X350-series XJ... incredible bargain or potential nightmare?
Discussion
Well, it looks like my time with my BMW E39 520i Touring may soon be up, more and more stuff is going wrong with it and it's just not economical to fix it all, though it's still a genuinely lovely thing to drive on the rare occasions when it's all actually working properly - who said German cars were more reliable than British or Italian ones?! Casting around like mad to find something I like to replace it, my eyes settled on the X350. They are stupidly cheap, some rather low mileage, some quite high (there's one on eBay on a classified ad that's done 260k as a chauffeur-driven limo-for-hire). What are the potential caveats? If the ownership reports are positive, I'll probably get one - definitely a petrol. 3.0 V6, 3.5 V8 or 4.2 V8? I'm sure all have perfectly adequate performance, but the V8s seem cheaper than the V6s, presumably because of their thirst. What would be your pick of the range?
Right. Well, it sounds like a little bit of caveat emptor can find one a really nice car. Now, one of you said that the 3.5 is worth having over the 3.0 because there isn't much difference in economy, another that the 3.0 or 4.2 would be your choice. Now, it sounds like the 3.0 is plenty quick and perhaps a margin more economical than the others, but is the V8 in either form any smoother, does it feel more torquey and effortless, anything else I need to know about the differing character of the three engines? Is the XJR more firmly sprung than the naturally aspirated cars? Insurance costs?
I must admit, I'd like to have some torque for the first time in 22 years. My old Rover had 210ftlb @ 3000rpm and weighed 1270kg - the current BMW has 155ftlb at 3500rpm and weighs 1680kg. Just to be clear though, diesel is right off the agenda, I simply won't have one.
Incidentally, is there much to choose between an X350 and the earlier X308?
I must admit, I'd like to have some torque for the first time in 22 years. My old Rover had 210ftlb @ 3000rpm and weighed 1270kg - the current BMW has 155ftlb at 3500rpm and weighs 1680kg. Just to be clear though, diesel is right off the agenda, I simply won't have one.
Incidentally, is there much to choose between an X350 and the earlier X308?
Edited by RoverP6B on Sunday 10th August 20:57
Stedman said:
I've driven a few X350s on different wheel sizes and suspension setups (R and Sport models come with sport dampers over comfort ones), and have found they ride best on the 19s. My XJR is far from uncomfortable or jiggly.
Interesting, I'd have thought the smaller wheels would equal a better ride...Stedman said:
OP: would you like to know my average around town etc?
Would be interesting to hear it from the horse's mouth, yes, although I'm thinking of getting something like a Suzuki Swift for that and keeping the Jag for longer runs, considering that my BMW absolutely bloody hates stop-start driving (for some reason, just one stop-start suburban drive is enough to completely bugger the spark plug on No2 cylinder... lovely engine the M54 - when it works...). If you could give some indication of a more general average and perhaps something of the mix of journeys you undertake, that might be a tad more helpful. Thank you very much to all who have been so informative. I'm warming to the Jag.Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff