New Member and New(ish) Jaguar owner
Discussion
Hello!
I've been lurking in the background for a while now so thought I'd also share my experience of my Jaguar that I bought in April this year. Since then I have done 12'000 trouble free miles and can't think of a nicer place to be during my daily 60 mile commute.
It's a 3.2 V8 Sport model in blue (I only buy Dark Blue cars!) with beige interior. Now has 127'000 on the clock on it's original Nikasil engine. It's so silent it feels like an electric car and is very responsive and feels all of the 240 bhp it supposed to have.
Some pics. I know this is not the ideal setting for a Jaguar but it's just my little area where I am not disturbed and can clean my cars in peace.
I am an enthusiast and have always worked on all my cars myself so wasn't scared of any maintenace. I did the usual checks for Nikasil/Chain Tensioners/Water Pump and Throttle body so bought this with my eyes open. Oh, the Jag specialist I bought the car from also fitted new wheel bearings as they are apparently a weak point. I think it will be wise to purchase the tool for tightening the ABS ring once I do need to change them as intend on keeping this car a long time.
I have Jaguar Steve to thank as read a lot of his posts before buying this particular car, So thank you Steve
If you are hankering after one of these X308 models, you will not be dissaponted. Amazing machine which does the same MPG as my Alfa 2.5 V6 used to.
As I generally do motorway miles, I have some days where there is hardly any traffic and a constant 75 MPH cruise is possible. This is what sort of MPG it does is those circumstances.
I can now understand all the happy comments from other Owners I have read on this site
Cheers
Tej
I've been lurking in the background for a while now so thought I'd also share my experience of my Jaguar that I bought in April this year. Since then I have done 12'000 trouble free miles and can't think of a nicer place to be during my daily 60 mile commute.
It's a 3.2 V8 Sport model in blue (I only buy Dark Blue cars!) with beige interior. Now has 127'000 on the clock on it's original Nikasil engine. It's so silent it feels like an electric car and is very responsive and feels all of the 240 bhp it supposed to have.
Some pics. I know this is not the ideal setting for a Jaguar but it's just my little area where I am not disturbed and can clean my cars in peace.
I am an enthusiast and have always worked on all my cars myself so wasn't scared of any maintenace. I did the usual checks for Nikasil/Chain Tensioners/Water Pump and Throttle body so bought this with my eyes open. Oh, the Jag specialist I bought the car from also fitted new wheel bearings as they are apparently a weak point. I think it will be wise to purchase the tool for tightening the ABS ring once I do need to change them as intend on keeping this car a long time.
I have Jaguar Steve to thank as read a lot of his posts before buying this particular car, So thank you Steve
If you are hankering after one of these X308 models, you will not be dissaponted. Amazing machine which does the same MPG as my Alfa 2.5 V6 used to. As I generally do motorway miles, I have some days where there is hardly any traffic and a constant 75 MPH cruise is possible. This is what sort of MPG it does is those circumstances.
I can now understand all the happy comments from other Owners I have read on this site
Cheers
Tej
Edited by V8 TEJ on Thursday 14th July 12:41
I just had the car resprayed prior to taking those pics hence the funny angle. I was showing the chaps over on the Alfa forum how pin-dent free the car was after the bodywork.
The Jag was lovely and pin dent free when I got it but being my daily driver, it has 2 very small dings on the rear passenger door. Whether these happened in the work car park or not I don't know. Still, they are not noticable unless you try really hard to find them so I'm not going to do anything about them yet.
The Jag was lovely and pin dent free when I got it but being my daily driver, it has 2 very small dings on the rear passenger door. Whether these happened in the work car park or not I don't know. Still, they are not noticable unless you try really hard to find them so I'm not going to do anything about them yet.
Beautiful cars, a real credit to you!
I agree entirely about the XJ8, a very under rated (and under valued) car. Had my '99 Sovereign for a few months now and absolutely love it.
BTW you can bring the leather interior (on both cars) back to as new condition if you are fairly handy. You can get it done, but there are a lot of very average jobs out there! I did mine and have just done one of the local club members too. I can supply more information and post pics if you want.
I agree entirely about the XJ8, a very under rated (and under valued) car. Had my '99 Sovereign for a few months now and absolutely love it.
BTW you can bring the leather interior (on both cars) back to as new condition if you are fairly handy. You can get it done, but there are a lot of very average jobs out there! I did mine and have just done one of the local club members too. I can supply more information and post pics if you want.
Thanks for the compliments
I have cleaned the interior since I took these pics and it has come out lovely. I will have to do a bit more work on the driver seat which will involve colouring but it's still very presentable now. I always do all the work on my cars myself (unless it is some complex electronic issue) and enjoy it as a hobby.
That 32.2 MPG reading was not exactly me trying to wring every last amount out of the car. I work in Hemel Hempstead and live in Maidenhead, so I fuelled up in Hemel at a fuel station near the M1 junction 8. I travelled down the M1 to the M25 in a que which was moving and once on the M25 I was able to keep it at a constant 75MPH. Then once again I hit a small bit of traffic on the M4 and then even more as I exited the motorway.
So the most I saw the MPG meter was at 34.something and then it finally rested at 32.2 as I got to my house and took the pic.
On the whole though, I am averaging 26 MPG which I still think is absolutley amazing for such a heavy car with a V8. I wanted the Sport model for a reason. It's just that little bit more involving to drive than a 'softer' model so I don't pootle around with the engine at tickover. I use sports mode whenever possible and drive it like it's a much smaller, sportier car. Certainly feels a lot smaller than it actually is when driving. Hardly any body roll and amazing grip even in sports mode, with T/C turned off, round a corner whilst on kickdown!
So yes I think there may be a problem with your car if it's not doing more than 22 MPG. Although it depends on your use of course and I do a lot of Motorway miles which keeps my average around the mid 20s. If I was to solely use it for trips into town and traffic jams, I don't think I'd be using it as much as I do now!
I have cleaned the interior since I took these pics and it has come out lovely. I will have to do a bit more work on the driver seat which will involve colouring but it's still very presentable now. I always do all the work on my cars myself (unless it is some complex electronic issue) and enjoy it as a hobby.
That 32.2 MPG reading was not exactly me trying to wring every last amount out of the car. I work in Hemel Hempstead and live in Maidenhead, so I fuelled up in Hemel at a fuel station near the M1 junction 8. I travelled down the M1 to the M25 in a que which was moving and once on the M25 I was able to keep it at a constant 75MPH. Then once again I hit a small bit of traffic on the M4 and then even more as I exited the motorway.
So the most I saw the MPG meter was at 34.something and then it finally rested at 32.2 as I got to my house and took the pic.
On the whole though, I am averaging 26 MPG which I still think is absolutley amazing for such a heavy car with a V8. I wanted the Sport model for a reason. It's just that little bit more involving to drive than a 'softer' model so I don't pootle around with the engine at tickover. I use sports mode whenever possible and drive it like it's a much smaller, sportier car. Certainly feels a lot smaller than it actually is when driving. Hardly any body roll and amazing grip even in sports mode, with T/C turned off, round a corner whilst on kickdown!
So yes I think there may be a problem with your car if it's not doing more than 22 MPG. Although it depends on your use of course and I do a lot of Motorway miles which keeps my average around the mid 20s. If I was to solely use it for trips into town and traffic jams, I don't think I'd be using it as much as I do now!
MDT said:
I am going to have to have a look at something... 
how then hell have you managed to get this. my best ever was Edinburgh to London at a steady 70-ish MPH and I got 22mpg I was looking to get 25ish but currently getting 16MPG...
26-8 MPG is reasonable on a motorway cruise for a 3.2 V8, dropping slightly to 24-5 or so touring on a cross country trip. how then hell have you managed to get this. my best ever was Edinburgh to London at a steady 70-ish MPH and I got 22mpg I was looking to get 25ish but currently getting 16MPG... Lots of cold starts, city driving and short trips will easily get you down to mid teens.
Please don't think I'm telling you how to drive but it's worth bearing in mind the XJ is a heavy car - though with ample power it feels quite light - and will chew a lot more fuel regardless of what speed you actually drive at than a lighter car under the same circumstances if you've not developed good acceleration sense.
This means lifting off well before you even think about the need for braking, maintaining a big gap between you and the car in front to absorb minor speed changes without the need for braking and preserving momentum whenever you can.
It doesn't mean driving slowly - just anticipating further ahead and be as smooth and progressive as you can. The heavier the vehicle you're driving the more important this becomes if you're chasing fuel economy.
Try driving with the trip set to instant consumption for a while - that'll help. You'll be horrified just how often the consumption drops to low single figures if you're naturally a bit heavy footed.
Other things you can check:
On a level road with the car in N and the handbrake off can you push it?
Feel all the wheels after a drive. Is any one significantly hotter than the rest? If so you may have a slightly siezed caliper.
Is the air filter clean?
Are the tyre pressures right?
If all that's OK then a hour on diagnostics might save you a fortune on fuel. It could be the optimium gearshift points relative to engine load and throttle position may not be set correctly - mine were not and I got an easy 2MPG more when done, or maybe your airflow meter has aged out of spec.
Yes I totally agree 
My driving style changed a lot when i got this car as never owned anything as Heavy before. So you realise that momentum does carry on for a good while after you've lifted off the throttle! More than you may be used to. So I am gentle with the brakes (as they are also new!) and just generally keep in mind the size and bulk of the car.
You do finally understand though, why people driving these big cars tend to be very light on the throttle and brakes (much to the annoyance of the smaller car driver behind) as otherwise you would contsantly be pushing either pedal, getting crap MPG and wearing out the vehicle components faster.
My driving style changed a lot when i got this car as never owned anything as Heavy before. So you realise that momentum does carry on for a good while after you've lifted off the throttle! More than you may be used to. So I am gentle with the brakes (as they are also new!) and just generally keep in mind the size and bulk of the car.
You do finally understand though, why people driving these big cars tend to be very light on the throttle and brakes (much to the annoyance of the smaller car driver behind) as otherwise you would contsantly be pushing either pedal, getting crap MPG and wearing out the vehicle components faster.
I'm still undecided whether it's best to accelerate to the desired speed swiftly or slowly. One uses more fuel for less time, the other uses less fuel but for longer.
Possibly, as the end result is the same (eg a car travlling at 50mph) the fuel used to do so is the same because the work done is the same?
Possibly, as the end result is the same (eg a car travlling at 50mph) the fuel used to do so is the same because the work done is the same?
Hmmm...
Well I tend to accelerate to the speed I want fairly quickly (depending on traffic conditions) as then can acheive cruise speed asap and find the MPG is higher this way. You could probably beat it with very, very light throttle to try and acheive desired speed with minimun strain on the engine, but it's impossible to try that experiment with todays traffic.
When driving, I consider the weight of the car and aim to have a smooth swift run, whilst using the brakes as little as possible. Once you get used to this, the car sort of drives itself and feels every bit the luxury cruiser that it is. Grace, Pace and Space.
Well I tend to accelerate to the speed I want fairly quickly (depending on traffic conditions) as then can acheive cruise speed asap and find the MPG is higher this way. You could probably beat it with very, very light throttle to try and acheive desired speed with minimun strain on the engine, but it's impossible to try that experiment with todays traffic.
When driving, I consider the weight of the car and aim to have a smooth swift run, whilst using the brakes as little as possible. Once you get used to this, the car sort of drives itself and feels every bit the luxury cruiser that it is. Grace, Pace and Space.
johnxjsc1985 said:
It would be interesting to see some expert analysis on this as its something I have thought about quite often.
Advice I've read is that using engine torque to accelerate reasonably quickly to your chosen speed gives optimium fuel economy.When I started driving I was told every time you press a pedal it costs you money. The longer or harder you press any pedal the more it costs you.
That's really the key to developing acceleration sense and that also agrees with what a mate of mine who is a Truckist has been tought as well. Anticipate well in advance, stay off the brakes and drive as smoothly as possible. Mind you, he recons anything over 4MPG from his daily driver is really good...
I think the optimum driving style to maximise economy might vary from car to car. I certainly found that in the last company car I ever had, a Cavalier SRi that acceleration should be done full bore, foot to the floor and get it over with as fast as possible 
then keep off the brakes, try and carry as much of your speed with you and once up to speed use the accelerator as little as possible. Oh yes, and it that car run SuperPlus high octane fuel. That way mileage per tank would tend to be in the range 530->550 miles.
It doesn't seem to work the same in the Jag.
then keep off the brakes, try and carry as much of your speed with you and once up to speed use the accelerator as little as possible. Oh yes, and it that car run SuperPlus high octane fuel. That way mileage per tank would tend to be in the range 530->550 miles.It doesn't seem to work the same in the Jag.
Hi,
I too am new to Jaguar Ownership and the PH forum. I bought an X-Type 2.2D Sport in June. I really wanted one and it stands out from the German plain boring rivals and seems far more desirable. My mates like it and so do the girls in the office
Your XJ is beautiful, looks very tidy inside for 127k on it. I hope it continues to serve you well. I may upload a pick of my X on here as well.
Regards,
Bob
I too am new to Jaguar Ownership and the PH forum. I bought an X-Type 2.2D Sport in June. I really wanted one and it stands out from the German plain boring rivals and seems far more desirable. My mates like it and so do the girls in the office
Your XJ is beautiful, looks very tidy inside for 127k on it. I hope it continues to serve you well. I may upload a pick of my X on here as well.
Regards,
Bob
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