xj8 3.2 or 4.0??
Discussion
Hi folks,
I've narrowed my search a bit having seen a few and have decided to go for an XJ8 not an XK8 and will keep the Griffith. My budget is around £5k-£7k as I'm keeping the TVR and I'm trying to research whether the 4 litre or 3.2 is the best option as there seems little difference in the secondhand price. One consideration is that I will maybe get an LPG conversion done and wonder if this will influence my decision.
I'd welcome any thoughts from owners. Are they equally reliable? Are they both equally suitable for LPG? How much performance difference do you feel there is?
Thanks,
Saxon
I've narrowed my search a bit having seen a few and have decided to go for an XJ8 not an XK8 and will keep the Griffith. My budget is around £5k-£7k as I'm keeping the TVR and I'm trying to research whether the 4 litre or 3.2 is the best option as there seems little difference in the secondhand price. One consideration is that I will maybe get an LPG conversion done and wonder if this will influence my decision.
I'd welcome any thoughts from owners. Are they equally reliable? Are they both equally suitable for LPG? How much performance difference do you feel there is?
Thanks,
Saxon
jag xj8 engines shared the same potentially expensive problem as lots of older (pre-99) bmw engines - bmw had a big problem in the past with certain grades of petrol eating away at the nikasil bore linings, so something to research if you haven't already
Edited by stephenperry on Friday 16th March 21:13
Essentially the 3.2 and the 4.0 (except the supercharged XJR) are mechanically almost exactly the same, 'tho obviously the 4.0 is a bit quicker.
I'd suggest you have a look at different trim levels and try to drive cars with both the sport and touring suspension to see which one you prefer, as there's quite a difference in ride quality.
Broardbean's post is an excellent source of info about the XJ, and covers all the things you need to know.
Both the 3.2 and 4.0 are capable of 25MPG+, but genuine spare parts from Jaguar are very, very expensive. Routine servicing at an independent is pretty reasonable, but as with any luxury car, the bills soon mount up if anything goes wrong.
Personally, I'd buy the best example I could find and not be too worried about engine size.
JS
I'd suggest you have a look at different trim levels and try to drive cars with both the sport and touring suspension to see which one you prefer, as there's quite a difference in ride quality.
Broardbean's post is an excellent source of info about the XJ, and covers all the things you need to know.
Both the 3.2 and 4.0 are capable of 25MPG+, but genuine spare parts from Jaguar are very, very expensive. Routine servicing at an independent is pretty reasonable, but as with any luxury car, the bills soon mount up if anything goes wrong.
Personally, I'd buy the best example I could find and not be too worried about engine size.
JS
Guys,
That's great information and I'm very grateful. I was only wary of the 3.2 because somebody on the web with one was saying he found it slow off the line pulling out at junctions and I'd hate to buy a Jag and find it felt sluggish. Looking at the perfromance figures they both look pretty quick though.
The other element that I'm wrestling with is Sport, Executive and Sovereign. It seems that the Sport tended to have a lack centre console and carpets plus black windwo surrounds etc and a firmer suspension set-up for tighter cornering. The Executive seems to have more chrome and a softer suspension. Being a mere 38 and a bit of a petrolhead I suspect the sport is more in my line but I really ought to drive both. I am however struggling a bit to see what SOvereign offers?? Is it just electrically adjustable steering wheel and steering wheel mounted controls for stereo and cruise control - is there much else to it?? One dealer I spoke to said that most sovereigns also seem to be LWB and 4 litre, although I would much prefer a SWB. It's just that a few electronic toys doesn't seem much for a £10k difference in list price so am I missing something???
Also I'm quite surprised that this forum is so quiet given how lively the TVR forum is and the respective sales figures!! Is this the best Jag forum or is there another??
Look forward to reading replies from those in the know.
Brg,
Saxon
That's great information and I'm very grateful. I was only wary of the 3.2 because somebody on the web with one was saying he found it slow off the line pulling out at junctions and I'd hate to buy a Jag and find it felt sluggish. Looking at the perfromance figures they both look pretty quick though.
The other element that I'm wrestling with is Sport, Executive and Sovereign. It seems that the Sport tended to have a lack centre console and carpets plus black windwo surrounds etc and a firmer suspension set-up for tighter cornering. The Executive seems to have more chrome and a softer suspension. Being a mere 38 and a bit of a petrolhead I suspect the sport is more in my line but I really ought to drive both. I am however struggling a bit to see what SOvereign offers?? Is it just electrically adjustable steering wheel and steering wheel mounted controls for stereo and cruise control - is there much else to it?? One dealer I spoke to said that most sovereigns also seem to be LWB and 4 litre, although I would much prefer a SWB. It's just that a few electronic toys doesn't seem much for a £10k difference in list price so am I missing something???
Also I'm quite surprised that this forum is so quiet given how lively the TVR forum is and the respective sales figures!! Is this the best Jag forum or is there another??
Look forward to reading replies from those in the know.
Brg,
Saxon
Was the 3.2 you heard about an earlier 6 cyl one?
I've had both and found there's a massive difference in performance between cars fitted with the straight 6 and V8 engines of the same capacity.
I'd be a bit wary of a sport suspension car 'tho and make sure you drive one at lower speeds over poor road surfaces before you make your mind up. My XJ8 has sports suspension and 17" Celtic alloys which IMHO is a bit too firm to give a really comfortable ride.
JS
I've had both and found there's a massive difference in performance between cars fitted with the straight 6 and V8 engines of the same capacity.
I'd be a bit wary of a sport suspension car 'tho and make sure you drive one at lower speeds over poor road surfaces before you make your mind up. My XJ8 has sports suspension and 17" Celtic alloys which IMHO is a bit too firm to give a really comfortable ride.
JS
This is really interesting and informative and if a Sagaris driver doesn't find a 3.2 a little slow I have no worries! To be honest either is going to feel like greased whippet compared to my Passat diesel!
The sports suspension issue is interesting Steve so I will try and drive both. Does anyone know how the sport pack differs from the Sport? Some of the Executive models I have seen claim to have the Sport pack fitted and I'm curious how this differs from the sport?
Thanks,
Jonathan
PS This one is my absolute perfect spec and is occupying my thoughts a lot at the moment - it's an automotive wet dream but I'm just a bit edgy about buying via ebay and I only spotted it yesterday and haven't had a chance to see it and drive it before the auction closes and thus would be bidding blind which is ludicrous! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
The sports suspension issue is interesting Steve so I will try and drive both. Does anyone know how the sport pack differs from the Sport? Some of the Executive models I have seen claim to have the Sport pack fitted and I'm curious how this differs from the sport?
Thanks,
Jonathan
PS This one is my absolute perfect spec and is occupying my thoughts a lot at the moment - it's an automotive wet dream but I'm just a bit edgy about buying via ebay and I only spotted it yesterday and haven't had a chance to see it and drive it before the auction closes and thus would be bidding blind which is ludicrous! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dl
jaguar steve said:
Was the 3.2 you heard about an earlier 6 cyl one?
I've had both and found there's a massive difference in performance between cars fitted with the straight 6 and V8 engines of the same capacity.
I'd be a bit wary of a sport suspension car 'tho and make sure you drive one at lower speeds over poor road surfaces before you make your mind up. My XJ8 has sports suspension and 17" Celtic alloys which IMHO is a bit too firm to give a really comfortable ride.
JS
I've had both and found there's a massive difference in performance between cars fitted with the straight 6 and V8 engines of the same capacity.
I'd be a bit wary of a sport suspension car 'tho and make sure you drive one at lower speeds over poor road surfaces before you make your mind up. My XJ8 has sports suspension and 17" Celtic alloys which IMHO is a bit too firm to give a really comfortable ride.
JS
Sluggish is always subjective...but
I've never found the 3.2 I6 to be that slow. I've had mine for almost twelve years and I certainly quite happy with the performance of it. I'd probably buy a 4L if I was replacing it if the cars were otherwise comparable, but the difference certainly isn't worth changing for. Well actually if I changed it I'd go for a XJR, but I still don't think it's worth changing just to get the additional power.
Mine is a 3.2 Sport on the standard 16" wheels and the ride is sublime. Certainly knocks the misses E class MB into a cocked hat for both ride comfort and body control, her's is the "Elegance" comfort model but the Sports Jag still has it beaten.
Cheers
I found there's not actually much difference between touring and sport suspension on the earlier cars. I had a XJ 6 X300 with touring suspension for about 4 years and regurlary drove and rode in a similar aged X300 with sports suspension. Both cars had identical wheels and tyres, and it was not always possible to draw clear comparisons between the two with regard to ride comfort and handling.
When I bought my XJ8 I perhaps mistakenly assumed there would be little difference again between the two suspension set ups, but it seems with the introduction of a revised, stiffer bodyshell, Jaguar took the opportunity to stiffen up the sports suspension by a noticable degree. I have driven touring suspension XJ 8's as well as my own car and the difference, although subtle at first becomes obvious after a few miles on mixed road surfaces. I'm not saying it's a problem and not to buy one fitted with sports suspension, and I'm sure the 17" wheels with lower profile tyres than the standard 16" rims don't help either.
The other downside is that tyre noise is far more prominent on some road surfaces as well.
The other viewpoint is the car handles really well and is much better at high speed on twisty roads than the touring suspension version.
JS
When I bought my XJ8 I perhaps mistakenly assumed there would be little difference again between the two suspension set ups, but it seems with the introduction of a revised, stiffer bodyshell, Jaguar took the opportunity to stiffen up the sports suspension by a noticable degree. I have driven touring suspension XJ 8's as well as my own car and the difference, although subtle at first becomes obvious after a few miles on mixed road surfaces. I'm not saying it's a problem and not to buy one fitted with sports suspension, and I'm sure the 17" wheels with lower profile tyres than the standard 16" rims don't help either.
The other downside is that tyre noise is far more prominent on some road surfaces as well.
The other viewpoint is the car handles really well and is much better at high speed on twisty roads than the touring suspension version.
JS
I've got an XJ8 sport, 1998 R plate, 3.2 - really chuffed with it. Trim level is bloody decent for me, only thing missing is Satnav which I don't miss. Performance excellent, nice and gentle but you can give it some welly if need be.
As has been said, it's much more important to get a good, well maintained example. Mine was 79k miles, full Jag service history and had had the three main problems (noted in Broadbean's post) sorted (although accellerator needed adjusting again recently!)
As has been said, it's much more important to get a good, well maintained example. Mine was 79k miles, full Jag service history and had had the three main problems (noted in Broadbean's post) sorted (although accellerator needed adjusting again recently!)
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