwells and a refusal by Mrs Wildcat45 to have anything to do with it.

There's a lovely blue X308 Daimler near me. It so needs to be on my drive.

It will be an unfulfilled dream.

Edited by wildcat45 on Friday 29th July 13:47

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
I like these but the 4.0 is absolutely the one to have. A useful lump of extra torque, it uses no more fuel, and you get the electronically controlled ZF 4 speed box rather than the stone age one in the 3.2.

Some of these are also pretty poorly kitted out, no cruise control and so on. A 4.0 Sovereign in good condition is a lovely car, but a knackered old 3.2 sport is not.

cookie1600

2,093 posts

160 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Immensely waft-worthy for the spondoolicks

Dalto123

3,198 posts

162 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Must..Resist..Temptation..

Quhet

2,409 posts

145 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Fantastic shed, how are these so cheap?!

Martin 480 Turbo

601 posts

186 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
has anyone over here ever had a look at MRS SHED ?

She is a STUNNER !

https://twitter.com/team_cooks

bluerainer101

38 posts

144 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Cracking opening 3 paragraphs there Mr Shed!

s2sol

1,223 posts

170 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
I had one for a while.


It was great fun. We used it for a year, then couldn't get the emissions low enough to pass the MOT. I sold it to an acquaintance who put the right lambda sensors in it (doh!), and still runs around in it. The rear arches are looking a bit frilly now.

EnglishTony

2,552 posts

98 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
I had one of these, bought in Germany for the (British) plate. Trailered it to the UK got an mot, sold it and kept the plate. Drove it about 45 mins in total. Felt like a Jag, which was good.



Motorrad

6,811 posts

186 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Best shed yet. You could look like you were so successful in the 90s you didn't even bother to change your (funeral) directors automobile.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Leapers on X300-on XJ's? No.

Lovely shed though. As noted above they're not hugely spacious in the back, but a very beguiling thing.

Harry Flashman

19,282 posts

241 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all

Snubs

1,166 posts

138 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
Krikkit said:
Leapers on X300-on XJ's? No.
Leaper half way up the bonnet. Double no.