XJ first impressions
Discussion
My local Jaguar dealer tried to sell me a new XJ today. I was very impressed by the full leather cabin with suede-lined roof, the gizmos - including a wonderful seat massage function which I would leave running all the time - and the extraordinary sweep of the interior trim bar which creates a semi-circle from door to door via the distant front windscreen. It felt, and looked, like the prow of a luxury powerboat.
The toys were mesmerising - from the superb Bowers & Wilkins 1200W premium surround system to the high def TV screen; and from auto closing boot lid to virtual fluid level checks. What a fabulous cuccoon!
But he began by proudly showing me the disiesel Portfolio model. I'm ready to accept that this was state-of-the-art diesel technology - but regrettably it hasn't advanced enough for me. Too agricultural, I told him: where's the petrol engine? He disappeared for a while and returned in a 5.0L Portfolio which sounded much better, although still surprisingly noisy at tickover. I explained that I have been spoilt by the V12 of yore which was totally silent when idle. But I would have lived with the slight engine noise if it weren't for the seats...
My primary aim was to find a replacement for the firm and uncomfortable seats in my 4.2 XKR. I had hoped that the new top end saloon would be the answer. The seats are only slightly more comfortable than the XK's - and even the magical massage mode couldn't compensate for the firm base which I knew from experience would numb my bum inside 100 miles.
And all this without actually driving the car. He didn't have a 5.0 demonstrator to hand so I have to go back for a drive, just to make sure that I can't live with the seats. Surprisingly, I slipped into a Portfolio XF in the showroom and found the seats much better - partly because the side bolsters are softer and more yielding. But there isn't a petrol version of the XF so there's no point getting excited about the seats...
And nice as the interiors are, I can't get excited about the exterior styling of either the XJ or XF after a string of XKs. But I'm sure I could grow into them. I didn't like the new aluminium XK shape when I first saw it either.
Ho hum... where's the Bentley showroom in Berkshire?
The toys were mesmerising - from the superb Bowers & Wilkins 1200W premium surround system to the high def TV screen; and from auto closing boot lid to virtual fluid level checks. What a fabulous cuccoon!
But he began by proudly showing me the disiesel Portfolio model. I'm ready to accept that this was state-of-the-art diesel technology - but regrettably it hasn't advanced enough for me. Too agricultural, I told him: where's the petrol engine? He disappeared for a while and returned in a 5.0L Portfolio which sounded much better, although still surprisingly noisy at tickover. I explained that I have been spoilt by the V12 of yore which was totally silent when idle. But I would have lived with the slight engine noise if it weren't for the seats...
My primary aim was to find a replacement for the firm and uncomfortable seats in my 4.2 XKR. I had hoped that the new top end saloon would be the answer. The seats are only slightly more comfortable than the XK's - and even the magical massage mode couldn't compensate for the firm base which I knew from experience would numb my bum inside 100 miles.
And all this without actually driving the car. He didn't have a 5.0 demonstrator to hand so I have to go back for a drive, just to make sure that I can't live with the seats. Surprisingly, I slipped into a Portfolio XF in the showroom and found the seats much better - partly because the side bolsters are softer and more yielding. But there isn't a petrol version of the XF so there's no point getting excited about the seats...
And nice as the interiors are, I can't get excited about the exterior styling of either the XJ or XF after a string of XKs. But I'm sure I could grow into them. I didn't like the new aluminium XK shape when I first saw it either.
Ho hum... where's the Bentley showroom in Berkshire?
pr100 said:
Ho hum... where's the Bentley showroom in Berkshire?
Pangbourne - if you want to look like a footballer 
I was surprised to learn that the Continental GT isn't much bigger than the XKR though, it looks it. The interior is lovely in the right colours.Maybe the earlier seats are different, or just people's needs are different, but I find the seats in my 5.0 XKR to be very comfortable.
chimpanzee said:
Must have imagined the XF 3.0 petrol, XF 5.0 V8 and XFR then.
Indeed - I hadn't done my homework properly as I didn't go in to look at an XF. Maybe he meant that he didn't have a petrol model to show me.Having now compared the XJ and XF price lists, I'm confused even more. When I asked to see the petrol XJ, my man told me I would be paying a premium as the petrol engine is more expensive. And yet when I look at the XF range on Jaguar's website, the opposite is true and it's the diesel which seems to attract the premium. What am I missing here?
steve-p said:
Maybe the earlier seats are different, or just people's needs are different, but I find the seats in my 5.0 XKR to be very comfortable.
Certainly people's bums are different: some come with more padding than others. I haven't sat in a 5.0 XK so will try it next time I'm in. I think I'm past the supercharger phase. Always wanted an R and now I've owned one and realised how little proper driving I do and how old I'm getting I'll be reverting to normal aspirations. People over a certain age shouldn't wear mini skirts or drive an R imho...
pr100 said:
chimpanzee said:
Must have imagined the XF 3.0 petrol, XF 5.0 V8 and XFR then.
Indeed - I hadn't done my homework properly as I didn't go in to look at an XF. Maybe he meant that he didn't have a petrol model to show me.Having now compared the XJ and XF price lists, I'm confused even more. When I asked to see the petrol XJ, my man told me I would be paying a premium as the petrol engine is more expensive. And yet when I look at the XF range on Jaguar's website, the opposite is true and it's the diesel which seems to attract the premium. What am I missing here?
I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
What I found disappointing about the new XJ is the ride comfort. Being air suspended I expected something really special; but going down a bumpy B road there was a lot of bouncy judder. Pretty sure this is down to the 20" alloys and low profile'ish tyres it had. This was as a passenger and not a driver.
Markymark69 said:
Get a used Bentley and forget the new Jags
I'm slowly gravitating that way. But it would feel like a divorce after 30 years of Jag ownership so I need to make sure before I do the deed.Hard to believe that this extraordinary monster could waft me around on 22in dustbin lids though:
http://pictures2.autotrader.co.uk/imgser-uk/servle...
Have you not heard the rumour that those fabulous XFR seats are going to be put in the XK next year? May want to wait it out.
Brand new cars have firm seats, they need to give. Agree the diesel engine just doesn't suit any Jaguar.
Why don't you try a new Range Rover, it has the kudos and sublime levels of ride and comfort. Try one and you may well find your new best friend.
Bentley, FFS!
Brand new cars have firm seats, they need to give. Agree the diesel engine just doesn't suit any Jaguar.
Why don't you try a new Range Rover, it has the kudos and sublime levels of ride and comfort. Try one and you may well find your new best friend.
Bentley, FFS!
They seem to have totally forgot the role that the air in a tyre has as part of the suspension.
There has also been a general move away from ride comfort in the mistaken belief that harder suspension == better/more sporty handling.
With the previous X350 XJ with air suspension I found it to be very good at cruising speed. The longest drives I've done in them was from SF to Sacramento. The road surface on the freeway is pretty bad, pock marked concrete and in the XJ you could see the blemishes in the road but somehow they never intruded into the cabin.
A number of the reviews commented that along with other air suspended cars the XJ wasn't so good at low speed bump/hole absorption.
There has also been a general move away from ride comfort in the mistaken belief that harder suspension == better/more sporty handling.
With the previous X350 XJ with air suspension I found it to be very good at cruising speed. The longest drives I've done in them was from SF to Sacramento. The road surface on the freeway is pretty bad, pock marked concrete and in the XJ you could see the blemishes in the road but somehow they never intruded into the cabin.
A number of the reviews commented that along with other air suspended cars the XJ wasn't so good at low speed bump/hole absorption.
Markymark69 said:
Get a used Bentley and forget the new Jags, i think they have definitely lost their way with the shape of them now.
I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
By used I take it you mean a pre-Skoda Bentley. The Bentley Continental R is a fabulous looking thing, the newer stuff is just part of the German fad for seeing how ugly you can make a car. Almost alone in the annals of motoring history they have managed to make the saloon version look better than the coupé, but better is not the same as looking good.I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
a8hex said:
Markymark69 said:
Get a used Bentley and forget the new Jags, i think they have definitely lost their way with the shape of them now.
I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
By used I take it you mean a pre-Skoda Bentley. The Bentley Continental R is a fabulous looking thing, the newer stuff is just part of the German fad for seeing how ugly you can make a car. Almost alone in the annals of motoring history they have managed to make the saloon version look better than the coupé, but better is not the same as looking good.I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
Both about a blind mile in front of the new Jags in every way, in my opinion of course.
Triple7 said:
Why don't you try a new Range Rover, it has the kudos and sublime levels of ride and comfort. Try one and you may well find your new best friend.
I've just acquired a capacious 4x4 as my second/practical ride and wanted an exotic if less sporty flower to replace the XKR.and thereafter said:
Bentley, FFS!
I don't know much about 'em but I like the styling and assume they might have a wafty ride. And my grown-up, recently-banned son keeps telling me to get one...pr100 said:
Triple7 said:
Why don't you try a new Range Rover, it has the kudos and sublime levels of ride and comfort. Try one and you may well find your new best friend.
I've just acquired a capacious 4x4 as my second/practical ride and wanted an exotic if less sporty flower to replace the XKR.and thereafter said:
Bentley, FFS!
I don't know much about 'em but I like the styling and assume they might have a wafty ride. And my grown-up, recently-banned son keeps telling me to get one...Markymark69 said:
a8hex said:
Markymark69 said:
Get a used Bentley and forget the new Jags, i think they have definitely lost their way with the shape of them now.
I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
By used I take it you mean a pre-Skoda Bentley. The Bentley Continental R is a fabulous looking thing, the newer stuff is just part of the German fad for seeing how ugly you can make a car. Almost alone in the annals of motoring history they have managed to make the saloon version look better than the coupé, but better is not the same as looking good.I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
Both about a blind mile in front of the new Jags in every way, in my opinion of course.
Blind being the operative word in the sentence. a8hex said:
Markymark69 said:
a8hex said:
Markymark69 said:
Get a used Bentley and forget the new Jags, i think they have definitely lost their way with the shape of them now.
I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
By used I take it you mean a pre-Skoda Bentley. The Bentley Continental R is a fabulous looking thing, the newer stuff is just part of the German fad for seeing how ugly you can make a car. Almost alone in the annals of motoring history they have managed to make the saloon version look better than the coupé, but better is not the same as looking good.I, like you love my XK and XJ of old, these new ones while no doubt being marvels of modern technology are just not for me.
Both about a blind mile in front of the new Jags in every way, in my opinion of course.
Blind being the operative word in the sentence. Dont get me wrong i love Jags, iv got two, but from the era they looked like Jags.
I can see from the Skoda comment you seem to have a bit of a down on Bentleys, any reason for that?
Edited by Markymark69 on Thursday 16th September 20:49
Markymark69 said:
And you think the new XJ with the Cadillac back and out of proportion front is a good looking car do you?
Dont get me wrong i love Jags, iv got two, but from the era they looked like Jags.
I can see from the Skoda comment you seem to have a bit of a down on Bentleys, any reason for that?
Sorry the blind mile comment was too much of a sitting duck not to take a cheap pot shot at.Dont get me wrong i love Jags, iv got two, but from the era they looked like Jags.
I can see from the Skoda comment you seem to have a bit of a down on Bentleys, any reason for that?
Edited by Markymark69 on Thursday 16th September 20:49
I too prefer older Jaguar designs, I have an XK150 and an X300.
I loved the Continental, John Heffernan and Ken Greenley design was a master piece.
My feeling was that the German take over of Bentley was "unsympathetic". Everything that was good about the look of the cars was thrown away and an instant dash to platform sharing ensued. To my mind the GT is just dumpy. The previous Continental had style and Grace in it's appearance. It might have been the size of house but it used the size to make grandeur. The GT looks smaller but its just fat and ugly at the front doesn't improve in the middle and has a big arse. It looks very Germanic, which is fine when you're buying a German car, but it is sold as being English.
Personally I prefer the older shaped of Jaguar to the newer ones. But I know they needed to move on. Sir William was never scared of change, except that it hit his pocket hard. If you look back through Jaguar's glory years there were great step changes in design. The same must have been true for Bentley. They also had the complication of needing to distance themselves from RR after that messy little fiasco. I've written at length here about the design changes in the Jaguar line up. It terms of saloons I think they hit a high point with the X300 (some prefer the X308), the X350 was a victim of this, well that and weak Ford management. Ian Callum's Jaguars look better in the metal than they do in photos. They have all also grown on me with time. I'd still choose my X300 over the latest X351, but that is just me. Also modern safety regulations wouldn't let them sell a car like the 300 anymore. A lot of the frontage of the newer cars is determined by these rules.
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