Jaguar XJR (X308) vs E55 AMG (W210)

[jp7152]

I have recently acquired a W210 e280 and it has got me thinking that I have bought the wrong engine. It's not slow however the suspension is very firm and feels like a sports saloon. If you try and drive it like one though, the engine is working very hard and making lots of noise however the car takes ages to get going. If you drive it slowly every time you get a pothole or bump you're reminded of the sporty suspension.

So anyway, looking through the classifieds for around £5000 you can get either of the car cars above.

What are they like though? I had an E39 M5 previously which was great due to the fact it had fairly soft suspension and excellent power at low rpms, so if you were driving gently you still had a smooth and fast car, yet a nascar soundtrack when wanted.

The Jaguar and Mercedes are both automatic (and I read the Jaguar uses a Mercedes gearbox?) but do they feel similar to each other? I read about the E55 that it can be a bit all or nothing but i'm not sure if that's true or not?

I've read that the E55 would be firmer and prehaps maybe more crashy than the Jaguar, but have better control of body roll?

Also fuel economy. On a slow motorway run of 150 miles any ideas what I might except? My first tankful on the e280 only achieved 19mpg average so I'm hoping the two above might me similar if driven gently?

Wonder which is nicer to own? Any ideas?

[lestershaw]

have two 308 xjrs, a blue one with cream interior for daytime, and a black one with black interior for night time, sad i know :-) and i abolutely love them, I cant compare to the mercedes but can give you some thoughts on the xjr. the power delivery is fantastic and instant with the whine of the supercharger addictive. i keep mine in sports mode all the time, and the acceleration is electric. it surprises quite a few people in the traffic light grand prix, It seems to be able to at least, keep up with most cars :-) they cover the ground very quickly, and are great fun in the twisties for such a big car, with the suspension roll hardly noticeable. the supercharger power is instant and pulls strongly up to .... leptons.
i had bmw 8 series V12s for the previous 6 years and i much prefer the power and the way the XJR delivers the power. both my cars have had the pulley modification done, so should be delivering between 370 and 400 bhp.
in the last year i have had, 350z, subaru impreza sti wrx, cerbera 4.2, chimaera 400, boxster 3.2 and i would keep an XJR instead of those.
i could be persuaded to sell my blue one, but it would be for top money as its pristine, and only 62,000 miles with NOTHING needed doing and ZERO rust.
lester
if you do get mercedes e55 let me know your thoughts please
oh, and i think the 308 looks so much better than the mercedes in IMHO

[AC43]

They are both fantastic. I test drove a W210 E55 before buying my first C43 and actually preferred it but couldn't justify the cost at the time. I'm now in a 211 E500 which offers a similar experience to the 210 E55 (same power, sports suspension, big brakes, V8 snarl when on it, near-silence in waft mode).

I've always lusted after XJR's too but have only driven the 3.2 Sport which is obviously a lot slower but shares most of the other hardware. The one I drove was a lovely thing and, much to my surprise, felt very taught - especially the steering (this is relative of course - it wasn't like a Caterham or Elise). And the cabin was a very very special place (this one had the best colour combo INHO - black paint/cream leather/piano black wood). The only downside is that the Jag's cabin is a lot smaller as is the boot.

TBH I'd take a well looked after example of either. Edit; 210's of that vintage can rust like crazy - be careful you don't buy one that's just had a recent cosmetic paint job.

Here's what EVO though at the time

http://mmm-five.net/Articles/files/TopGear%20-%20M...

Edited by AC43 on Friday 21st September 08:10

[k-ink]

When you take into account Mercedes rust the Jaguar looks like the only option. The XJR also looks lovely!

[AC43]

k-ink said:

When you take into account Mercedes rust the Jaguar looks like the only option. The XJR also looks lovely!

Despite being a Merc Fanboi I think you're right. I've just seen/head of so many 210's with rampant rust across the whole shell that I'd be very cautious.

Plus the XJR just oozes presence inside and out. And it can't get mistaken for an airport mini cab.

XJR it is then.

[richardxjr]

I like my V8 barges, sure, but the hideous thirst (and therefore range) of an XJR ruins it for me personally.

[jp7152]

Thanks for all the information

It might be a really silly question, but can the Jaguar get fuel economy on the motorway?

I often do a 140 mile trip which is usually traffic free so was hoping sitting at 65-70 the car would do 25mpg+?

[Krikkit]

Probably more like 22-24 realistically. Lovely, lovely cars though.

[richardxjr]

22 and down to half that in town. E55 should be 40-50% better on fuel, as would a newer x350 non supercharged.

[Prof Prolapse]

My X308 XJR was the only car I ever regretted selling.