x 308 or x 350
Discussion
Later cars a big step foreward in interior space, fuel economy and performance. All earlier Jaguar V8 problems resolved on introduction of 4.2 V8. Earlier cars very cheap to buy now and a good one will be reliable if looked after.
Many X350s suffer from paint defects. Check all over bodywork for signs of paint bubbling and poor repairs. Lots about this on the Jaguar Forum. Occasional air suspension compressor failures. Gearbox oil should be changed at 50k. Strange ride quality not to my taste at all and very hard riding on larger wheels. Expensive suspension bush problems.
A few X308s suffer from front chassis rail corrosion, plastic body timing chain tensioners can fail, Occasional waterpump and thermostat failure on pre 2000 cars. Gearboxes go pop if oil not changed at 50k. Far nicer ride quality on conventional steel springs IMO.
Try both and see what you think. Better to buy a really good example with history and evidence of real care rather than one in your favourite colour.
Many X350s suffer from paint defects. Check all over bodywork for signs of paint bubbling and poor repairs. Lots about this on the Jaguar Forum. Occasional air suspension compressor failures. Gearbox oil should be changed at 50k. Strange ride quality not to my taste at all and very hard riding on larger wheels. Expensive suspension bush problems.
A few X308s suffer from front chassis rail corrosion, plastic body timing chain tensioners can fail, Occasional waterpump and thermostat failure on pre 2000 cars. Gearboxes go pop if oil not changed at 50k. Far nicer ride quality on conventional steel springs IMO.
Try both and see what you think. Better to buy a really good example with history and evidence of real care rather than one in your favourite colour.
The X308 is a genuinely very beautiful car in a way that the x350 will never be too...
If looking at x308s I'd not discount the 3.2, numbers of available cars tend to be far more limited (particularly if you like sports seats and the sports styling), they really don't drive that differently either.
If looking at x308s I'd not discount the 3.2, numbers of available cars tend to be far more limited (particularly if you like sports seats and the sports styling), they really don't drive that differently either.
Certainly cheaper to buy but maybe not so to run. Lots of X308s on carsandclassic and it's a buyers market. Earlier this year I bought a pristine 2001 XJ8 from a deceased aircraft engineer's estate with just 31k on the clock and FJSH as well as massive pile of bills for £3k. Even had tax and MOT to October too 
Make sure you buy the very best example you can find. Post 2000 cars avoid many of the earlier V8 issues Look for uneven front tyre wear, jerky or hesitant gearchanges, clonks from front or rear and vibration when braking and check behind both front shocks for rust. Higher mileage shouldn't be a problem providing it's been looked after. You'll need to budget for upgrade of the secondary timing chain tensioners and gearbox and filter change.
Parts are reasonable, tyres are about £100 a corner and they are easy enough to work on and capable of up to 28 MPG with a little care.
Real bargins at the 'mo - get one bought.
Make sure you buy the very best example you can find. Post 2000 cars avoid many of the earlier V8 issues Look for uneven front tyre wear, jerky or hesitant gearchanges, clonks from front or rear and vibration when braking and check behind both front shocks for rust. Higher mileage shouldn't be a problem providing it's been looked after. You'll need to budget for upgrade of the secondary timing chain tensioners and gearbox and filter change.
Parts are reasonable, tyres are about £100 a corner and they are easy enough to work on and capable of up to 28 MPG with a little care.
Real bargins at the 'mo - get one bought.
Hmmmm, got slighty distracted!
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C291808#
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C292877#
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C291808#
http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C292877#
I was in the same position recently and have just bought a nice xjr x308.
My thoughts; whilst there are a few cheap x350s about, going by the ones I've seen they aren't worth the risk. Early cars seem to have various issues and parts prices are still pretty scary. Yes the x308s have their issues as well but most have been sorted out by now.
I sought advice of my local jag specialist and thought his comment was pretty spot on when he said leave the x350 for a while yet and let some of the common issues sort themselves out, plus let the prices of parts soften a bit. He also said as xf`s come down in price the xj`s will fall as well.
I picked up a real nice xjr with great history and all common issues dealt with, I'm delighted with it and plan to run it for a couple of years then move up to a post 2005 x350 when prices soften a bit.
My thoughts; whilst there are a few cheap x350s about, going by the ones I've seen they aren't worth the risk. Early cars seem to have various issues and parts prices are still pretty scary. Yes the x308s have their issues as well but most have been sorted out by now.
I sought advice of my local jag specialist and thought his comment was pretty spot on when he said leave the x350 for a while yet and let some of the common issues sort themselves out, plus let the prices of parts soften a bit. He also said as xf`s come down in price the xj`s will fall as well.
I picked up a real nice xjr with great history and all common issues dealt with, I'm delighted with it and plan to run it for a couple of years then move up to a post 2005 x350 when prices soften a bit.
The car above is one of mine buddy I've specialised in Jaguar for years and years I love them, but the step forwards Jaguar made with the 350 was vast it feels like a completely different car to the 308, once youve driven the 350 the Old girl 308 as great as she is, feels very very old and heavy. Go for the 350. The one above is only £3700.
I had both.
X350: a pretty "normal" car, comparable to a 5 series BMW (in terms of agility and interior space). Lots of car for the money (wow/neighbour factor).
X308: especially in LWB a rather classic/exotic car, interior does not age well (more refined in X350). Difficult to find a good one.
X350: a pretty "normal" car, comparable to a 5 series BMW (in terms of agility and interior space). Lots of car for the money (wow/neighbour factor).
X308: especially in LWB a rather classic/exotic car, interior does not age well (more refined in X350). Difficult to find a good one.
I've had a variety of XJs going back 20 years.
In the last 8 or so years I've had 3 xjrs. 1998, 2003 and 2007.
The 1998 x308 was lovely. Quick off the line, capable of high speeds etc...
But... when I bought the 2003 X350 XJR I had the two of them as I hadn't sold the X308, it sat in the drive for a few weeks as I advertised it. When I sold it I took it for a drive and after having driven the x350 for a few weeks the X308 felt , well, old fashioned. It felt like I was sat on the car, the x350 makes you feel you're sat in the car.
In driving comparisons, the X308 may actually feel slightly quicker off the line, but the x350 just keeps going, it pulls like a train all the way up to the limiter, an amazing ability to just keep accelerating as other cars fade away.
As to reliability, the 1998 needed new tensioners and blew it's gearbox in the time I had it (2 years). The first 2003 XJR had a slightly lurching gearchange between 1st and second, would occasionally display a warning about air suspension but never had anything break. There was some small aluminium corrosion on the edges on the boot, tiny bubbles that you would struggle to spot, but they never got any worse in the 2 years I had it.
And finally the 2007 XJR has done something like 35K in my ownership. I had some paint fixed under warranty but apart from that all I've bought is 4 tyres and some rear brake pads. It's been faultless. Oh, apart from a radio that takes 5 mins to 'warm up' if the morning temperature is something like -5 degrees.
I'd be looking for an X350, can't think of any reason I'd want to go and buy am X308 now I've tried them both.
In the last 8 or so years I've had 3 xjrs. 1998, 2003 and 2007.
The 1998 x308 was lovely. Quick off the line, capable of high speeds etc...
But... when I bought the 2003 X350 XJR I had the two of them as I hadn't sold the X308, it sat in the drive for a few weeks as I advertised it. When I sold it I took it for a drive and after having driven the x350 for a few weeks the X308 felt , well, old fashioned. It felt like I was sat on the car, the x350 makes you feel you're sat in the car.
In driving comparisons, the X308 may actually feel slightly quicker off the line, but the x350 just keeps going, it pulls like a train all the way up to the limiter, an amazing ability to just keep accelerating as other cars fade away.
As to reliability, the 1998 needed new tensioners and blew it's gearbox in the time I had it (2 years). The first 2003 XJR had a slightly lurching gearchange between 1st and second, would occasionally display a warning about air suspension but never had anything break. There was some small aluminium corrosion on the edges on the boot, tiny bubbles that you would struggle to spot, but they never got any worse in the 2 years I had it.
And finally the 2007 XJR has done something like 35K in my ownership. I had some paint fixed under warranty but apart from that all I've bought is 4 tyres and some rear brake pads. It's been faultless. Oh, apart from a radio that takes 5 mins to 'warm up' if the morning temperature is something like -5 degrees.
I'd be looking for an X350, can't think of any reason I'd want to go and buy am X308 now I've tried them both.
I see a lot of x308's and x350's and it seems strange that the later generation car actually suffers more in the paint quality department. We have all got use to the idea that paint adhesion and rustproof technolgy has improved dramatically over the last 30 years, but I can look at 2000 XJ308's and the paint is thick and on the surface the dreaded tin worm is not apparent but I can look at late x350's I mean 2007-8 and the paint is bubbling on the 'A' , 'C' pillars around the boot near rear screen and on the roof. I know the x350 is aluminium but given it was in production from 2002-3 by 2007-8 you'd think Jaguar would have sorted the problem. In 2012 the general public do not expect to see a prestige 5 year old car needing a major respray, I think this will really hit residuals for X350's.
I'd be very interested to see if Jaguar have fixed the paint adhesion to aluminium issue in the current XJ?
I'd be very interested to see if Jaguar have fixed the paint adhesion to aluminium issue in the current XJ?
Domf said:
I see a lot of x308's and x350's and it seems strange that the later generation car actually suffers more in the paint quality department. We have all got use to the idea that paint adhesion and rustproof technolgy has improved dramatically over the last 30 years, but I can look at 2000 XJ308's and the paint is thick and on the surface the dreaded tin worm is not apparent but I can look at late x350's I mean 2007-8 and the paint is bubbling on the 'A' , 'C' pillars around the boot near rear screen and on the roof. I know the x350 is aluminium but given it was in production from 2002-3 by 2007-8 you'd think Jaguar would have sorted the problem. In 2012 the general public do not expect to see a prestige 5 year old car needing a major respray, I think this will really hit residuals for X350's.
I'd be very interested to see if Jaguar have fixed the paint adhesion to aluminium issue in the current XJ?
The problem with the paint is mainly caused by small steel particles that were left in the surface of the aluminium when the panels edges were being rolled in the manufacturing process.I'd be very interested to see if Jaguar have fixed the paint adhesion to aluminium issue in the current XJ?
The aluminium and steel can react causing the corrosion and bubbling.
I had some fixed along the bottom of my doors and along the rear boot lid under warranty about a year ago and it's not shown any sign of coming back. And as I said before the 2003 one I had had some along the boot lid edge beneath the rear window. Only tiny bubbles and they never seemed to get worse.
Nothing compared to some of the Merc's you see around!
Piersman2 said:
The problem with the paint is mainly caused by small steel particles that were left in the surface of the aluminium when the panels edges were being rolled in the manufacturing process.
My point exactly, as you stated you had problems with your 2003 car and are still having issues with the 2007 car, that Jaguar should have fixed in the manufacturing process, 4 years to solve!Unfortunately dealers only want to purchase A1 cars with minimum valet cost to turn a profit. A car that has had to be resprayed under warranty or not (crash damage), will raise concerns with most potential customers and put them off and raise awkward questions with the dealer over provenance. Hence currently X350's are not getting the best of prices, I haven't seen a current XK with paint issues and that is also aluminium, unless other forum members know different.
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