RE: SOTW: Jaguar XJR (X300)
Discussion
thought these had a smattering more than 325 bhp, 370 for origional then 400 for the facelift??
Remember when i was at college 10 years ago, my mates dad had one and under a family policy, his son could drive all cars. Needless to say my mate took said XJR to a party i was at - luckily made my own way home, as instead of driving round the rounderbout, he went over it - too fast!
Knacked suspension and driveshafts proceeded, together with a cringworthy phonecall to his dad who was on holiday at the time!!
Remember when i was at college 10 years ago, my mates dad had one and under a family policy, his son could drive all cars. Needless to say my mate took said XJR to a party i was at - luckily made my own way home, as instead of driving round the rounderbout, he went over it - too fast!
Knacked suspension and driveshafts proceeded, together with a cringworthy phonecall to his dad who was on holiday at the time!!
Fabulous car in principle, but with so much accessible power on tap coupled with a dashboard read-out showing your fuel use it becomes a very frustrating thing to drive: the temptation to put your foot down is constant but the consequences of doing so are too painful to contemplate.
But you know I do believe this car was supposedly the fastest 4-door production car on the market when new. There can't be many other cars to have claimed that title which can now be had for shed money. Negates the MPG issue somewhat
But you know I do believe this car was supposedly the fastest 4-door production car on the market when new. There can't be many other cars to have claimed that title which can now be had for shed money. Negates the MPG issue somewhat
dbdb said:
ILoveMondeo said:
f
k it..
I'm going to by an XJ of some description at the end of the month when I get paid.. that is if sanity doesnt set it between now and then...
Any of them are great cars! - Just make sure you check everywhere for rust - that's what kills them.k it..I'm going to by an XJ of some description at the end of the month when I get paid.. that is if sanity doesnt set it between now and then...
Cheers
ILoveMondeo said:
dbdb said:
ILoveMondeo said:
fk it..
I'm going to by an XJ of some description at the end of the month when I get paid.. that is if sanity doesnt set it between now and then...
Any of them are great cars! - Just make sure you check everywhere for rust - that's what kills them.k it..I'm going to by an XJ of some description at the end of the month when I get paid.. that is if sanity doesnt set it between now and then...
Cheers
X308 1997-2003: Generally better but above still applies. One real problem area on a few cars is where front subframe V mount joins the body rail behind the front shock. Check both sides one may be fine the other not.
X350 2003-2010: Aluminium body. Some cars have severe paint problems others are fine. Check boot lid, door and wing bottoms, A B C pillars and wheel arches
Leptons said:
Welshbeef said:
A short MOT with the airbag warning light on at a time when the MOT rules have changed to specifically to deal with faulty airbags. So it could be spares or scrap much sooner than you may think.
Good luck though
Please stop repeating this drivel. It is a visual inspection for the light coming on and going off again.Good luck though
There are ways around it!
fozluvscars said:
how would they check this anyway? it should come on when you start the car for a second, but other than that not sure how they'd pick it up. depends how vigilant they are i suppose
The light must come on when the keys are turned to II (or the equivalent with keyless cars) and then go out immediately the engine is started.Anything else they don't care about - it can flicker back on and they shouldn't call it out - it they do, another tester won't.
So the only issue with dodgy lights is if they sometimes cause the light to stay on after the car is started (my mate's 306 did this and as it was a seat connector, the guy getting in/out could trigger it) - then you need to repair it.
k-ink said:
Haha, so true. I used to have a V12 XJS and that was more cramped than even the most tiny shopping hatch inside.
The XJS was noted for being tiny tho - I think it was a dig at the sort of people who own them...XJs (small s!!) aren't massive but they're OK - I'm comfy (at 6'5") and a mate who's a doorman/bodybuilder (we're talking a WIDE man here but only 5'7") is also comfy so...
ILoveMondeo said:
Thanks steve, going to be looking at circa '98-2000 cars based on the rough prices I've seen on autotrader.
Some stunners for under £3k on there, some 1 owner cars too! f'ing love it!
Looking like end of next month now, I'd completely forgotten about a very major expensive this month!
That'll be the V8 engined X308 then. Top choice IMO, I'm on my second one. Overall a much better XJ than the earlier but almost identical in apperance X300 6 cyl car. Buy on condition and history alone, not just because it's your favourite colour or £100 quid cheaper. People are giving even really nice ones away now for two or three grandSome stunners for under £3k on there, some 1 owner cars too! f'ing love it!
Looking like end of next month now, I'd completely forgotten about a very major expensive this month!
Even base 3.2 is quick - 0-60 8.1, Vmax 1.4 leptons and can achive 28MPG - though not all at the same time obviously. Important to have secondary timing chain tensioners changed to mk3 metal bodied type if mk1 or 2 plastic bodied type are fitted. Simple and cheap job to do. "Sealed for life" gearbox and diff oils need changing every 40/50k or so or they will expire. Drive must engage quickly and smoothly and gearchanges be quiet and seamless otherwise suspect dying gearbox. Check front subframe V mount for rust behind front shocks. Make sure front tyres don't have uneven wear - classic Jaguar wishbone bush failure symptom. Check all electrics work and err.. that's about it.
Well maintained one is real pleasure to own and drive, a rough one will bleed you white financially. I've run older XJ's for the last 20 years now and really can't think of anything else I'd rather have TBH.
sumnide82 said:
Oi hang on isn't this supposed to be 'shed of the week'
Not 'buy the nicest most expensive one you can afford week!'
It's a lot easier to walk away from a cheap one after you have stuffed it sideways into a lamp post on a wet roundabout
Depends if the airbags went off... Not 'buy the nicest most expensive one you can afford week!'
It's a lot easier to walk away from a cheap one after you have stuffed it sideways into a lamp post on a wet roundabout
The XJR is currently being carefully race prepared (well, applying some stickers), have christened it the 'Memphis Bell-end'
Will be making an outing at the Retro Car show Santa Pod at the end of June. Got a drag lined up with my pal's WRX engined 1985 VW T25 van...
And another mate of mine is about to become a Wizard of NOS dealer....hmmmmm
Will be making an outing at the Retro Car show Santa Pod at the end of June. Got a drag lined up with my pal's WRX engined 1985 VW T25 van...
And another mate of mine is about to become a Wizard of NOS dealer....hmmmmm
Thats exactly the same as mine 
I paid about £1800 for mine 3 months ago and will be taking it to Le Mans this year. Its a little bit tatty but i have only spent about £100 on it so far doing various bits and pieces and has been spot on so far.
I love the car but my only complaint is the fuel economy (which i know is boring and expected but cannot be ignored)
My last two tanks have averaged 18mpg, which means about £250 miles per £100 of fuel, which does get depressing at 1000miles a month. I have resorted now to using the motorbike as much as possible to save on some of the costs.
Insurance is reasonable at £800 (23 years old)
Here is my thread on readers rides of my ownership experience to date:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
I paid about £1800 for mine 3 months ago and will be taking it to Le Mans this year. Its a little bit tatty but i have only spent about £100 on it so far doing various bits and pieces and has been spot on so far.
I love the car but my only complaint is the fuel economy (which i know is boring and expected but cannot be ignored)
My last two tanks have averaged 18mpg, which means about £250 miles per £100 of fuel, which does get depressing at 1000miles a month. I have resorted now to using the motorbike as much as possible to save on some of the costs.
Insurance is reasonable at £800 (23 years old)
Here is my thread on readers rides of my ownership experience to date:
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/topic.asp?h=0...
http://youtu.be/iTvMjUzQE1U
http://youtu.be/P_P0AgaeMOQ
Childish I know but couldn't resist giving the worn out tyres a final beating...
http://youtu.be/P_P0AgaeMOQ
Childish I know but couldn't resist giving the worn out tyres a final beating...
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