RE: Jaguar XJ Series

RE: Jaguar XJ Series

Saturday 14th September 2002

Jaguar XJ Series

It's bigger and better - is this the car to take on the Germans?


Author
Discussion

Frankonia

Original Poster:

15 posts

266 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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I cannot present it to me simply that the new XJ will be successful in Germany. Although there are many, which think with the name Jaguar gladly of the Oldies, much does not remain when reminding of the XJ. It will be only a small group with us, which can resign itself to eternal workshop stays...

Bodo

12,368 posts

265 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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Oh! A crossover between an X-Type and a current XJ. No thanks.

Twin Turbo

5,544 posts

265 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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Hmmm, a good looker but it's lost a little of the current XJ8's sleekness.

Having seen Ian Callum's stunning R-Coupe concept, it's a pity Jaguar aren't being bolder with their designs. I want to see modern Jags, not just retro classics.

Lets just hope the new XK8 redresses the balance.

McNab

1,627 posts

273 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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Frankonia, in Britain we have a saying. "Give a dog a bad name, and hang him". In other words if a thing is bad, it will always be bad.

We also say "Mercedes has lost its quality". Things change!

So give Jaguar a chance. I think you will find that it is a much much better car than before. Wait and see before you judge.

As for you Bodo, I like your photograph. You have great feet. But your invention? What is it? Perhaps a F1 potato peeler?

ErnestM

11,615 posts

266 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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I am assuming the gray wood is the XJR interior. Very nice, especially the red inserts...

ErnestM

Bodo

12,368 posts

265 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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quote:
[...]
So give Jaguar a chance. I think you will find that it is a much much better car than before. Wait and see before you judge.

As for you Bodo, I like your photograph. You have great feet. But your invention? What is it? Perhaps a F1 potato peeler?





McNab,
haven't had that idea before, but you may also use it as an F1 potato peeler! Print "Ferrari Edition" on it and make millions!!!

Serious: the wheel is a joke - I've invented it as a suggestion for an Elise owner whose brakes failed due to overheating. The rotor blades should give advanced air flow (in theory)

Re the new Jaguar:
Jaguar improved their reliability and technical innovation a lot since the XJ12 SIII, but in the same pull they have decreased the quality of a Jaguar's subjective appeareance, regrettably

Yes, I thought the same, when they've introduced the XJ40 and the X300, but what will make a buyer decide for the Jag in future, when it does not longer come with special Jaguar features?

A Jaguar's impression got hurt the day, a Ford manager went through Coventry plant, and realized, that they need the same amount of time producing a wooden dashboard , as Ford needs for a complete Mondeo

cheers,
Bodo

fatbutt

2,631 posts

263 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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Its too high in the sills and the bonnet tapers too much at the front. And the outside headlamps are too large. And the electric window buttons look too generic.

Its a streched X type which IMHO is a caracature of the XJ anyway.

Don't like it.

McNab

1,627 posts

273 months

Sunday 15th September 2002
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Thanks Bodo! If I make millions out of it I will share them with you and we can buy all the cars and compare them.

I think Jaguar always want to stay with the 'Jag look' which probably makes them slightly conservative, but at least they've got rid of the droopy tail (I didn't like that at all).

Betcha it sells like hotcakes!

ErnestM

11,615 posts

266 months

Monday 16th September 2002
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quote:

Its too high in the sills


Has to be for international sales. The older XJ design had problems meeting the "A pillar" requirements in the US and other countries if I am not mistaken

McNab - hotcakes - I bet you are right...

ErnestM

marki

15,763 posts

269 months

Monday 16th September 2002
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quote:


which can resign itself to eternal workshop stays...


I think these days are long gone , my XKR ran without fault for 2 years and i can only imagine this will be the same .

peas_star

291 posts

274 months

Monday 16th September 2002
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believe me when i say that the looks grow on you and it really makes the old XJ look tired. the interior is marvelous but by far the best aspect of the car is the way it goes... blip the engine in an XJR and the revs rise and fall almost motorbike quick. Even the 3litre feels quick because you expect a car of this size to be so heavy. The only issue is that the aluminium body is SO stiff it translates too much feedback from the engine and road for some people expecting the same ride as the old XJ, but for people like us its a good thing. you can chuck it into corners at stupid-speed and with a bit of tail action come out the other side absolutely motoring. fun? definately! luxurious? certainly! hotcakes? you betcha!!

danger mouse

3,828 posts

260 months

Monday 16th September 2002
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quote:

Hmmm, a good looker but it's lost a little of the current XJ8's sleekness.

Having seen Ian Callum's stunning R-Coupe concept, it's a pity Jaguar aren't being bolder with their designs. I want to see modern Jags, not just retro classics.

Lets just hope the new XK8 redresses the balance.



From what I remember this was the last design worked on by the late Jeff Lawson who also did the XJ40 and I'm pretty sure was in charge of the the XJR (although Callum probably did alot of the leg work on that one). It seems fitting in a way that such a British car, and it is, should at the core of it development pay homage to it creators, and not just to the demands of thrusting market forces.

This is the way to produce "non-throwaway" timeless design, leave haut-coiture(sp?) to the french (anyone facy a VelSatis instead? thought not!). Christ if they did this a bit more often, I might go soft on FoMoCo...

...not yet though.

The car it self is desgined very cleverly. The main sticking point with the XJ40 and its ancestors was the lack of interior space, but the compact dimesions of the car gave it a sportiness other luxo barrges couldn't manage. Having seen one somewhere in Cambs the other weekend (was going to put in spotted, but I didnt have a camera, besides it was still dissguised, and for some reason I decided to respect its privacey...daaaaaah!?!?) I can say the design is really deceptive. Like the SL it looks much smaller that it is, while unlike the SL, actually being bigger.

Sadly its taller too(but everything is nowadays, why, for the crumple zone in the roof to protect you you from errant terrorist pilotted jet-liners?) which is why its not as sleek as the beautiful XJ40 family. It is with out doubt the most handsome car in its class, and if the tech's good, should fly off the shelves.

Mouse

gnomesmith

2,458 posts

275 months

Monday 16th September 2002
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I hope they've got rid of the Bosch relays that were the only thing that ever went wrong with the XJ12 I used to drive.

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Tuesday 17th September 2002
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I've been running an XJR (Supercharged V8 model) for the last twelve months as a motorway muncher. The new model looks a little too X type for me (the lights on the X-Type are too small) but it might grow on me. As for the interior is basically the same as it is now (in mine anyway) they call the dark wood Birds Eye Maple, which is in mine. Plus with a Paramount Performance engine upgrade and exhaust conversion you too can have over 400 BHP and scare grannies at 200 yards.

I agree that Jaguar should have been bolder in the redesign but since it still maintains some XJ characteristics it means mine won't look out of date to ordinary Joe Public. (Don't you just hate buying a car only to have the new model come out 12 months later

PS. It does 12mpg round town, 23 mpg on motorways. I'm not trying hard enough am I

hungryjim

883 posts

264 months

Thursday 19th September 2002
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The looks are brilliant it keeps with the old XJ and still looks as perfectly elegant.
I dont beleive the blue is the best way to go for an XJ but it still looks brilliant.
I like the interior inkeeping with the Jag tradition and thankfully increasing the size of the dash.
I can see elements of the X-Types design which is good because that really looks like a Real Jag too.
I hope the engine will be as sweet as ever and from the sounds of it, it will be a Usual Jag[Rocket]
This really puts the range in focus and i hope it finally shuts Merc ,BMW ,Audi and Lexus up.

kevinday

11,553 posts

279 months

Monday 23rd September 2002
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New XJ
S-type
X-type

All IMHO of course

FourWheelDrift

88,375 posts

283 months

Monday 23rd September 2002
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quote:

New XJ
S-type
X-type

All IMHO of course



I agree - I think the X-Type was styled by the same chap on the new Pug 207 advert, and using the same elephant to crush the front end.

The lights are just too small.......

ErnestM

11,615 posts

266 months

Friday 27th September 2002
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As a follow up:

Ok, ok we get it already ITS MADE OF ALUMINIUM

cheers


ErnestM
(edited to include proper English spelling of the A word)



>> Edited by ErnestM on Friday 27th September 03:28

marki

15,763 posts

269 months

Friday 27th September 2002
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quote:

(edited to include proper English spelling of the A word)




Ah ha but how do you say the A word Ernest

GregE240

10,857 posts

266 months

Friday 27th September 2002
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Well, it will be nice to see the new car without being covered in bloody gaffer tape and all sorts.

Actually, on my drive to work I do see the odd Jag prototype (EDIT: and a sensible one too) - Ted, if I take any pics do you want them ? We could get a scoop on the mags then.