Its been a while since I posted here. Five years (+35,000 miles) and counting, my '03 X-Type still makes me happy every time I get in it and go - it is a great car - and delicious in black. At almost 78,000 miles I've had no significant repairs recently, just normal wear. I finally had to replace the original battery last month- it started cranking slowly - so I had the battery and cable replaced by the dealer for $700. Amazing that it lasted 10 years, that was a good battery. I also replaced the rotors, pads, and tires about a year ago. I bought slotted drilled rotors and ceramic pads off the interweb and had the dealer install them. I got new Nexen tires all around, they're so much smoother than the clogs I had on before (Fuzion SRI's), they were a good price, and they have a nice curved-V tread pattern that just looks cool.

Ever since I bought the X-Type five years ago I've been eyeing the XJR too, particularly the 04-09 models - the last ones with the more "traditional" look. I finally found one that I could afford, which didn't already have half-a-bazillion miles on it, and which was black on black... and I bought it.

It's a 2004 XJR with 35,000 miles on it, and I paid $13,000 for it. The Carfox showed a single owner and no issues. It does have a small palm-sized dent at the front quarter-panel nose right by the light, and acquired a couple slight scratches here and there over the last 10 years, but it looks great.

It is smooth as silk and has absolutely awesome power. I haven't had a chance to open it up all the way yet. When I got it home (bought at other dealership in NJ) I realized the full size spare was kaput with a gash in the side, so that Pirelli P-Zero Asymmetrico is getting replaced. The tread pattern changed too (these must be older) and they are a little worn, so they're all going to have to get replaced soon anyway. I'm going to take it to the dealer to get checked out after I get the spare tire back and get the real plates later this week.

I love the all-wheel drive on the X-Type, and it's a bit of shock to go back to rear-wheel drive in the XJR. (it has been a LONG time, lots of FWD Japanese cars before the X). But man, that oomph is OOMPHY!

I guess I should post over in the XJ area, but I'm keeping the X-type, so I may keep posting here if that's Ok.

Here's the two of them together:

 

You've got one of each - you can post in both!

The dent looks an easy one to knock out and if you don't get it done it will drive you nuts every time you walk up to the vehicle.



I hope the XJR is as reliable as your X-Type has been.

Graham

 

Very nice. I'd love to get a xjr to go with my x type too. And a xkr...haha

 

Nice find and they make a lovely pair.

 

Nice addition, and even in the same colour. XJR and X-Type -combo is the way to go I guess!

If you get the dent looked at, there are some "paintless repair methods" that may work wonders sometimes, but keep in mind that the body on your X350 XJR is aluminium. Make absolutely sure the repair guy knows what he's doing. I heard a horror story from the Jaguar dealer boss herer about an X351 XJ that had low-speed crash damage. The insurance company wanted to decide on the bodyshop, and thus it was welded by someone who had no aluminium-welding experience, and...yeah.

 

Congrats on the matched pair of ebony cats! Just lovely!