RE: Shed of the Week: Jaguar XJ6
Discussion
Great shed. Shed should be about cars that you would have a reasonable expectation of running for a year before moving it on (or weighing it in). Some of the recent sheds didn't look like they'd get you off the forecourt. This looks cared for.
These Jags are great cars and they are at giveaway prices now. This will have vastly better ride and noise levels than a new Audi and the difference in depreciation would leave enough left over for fuel, the odd repair and a nice cruise holiday. But it would say "old Jag" rather than "new Audi" to the neighbours and we can't have that, can we?
These Jags are great cars and they are at giveaway prices now. This will have vastly better ride and noise levels than a new Audi and the difference in depreciation would leave enough left over for fuel, the odd repair and a nice cruise holiday. But it would say "old Jag" rather than "new Audi" to the neighbours and we can't have that, can we?
Having owed an XJS V12 and XJR V8, I do love a Jag, I would however probably avoid this bad boy.
So you go to see the guy selling said Jag, a dealer so he wont budge on price (maybe he'll knock £50 off), so you pay around £1400 which is about £600 too expensive, then you take it to a garage for something minor only for them to tell you its rusted under the suspension and worth about £500.
Basically that happened to me when I bought a 3.2 V6.
So you go to see the guy selling said Jag, a dealer so he wont budge on price (maybe he'll knock £50 off), so you pay around £1400 which is about £600 too expensive, then you take it to a garage for something minor only for them to tell you its rusted under the suspension and worth about £500.
Basically that happened to me when I bought a 3.2 V6.
As much as I like the X300/X308 I think this is overpriced for a pretty boggo spec Cat D XJ6 with the crap engine. You're getting very weak performance for your 20mpg, and while the 4.0 straight six is no fireball it does at least have enough low down torque to be effortless, unlike the 3.2.
If you're going X300 it needs to either be £300 or an actually desirable spec like a 4.0 Sovereign, a Daimler, an XJR, or an XJ12.
If you're going X300 it needs to either be £300 or an actually desirable spec like a 4.0 Sovereign, a Daimler, an XJR, or an XJ12.
Mark-C said:
Jaguar steve said:
Mark-C said:
sgtBerbatov said:
Hmm. I always thought that the Browns Lane Jaguar plant was in Coventry, not Birmingham.
Don't know what made me think this, maybe every time I went to Coventry from Birmingham I'd pass the "Welcome to Coventry" sign and then see Browns Lane.
Who knows.
Definitely Coventry.Don't know what made me think this, maybe every time I went to Coventry from Birmingham I'd pass the "Welcome to Coventry" sign and then see Browns Lane.
Who knows.
What a lovely shed this is and the straight six suits it so much better than the later V8
I'm on my fourth 3.2 XJ now. Two 2 straight six XJs identical to this week's Shed and 2 later V8s and back of a fag packet maths says I've put something like 200k miles on the 4 cars in total.
The difference in refinement and performance between the six and V8 versions is dramatic. Not just a bit but absolute chalk and cheese different.
The later V8 is much quicker and has a vastly superior gearbox compared with the six. It's much quieter and smoother, especially when using the extra performance and in the real world it'll give you anything up to 5 MPG more too. The V8 also handles a lot better as well as feeling far more connected and responsive when making progress.
Personally I'd choose a V8 every time. Providing you take care of some preventative maintenance there's no reason why a well looked after V8 shouldn't take Space Shuttle miles as well as the six can and all round its a much better car IMO.
I was driving several different Jaguars and contemporary offerings from BMW and Mercedes every week when the AJ6 6 cyl engine was launched in 1983. I was gobsmacked at how gruff and unrefined it was when wound up compared to the competition and indeed the ancient Jaguar XK straight six engine it was to replace that was designed way back in the 1940s.
The press hinted as much in contemporary road tests but were mostly too polite or perhaps too patriotic or maybe had too much of a bloody good lunch on launch day to really slate it.
The problem with the 3.2 straight 6 version like this SOTW is it's not really got enough poke to haul 1800 odd kg of XJ about and it's further crippled by a hideous stone age 4 speed autobox. It's OK when cruising motorways or bimbling about country lanes but put 4 fat B'stards and all their luggage in it for a long weekend somewhere hilly and it's hopeless. Wouldn't actually pull itself out of a wet paper bag so its on wide throttle openings and in second or third gear turning stupidly high RPM a lot of the time which is where it gets gruff and harsh and of course it's also chewing fuel like there's no tomorrow.
The 4.0 six has a lot more grunt making it a much more easy and relaxing drive but the next model V8 is lighter, has more power and a much more responsive gearbox which absolutely transforms the car.
Edited by Jaguar steve on Friday 6th October 17:36
Jaguar steve said:
Mark-C said:
sgtBerbatov said:
Hmm. I always thought that the Browns Lane Jaguar plant was in Coventry, not Birmingham.
Don't know what made me think this, maybe every time I went to Coventry from Birmingham I'd pass the "Welcome to Coventry" sign and then see Browns Lane.
Who knows.
Definitely Coventry.Don't know what made me think this, maybe every time I went to Coventry from Birmingham I'd pass the "Welcome to Coventry" sign and then see Browns Lane.
Who knows.
What a lovely shed this is and the straight six suits it so much better than the later V8
I'm on my fourth 3.2 XJ now. Two 2 straight six XJs identical to this week's Shed and 2 later V8s and back of a fag packet maths says I've put something like 200k miles on the 4 cars in total.
The difference in refinement and performance between the six and V8 versions is dramatic. Not just a bit but absolute chalk and cheese different.
The later V8 is much quicker and has a vastly superior gearbox compared with the six. It's much quieter and smoother, especially when using the extra performance and in the real world it'll give you anything up to 5 MPG more too. The V8 also handles a lot better as well as feeling far more connected and responsive when making progress.
Personally I'd choose a V8 every time. Providing you take care of some preventative maintenance there's no reason why a well looked after V8 shouldn't take Space Shuttle miles as well as the six can and all round its a much better car IMO.
The X308 feels better built, and is most definitely more refined than the X300. However, I do prefer the styling cues of the X300, namely the double rear sidelight bulbs, the square walnut fascia (as opposed to the oval in the 308), front fog lamps and instrument cluster.
This is a decent shed, but there are better ones out there for this money. You can pick something similar to this for less than a grand all day long.
And to all the naysayers, thinking it will cost so much to run - it won't! As long as it is not rotten and doesn't need extensive welding, then these things will prove to be reliable daily drivers (they just like a drink!). Most things that will go wrong are general wear and tear items.
My favourite over the years was a Masons Black X300 XJR, with Oatmeal Sports Leather. It looked amazing and had zero rust. These cars can only go up in value over the next few years, so grab one whilst they are cheap!
J4CKO said:
alorotom said:
I like the idea but I think the reality will be very different to the thought ... similarly to wanting the high school hotty when you’re 15 and landing her when your 33 - it’s only going to be disappointment, tears and an empty bank account
Landing a 15 year old at 33 wont end well either 
I would have the Jag and not have to sign the register !
J4CKO said:
alorotom said:
I like the idea but I think the reality will be very different to the thought ... similarly to wanting the high school hotty when you’re 15 and landing her when your 33 - it’s only going to be disappointment, tears and an empty bank account
Landing a 15 year old at 33 wont end well either I would have the Jag and not have to sign the register !
dme123 said:
As much as I like the X300/X308 I think this is overpriced for a pretty boggo spec Cat D XJ6 with the crap engine. You're getting very weak performance for your 20mpg, and while the 4.0 straight six is no fireball it does at least have enough low down torque to be effortless, unlike the 3.2.
If you're going X300 it needs to either be £300 or an actually desirable spec like a 4.0 Sovereign, a Daimler, an XJR, or an XJ12.
The 3.2 still makes 220ft/lb+ - Plenty to get them moving. The biggest issue with the 3.2 Autos is the mechanically controlled box, which isn't the best, but as long as you're not planning on driving one like you were in a an episode of the sweeney, it is adequate enough. If you are, a 3.2 can still suffice, but you'll have to stir your own gears. If you're going X300 it needs to either be £300 or an actually desirable spec like a 4.0 Sovereign, a Daimler, an XJR, or an XJ12.
.Daimlers, XJRs and XJ12s are nice, but the days of getting one for anywhere near shed budget are long gone. Even a tidy 4.0 Sovereign is pushing it, and its not worth the hassle and heart ache of tidying up an unloved 4.0 if you can find a tidy 3.2, at least in my opinion.
For those looking to scratch the Jag itch, a 3.2
The issue with the 3.2 is the gearbox. The mechanically controlled version in the 3.2s are a throw back to a time wh
Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff