Jaguar XJR: Spotted
Original six-cylinder XJRs are very hard to come by, even more so in this condition
We are of course at the end of an era for performance Jaguars too; from now on, as the F-Type SVR has reminded us, all flagship models will be all-wheel drive. Not a bad thing by any means - the Jaguar Intelligent Driveline Dynamics system is very good - but it is different. And we rather worry about different, don't we?
Anyway, to the car in question. It's one of the first Jaguar XJRs, a product of TWR and Jaguar's collaboration in the late 80s to create cars that appealed to a younger client base. It's not just a recent phenomenon! Under the 'Jaguar Sport' name, the XJR and XJS-based XJR-S were created and TWR began laying the foundations for the XJ220 and XJR-15. There was a bit of success in sportscar racing too...
The XJ40 XJR was based on the XJ6, with TWR's modifications including new Bilstein dampers, changes to the steering and some subtle styling tweaks too. Originally a 3.6, the later cars like this one came with a 4.0-litre straight six and the square headlights rather than the original round items. From what can be found on the internet, a 4.0-litre manual XJ6 was once capable of 145mph and 0-60mph in 7.2 seconds.
According to the ad for this 4.0-litre auto, there are just 37 XJ40 XJRs left on the road today. It sounds believable; when did you last see one? This one must be one of the best too, having covered just 39,000 miles and with rear cream leather seats that look to have been barely touched. It's had one owner for the past quarter of a century who always had it serviced at the same Jaguar dealer. There's an RAC badge in the grille. The wood gleams and there's even a car phone. If you like fast old Jags - and we rather do - then this XJR looks ruddy magnificent.
At £14K there are other sports saloons both of the XJR's time and newer to consider. You could have a previous-gen X350 V8 XJR for example. Interestingly E34 M5s are out of price range but there is a Mercedes 500E at £12,990, albeit in left-hand drive with a lot more miles. Are there any other realistic alternatives? We'd love to hear them, especially as it might stave off the irrepressible urge to buy this right now. What a car!
Jaguar XJR
Engine: 3,980cc, inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed ZF automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 254@5,250rpm
Torque (lb ft): 278@4,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 1990
Recorded mileage: 39,000 miles
Price new: £39,950
Yours for: £13,995
See the original advert here.
[Source: JaguarSportXJR.com]
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2015...
15k seems to do a Quattroporte just fine.
Now, if you can find a Chasseur Stealth Bi-Turbo in that condition...
Now, if you can find a Chasseur Stealth Bi-Turbo in that condition...
It's a lot of money though, you could get a nice CLS55 AMG for that, different vibe but twice the power, twice the torque, better ride and quieter at speed.
Now, if you can find a Chasseur Stealth Bi-Turbo in that condition...
Now, if you can find a Chasseur Stealth Bi-Turbo in that condition...
14 grand for a not that fast, not that pretty XJR without a supercharger, I want to love it but cant summon up much enthusiasm.
It's an interesting period piece, somewhat redolent of a certain kind of after-shave advert. The price seems ambitious but I suppose I'm not the target buyer. If I were having an XJ40 I'd be looking for maximum waft and purr with the V12.
Now, if you can find a Chasseur Stealth Bi-Turbo in that condition...
This is in contrast to a c.1993 XJRS, which did have a larger 6.0 engine compared to the standard XJS's 5.3.
£14k is a bit/lot steep. But, if I owned one that is how much I would want to be compensated with to part from it!
If we are splitting hairs, I think I would prefer a slightly earlier XJR 3.6. Or, even a pre-1988 Daimler with metric wheels.
Now, if you can find a Chasseur Stealth Bi-Turbo in that condition...
14 grand for a not that fast, not that pretty XJR without a supercharger, I want to love it but cant summon up much enthusiasm.
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