Jaguar XJ Supersport | Spotted
For the subtlest of super Jags, this is the Q-car alternative to the XJR
While it was always easy to predict that interest in the 5.0-litre V8 Jaguars would increase when they were gone, truth is they always held an awful lot of appeal. Didn’t matter if it was in new cars, lightly used bargains or a temptingly cheap brave pill, the AJ133 would just keep us coming back for more. It was such a perfect fit for Jaguar’s way of doing saloons and sports cars, where a little bit too much was always just about right.
Smaller engined F-Types would handle more eagerly; a diesel XJ would be just as refined; and the sixes made quite a nice sound as well. But the V8 experience was unrivalled, the blood and guts fury of a force-fed 5.0-litre motor the perfect accompaniment to some fine Jag chassis. You would always have looked elsewhere for the very sharpest sports cars and saloons; but for the most beguiling, there was little comparison.
If there could be a criticism, it was perhaps that the R-badged Jags could perhaps be just a tiny bit OTT. Part of the point of course, when trying to tempt customers from BMW Ms, AMGs and Porsches, but not ideal for those who wanted to hide their V8 light under a bushel. It’s why the old F-Type P450 was so appealing, because the sound and the feel (and a lot of the performance) was there from the R, without the price premium or punchier styling.
Same goes for the XJ Supersport. The 510hp, six-speed precursor to the XJR wasn’t a huge seller new - the diesels were more important, and the XJR was coming - then largely forgotten about after. But it was only 40hp less powerful - 510hp against 550hp - and really was supremely discreet. Even by fast Jag standards, there’s nothing to give the supercharged V8 game away; no badges, just the pair of tailpipes, and smart - but not silly - 20-inch wheels. It looks like a fabulous way to go fast without attracting attention.
As models like the final XJR 575s become more collectible (and valuable), so the Supersports look all the more appealing. The engine is not without its issues, of course, but because it found so many homes throughout the JLR empire plenty is known about it. And more power is surely only a shorter supercharger pulley away.
This one might be too nice for such mischievous meddling. It’s covered fewer than 60,000 miles in 13 years with three owners, it’s only ever been serviced at Jaguar agents, and there are matching Dunlops on each of the unmarked wheels. It seems like the first owner ticked a few boxes as well, given this Supersport has heated and cooled seats, Bowers & Wilkins sound, plus rear screens. It’s easy to imagine this car’s £19,490 asking price being something like 20 per cent of the original RRP, basically. In case your hankering for a 5.0-litre Jag needed any help.
SPECIFICATION | JAGUAR XJ SUPERSPORT
Engine: 5,000cc, supercharged V8
Transmission: 6-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 510@6,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 461@2,500rpm
MPG: 24.9
CO2: 264g/km
Recorded mileage: 56,000
Year registered: 2012
Price new: £87,455 (2010, before options)
Price now: £19,490
That 'silly bit of plastic' fitted to the D post is part of the window runner. Agree it looks strange but not uncommon on cars as bit keeps the rear side window 'square' and much easier/cheaper to fit.
Didn't these suffer from display issues?
To be honest the diesel moves pretty well and I find I dont drive it quick anyway, not sure if I would feel different in a faster one but my speed isnt dictated by the available power, just happy to waft along, and it will pull if required, 6 seconds to sixty and good pace on the move seems enough. Obviously you have some diesel noise but its well isolated, and on the move I cant tell its a diesel only at idle when cold is it that noticeable.
But, obviously who wouldn't want a supercharged 500 plus bhp V8 ? I can borrow a Monaro whenever I want so didnt feel the need, £795 VED vs £255 and 35 vs 18 mpg factored in as well. 20 grand seems expensive for an XJ of that year, but its a different thing, 80 percent of XJs are diesels so its almost like two markets, diesels and supercharged versions, with a few outliers like the supercharged 3.0 Petrol and 5.0 NA, did see one anomaly when looking, a 2.0 four, thought was a mistake but no, some markets got an XJ with what was basically a Focus ST engine and one had made it home and into the classifieds, the XJ ST !
I think otherwise its mostly the same experience, lovely interior, ride is borderline for the class of car, handling and steering are great for a big barge. Infotainment is rather ancient and clunky, the sat nav is a bit of a waste of time, but I have an Android replacement coming to address that.
Its not as daunting to park as I expected, parking sensors, rear view camera (even if a little low res) but obviously a lot of places you dont want 5.1 (5.3 for the LWB) to park, its still bloody massive, yet not that spacious inside, SWB legroom is not great considering how huge it is. Also no through loading capacity so bear that in mind.
Looks wise, always loved them, but they are a bit marmite. Was going to get an XF but loved the fact the XJ was aluminium and actually weighed the same or marginally less than the smaller car, plus, XF now looks like a cop out to me, go big or go home.
I always do sort of wonder about the really powerful barges, I end up in a quandary, you have all that power for high speed sustained cruising, i.e. 100 mph or whatever, that we just cant do, then you have all that acceleration which is great but never really going to fling it down a country lane. You buy it for its mile munching ability but it is largely pretty heavy on fuel. Then you have the fact its a supercharged V8 and you only live once.
My unit developed a faulty gearbox (would take around 10 seconds to engage reverse, and sometimes would fail; not sure if the XJR shares the same box that is supposedly sealed for life) and had air suspension issues. It also creaked in the pillars when going over humps. Not relevant to this spec - but the diesel car also had ongoing DPF issues no matter how much you tried to clear it.
The loaner unit (supercharged) was only a couple of months old when I got it, but leaked from the top of the a-pillar in rain so badly that my pants got soaked. I received the loaner unit while my (brand new) Discovery Sport was in for its 10th repair (in the 2 years I had it, it spent 9 months at the dealer)...
Replaced it with a Quattroporte GTS which was nice when you were in the mood, but the XJ was a better daily place to spend time... lovely interior and much more cosy place to spend time vs. the S-class and 7-series of this generation.
A challenging mental image, but a valid assessment!
They jigged the trims around over the life of the car and after I think 2015 they took away some of the nice options, no more navy or bordeaux dash and door tops
I spent some time in a very late "Autobiography" spec car with an eye to buying it when I had a 3.0d Portfolio and it was very evident plenty of cost and been removed from the car over it's life, it somehow all managed to feel much tinnier and less impressive than the early cars.
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