The XJS topic

[Mark-C]

Mine (1992 4.0 Facelift) sat outside waiting for a wash and a drive to do the weekly shop which is the only time it moves at the moment. Photo from the spare bedroom which is currently my office ...

[dinkel]

lukeharding said:

dinkel said:

There's something about beefing up them big cats:

That looks like fun! any other info on it?

Nope. It looked brutal.

[SpeckledJim]

dinkel said:

There's something about beefing up them big cats:

Looks like an Alfa Junior's ex-con Very Big Brother

[rev-erend]

Mark-C said:

Mine (1992 4.0 Facelift) sat outside waiting for a wash and a drive to do the weekly shop which is the only time it moves at the moment. Photo from the spare bedroom which is currently my office ...

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

[craigjm]

rev-erend said:

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

They are not exactly huge. They are smaller than a Jaguar XF saloon

[SpeckledJim]

craigjm said:

rev-erend said:

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

They are not exactly huge. They are smaller than a Jaguar XF saloon

This. Very similar footprint to a BMW E39.

It's just the proportions that give the illusion of extra length.

[CharlesdeGaulle]

SpeckledJim said:

It's just the proportions that give the illusion of extra length.

This illusion is useful in many aspects of one's life.

[DP33]

craigjm said:

rev-erend said:

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

They are not exactly huge. They are smaller than a Jaguar XF saloon

The dimensions of an XJ-S are decidedly old school: the length is about the same as a F13 6 Series (4.9m), height - slightly taller than a 360 Modena, (1.2m +) and the width is the similar to that of an A-Class Merc (1.8m). Length x tuning circle is the challenge, but the lack of width is brilliant for tight car park spaces.

[craigjm]

DP33 said:

craigjm said:

rev-erend said:

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

They are not exactly huge. They are smaller than a Jaguar XF saloon

The dimensions of an XJ-S are decidedly old school: the length is about the same as a F13 6 Series (4.9m), height - slightly taller than a 360 Modena, (1.2m +) and the width is the similar to that of an A-Class Merc (1.8m). Length x tuning circle is the challenge, but the lack of width is brilliant for tight car park spaces.

I have an XJ coupe and what always surprises me about the XJS is how it can be pretty much the same footprint and yet I can sit behind myself comfortably in the XJC and I’m just under 6ft. There is no chance of that the XJS and the boot is bigger on the C too.

[anonymous-user]

craigjm said:

I have an XJ coupe and what always surprises me about the XJS is how it can be pretty much the same footprint and yet I can sit behind myself comfortably in the XJC and I’m just under 6ft. There is no chance of that the XJS and the boot is bigger on the C too.

The XJS has a really (weirdly) short wheelbase so a lot of the length is in overhang pace I suppose. The lack of rear space for a near 5metre long car is quite a feat.

[Mark-C]

stickleback123 said:

The XJS has a really (weirdly) short wheelbase so a lot of the length is in overhang pace I suppose. The lack of rear space for a near 5metre long car is quite a feat.

The overhangs are why I'm very picky about which multistory carpark I use! I find it quite easy to park on the street because I can see both ends.

I've wanted an XJS since I was 12 ... went out to buy one at 28 to replace a Mk2 Fiesta ... I didn't buy one because there wasn't enough room in the back compared to the Fiesta for my little ones! I bought an E30 323i instead and the XJS pictured above has been mine for ten years now,

[dinkel]

SpeckledJim said:

dinkel said:

There's something about beefing up them big cats:

Looks like an Alfa Junior's ex-con Very Big Brother

Funny. As a kid I always mated these 2 designs to eachother. Similar and sooooow beuatiful Thx!

[Piersman2]

DP33 said:

craigjm said:

rev-erend said:

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

They are not exactly huge. They are smaller than a Jaguar XF saloon

The dimensions of an XJ-S are decidedly old school: the length is about the same as a F13 6 Series (4.9m), height - slightly taller than a 360 Modena, (1.2m +) and the width is the similar to that of an A-Class Merc (1.8m). Length x tuning circle is the challenge, but the lack of width is brilliant for tight car park spaces.

I remember an article by LJK Setright back int he 80/90s where he explored the handling and poise of the cars of the day based on a blend of width, length and height. IIRC the XJS was only beaten by the Honda Prelude, he highly praised both.

All this XJS love on this thread is making twitch on going back and buying another, a nice facelift 4.0 like the one shown just aboe would be the target sweet spot for me. A great version with the modern bodywork , that smooth 4.0 engine and the outboard brakes IIRC. And a few years into Ford's ownership as well (I think) meaning better QA than the previous years.

[craigjm]

Piersman2 said:

a few years into Ford's ownership as well (I think) meaning better QA than the previous years.

Was just under 2 years in to ford ownership. They were undoubtedly better quality at the time but with even the newest cars being 24 years old it’s more now about how well they have been looked after and restored. I have a friend that restores Jaguars as his business and he always laughs when a purist says they want it “restored as original” because his restorations are always better than original

[anonymous-user]

It's interesting to read the technical bulletins Jaguar released every 6 months on model changes; right up to the very last model year they were improving the car and galvanising more and more of it. The climate control system got some extra features (like recirculate!) very late in the day, and I think it was 1994 when they finally went all metric for the fasteners!

For me it would be another XJRS, or a late as possible 4.0 AJ16 or ideally a 6 litre.

[Simpo Two]

SpeckledJim said:

craigjm said:

rev-erend said:

Finding a parking space must be a challenge at times.

They are not exactly huge. They are smaller than a Jaguar XF saloon

This. Very similar footprint to a BMW E39.

It's just the proportions that give the illusion of extra length.

It actually looks very small compared to the bulbous modern designs either side of it!

Many modern designs look like they've been pumped up...

[craigjm]

Simpo Two said:

It actually looks very small compared to the bulbous modern designs either side of it!

Many modern designs look like they've been pumped up...

Yep but that’s what crash legislation does for design

[Mark-C]

It's quite easy to make them look small with the right camera angle and a suitable car to park behind

[anonymous-user]

The XJS is 8cm wider than that MX5, only 0.5cm taller, but 83cm longer (wheelbase is only 26cm longer!). Oh, and 760KG heavier.

[DP33]

stickleback123 said:

The XJS is 8cm wider than that MX5, only 0.5cm taller, but 83cm longer (wheelbase is only 26cm longer!). Oh, and 760KG heavier.

Brilliant photo - no idea that the XJ-S was that small! I'll quitely ignore the 750kg weight differential - that makes an XJ-S more dense than any other physical object this side of a black hole...