hi all, jag virgin - after almost 60 cars! posted on the series III forum and i'm convinced i could drive one every day but i'm wondering if a 4.0 might be better for performance. the xj8's are lovely but maybe a bit to modern and common for me. my habit is to daily drive as many cars as possible (as pre digital as possible) - so i'd probably have it a year or so. thoughts

 

I would try to get a 1995-1997 XJ6. They are one of the top ten cars too tough to die. The drive train is generally bullet-proof although you may run into problems with some of the ancillary stuff. I had a 1996 XJ6 and I had the usual problems with the A/C and leaky power steering rack.

 

Before you turn away from the X350 series of XJ saloons (the aluminium ones), do try to take a test drive in one first.

 

thanks carelm, i was thinking the same. i like the first gen xj8 as well but i cannot find a car with history - a big problem on this side of the pond as you know. i suppose i could buy a one owner and work through the list - they are very inexpensive as are the last iteration of the xj6 as you suggested.

thanks fraser, i did drive a 2004 xj8 and it was quite fast and lovely even with substantial miles - what turned me off as seeing the carfax history which show the computer being "reprogrammed" twice a year. is that a software update or a problem? also the brake were replaced with rotors every ten thousand miles. my research has shown they are reliable but that scared me off. they are incredible value -- maybe to modern for my taste, i do like that they are last of abreed though. thoughts?

 

I have a 2002 XJ8 4.0L SE and I have driven 240,000 miles in as a business car. Only failure (which didn't need a recovery vehicle) was TPS failure - fixed by a £100 spare throttle body off eBay. It's the last of the 'true Jaguars' with a linered engine and sorted electronics.

The 350 has a slightly raised roofline which destroys the length/height aspect ratio and makes it look like a big X type close up, and a standard X type from any distance.

 

I had a 95 XJ with the 6 that I put 200K on and only had normal maintenance and a couple O2 senors. Also had an 05 with the 4.0 that was a dream and was my decided factor in buying my 06 XJR over an 09 XF. But then that's just me and while the standard Jaguars are a little common my R tends to get more than a few glances.