Should I get a Jag XJ X300

[anonymous-user]

SuperHangOn said:

Have you considered a Rover 75 or Saab 9000?

Seriously though, get it done. 4 litre a much better car than the 3.2 for wafting, so it's worth finding the right one. They feel like nothing else around to drive, I always felt the V8 lots a bit of the feel that made me love my X300 so much.

[300bhp/ton]

279 said:

300bhp/ton said:

Go for it, get a 4.0 litre though not a 3.2

I thought the general consensus was really not to worry about 3.2 vs 4.0 as if performance is your number one priory you'll be disappointed with anything short of a XJR?

I think they are vastly different to drive. The 4.0 litre will feel faster and smoother at any speed.

Ok it's not supercar quick buy today's standards, but it's still fairly rapid. Tall gearing and auto mean 0-60mph isn't that impressive, but they'll pull the other side of 140mph and 20-100mph will be more than enough to make many a hot hatch think twice.

The 3.2 is ok, but feels gutless by comparison, a real cruiser, where the 4.0 feels more muscle car bound with sophistication.

279 said:

X300 XJs are very tempting at the price they are at now, but the casio calculator style dashboard arrangement is enough for me to be willing to put up with the slightly higher prices and slightly less bullet proof reputations of a X308. The V8s just look like a much, much nicer place to be without a dashboard then STRAIGHT out of a 80s car.

Personally prefer the x300 interior. Not sure what you mean about Casio interior unless you are referring to the early XJ40's?

[ironictwist]

I plumped for an X308 4.0 Sovereign 2 winters ago (See my car history for costs), the interior was gorgeous with the swooping curved dash. The X300 seemed very old in comparison. I LOVED that car. I only ran it for a few months, but it financially ruined me in that time purely because I got caught out by the tensioners fault! Make sure it's done & you'll be fine. It really was a wonderful car & despite the wallet raping I received in my short spell of ownership I MUST own another.

Maybe the 3.2 next time though

[rswift]

I echo the 4 Litre argument, I have driven quite a few. The 4 litre also has the switchable sports box, which isn't on the 3.2

The 3.2 feels brisk enough as has been mentioned, whereas the 4 litre will lift its' skirts when required. There is not much difference in fuel consumption.

[V8Triumph]

What about a "Series" XJ6? Better looking, better interiors AND the glorious XK 4.2

[Marquis Rex]

V8Triumph said:

What about a "Series" XJ6? Better looking, better interiors AND the glorious XK 4.2

I agree with you I adore the series 3 shape Jags, but in the UK they're all rusted away. They are many rust free examples in California, where I used to live.

I own a 2000 X308 XJR. Once the chain tensioner issues are solved they're pretty solid engines for the most part. I rememeber these cars fondly from when I was an engineer at Jag.
I'm currently fitting an older diff from a XJR-6 that has an LSD. This is no easy task and I'm trying to stuff Dana-44 'muscle car' crown wheel and pinion and auburn locker LSD into it for more robustness!
The nicasil issue was more of a problem when petrol had high sulphur content and the water pump impeller issue is no different a problem to what you find on old Mid nineties BMWs or my Dodge Ram for that matter.
Unfortunately the US market cars seem alot softer suspended than how I remember the European models were so this will be my next mod

[Jaguar steve]

Bisonhead said:

Ha ha, kid is on the way hopefully in the next few minutes and it wont be my daily so I dont care!

Had a Saab 9000 which I really enjoyed. Huge space, comfy seats. It was a 2.0 LPT auto which would change up gear mid way through a corner...a bit worrying but a comfy, comfy car!

I have always hankered for that muted v8 burble, are the straight 6's nice in the sound department? I have driven a few 3.2 v8s and found them brisk enough. Digital dash is fine, makes me feel like an extra from Wall Street.



Changed my username to something a bit more uptodate

Edited by Bisonhead on Thursday 1st December 20:55

I've had both 6 and 8 cyl cars long term and done around 40k in each.
Given the choice between two equally good condition cars I'd have the V8 everytime - it's a vastly superior car dynamically then the 6 cyl one. The 3.2 V8 is equal if not better in performance to the 4.0 six and sounds georgeous when you nail it whereas a high reving 6 cyl engine just makes a lot of noise. It's also got a much better gearbox, better handling, and is far, far more refined than the earlier cars. The 6 cyl 3.2 is OK for motorway wafting but is seriously underpowered when heavily laden or driving in steep hilly areas, under those circumstances it'll drink far more fuel than the V8 too.

Secondary timing chain tensioner swap to the metal bodied type are an easy DIY and will cost you £100 + the timing tool hire. Gearbox oil change is a of a challenge but DIYable too. You need to do the last stage of the fill quickly with an assistant cycling between D and R with the engine running. I modified a washing machine pump to transfer the oil which works fine. The diff oil should be changed too - there's no drain plug but you can use an industrial vacuum cleaner to suck the oil out the filler hole.

Rust is becoming an issue. Rear arches and all over the floorpan and sills on the X300, and front jacking points, front chassis rail where the subframe mounts to the body and window surrounds on the X308 all need carefull inspection. Loads of Waxoil is the answer for prevention.

Providing a V8 has been well cared for and has all the above attended to there's no reason why one should be problematical at high mileage. The key thing to bear in mind 'tho is the youngest of both cars will be approaching it's 10th birthday soon and it's absolutely essential to find the very best example you can, and that'll take some time and effort searching through the classifieds to find one. I've been looking for another XJ8 to replace my 101k one since the summer and have viewed and rejected several before I found one I liked.

Going to pick it up sometime this weekend

[Bisonhead]

Lovely! You lucky man. I am looking at one that has been waxoiled and apparently owned by a royal engineer...whatever difference that makes. I know a lot of officers who dont look after their cars!

There are so many examples around, it really seems to be a buyers market.

[Digga]

The Crack Fox said:

I had an X300, AJ6 engine, lasted 1 epic trip before it was scrapped... http://www.sucksqueezebangblow.net:/folder/2011/01...

the link said:

Scrawny Luke and Mr Tipex had decided to join Dr Octane and I as there was plenty of room in the Jag. I’d told them all kinds of lies about promiscuous Scandiwegian women and cheap booze, but the real reason for inviting them was that I couldn’t afford breakdown cover and I’m not strong enough to push a 2.2 ton Jag on my own.

One of the three (forget which) XJS's my dad owned had a bout of alternator-related 'epilectrics' [plagurised] on the M6 near jct 10. Fortunately trffic was virtually at a stanstill, so it made my sister's job of pushing the car a bit less dangerous,if not less strenuous.

[V8Triumph]

Marquis Rex said:

V8Triumph said:

What about a "Series" XJ6? Better looking, better interiors AND the glorious XK 4.2

I agree with you I adore the series 3 shape Jags, but in the UK they're all rusted away. They are many rust free examples in California, where I used to live.

I own a 2000 X308 XJR. Once the chain tensioner issues are solved they're pretty solid engines for the most part. I rememeber these cars fondly from when I was an engineer at Jag.
I'm currently fitting an older diff from a XJR-6 that has an LSD. This is no easy task and I'm trying to stuff Dana-44 'muscle car' crown wheel and pinion and auburn locker LSD into it for more robustness!
The nicasil issue was more of a problem when petrol had high sulphur content and the water pump impeller issue is no different a problem to what you find on old Mid nineties BMWs or my Dodge Ram for that matter.
Unfortunately the US market cars seem alot softer suspended than how I remember the European models were so this will be my next mod

They aren't all rusty Granted, you have to spend a lot of time looking for one that isn't...

[Bisonhead]

Epaulectrics, love it!

Is it considered cheeky if I take my Leatherman to check the underneath for rust?

[V8Triumph]

Bisonhead said:

Epaulectrics, love it!

Is it considered cheeky if I take my Leatherman to check the underneath for rust?

I'm not quite sure what you mean?

My partner and I always go to look at cars together. We take two blankets and two small LED lead lights. We do a side at a time then swap then front and back of the car then swap. Two pairs of eyes are better than one.

No reason you can't do this when your wife has had the baby, not sure it's a good idea for a heavily pregnant woman, congratulations by the way.

[GavinPearson]

In answer to the OP's question - yes. Buy the best you can afford. Bear in mind that early V8 cars have some known powertain issues whereas a very late AJ6 will be pretty much bulletproof. The Daimler in the advert earlier was well worth the 2K.

I don't think you always need to get the XJR. I have a 4.0L LWB, perfectly adequate for most motoring.

[V8 TEJ]

Jaguar steve said:

I've had both 6 and 8 cyl cars long term and done around 40k in each.
Given the choice between two equally good condition cars I'd have the V8 everytime - it's a vastly superior car dynamically then the 6 cyl one. The 3.2 V8 is equal if not better in performance to the 4.0 six and sounds georgeous when you nail it whereas a high reving 6 cyl engine just makes a lot of noise. It's also got a much better gearbox, better handling, and is far, far more refined than the earlier cars. The 6 cyl 3.2 is OK for motorway wafting but is seriously underpowered when heavily laden or driving in steep hilly areas, under those circumstances it'll drink far more fuel than the V8 too.

Secondary timing chain tensioner swap to the metal bodied type are an easy DIY and will cost you £100 + the timing tool hire. Gearbox oil change is a of a challenge but DIYable too. You need to do the last stage of the fill quickly with an assistant cycling between D and R with the engine running. I modified a washing machine pump to transfer the oil which works fine. The diff oil should be changed too - there's no drain plug but you can use an industrial vacuum cleaner to suck the oil out the filler hole.

Rust is becoming an issue. Rear arches and all over the floorpan and sills on the X300, and front jacking points, front chassis rail where the subframe mounts to the body and window surrounds on the X308 all need carefull inspection. Loads of Waxoil is the answer for prevention.

Providing a V8 has been well cared for and has all the above attended to there's no reason why one should be problematical at high mileage. The key thing to bear in mind 'tho is the youngest of both cars will be approaching it's 10th birthday soon and it's absolutely essential to find the very best example you can, and that'll take some time and effort searching through the classifieds to find one. I've been looking for another XJ8 to replace my 101k one since the summer and have viewed and rejected several before I found one I liked.

Going to pick it up sometime this weekend

JaguarSteve has recommended the V8 over the 6 Cyl cars many times and I put his advice to the test when I was looking for an old XJ early last year.

I ended up buying a 3.2 V8 Sport model in April 2010 which had 115'000 miles on the clock, but was being sold by a Jaguar specialist (Black and White Jaguar, Herts) who had fitted new chains with the metal tensioners. History showed that the throttle body and water pump had been changed in the past too. As the car is a very early V8 (Nov '97) I figured that the Nikasil issue isn't a problem now due to the high sulphur fuel which caused the problem (along with short journeys) not being sold in the U.K. since 2000.

I cover about 300 miles every week in mine which is now on 139'000 miles but doesn't feel any different from the day I bought it. Still as smooth and silent as ever with that lovely muted V8 sound when pressing on. The interior and updated bumpers/lights also made it more attractive for me than the 6. During this time I've replaced a camshaft sensor, wheel bearing and 2 rear shocks. That's it. All DIY apart from the bearing which needs to be done at a specialist unless you want to buy/hire the tool needed for the job. So for me, having sold my Alfa 155 V6 before buying the Jaguar, the running costs are actually less as parts are cheaper and less things go wrong! Apart from the fuel it is not a costly car to keep on the road but still has road presence and makes you feel special everytime you get in it. 24'000 miles later and I am still excited about getting into it at 5 c clock when I head home from the office.

MPG is the obvious question and they are not the guzzlers that many people make out simply from stories they have read on the net. They are no more thirsty that a smaller 6 Cyl car of the same vintage. I'd even suspect that a '97 2.0 Ford Mondeo wouldn't give me much better MPG for the sort of use I have (mainly motorway)as average around 30 MPG generally. Amazing for a big V8 cruiser.

Which ever one you go for, you will not be disappointed providing you get a good one. It's a buyer's market so that shouldn't be too difficult, and when you do, you will know that they feel as good to drive and sit in as they look. Some cars seem appealing because of the toys that are fitted or some other gimmick that gives the impression of luxury. These Jaguars are luxurious because of what they are, not because of radar guided sat nav touch screen 12 speed gearbox.

Another opportunity to post a pic of my daily steed.



So as others have said, do it. If you are sensible then you don't really have much to lose.

Edited by V8 TEJ on Friday 2nd December 16:36