RE: Jaguar XJ6 Sport | Shed of the Week

[BigGingerBob]

I had the pleasure of driving my Grandad's from Torbay to South Wales two years ago. It was lovely but I couldn't get the radio to work. I think it had suffered the well known radio fault they get.

That was the last time it drove, sadly as the GPs have gone a bit loopy. I still want to get it back on the road! It's parked on his drive.

[soad]

Cambs_Stuart said:

Good to see a traditional shed making a comeback.

Just looks proper, I think they have aged pretty damn well. I can easily picture myself in one, motoring away.

John “Two Jags” Prescott was a fan also.

[Jex]

I had the use of one of these for a few days when they had just been superseded. Big old barge with a small boot.
Good shed though.

[CharlesA]

Have had two X308 XJRs - fabulous. The 3.2 is the right car for 95% of the time, the V8 for 4% and the R for 1%. the 1% swayed me, but for £900...

Of course, the ULEZ beckons and £12.50 every day you use it within the North/South circular from next October will soon add up...

[Baldchap]

I have a 1999 X308 3.2 XJ8 that I bought for £350 that I'm prepping for a banger rally. It's rotton, but everything works and despite not being fast it drives well, everything works, and it even drifts in Sport mode.

I'm quite fond of it despite the fact it's rubbish.

[king arthur]

If going to buy one of these take a torch and be prepared to get your head underneath and look at the sills and suspension/subframe mountings. Tin worm in those areas is what kills them now.

The 4.0 is a different beast to the 3.2 and getting hard to find. If you can find a good one I would hang on to it.

[AC43]

deadtom said:

lovely stuff, I enjoy a good X300. Real magic carpet ride (although my experience is driving a softly sprung sovereign model rather than the sport, so maybe the sport isn't as comfy) and to my mind at least, the last proper XJ;

I drove one and it still had a fantastic ride. Not unlike my air-sprung E Class and better on sharp undulations. Surprisingly good body control too. And I found the steering relatively pointy. It struck me as a proper, well designed and nicely resolved set up.

The engine was a peach too, even though the car was pretty slow what with all the weight.

Loved the looks, loved the interior.

I'm a big fan.

[waftycranker]

When you you fight an otter it’s as big as a man.

[MadDog1962]

Luverly jubley!

But would her indoors approve?

[Jex]

MadDog1962 said:

Luverly jubley!

But would her indoors approve?

Sitcom smash!

[apm142001]

Turbobanana said:

apm142001 said:

cerb4.5lee said:

I've always fancied the idea of wafting about in one of these(prefer the V8 though). The interior is such a lovely place to sit I reckon.

8.9 seconds to 60 and 22mpg doesn't seem that great though, and the performance/mpg mix is quite hard to swallow for sure.

Agreed. I know these aren’t about being sporty but it’s nice to have a bit of poke when needed, and that is a lot of fuel in exchange for not much movement.

Mathematically, you're both correct. But I can't help thinking you're missing the point. This is about the pleasures of passing your daily commute in the confines of a gentlemen's drinking club, not a faux rally car like an Impreza - even though both have featured in SOTW and can be had for similar money. I know where I'd rather sit. And the economy would be about the same, no? The fuel in the Impreza is burnt making it go fast. That in the Jaguar is burnt making it go comfortably. Horses for courses and all that.

Bit of an odd comparison surely - there’s the world of difference between wanting a luxury car to have a little more performance and wanting it to be like an Impreza (which obviously would be missing the point, as you say). There’s nothing luxurious or wafty about a car that doesn’t have enough power for unstressed acceleration .

Maybe the 4 litre would be more my thing...

[RT7500]

One of my friends had one of these when he was 18.

At the same time, my other friends and I were knocking around in Metros and Micras. For that reason, the XJ Sport has always been desirable to me.

[ingrowtn]

alorotom said:

Turbobanana said:

The fuel in the Impreza is burnt making it go fast.
That in the Jaguar is burnt making it go comfortably.

PH poetry

Having owned an Impreza previously and currently owning a 3.2 XJ40 that assessment is surprisingly accurate. The performance figures on the Jag, though, are surprisingly deceptive; I've not found the Jag lacking in the getting up to motorway speeds department....

And for anyone who says old Jags are unreliable, maybe some are (as with any old car). Mine has been great since I bought it for not much more than this one is advertised for unseen off ebay. All it's needed in 4k miles is a new thermostat, battery and fuel.

[monzaxjr]

I found my 3.2 Sovereign surprisingly sprightly. It did have a wonderful ride and on a decent run was surprisingly good on fuel. The 4.0 is better though and you get the switchable sports box. My XJR6 was a different beast entirely. Don't expect a magic carpet ride in these as the ride is extremely firm. However the way you could throw such a big car around the bends was brilliant. Fuel consumption was appalling, 17-19 mpg average. A duff 02 sensor dropped the average mpg down to around 7mpg, was glad to get that fixed. That 02 sensor was the only thing that went wrong with either of them. Found them to be extremely reliable.

[Bencolem]

Do like these and have often been tempted by a later (2002) 4.0 Sport. I would feel a bit "Withnail and I" smoking about in this particular Shed of the Week though.

[deadtom]

monzaxjr said:

I found my 3.2 Sovereign surprisingly sprightly. It did have a wonderful ride and on a decent run was surprisingly good on fuel. The 4.0 is better though and you get the switchable sports box. My XJR6 was a different beast entirely. Don't expect a magic carpet ride in these as the ride is extremely firm. However the way you could throw such a big car around the bends was brilliant. Fuel consumption was appalling, 17-19 mpg average. A duff 02 sensor dropped the average mpg down to around 7mpg, was glad to get that fixed. That 02 sensor was the only thing that went wrong with either of them. Found them to be extremely reliable.

Oh dear, is the XJR that different in ride quality to the standard car? I really want one as I imagine them to be like the old sovereign I used to trundle around in but with extra oomph and better wheels and interior

[Turbobanana]

The word "surprising" seems to pop up, err... surprisingly often in this thread.

And I think that's a key point: if you're used to German levels of reliability, build quality and dullness you'll think the Jaguar is flaky, creaky and will doubt its ability to reach the end of your drive without breaking down. And do it slowly.

But these are cars of character - something missing from the German marques. I've only driven two that come remotely close to Shed's spec: a 3.2 auto and a 2.9 manual, both XJ40s and both ex pub landlords' cars (no, really!). Neither felt slow but both felt special, even though the 2.9 had a cloth interior.

My earlier comparison to an Impreza was based upon values, not performance: anyone doing a PH classifieds search for cars up to £1,500 will encounter both, but will most likely only consider one or the other.

[monzaxjr]

deadtom said:

Oh dear, is the XJR that different in ride quality to the standard car? I really want one as I imagine them to be like the old sovereign I used to trundle around in but with extra oomph and better wheels and interior

The XJR6 is extremely firm compared to the Sovereign.Lower firmer suspension with bigger wider wheels. Completely different animals. The X308 V8 XJR's with the CATS suspension are a bit more supple.

[Jaguar steve]

I've had both straight sixes and V8s as long term keepers, all with the smallest 3.2 engine.

Same fuel consumption from both at around 26-28 MPG but the V8 is a vastly better car in every respect. It feels - and is - so much quicker and is a huge leap forwards in refinement compared to the six cylinder XJ.

All you need to do is find one that's had a bit of care and preventative maintenance.

[fortfive]

I had a new 4.0 Sovereign, lovely car in Westminster blue. Only warranty was replacement rear shocks and I thought it was a bit noisier than my previous E300 Merc. Had to sell it as the clients got jealous.