Jaguar Or Mercedes

[MichaelBailey]

I'm looking into buying either a Jaguar XJ8 or mercedes s320 diesel or petrol. I'm looking for them around the 2000 era and have a budget of 3000 for the car maybe stretch a bit more for the right one. My question is which is wiser? I know mercedes went through a rough patch of quality and jaguar have been plagued with electrical problems. However I am needing to travel around 400 miles each weekend and my poor 92 polo 1.3 isn't built for it. I want a car I can do it in that won't cost me too much on fuel 30mpg+ hopefully and something that will be reliable and comfortable. I am fairly decent on cars and I know what to look for when buying them but I would like advice on maybe what to watch out for or whether to steal clear and maybe go for something else altogether! Thanks for any advice and also without starting a whole new topic a quick word on LPG. Thanks again!

[MichaelBailey]

Thanks, I've looked at jaguar fondly but I've been told a few horror stories which was maybe why I looked at merc... The 3.2 V8 is a sound and solid power plant and I would of thought should return around 30mpg on a run, was thinking of getting a lpg conversion too to pretty much half the cost of fuel but I wasn't sure on reliability issues with it or cost

[MichaelBailey]

The thinking I had behind that was, v8 in a jag will last forever, and it's driven by people not far from death that don't like exceeding 56mph. Whereas a straight 6 in a bmw gets someone jumping in and taking it up to 16000 rpm everytime they pull away from the lights and around the age I'm looking at I want something with a fair bit of life left.

[MichaelBailey]

Lexus was an option but looks like a brick though is a solid car. But I have been won over by the Germans with my polo, been good to me!

[MichaelBailey]

The mpg is a bonus if I get it and considering I wanted the xjs v12 then thinking about it this really is the compromise, but I don't want something that's going to take my wallet off me and not give it me back

[MichaelBailey]

I think the Lexus with a lpg would be more then enough for requirements, however as previously said lacking that bit of character. You've all well and truly put me off the merc, the other choice was maybe a 2.8 A8 or a 3tdi but I would have to pay out the ass to get one though with good reason. And as many have said jaguar are a lovely car, I think it might come down to flipping a coin and then thinking actually no I want the jag!

[MichaelBailey]

I think despite wanting the big engine being a mad car man I'll end up with a 2 litre diesel... I do want a big engine, something I feel good when I jump in it. And also on the big jump from a polo my car before that was an 88 mini so my polo feels like a rolls Royce, a big jag will feel like a cruise liner!

[MichaelBailey]

For all your information by the way nearly all miles are motorway miles and very little and not too fussed about. I don't know what it is but the s type and x type don't do it for me... Though saying that I could see myself buying one in the current affairs.

[MichaelBailey]

Thanks for all the advice guys, I'll let you know what I settle on. Don't be surprised if I come back and say Ive got a Bentley turbo or something