XJ6 or XJ8?

[jchallis]

Contemplating a couple of options here for a pre-owned Jaguar. Both cars are one owner with around 60k miles; they have full Jaguar or Jaguar-specialist history. The X300 XJ6 is dated 1996; the X308 XJ8 is 1998. Apart from the obvious differences (6 versus 8 cylinders), both cars are 3.2 autos. The XJ6 is a sovereign; the XJ8 is standard issue with no extras (tensioners have been replaced). Will be viewing both cars in next 24 hours.

What do you think? Price wise, both cars are around £1500 give or take a few quid. Which would you go for?

[CDP]

jchallis said:

Contemplating a couple of options here for a pre-owned Jaguar. Both cars are one owner with around 60k miles; they have full Jaguar or Jaguar-specialist history. The X300 XJ6 is dated 1996; the X308 XJ8 is 1998. Apart from the obvious differences (6 versus 8 cylinders), both cars are 3.2 autos. The XJ6 is a sovereign; the XJ8 is standard issue with no extras (tensioners have been replaced). Will be viewing both cars in next 24 hours.

What do you think? Price wise, both cars are around £1500 give or take a few quid. Which would you go for?

I'd go for the V8. It's so smooth. As long as you use decent fuel Nikasil shouldn't be an issue by now. My father only ever uses BP, Esso or Shell and has never filled up at a supermarket.

[a8hex]

OK, I'd go for the XJ6.
I personally think the X300 looks even better. The 3.2 AJ16 engine is peach and is commonalty considered bomb proof.
X300s seem to give less trouble and those who like to look after their cars themselves (OK those who have time to do it themselves) say they are much easier to work on.

Go and take a look at both of them, see what you think and unless the impression are decidedly different, go for the one with the best body.

When I was looking, back in period, I preferred the ride handling balance of the Sport variant over the Sovereign. Not sure which one is considered normal on the X308.

(besides, Jaguar cylinders should always come in neat rows of 6)

[Vanya]

a8hex said:

(besides, Jaguar cylinders should always come in neat rows of 6 with a lovely v in the middle)

Although the straight sixes are very nice too.

[a8hex]

Vanya said:

a8hex said:

(besides, Jaguar cylinders should always come in neat rows of 6 with a lovely v in the middle)

Although the straight sixes are very nice too.

There's nothing at all wrong with having V's in the middle, just so long what's on each side is perfectly balanced

[NormanD]

CDP said:

I'd go for the V8. It's so smooth. As long as you use decent fuel Nikasil shouldn't be an issue by now.
My father only ever uses BP, Esso or Shell and has never filled up at a supermarket.

Nikasil ISN'T a problem for the last 10 years

I use Sainsbury's petrol even with my hard driving

[jas xjr]

NormanD said:

Nikasil ISN'T a problem for the last 10 years

I use Sainsbury's petrol even with my hard driving

no problem with supermarket fuel . only problem i have had with my car <that i can remember , is fuel filters causing hesitation on w. o. t.

[Jaguar steve]

I've owned both and done several tens of thousands of miles in each.
Things like condition and history being equal I'd choose XJ8 every time.

[jchallis]

Thanks for all the advice so far. This is the car I am going to look at today:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4116230.htm

I've read extensively about the various 'issues' with these X308 cars. As I won't be doing much mechanical work on this myself, the only big things that concern me (given that the tensioners have been done by Jaguar) are the water pump/thermostat and the Nikasil. In terms of the water pump etc, if that hasn't been changed I'll factor that in; in terms of Nikasil, am I right in thinking that cars of this age, with full service history etc, are unlikely to be affected and that I shouldn't be letting this issue detract me from purchasing the car at the right price?

Any advice on this issue or the car generally most welcome. Thanks guys.

I looked at this X300 yesterday (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230831014132?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648#ht_1235wt_1129) but think I'll leave it. SWMBO would hate the interior colour!

However, I also like the look of this (although it's a shame there is a gap in the history):

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2012...

[NormanD]

jchallis said:

I've read extensively about the various 'issues' with these X308 cars. As I won't be doing much mechanical work on this myself, the only big things that concern me (given that the tensioners have been done by Jaguar) are the water pump/thermostat and the Nikasil. In terms of the water pump etc, if that hasn't been changed I'll factor that in; in terms of Nikasil, am I right in thinking that cars of this age, with full service history etc, are unlikely to be affected and that I shouldn't be letting this issue detract me from purchasing the car at the right price?

Any advice on this issue or the car generally most welcome. Thanks guys.

Water pump and thermostate are easy and cheep to change

I agree Nikasil ISN'T an issue these days

[nikolarun]

I would try and find a 4.0 AJ16 XJ6 it is the best of the bunch. Go for a sport

[HaylingJag]

nikolarun said:

I would try and find a 4.0 AJ16 XJ6 it is the best of the bunch. Go for a sport

Hello Nik,
how you doing, not heard from you for a while! Hope the old XJR-s is still going strong! Holty is selling his roadgoing model for around 4 1/2k if your shopping.
ive just added this to the fleet, as a keeper, no ragging this around, wafting only!!

D

[nikolarun]

HaylingJag said:

Hello Nik,
how you doing, not heard from you for a while! Hope the old XJR-s is still going strong! Holty is selling his roadgoing model for around 4 1/2k if your shopping.
ive just added this to the fleet, as a keeper, no ragging this around, wafting only!!

D

Hey long time no see
The XJR-S has just has a new rear axle with a 3.54 diff and it now goes like the clappers
The only downside is that it runs out of revs at around 135, so I need a 5sp manual

Nice ride

[dbdb]

HaylingJag said:

Hello Nik,
how you doing, not heard from you for a while! Hope the old XJR-s is still going strong! Holty is selling his roadgoing model for around 4 1/2k if your shopping.
ive just added this to the fleet, as a keeper, no ragging this around, wafting only!!

D

Wow your XJR is in beautiful condition, there very few as good as this left.

For me, if choosing between the X300 six cylinder cars and the V8 engined X308, I would go for the six cylinder X300. I prefer their looks and feel to the later V8, particularly inside. The V8 has a disappointing interior to my eyes - all swoopy plastic, though the engine is a smooth revving, powerful gem of a unit.

Though its problems are probably exaggerated, the V8 is more fragile than the six cylinder AJ16 (or AJ6) - which in fairness to the V8 are amongst the strongest engines made. The X300 is a simpler car and easier for the home mechanic. This appeals to me and may not matter to everyone, but I imagine it will be cheaper to run than the V8, over time. Thus, the six cylinder car is more robust and probably cheaper to run, but the V8 has a more modern feel but less character.

One piece of very good advice from a8hex is to base your final decision on the condition of the body. Either car can rust badly. Check all over the bulkhead, particularly on the X300 - they can have substantial rust here and front inner wing behind the shock absorber, which can rust severely on both the X300 and X308 and is expensive to fix. Check the sill to floor join on both sides and the sill ends/ front of the floor particularly on the X300. Early X300s can have real problems with rusty rear arches too, but this seems to affect later cars less. If there is rust here, it isn't cheap to fix.

You're not considering one, but my favourite is the XJ40. I prefer their styling, they have more character and they're nicer inside than either the X300 or the X308. Late ones are just as reliable as the X300. By God they can rust though!

[HaylingJag]

nikolarun said:

Hey long time no see
The XJR-S has just has a new rear axle with a 3.54 diff and it now goes like the clappers
The only downside is that it runs out of revs at around 135, so I need a 5sp manual

Nice ride

Hi Nik,

nice work mate, to be fair what track do you get to achieve 135?? What about a 5 speed J gate from the V8, that may sort it??

OP,
have you bought one yet? in my opinion its wise to buy one of each,
For info, i have just had the rear arches done on my 6 pot sc for a cost of £700 both sides. Included rear bumper and full rear quarters re painted
;)

I prefer this to drive over the V8, feels more planted, though i have just uprated the springs on the V8 its still not as sweet to drive as the other 2. The TWR is just so 'waftable'

if your looking at the 60,000 miles mark you probably wont encounter any of the rust issues mentioned ifs been properly looked after. Whichever you choose i would always go for the 4 litre though, fuel is minimal difference and performance is up several levels.

Whatever you get/got, lets have a looky!!

[jchallis]

Still looking. I wondered about this one:

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/4170050.htm

And I'm waiting to hear back from the owner. What do reckon? Would the rust put off? And price?

I am still torn between an XJ6 or an XJ8. I am also considering a Lexus LS400 but I don't expect that option to go down well here!

[Fat Fairy]

Just the thread I need.

I'm moving abroad to work for a couple of years and have just sold my 96 XJ6 3.2.

I'm looking for a 2003/4 XJ8 Super. Are there any outstanding issues by this time? I've seen the timing chain tensioners mentioned and am aware of the old Nikasil issues.

I'd look in my (once) vast collection of Jag Mags, but a defrosting pipe over the winter dealt with most of them!

[Fat Fairy]

Just the thread I need.

I'm moving abroad to work for a couple of years and have just sold my 96 XJ6 3.2.

I'm looking for a 2003/4 XJ8 Super. Are there any outstanding issues by this time? I've seen the timing chain tensioners mentioned and am aware of the old Nikasil issues.

I'd look in my (once) vast collection of Jag Mags, but a defrosting pipe over the winter dealt with most of them!

[Jaguar steve]

Fat Fairy said:

Just the thread I need.

I'm moving abroad to work for a couple of years and have just sold my 96 XJ6 3.2.

I'm looking for a 2003/4 XJ8 Super. Are there any outstanding issues by this time? I've seen the timing chain tensioners mentioned and am aware of the old Nikasil issues.

I'd look in my (once) vast collection of Jag Mags, but a defrosting pipe over the winter dealt with most of them!

2003 and on cars will be the X350 aluminium bodied XJ. No need for concerns you may have read regarding V8 timing chains/nicasil bore errosion/waterpumps or throttle bodies. These were all sorted by the end of the previous model. Your only real problem with one of these may be paint defects and corrosion. Several cars have been affected and you'll need to go over every body panel very carefully looking for bubbling or evidence of repair. Also best to budget for a gearbox oil change.

[sogood]

Never having owned an x308, I cant comment, except to say that I dont care for the interior. Even though it is a more modern car than the x300, it has, for me, a more dated look, as opposed to the ageless appearance of the x300. I drive a 4.0l Sovereign and I would advise anyone to get the best that they can. You may well regret not having the whistles and bells at a later stage and 4.0litres is no more costly on fuel that the 3.2 and pulls quietly and effortlessly, until you floor it and get that satisfying growl and whoooooooooosh!