That seems to be what this article — which was spawned from a Reddit post — is saying... And I think I have to agree. I can't remember the last time I saw a modern XJ on the road, but it's been about three years. What don't luxury buyer get about it? Personally, I think it's a wicked car, and it's good enough for James Bond's boss!

 

Where do you live? I see many XJ's where I live, though not as numerous as the Germans and Japanese.

 

The problem with the X351 and other current Jaguar models is they have lost any recognition as a "Jaguar". The bland grille entirely loses the marque identity so carefully nurtured across many decades and models. Take the badges off and most people would be hard pressed to identify any of them as "Jaguar." or distinguish them from several other lesser brands. Other marques such as Aston Martin, BMW and Mercedes haven't made this mistake and their products are instantly recognisable. Perhaps that is why they are more aspirational than Jaguar.

Graham

 

Agree. I'm well under 30, and probably one of the few x351 XJ owners in that bracket here. I grew up with the x350 body style, and the iconic leaper. With that gone and the styling modernized (not for worse, just different) it is way less recognizable. I like the decidedly understated look, but unfortunately that doesn't seem to be a major driver for sales.

 

Graham,

I agree with you about the grille, but only at the time the X351 was introduced and up to a few years later. That new grille design was first introduced with the all-new 2009 Jaguar XF, and was the beginning of the new face of the entire line of future Jaguar vehicles. The new XJ followed in 2010, as did the rest the line in subsequent years. Today, all currently produced Jaguars have similar grilles. They're recognizable as Jaguars not solely by their grille, but by their entire frontal appearance including the headlights, sloping hood with raised center (and distinctive vents on R models).

The Leaper hood ornament is long gone. We of the Old School miss and reminisce the bygone days of the artistic hood ornament (except, of course, for the Spirit of Ecstasy that will exist as long as Rolls Royce makes automobiles). Absolutely incredible:
https://www.collectorsweekly.com/art...ood-ornaments/

 

Well that doesn't stop some people from affixing a leaper on their XJ.

 

Eeek, Not a good look

 

As far as I know, the leaper was an option in the U.K. for the older X350 models. But they look odd without it.

 

I had an '87 XJ6 that didn't have one and it always bothered me.

 

I live in Seattle now. There are plenty of older ones on the road, but not the latest gen. When I lived in LA, I saw a lot more of them, but that's been three years.

 

Yeah, no way. Yikes.

 

My '78 didn't have one, and I liked it that way. I was never a huge fan of the leaper.

 

2007 was the last year there were factory leapers. on the Jaguar XJ8.

 

Someone on another forum suggested that I give my X351 a more classic look, and posted a photoshop to give me an idea:



I decided against it.

PS - my X351 is definitely not under appreciated!

 

I don't think the current XJ is underappreciated, it is more that the people with the money to buy cars in this price bracket have moved over to large SUVs This would seem to be a fashion thing, because these "double-decker buses" never go off-road. So all the technology in them for going across country in mud etc is totally unused.

Here in the UK it is also now very rare to see a Mercedes S Class, BMW 7 series, or Audi A8, The big Lexus has virtually disappeared.

 

One case in point: I parked a ways away from the door to an institution I was about to enter. As I entered, an older man remarked to me, "I see you parked your Lincoln away from other cars which I do also and then that guy parks right next to you." I said, " excuse me, are you talking to me?" He said, "yes. That guy parked his car right next to your Lincoln." I responded, "I'm not driving a Lincoln." He said, "Oh, I thought your car was a Lincoln. What is it?"
One last example: I was at the grocery store and this elderly gentleman asked me very loudly as I walked away from my car, "What make of car is that?"
When I had my "05" XJ8L, there was never a question as to what I was driving.

 

Neither is mine underappreciated, it always seems to turn heads; yet where I live, the XJ/XJL is definitely not ubiquitous. The XF and F-Pace are more prevalent than the XJ or XJL. Maserati, Lincoln MKZ, Cadillac (all models) and Mercedes Benz are indeed ubiquitous here.

 

One thing I find is that the XJ has a reputation for not being a dependable vehicle. A guy told me a couple of weeks ago, "that's a good looking car, but too bad it always seem to have problems or so I heard." That seems to be a reputation that has been affixed to the Jaguar XJ. Anyone know why?

 

I believe all Jaguars have a reputation for breakdowns, because of the 12 cylinders Jaguar XKE and XJS.

 

Jaguars had a very bad reputation in the 70s and 80s, and for a few years in the early 90s under Ford ownership until Ford finally spent something like the US defense budget installing up-to-date machinery, and improving the build process and quality. Jaguar never spent real money on the production infrastructure and process, apart from some machinery for the V12 engine. The venerably XK engine was first made in 1948 on second-hand machinery and that machinery was still there in the 80-s !!

The first car that really benefited from Ford spending was the X300 series of cars with the AJ16 straight six. This became known as the car that put back reliability into Jaguars. Then Ford spoilt it with the X308 with the V8 that had two really serious faults, (the top cam chain tensioners, and the Nikasil cylinder liners). So downhill it was again ! Then we got the aluminium saloons of which I have had two, and these were reliable at last. Unfortunately people also equate durability, (lack of) with reliability. My two X350s were totally reliable. We went on long trips to Germany every year with no trouble at all and long trips in the UK too. The only problem was durability of certain components in the front and rear suspension that was never really fixed. In the end I got so fed up with regular visits to the shop for replacement, I got a new XE with a warranty ! Yes, the depreciation is more than the amounts I spent on X350 repairs, but its a whole lot nicer not having to have work done all the time.