Experiences of the X350 XJ6?
Discussion
I'm thinking about getting a second Jag next year and I am drawn towards an XJ6 X350.
There seems to be lots of immense bargains around in the used market but I'd always been keen to hear forum members experiences, thoughts & knowledge about them.
Is the V6 a reliable engine?
Is the quoted 35mpg realistic?
Is the autobox also reliable?
What are the main things to look for when buying something with, say 50k or so up?
And anything else you can think of.
Thanks
There seems to be lots of immense bargains around in the used market but I'd always been keen to hear forum members experiences, thoughts & knowledge about them.
Is the V6 a reliable engine?
Is the quoted 35mpg realistic?
Is the autobox also reliable?
What are the main things to look for when buying something with, say 50k or so up?
And anything else you can think of.
Thanks
I've looked at these carefully too a year or so ago - you're right, the V6 XJ is plentiful and quite a bit cheaper car for car then an equivalent V8.
I've driven two 3.0 XJs and compared to my current 308 XJ they both felt lighter, quicker and far more agile. As you'd expect the V6 is not as refined as the V8 especially when pushed. I drove my own car over exactly the same route as the X350 straight after to get a good comparison between the two and decided I didn't like the air suspension ride quality much, I found it curiously detached on smooth roads but crashingly bad and jiggly on poor ones.
Personally I don't really need any more performance than I already have, I don't do enough miles to justify buying an X350 for it's improved fuel consumption and I bloody hate hard suspension and place value on ride quality and refinement - both of which I thought even on a hour or so's test drive are much better in my current car. That's subjective of course but I guess that might be saying the 3.0 or maybe any X350 is not the car for me. Both cars were on the smallest diameter wheels too so I'm assuming the ride would be even worse on larger rims.
Both (03/04 examples) I looked at had a really poor paint finish on the vertical surfaces which put me right off even thinking about buying either. I've seen this on a number of others as well including a much later one for sale at the local stealer for £19k which I also had a brief drive in - very dull and orange peely rather like a poor quality respray. I don't know if the aluminuim paint technology is erratic or just needs better QA but there's no way I'd spend money on any car with that standard of finish.
Cabin fit and finish seemed good and panel gaps were consistent and dispite one of the two cars I drove being a high mileage ex Royal Protection met police car it was tight, squeak and rattle free.
I've read there are some corrosion problems and the air suspension can throw up fault codes too.
Prices seem to have gone in to freefall over the last year or so but I'm still not sure if I'm tempted or not. Find me one with a better ride and a glassy smooth perfect paint finish then maybe...
I've driven two 3.0 XJs and compared to my current 308 XJ they both felt lighter, quicker and far more agile. As you'd expect the V6 is not as refined as the V8 especially when pushed. I drove my own car over exactly the same route as the X350 straight after to get a good comparison between the two and decided I didn't like the air suspension ride quality much, I found it curiously detached on smooth roads but crashingly bad and jiggly on poor ones.
Personally I don't really need any more performance than I already have, I don't do enough miles to justify buying an X350 for it's improved fuel consumption and I bloody hate hard suspension and place value on ride quality and refinement - both of which I thought even on a hour or so's test drive are much better in my current car. That's subjective of course but I guess that might be saying the 3.0 or maybe any X350 is not the car for me. Both cars were on the smallest diameter wheels too so I'm assuming the ride would be even worse on larger rims.
Both (03/04 examples) I looked at had a really poor paint finish on the vertical surfaces which put me right off even thinking about buying either. I've seen this on a number of others as well including a much later one for sale at the local stealer for £19k which I also had a brief drive in - very dull and orange peely rather like a poor quality respray. I don't know if the aluminuim paint technology is erratic or just needs better QA but there's no way I'd spend money on any car with that standard of finish.
Cabin fit and finish seemed good and panel gaps were consistent and dispite one of the two cars I drove being a high mileage ex Royal Protection met police car it was tight, squeak and rattle free.
I've read there are some corrosion problems and the air suspension can throw up fault codes too.
Prices seem to have gone in to freefall over the last year or so but I'm still not sure if I'm tempted or not. Find me one with a better ride and a glassy smooth perfect paint finish then maybe...
V6 is very good for high mileage. I have seen them well over 200k and still going strong. X350 is basically a very good car,despite comments it is based on late S type mechanicals, but with air suspension. Brake pipe issues ( corrosion )under the sound deadening panel screwed to the underside.Lots of issues with heater flaps ( plastic and fall out) which are expensive to repair, removal of dash etc. Box has the normal selection issues sometimes, but generally very good. I do more 5 hp 24s form older XK/Js than the later 6hp.
Lots of electrical gremlins on some, but not the majority. Real, real good value for money .Go for it.
Lots of electrical gremlins on some, but not the majority. Real, real good value for money .Go for it.
I know it's a 3.5 but this one is near you. I think it might be my old mate who had the MOT station years ago at Ivanhurst's yard at Battlesbridge selling it. Looks reasonable to me.
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/JAGU...
http://search.autotrader.co.uk/es-uk/www/cars/JAGU...
BigNige said:
I'm thinking about getting a second Jag next year and I am drawn towards an XJ6 X350.
There seems to be lots of immense bargains around in the used market but I'd always been keen to hear forum members experiences, thoughts & knowledge about them.
Is the V6 a reliable engine?
Is the quoted 35mpg realistic?
Is the autobox also reliable?
What are the main things to look for when buying something with, say 50k or so up?
And anything else you can think of.
Thanks
Our V6 has been brilliant. Regular servicing has kept it sweet.There seems to be lots of immense bargains around in the used market but I'd always been keen to hear forum members experiences, thoughts & knowledge about them.
Is the V6 a reliable engine?
Is the quoted 35mpg realistic?
Is the autobox also reliable?
What are the main things to look for when buying something with, say 50k or so up?
And anything else you can think of.
Thanks
35mpg realistic? NO. More like 40MPG
Autoboxes do have a few problems. Ours needed reflashing a few times, and eventually the 'gearbox' module replaced.
Can't really say much more, but we buy the additional Jag Warranty every year and so far it has paid for itself, some years by x3. The warrenty costs about £1000.
That said, our car is an early production model, and their were a few teething problems.
Have you been on the jaguar forums and asked about the corrosion problems?
I will try and edit this later-got to dash to work!
Can't really say much more, but we buy the additional Jag Warranty every year and so far it has paid for itself, some years by x3. The warrenty costs about £1000.
Does that mean you'd have had to spend up to £3k on repairs and replacements some years if you'd not had the warranty?
What on earth has gone wrong with it? - that's not criticism of your choice of car BTW - as a potential purchaser of an X350 too I'd really like to know.
Does that mean you'd have had to spend up to £3k on repairs and replacements some years if you'd not had the warranty?What on earth has gone wrong with it? - that's not criticism of your choice of car BTW - as a potential purchaser of an X350 too I'd really like to know.
Jaguar steve said:
Can't really say much more, but we buy the additional Jag Warranty every year and so far it has paid for itself, some years by x3. The warrenty costs about £1000.
Does that mean you'd have had to spend up to £3k on repairs and replacements some years if you'd not had the warranty?
What on earth has gone wrong with it? - that's not criticism of your choice of car BTW - as a potential purchaser of an X350 too I'd really like to know.
Haha! Knew someone would pick up on it.... Does that mean you'd have had to spend up to £3k on repairs and replacements some years if you'd not had the warranty?What on earth has gone wrong with it? - that's not criticism of your choice of car BTW - as a potential purchaser of an X350 too I'd really like to know.
There is a huge list, but i think it could have been rectified by the supplying dealer before we took delivery (it was used). The car was/is in the Guy Salmon group, located in Coventry. We contacted our local dealer (Gatwick), who had just turned into Guy Salmon Gatwick. It seems that Coventry's prep was less than lacking, and didn't look through the car with a fine toothcomb.
Gatwick Jag were then told this had be done, and so the keys were handed over. [B}Before anyone reads on, i must say Gatwick Jag have worked 110% to resolve ALL issues as quickly and professionally as possible.[B]
The car has needed a gearbox flash quite a few times. This was because the car would suddenly hunt for a gear and then rocket off at maximum attack. This could be in either 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear. The car was immediately held at Gatwick until deemed safe.
Numerous re-flashes didn't stop this problem, eventually a 'gearbox' module was replaced at an apparent cost of over £1000.
The rear left pillar has had quite a bit of corrosion. This has been done 4 times. As in, stripped down, and painted again, 4 times.
Where the corrosion starts is where the body is joined. I can only assume that the two pieces of aluminium are of different grades, therefore creating a current and corrosion starts to set in. I await to be corrected
Please note, our car was a VERY early build, and a Jaguar management car for its first two years.The boot lid has had corrosion also. I believe this was replaced.
The sensor for the wipers packed up early on. The left mirror refused to autoclose many times, eventually this was replaced after much tweeking on the ECU could not resolve the problem.
The steering rack (and maybe arms) needed to be replaced early on in it's life. For some reason the whole thing just imploded on it's self.
The common air suspension fault has come up a few times, but nothing major.
I will try and get the list of everything off my dad later today, but im really not exaggerating the x3 bit.
Again, i want to highlight to any potential buyer, these cars are fantastic, and we believe that we have just been unfortunate with this car. Gatwick Jaguar have been nothing but amazing with us and the car. Since all the problems have been rectified, the car has been spot on with no problems at all. (This has been for about the past 2.5 years).
Oh and the engine, well as James May said, you don't feel like you've got the smallest engine, you just push the pedal a little bit harder. Sounds good though
Stedman said:
Jaguar steve said:
Can't really say much more, but we buy the additional Jag Warranty every year and so far it has paid for itself, some years by x3. The warrenty costs about £1000.
Does that mean you'd have had to spend up to £3k on repairs and replacements some years if you'd not had the warranty?
What on earth has gone wrong with it? - that's not criticism of your choice of car BTW - as a potential purchaser of an X350 too I'd really like to know.
Haha! Knew someone would pick up on it.... Does that mean you'd have had to spend up to £3k on repairs and replacements some years if you'd not had the warranty?What on earth has gone wrong with it? - that's not criticism of your choice of car BTW - as a potential purchaser of an X350 too I'd really like to know.
There is a huge list, but i think it could have been rectified by the supplying dealer before we took delivery (it was used). The car was/is in the Guy Salmon group, located in Coventry. We contacted our local dealer (Gatwick), who had just turned into Guy Salmon Gatwick. It seems that Coventry's prep was less than lacking, and didn't look through the car with a fine toothcomb.
Gatwick Jag were then told this had be done, and so the keys were handed over. [B}Before anyone reads on, i must say Gatwick Jag have worked 110% to resolve ALL issues as quickly and professionally as possible.[B]
The car has needed a gearbox flash quite a few times. This was because the car would suddenly hunt for a gear and then rocket off at maximum attack. This could be in either 2nd, 3rd or 4th gear. The car was immediately held at Gatwick until deemed safe.
Numerous re-flashes didn't stop this problem, eventually a 'gearbox' module was replaced at an apparent cost of over £1000.
The rear left pillar has had quite a bit of corrosion. This has been done 4 times. As in, stripped down, and painted again, 4 times.
Where the corrosion starts is where the body is joined. I can only assume that the two pieces of aluminium are of different grades, therefore creating a current and corrosion starts to set in. I await to be corrected
Please note, our car was a VERY early build, and a Jaguar management car for its first two years.The boot lid has had corrosion also. I believe this was replaced.
The sensor for the wipers packed up early on. The left mirror refused to autoclose many times, eventually this was replaced after much tweeking on the ECU could not resolve the problem.
The steering rack (and maybe arms) needed to be replaced early on in it's life. For some reason the whole thing just imploded on it's self.
The common air suspension fault has come up a few times, but nothing major.
I will try and get the list of everything off my dad later today, but im really not exaggerating the x3 bit.
Again, i want to highlight to any potential buyer, these cars are fantastic, and we believe that we have just been unfortunate with this car. Gatwick Jaguar have been nothing but amazing with us and the car. Since all the problems have been rectified, the car has been spot on with no problems at all. (This has been for about the past 2.5 years).
Oh and the engine, well as James May said, you don't feel like you've got the smallest engine, you just push the pedal a little bit harder. Sounds good though
All those unrelated problems and repeated corrosion and paintwork on a car just that age? I don't want to appear rude or stifle this discussion 'coz as a potential purchaser I - and probrably others too - do really want to know more. So surely the X350 must be somthing very special indeed in every other way if you still think it's fantastic after all that lot
No wonder people in late middle age start thinking about Hondas and Toyotas...
Edited by Jaguar steve on Thursday 17th December 14:39
Stedman said:
Jag Steve-you don't appear rude. I can understand people wanting to know more. But again, it's the fact of only the bad points are highlighted via forums etc. I really want it to come across that we're not angry ranters and still pleased with the car!
More details to follow...
Go for it - warts 'n all please. More details to follow...
I'm not really ready for a modest Japanese hatchback just yet.. 
Anyone else - RW774 you joining in?Jaguar steve said:
Stedman said:
Jag Steve-you don't appear rude. I can understand people wanting to know more. But again, it's the fact of only the bad points are highlighted via forums etc. I really want it to come across that we're not angry ranters and still pleased with the car!
More details to follow...
Go for it - warts 'n all please. More details to follow...
I'm not really ready for a modest Japanese hatchback just yet.. Anyone else - RW774 you joining in?BigNige said:
Jaguar steve said:
Stedman said:
Jag Steve-you don't appear rude. I can understand people wanting to know more. But again, it's the fact of only the bad points are highlighted via forums etc. I really want it to come across that we're not angry ranters and still pleased with the car!
More details to follow...
Go for it - warts 'n all please. More details to follow...
I'm not really ready for a modest Japanese hatchback just yet.. Anyone else - RW774 you joining in?You'd certainly expect any premium brand manufacturer to easily be able to match that and if I'm coughing up a premium price for a car, in both in terms of purchase price and heavy running costs I want premium luxury and reliability in return. If that's not on offer then that's just taking the piss out of my wallet frankly so there's no deal to be done.
The corrosion issues on bodywork and brake pipes sounds like you're talking about a 1970's Lancia or Renault, not a modern high tec. Jaguar. I know about these - cars of that decade are ones I learnt to weld on...
As much as I hate foreign imports,( even if they are assembled here there still bloody foreign)
They do everything well.That said, they are a bloody nightmare to put right on the whole with expensive components, unless you buy the aftermarket s
t.We had a Pulsar in some years back ,through a friend,some mate) all 350bhp of it for an engine rebuild. No information available, no help etc, only by finding a helpful specialist did we erradicate all the problems we encountered, including a failed ecu and non compatable components from the dealer.
Re the jag, I`ve not had one in yet with bodywork issues and in any case, if its a low miler, go and get it properly waxoil treated and it should last. Problem body repairs carried out in the wrong enviroment will lead to corrosion. Sounds like it happened here. Jaguar stipulate the bodyshops must have a clean sealed area for body part replacement or welding work, to prevent any outside contamination. This guys car being an early example was probably used as the `hack ` before it was sold by the factory.Therefore it may well have been tested in some extreme weather conditions both here and abroad.
Maybe it was not treated well to see what would happen to the shell after extreme use.
Big Nige, for fk sake go and buy it before the misses changes your mind,
They do everything well.That said, they are a bloody nightmare to put right on the whole with expensive components, unless you buy the aftermarket s
t.We had a Pulsar in some years back ,through a friend,some mate) all 350bhp of it for an engine rebuild. No information available, no help etc, only by finding a helpful specialist did we erradicate all the problems we encountered, including a failed ecu and non compatable components from the dealer.Re the jag, I`ve not had one in yet with bodywork issues and in any case, if its a low miler, go and get it properly waxoil treated and it should last. Problem body repairs carried out in the wrong enviroment will lead to corrosion. Sounds like it happened here. Jaguar stipulate the bodyshops must have a clean sealed area for body part replacement or welding work, to prevent any outside contamination. This guys car being an early example was probably used as the `hack ` before it was sold by the factory.Therefore it may well have been tested in some extreme weather conditions both here and abroad.
Maybe it was not treated well to see what would happen to the shell after extreme use.
Big Nige, for f
k sake go and buy it before the misses changes your mind,My brother has a 2006 X350 Super V8 which has been entirely fault free all the time he has had it. It is parked out in the weather too, yet has no corrosion at all.
I wonder if it has a different suspension set up to the V6, since I am always impressed with the ride - it is at least as good as my XJ40, which retains its original 15" wheels and 65 section tyres, and rides well.
He loves the thing and far prefers it to the S500 it replaced. Now that was an unreliable dog of a car. The rust it developed was shameful in a modern car...
David
I wonder if it has a different suspension set up to the V6, since I am always impressed with the ride - it is at least as good as my XJ40, which retains its original 15" wheels and 65 section tyres, and rides well.
He loves the thing and far prefers it to the S500 it replaced. Now that was an unreliable dog of a car. The rust it developed was shameful in a modern car...
David
dbdb said:
My brother has a 2006 X350 Super V8 which has been entirely fault free all the time he has had it. It is parked out in the weather too, yet has no corrosion at all.
I wonder if it has a different suspension set up to the V6, since I am always impressed with the ride - it is at least as good as my XJ40, which retains its original 15" wheels and 65 section tyres, and rides well.
He loves the thing and far prefers it to the S500 it replaced. Now that was an unreliable dog of a car. The rust it developed was shameful in a modern car...
David
Super V8's MMM I wonder if it has a different suspension set up to the V6, since I am always impressed with the ride - it is at least as good as my XJ40, which retains its original 15" wheels and 65 section tyres, and rides well.
He loves the thing and far prefers it to the S500 it replaced. Now that was an unreliable dog of a car. The rust it developed was shameful in a modern car...
David
Lovely cars with lovely court-appearance abilities! Again-i our car is an early XJ, the later ones seem to have the corrosion issues ironed out *touch wood*.
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