Discussion
I've got a couple of long journeys coming up in the next few months (round Scotland and down to Goodwood) and fancy a nice comfortable car with a bit of presence to enjoy the miles. So if you had to choose the best Jag for this purpose which would you choose?
I've seen examples of S Type 3.0 V6 and X300 3.2 Sport advertised around the £1700 mark. Or is it worth upping the budget to say £4k and getting a X308 3.2/4.0 or a post facelift S-type?
I think the shape of the X300 just edges it for me but the S Type is still a great looking car (darker colours seem to suit it better) and the S Type would have more toys to play with and would be more practical as I may need to carry a couple of bikes on the Scotland trip.
What are the key things to look for/ask about for these examples to make sure I get a decent one and what should make me run away?
I've seen examples of S Type 3.0 V6 and X300 3.2 Sport advertised around the £1700 mark. Or is it worth upping the budget to say £4k and getting a X308 3.2/4.0 or a post facelift S-type?
I think the shape of the X300 just edges it for me but the S Type is still a great looking car (darker colours seem to suit it better) and the S Type would have more toys to play with and would be more practical as I may need to carry a couple of bikes on the Scotland trip.
What are the key things to look for/ask about for these examples to make sure I get a decent one and what should make me run away?
Edited by syncrov6 on Wednesday 1st August 00:20
Never owned an X300 so can't compare but my 4.2(non supercharged)S Type 'wafts' with the best of them and will come in your higher budget.
Most of the earlier S issues sorted, it has a six speed auto and the 4.2 has no tensioner or block issues. Heavy cars so watch suspension bushes and electrical niggles often traced to water in the boot. Motorway mpg can crack 30 with ease and a Thule fitting kit for roof bars is dirt cheap off ebay.
Longest trip I've done in mine was from Bath down to Lyon, a breeze!
Most of the earlier S issues sorted, it has a six speed auto and the 4.2 has no tensioner or block issues. Heavy cars so watch suspension bushes and electrical niggles often traced to water in the boot. Motorway mpg can crack 30 with ease and a Thule fitting kit for roof bars is dirt cheap off ebay.
Longest trip I've done in mine was from Bath down to Lyon, a breeze!
The S-type is a great car in V8 guise, but a well sorted X300 Sovereign (ideally 4 litre - the 3.2 is a bit underpowered so doesn't waft properly) is in a COMPLETELY different league to an S-Type. Slower and far less agile, but it gets a 9 in the waft stakes versus maybe a 4 or 5 for the S-Type. The ridiculous old world opulence of the X300 cabin is a big part of it, along with far superior ride quality and general refinement.
A lot of these cars will have very tired suspension though, with clocks and knocks and a lot of wallowing :-(
A lot of these cars will have very tired suspension though, with clocks and knocks and a lot of wallowing :-(
Edited by dme123 on Thursday 2nd August 18:20
Speed and power aren't really a measure of waft. The X300 even in 3.2 is still more powerful than a S1 XJ6; but a S1 does waft along better. I gave my X300 away in favour of the older car.
Hit a large pothole in an X300 and it sometimes loses its composure. Hit anthing short of a high kerb (pothole, speedbump, drunk chav, for example) in a S1, 2, or 3 XJ6 and it carries on unruffled without you really noticing. Tired suspension can make them wallow a bit coming down off a large bump, but if in good fettle the ride is great.
Admittedly they start to lean over in the corners should you go hooning around country lanes, but that's when you're heading out of waft territory and into getaway driver mode.
Hit a large pothole in an X300 and it sometimes loses its composure. Hit anthing short of a high kerb (pothole, speedbump, drunk chav, for example) in a S1, 2, or 3 XJ6 and it carries on unruffled without you really noticing. Tired suspension can make them wallow a bit coming down off a large bump, but if in good fettle the ride is great.
Admittedly they start to lean over in the corners should you go hooning around country lanes, but that's when you're heading out of waft territory and into getaway driver mode.
Went to see some cars at the weekend:
1. X300 3.2 Sport - looked good in the ad but was a complete dog. Rusty, mis matched tyres, and advert said full leather and cruise when it only had part leather and no cruise. Not a great start!
2. X308 XJR - nice tidy car. Previous owner had obviously taken care of it. Had the tensioners and chains done. Really nice to drive, very fast but could only take it for a short drive in residential area so couldn't really give it a proper test. It had a couple of minor issues and had a pit of bubbling paint near the rear screen. These cars are so stuffed full of technology that I had the feeling it was just a breakdown away from a huge bill.
3. X300 XJR - bit rough round the edges and felt much more agricultural than the 8 cyclinder version but had more character. This one wasn't for me though as it needed too much work.
1. X300 3.2 Sport - looked good in the ad but was a complete dog. Rusty, mis matched tyres, and advert said full leather and cruise when it only had part leather and no cruise. Not a great start!
2. X308 XJR - nice tidy car. Previous owner had obviously taken care of it. Had the tensioners and chains done. Really nice to drive, very fast but could only take it for a short drive in residential area so couldn't really give it a proper test. It had a couple of minor issues and had a pit of bubbling paint near the rear screen. These cars are so stuffed full of technology that I had the feeling it was just a breakdown away from a huge bill.
3. X300 XJR - bit rough round the edges and felt much more agricultural than the 8 cyclinder version but had more character. This one wasn't for me though as it needed too much work.
syncrov6 said:
X308 XJR - nice tidy car.
These cars are so stuffed full of technology that I had the feeling it was just a breakdown away from a huge bill.
Not often that goes wrongThese cars are so stuffed full of technology that I had the feeling it was just a breakdown away from a huge bill.
Find a good Jaguar Independant near you and if any problems there are good second hand parts to replace them with at little cost
Well I picked up my new car yesterday from a Jaguar specialist in Leeds - a 99 XJ8R in British Racing Green. Okay so I probably strayed from the "waft" remit but you only live once. Went for a drive through the Dales during a beautiful summer evening. All seemed fine until it started stuttering and "Fail safe engine" warning light came on. Managed to get home okay dispite the warning coming on again. Took it back to the dealer this morning whose mechanic diagnosed a problem with the throttle body. Not a great start to Jaguar ownership.....
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