Need advice buying a Jag XJR
Discussion
Hi all.
Long time lurker but first time poster. I am contemplating buying one of my obtainable dream cars which is a 1990’s Jaguar XJR. Despite the fact that I am 23, I have always loved Jaguar’s and I have wanted an old Jaguar XJR for as long as I can remember.
However I am undecided whether to look out for an X300 or X308. I am fond of both of them but want some advice on which one is the nicer car. I understand the X308 has a few mechanical problems, but is it worth looking over these if it’s a nicer car than the X300, or is the X300 the better car all along?
To add, this will not be my daily driver, this will be more of a day off toy but I plan on keeping it for a very long time. I’m hoping to get it by the beginning of next year since I’ll have the funds for it by then. Thank you all for your help.
Long time lurker but first time poster. I am contemplating buying one of my obtainable dream cars which is a 1990’s Jaguar XJR. Despite the fact that I am 23, I have always loved Jaguar’s and I have wanted an old Jaguar XJR for as long as I can remember.
However I am undecided whether to look out for an X300 or X308. I am fond of both of them but want some advice on which one is the nicer car. I understand the X308 has a few mechanical problems, but is it worth looking over these if it’s a nicer car than the X300, or is the X300 the better car all along?
To add, this will not be my daily driver, this will be more of a day off toy but I plan on keeping it for a very long time. I’m hoping to get it by the beginning of next year since I’ll have the funds for it by then. Thank you all for your help.
Thank you all for your brilliant advice! I had a feeling the V8 XJR is the better car but wanted confirmation from people who have had more experience with them. The extra power is enough to convince me of that. 
Plus the extra refinement is important in a Jag. I’ll prioritise looking for a good V8 so Jaguar Steve’s superb buying guide will be a massive help! But if I can find a good straight six I won’t completely rule it out.
I’m glad mileage isn’t a huge problem as most of the cars within my budget have at least 90,000 on the clock. A full service history is a must though.
Regarding manual cars, An XJ of any spec is one of the few cars I would always have the automatic, so I am not too bothered that the V8 only comes as an auto.
Plus the extra refinement is important in a Jag. I’ll prioritise looking for a good V8 so Jaguar Steve’s superb buying guide will be a massive help! But if I can find a good straight six I won’t completely rule it out.I’m glad mileage isn’t a huge problem as most of the cars within my budget have at least 90,000 on the clock. A full service history is a must though.
Regarding manual cars, An XJ of any spec is one of the few cars I would always have the automatic, so I am not too bothered that the V8 only comes as an auto.
I’ve been looking a lot online and have seen quite a few nice looking ones. I haven’t gone to see any though just yet. I need to catch one while they are still bargains.
I’ll take all that advice on board, and use Jaguar Steve’s brilliant guide as my reference. I’m not too concerned about buying a car with a Nikasil engine if it runs well, but it needs to have the upgraded timing chain tensioners and water pump before I part with any cash.
Upgrading the Supercharger pulleys sounds tempting. I have seen a nice one with the upgraded supercharger pulleys, but if I end up with one that doesn’t have that upgrade I may consider doing it.
In the meantime, I’ll keep you all posted and when I get one I’ll post a few pictures of it in here.
I’ll take all that advice on board, and use Jaguar Steve’s brilliant guide as my reference. I’m not too concerned about buying a car with a Nikasil engine if it runs well, but it needs to have the upgraded timing chain tensioners and water pump before I part with any cash.
Upgrading the Supercharger pulleys sounds tempting. I have seen a nice one with the upgraded supercharger pulleys, but if I end up with one that doesn’t have that upgrade I may consider doing it.
In the meantime, I’ll keep you all posted and when I get one I’ll post a few pictures of it in here.
All these comments are making me want one more and more! They sound like absolutely superb cars and I can’t wait to leave the countless badly modified Corsa’s and Clio’s in my hometown for dead!
To add, there has been a slight change of plan. This might have to temporarily be my daily driver due to my current car’s constant repair costs (a 2009 Renault Clio mk3 which I don’t really like anyway). But since they don’t sound too unreliable I am not that phased, I just have to watch the fuel consumption on it.
To add, there has been a slight change of plan. This might have to temporarily be my daily driver due to my current car’s constant repair costs (a 2009 Renault Clio mk3 which I don’t really like anyway). But since they don’t sound too unreliable I am not that phased, I just have to watch the fuel consumption on it.
That’s really impressive to be honest. I have had many people say bad things about their fuel consumption when I talk about buying one already haha, I’m not expecting great MPG from it, especially as I plan on driving it quite hard most of the time, but it’s nice to know they are not bad if you just want to cruise.
The main thing many people have said to me is that they just break down all the time, a comment I am bored of already and I don’t even own one yet. From what I am reading in here, they sound quite reliable. I’m not expecting a Toyota but I would be surprised if it was worse than my Clio.
The main thing many people have said to me is that they just break down all the time, a comment I am bored of already and I don’t even own one yet.
From what I am reading in here, they sound quite reliable. I’m not expecting a Toyota but I would be surprised if it was worse than my Clio. I’ll take all that advice on board. While I really want one, I am in no rush as I want to make sure I get the right car, I am also still in the saving up process, and currently only have enough for a really rough example, so need a bit more time to save for a good one.
I will also still consider the X300 XJR as well, I am very fond of both and would rather a nice X300 over a rough X308 and vice versa.
I will also still consider the X300 XJR as well, I am very fond of both and would rather a nice X300 over a rough X308 and vice versa.
Hey guys, I have been looking a lot online, I still want an X300/X308 XJR and I am still considering them, but I’ve also started considering the pre facelift X350 models as they are starting to become bargains. I’ve been in an X350 XJ8 before when it was brand new and thought it was a lovely car, but I’m wondering if the XJR of that generation is worth considering. I’m fond of the X350 but I would only consider the pre facelift model, I am not that fond of the facelifted model.
I am not planning on using this car as a daily driver and I want to keep it for as long as I possibly can. It may have to be a backup if my daily driver needs repairs, or it may need to be a temporary daily driver if I need to replace my current car if it racks up an uneconomical repair, but that shouldn’t be an issue. At the same time, I’m not buying it as an investment, I’ll look after it but it will be used fairly regularly. I’ll still consider all three, but I’ll have a go in all of them and see which one I enjoy the most. In the meantime, I’ll keep you all posted on my findings. I reckon from what I’m hearing on here it will be the X308 that I will enjoy the most.
Edited by XJR fan on Tuesday 16th October 19:41
Sorry about the late reply guys, only now I’ve had a chance to read the thread, I’ve had a lot going on lately.
That is a stunning XJR mickrick! Royal blue is definitely one of the best colours for these. It should be fun to fix up a bit as well. I hope you get plenty of happy miles out of it and enjoy it in good health.
I would agree the X308 is a much more classic design compared to the X350, although the X350 still looks great. While the X350 would be the better daily and would feel a lot more modern while retaining a classic Jaguar look, there is something special about the X308 that I can’t quite put my finger on. Both are great cars though, and they have so much more character than most cars on the road these days.
That is a stunning XJR mickrick! Royal blue is definitely one of the best colours for these. It should be fun to fix up a bit as well. I hope you get plenty of happy miles out of it and enjoy it in good health.
I would agree the X308 is a much more classic design compared to the X350, although the X350 still looks great. While the X350 would be the better daily and would feel a lot more modern while retaining a classic Jaguar look, there is something special about the X308 that I can’t quite put my finger on. Both are great cars though, and they have so much more character than most cars on the road these days.
No problem, it seems like a lovely example. I bet it’s comical and a bit misleading seeing a leather sofa like that fly by . I really need my own, a bit more time to save up and I will have one. It’s killing me looking at them online but not being able to buy one, but I know it will be worth the wait.
. I really need my own, a bit more time to save up and I will have one. It’s killing me looking at them online but not being able to buy one, but I know it will be worth the wait. Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff