X300 - What should I look for?
Discussion
Hi all,
I've just holed a piston on my series 1 XJ6 so I've decided I want to give it a less strenuous life and return it to being the fun car. I used to run a dull modern car against it, then when that died the series 1 picked up the slack. I've put 7500 miles on it inside four months and thats just not fair to the old thing!
Anyway... I've started looking at the mid 1990's X300, as a decent large replacement. I thought about the XJ40 but I just can't live with the shape. I'm not too fussed about having a supercharged version, but I think it would have to be the V8 rather than the six.
I would appreciate some pointers on what to look out for on these cars, as they're new territory to me, and any views on what they're like to live with.
Cheers,
Ric
I've just holed a piston on my series 1 XJ6 so I've decided I want to give it a less strenuous life and return it to being the fun car. I used to run a dull modern car against it, then when that died the series 1 picked up the slack. I've put 7500 miles on it inside four months and thats just not fair to the old thing!
Anyway... I've started looking at the mid 1990's X300, as a decent large replacement. I thought about the XJ40 but I just can't live with the shape. I'm not too fussed about having a supercharged version, but I think it would have to be the V8 rather than the six.
I would appreciate some pointers on what to look out for on these cars, as they're new territory to me, and any views on what they're like to live with.
Cheers,
Ric
[quote=richw_82]Hi all,
I've just holed a piston on my series 1 XJ6 so I've decided I want to give it a less strenuous life and return it to being the fun car. I used to run a dull modern car against it, then when that died the series 1 picked up the slack. I've put 7500 miles on it inside four months and thats just not fair to the old thing!
Anyway... I've started looking at the mid 1990's X300, as a decent large replacement. I thought about the XJ40 but I just can't live with the shape. I'm not too fussed about having a supercharged version, but I think it would have to be the V8 rather than the six.
I would appreciate some pointers on what to look out for on these cars, as they're new territory to me, and any views on what they're like to live with.
Cheers,
Ric
The X300 is the 6 cyl version produced from 1995 to 1997. The V8 is known as the X308 and ran from 1997 to 2002.
Whichever XJ you choose the most important thing is to find a really good well cared for example that'll usually be at the top end of the price range. That'll mean spending from maybe £2k on a 6 cyl car to perhaps double that and more if you choose a V8. Both are well past their early youth now and old age and neglect will make much more of a difference to a individual car than the relative merits of the 6 or 8 so it's important to buy well.
Although visually similar the two cars are very different both mechanicaly and in driving dynamics. I've had 3.2 versions of both as long term garage queens and much prefer the V8. It's a lot quicker and far more refined but has lost some of the mechanical simplicity and magic carpet ride quality the 6 - which is essentially a re bodied XJ40 - has. Running costs and fuel economy are almost identical between the two. You'll get upto to 27/28MPG on a long motorway trip and high teens to low twenties round town.
X300:
Good build quality inside and out. Mechanically bombproof and capable of massive mileage if cared for. Rather sluggish heavily laden. Noisy when driven hard. Crude jerky autobox in 3.2, 4.0 is better. Manuals are agricultural but quicker. Rust round rear arches, sills and floorpan. Suspension component wear. Timing chain tensioner can become noisy. Bumper mounts corrode. Usual old car wear and tear. Ride quality biased more towards comfort than handling.
X308 Two versions: Launch to late 1999, revised 1999 to 2002.
Early cars had problems with Nicasil coatings on bores, waterpumps and throttle bodies. Eradicated on post 1999 versions.
All V8 cars suffer from secondry timing chain tensioner weaknesses and metal bodied versions really must be retro fitted. Gearboxes and 'diffs are sealed for life which means it lasts until it fails. Regular oil changes will preserve and protect. Severe corrosion behind front shocks. Mostly good build quality - some early cars are not - but trim generally more delicate than X300. Heagaskets will go if overheated or cooling system neglected. Ride much firmer - especially the sport suspension model on large rims. Occasional wear in lower steering column.
There's nothing wrong with a good X300 and the relative simplicity and durability makes it much more of a DIY car. I'd choose the V8 'tho - the differences are striking if you drive good versions of both back to back.
Whatever you choose keep some cash back for a full fluid change and buy a big tin of Waxoil.
Have a look in the PH clasifieds, jagads and Cars and Classics. There's lots to choose from.
I've just holed a piston on my series 1 XJ6 so I've decided I want to give it a less strenuous life and return it to being the fun car. I used to run a dull modern car against it, then when that died the series 1 picked up the slack. I've put 7500 miles on it inside four months and thats just not fair to the old thing!
Anyway... I've started looking at the mid 1990's X300, as a decent large replacement. I thought about the XJ40 but I just can't live with the shape. I'm not too fussed about having a supercharged version, but I think it would have to be the V8 rather than the six.
I would appreciate some pointers on what to look out for on these cars, as they're new territory to me, and any views on what they're like to live with.
Cheers,
Ric
The X300 is the 6 cyl version produced from 1995 to 1997. The V8 is known as the X308 and ran from 1997 to 2002.
Whichever XJ you choose the most important thing is to find a really good well cared for example that'll usually be at the top end of the price range. That'll mean spending from maybe £2k on a 6 cyl car to perhaps double that and more if you choose a V8. Both are well past their early youth now and old age and neglect will make much more of a difference to a individual car than the relative merits of the 6 or 8 so it's important to buy well.
Although visually similar the two cars are very different both mechanicaly and in driving dynamics. I've had 3.2 versions of both as long term garage queens and much prefer the V8. It's a lot quicker and far more refined but has lost some of the mechanical simplicity and magic carpet ride quality the 6 - which is essentially a re bodied XJ40 - has. Running costs and fuel economy are almost identical between the two. You'll get upto to 27/28MPG on a long motorway trip and high teens to low twenties round town.
X300:
Good build quality inside and out. Mechanically bombproof and capable of massive mileage if cared for. Rather sluggish heavily laden. Noisy when driven hard. Crude jerky autobox in 3.2, 4.0 is better. Manuals are agricultural but quicker. Rust round rear arches, sills and floorpan. Suspension component wear. Timing chain tensioner can become noisy. Bumper mounts corrode. Usual old car wear and tear. Ride quality biased more towards comfort than handling.
X308 Two versions: Launch to late 1999, revised 1999 to 2002.
Early cars had problems with Nicasil coatings on bores, waterpumps and throttle bodies. Eradicated on post 1999 versions.
All V8 cars suffer from secondry timing chain tensioner weaknesses and metal bodied versions really must be retro fitted. Gearboxes and 'diffs are sealed for life which means it lasts until it fails. Regular oil changes will preserve and protect. Severe corrosion behind front shocks. Mostly good build quality - some early cars are not - but trim generally more delicate than X300. Heagaskets will go if overheated or cooling system neglected. Ride much firmer - especially the sport suspension model on large rims. Occasional wear in lower steering column.
There's nothing wrong with a good X300 and the relative simplicity and durability makes it much more of a DIY car. I'd choose the V8 'tho - the differences are striking if you drive good versions of both back to back.
Whatever you choose keep some cash back for a full fluid change and buy a big tin of Waxoil.
Have a look in the PH clasifieds, jagads and Cars and Classics. There's lots to choose from.
I wouldn't count out the straight six. I loved mine, and it was mechanically virtually indestructible. It was also nice knowing that I could work on it at home quite easily if something did go wrong. At the mileage and age they are at now I'd be budgeting for a suspension refresh though. Gearbox failures on the V8s appear to be depressingly common too, but the old 4 speed box in the X300 goes forever. You do miss that extra ratio though.
Dave
Dave
dme123 said:
I wouldn't count out the straight six. I loved mine, and it was mechanically virtually indestructible. It was also nice knowing that I could work on it at home quite easily if something did go wrong. At the mileage and age they are at now I'd be budgeting for a suspension refresh though. Gearbox failures on the V8s appear to be depressingly common too, but the old 4 speed box in the X300 goes forever. You do miss that extra ratio though.
Dave
I certainly wouldn't dismiss a six either. Look hard enough and you'll find some really nice modest mileage examples still around for just a couple of grand. There's a huge difference in refinement and driving dynamics between the two cars though and if you can find a good V8 and are prepared to look after it properly then IMO that's certainly the better car out of the two.Dave
V8 gearboxes fail because in a triumph of marketing over engineering Jaguar specified no oil changes were necessary on the 5 speed box fitted to the V8 whereas a change is called for in the service schedule every 30k on the straight six. That'll go a long way to explain why so many V8 boxes die at 70/80/90k - the original factory fill oil degenerates to a point where it no longer lubricates. It's possible - though not all that easy or cheap - to change the gearbox oil and preserve the box. Mine's on 96k with two oil and filter changes and still works perfectly. I have driven another original nicasil engined and factory 'box 3.2 V8 with 182k on the clock. It was tight, velvet smooth and quiet and went like s
t off a shovel when you nailed it - the reason? You could hardly get the glovebox lid shut because of all the reciepts for servicing and maintainence inside. Ya pays ya money and takes ya choice really - the most important thing of all is buy the very best example you can afford. If the budget won't go as far as a really good V8 then a equally good condition six is a much better choice than a ragged V8 at the same money.
It obviously depends on what you're comparing it too, but even the 3.2 X300 is pretty quick in most circumstances. It rare to find yourself really feeling any lack of power.
There are three sets of suspension settings in the X300 range.
The XJR is much firmer. The Mrs didn't really like the ride and it wasn't what I was looking for when I was buying.
The standard cars and Sovereigns are softest.
The Sport is in between the two and I found to be the best compromise (all suspension systems are a compromise). I've still not found a car with a better (from my point of view) balance between ride and handling.
There are three sets of suspension settings in the X300 range.
The XJR is much firmer. The Mrs didn't really like the ride and it wasn't what I was looking for when I was buying.
The standard cars and Sovereigns are softest.
The Sport is in between the two and I found to be the best compromise (all suspension systems are a compromise). I've still not found a car with a better (from my point of view) balance between ride and handling.
Until I drove a few I didn't realise what a difference there was between the sport and touring suspension settings between the X300 and X308.
You'd naturally assume the sport spring and damper rates for example would be the same for both cars but that's certainly not the case. I drove an X300 sport back to back with my own sport suspension X308 on identical wheels and same brand tyres and just a few yards down the road proved the ride in my car was much firmer.
I'd agree that in most circumstances - especially here in Essex where there's no hills - an 3.2 6 cyl is quick enough. I've driven both 3.2 cars 4 up with luggage around Wales 'tho where there are serious hills and heavily laden in those conditions is when the difference between the two really becomes apparent.
The 3.2 V8 only has another 20 BHP on paper but it has a fatter torque curve and a much more responsive gearbox enabling you to use the power far more effectively. It's also 200kg lighter and around 1.5 sec quicker to 60 than the 6. High speed acceleration from 0.8 Leptons and upwards really shows the difference between the cars too. The V8 just picks itself up and hurls you towards the horizon when you mash the throttle which is somthing the 6 would do too but it certainly took a lot longer to get there.
Top speeds are within a few MPH but as the cars are aerodynamicaly very similar and gearing is almost identical that's no surprise.
In the real world I've found time and time again the V8 will maintain speed on long ascents much more easily than the 6 which just ran out of gears and torque when heavily laden. I had to use kickdown and full throttle a lot more in the 6 to maintain reasonable progress or when overtaking or joining high speed motorway trafic than I do in the V8 and burnt more fuel as a result.
IIRC I got around 19MPG in Wales in the X300, but under the same circmstances - a 4 up weekend away and driving round the same area - the V8 magaged 23. I'd only had the 8 for a few weeks when we went and remember properly checking rather than relying on the computer because of how poor the fuel consumption was in the previous trip and was pleasantly surprised how much better the 8 was. The V8 was a lot more relaxing to drive too, so yes, if you drive laden in hilly areas, or really want to get a move on the 3.2 V8 is the one to go for out of the two.
Or simply buy a 4.0 - either 6 or 8 - if you can find a good one. As you'd expect both versions of the 4.0 engines feel a lot quicker - the 4.0 V8 especially is a superb engine.
You'd naturally assume the sport spring and damper rates for example would be the same for both cars but that's certainly not the case. I drove an X300 sport back to back with my own sport suspension X308 on identical wheels and same brand tyres and just a few yards down the road proved the ride in my car was much firmer.
I'd agree that in most circumstances - especially here in Essex where there's no hills - an 3.2 6 cyl is quick enough. I've driven both 3.2 cars 4 up with luggage around Wales 'tho where there are serious hills and heavily laden in those conditions is when the difference between the two really becomes apparent.
The 3.2 V8 only has another 20 BHP on paper but it has a fatter torque curve and a much more responsive gearbox enabling you to use the power far more effectively. It's also 200kg lighter and around 1.5 sec quicker to 60 than the 6. High speed acceleration from 0.8 Leptons and upwards really shows the difference between the cars too. The V8 just picks itself up and hurls you towards the horizon when you mash the throttle which is somthing the 6 would do too but it certainly took a lot longer to get there.
Top speeds are within a few MPH but as the cars are aerodynamicaly very similar and gearing is almost identical that's no surprise.
In the real world I've found time and time again the V8 will maintain speed on long ascents much more easily than the 6 which just ran out of gears and torque when heavily laden. I had to use kickdown and full throttle a lot more in the 6 to maintain reasonable progress or when overtaking or joining high speed motorway trafic than I do in the V8 and burnt more fuel as a result.
IIRC I got around 19MPG in Wales in the X300, but under the same circmstances - a 4 up weekend away and driving round the same area - the V8 magaged 23. I'd only had the 8 for a few weeks when we went and remember properly checking rather than relying on the computer because of how poor the fuel consumption was in the previous trip and was pleasantly surprised how much better the 8 was. The V8 was a lot more relaxing to drive too, so yes, if you drive laden in hilly areas, or really want to get a move on the 3.2 V8 is the one to go for out of the two.
Or simply buy a 4.0 - either 6 or 8 - if you can find a good one. As you'd expect both versions of the 4.0 engines feel a lot quicker - the 4.0 V8 especially is a superb engine.
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