Will I regret selling my XJ8 for something worse?

[georgezippy]

I have a 1997 XJ8 4.0 which runs just perfectly on it's original nikasil engine. Circumstances dictate it'll probably have to go as I'm driving on business far more than when I bought it, much as it's lovely and reliable (since I fixed the cam chains!) it is a bit thirsty giving me 19mpg in town and 27 on a run (and that's with a hint of sensible thrown in).
I need high 30's now as it's costing me too much (10k per year just on business and that could grow).
Looking at a 2.0 - 2.5 petrol (have a TDi family shed and don't want 2 diesels) motorway thing that can also carry the family around. Mondeo or Saab probably. Obviously these aren't as nice as the XJ which is the most comfortable smooth thing ever, but will I be hugely disappointed/regretful that I parted with the XJ?
Any other recommendations?

[judas]

Get it LPG'd? It will cost circa £2k but you'll get to keep the Jag I'd hate to go back to some dull Eurobox now.

[jamieduff1981]

Having had loads of cars of the sort of engine size you're thinking of moving to, I wouldn't bother downsizing. The improvement in fuel consumption is miniscule in the real world.

[Andy665]

How much will it cost you to downsize - how many gallons of fuel does that buy you - probably an awful lot

Yes, you will regret it

[Paul-2o1qv]

Just get a more frugal XJ

Light wieght ally body, smaller V6 engine.

http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

or

Best of both, XJ lovelyness and 40mpg on a run

X350 2.7D
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

[georgezippy]

Yes all good points.
Thing is wife doesn't like driving it and occasionally I do need the TDi when I've spent too much money on fuel, so it leaves wife with kids without a car she is willing to use when I'm away.
Been looking a saab 9-3 hatchbacks, as they look ok, have a turbo so probably go quite well, have a big boot, are of a size that wife won't mind using it, and they seem to be for sale for cashpoint money. Not in a hurry, one will turn up at some point. Jag is currently all good but it's an old jag so it's bound to start building up a level of bork at some point I'd rather not deal with.
Will no doubt get a 3.0 aluminium jag in the future.

[AmitG]

I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I had a 1997 Daimler V8 with 196,000 miles of which the last 60,000 were by me. Absolutely loved driving it, nothing else like it on the road.

The problem was that I needed to overhaul my house, and you cannot do an Ikea run or tip run in a Daimler V8. Also, it was costing a small fortune to run. So I sold it and bought a Renault Espace mk4, which was - and remains - far and away the coolest MPV ever made.

I still regret it but there was no choice really.

And once the Espace went, I realised how few characterful and affordable cars are on sale these days.

My advice is - look for something "interesting" rather than run of the mill. Something like an Insignia will probably not hold your attention for long. What's your budget? Any requirements other than decent fuel economy and the ability to carry the family around? Do you need folding rear seats?

[QuiteQuietCerb]

Hi I may be interested in it. Pm me if you wish

[johnxjsc1985]

i have a 99 XKR with just 60k and I have done little i mileage in it these past two years and I had convinced myself it was time to let it go.
However having not been in it for a couple of months I took it out today for a spin and have decided I would be mad to let it go you either get these Cars or you dont.
For better MPG i would go for an S Type D i had one about 8 years ago when i too wanted a 30mpg avg and it was really agreat Car and i enjoyed it immensely

[Zippyworld]

YES

Sold my XJR , waved it off down the road to Lester.
Bought S Class Merc
Miserable Git for 7 months
Bought back XJR (Thankyou Lester)
Happy Bunny

[georgezippy]

Bought a Saab 9-3 hatch HOT.
It's comfy, quiet, has leather, VERY nippy (although jag would lose it on long straight)
but 36mpg on a run!!! Jag can only dream of that. It seems a decent replacement even if it's obviously not as nice, it fits my needs without being too boring.

QuiteQuietCerb said:

Hi I may be interested in it. Pm me if you wish

Shameless link to ad:
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/j...

[edward1]

You probably will regret it, if fuel cost is the issue then LPG is the way forward. I have both a saab 9-3 turbo and an xkr. The xkr is on LPG and is far cheaper to fuel than the saab in fact on a back to back comparison recently over a few hundred miles of M/way the Jag was roughly giving the same economy (in terms of £/mile) as a brand new focus 1.6 diesel I had to drive as company hire car. To be fair to the focus I was trying to make similar progress to the jag so it was worked quite hard.

Our Saab is quite disappointing when it comes to mpg, it has got a been remapped to 250hp and is the haldex xwd version but it only ever gives mid to high 20's, still it drives well and is reasonably pleasant place to be but the interior finish on the 9-5's is better. Some ford/GM style cheap plastics used in the cabin in places on the 9-3

[cardigankid]

What are you going to get for it? By the time you have bought some other car you will probably have spent the difference in fuel costs.

I would keep it - the cost of fuel is in long term decline anyway and we are apparently going to see fuel below £1/litre by Christmas.

[Hooli]

Keep it. I miss my XJ40 loads still & that only went because some retard (ie me) crashed it when too tired to catch the back stepping out on diesel.

[johnxjsc1985]

Hooli said:

Keep it. I miss my XJ40 loads still & that only went because some retard (ie me) crashed it when too tired to catch the back stepping out on diesel.

~I had a XJ sport the straight six model with one owner fsh. I p/x it with aguy for my XKE and drove it down to Kent from the Wirral. It AVG 30mpg all the way and never missed a beat I think it was a huge mistake for although the XKE is great that Car is so under-rated.