I thought I'd start a thread to gauge why we like (or don't like) our X300s, since most of the posts are about mechanical troubles and asking for help.

I just got back from a week away with my family, in our Subaru Tribeca. It is a perfectly competent 4WD vehicle with 245 bhp, and multiple airbags. Whipped along with one occupant it goes well. With 4 or 5 plus luggage it sits happily on 100-120 km/h and returns about 25mpg. But the gearbox hunts up the big hills, and it lacks low torque for its weight.

Then I just got back in my manual XJR after this week away, and I was looking forward to it. The big Jag's charms are most obvious when I have been in another vehicle for a while, and the XJR was great. Tons of power, effortless, the speedo seems to be lying - 100km/h feels about 70.
I love having a manual gearbox. It is not a quick change around town with the heavy clutch, and our crappy road surfaces where I am, but it comes into its own on the open road.
I like alternating between the 3.2 Daimler 6, and the XJR, as they both have their charms. The Daimler, being auto, is nearly as quick up to 50-60 km/h on the town streets, as I don't have to change gear carefully to avoid axle tramp on potholes, trainlines, etc - just point and squirt. It is more supple in the suspension, and has better headroom without a sunroof.
The XJR is my favourite though, just more involving and I like the power.

I have wanted a Jag saloon since a kid in the late 70s, and for daily driving, I decided the old series XJs were too old now. However I still think the Series 1 SWB is the best looking of the lot.

 

I am a tad biased.

I have never had any other car except Jaguar.

I have enjoyed them all, and they all have special little "things" that just make me warm and fuzzy.

The XJ-S would the warmest and fuzziest in MY opinion.

I loved the X300 3.2, and still do, just cannot get into it easily anymore, leg problems, and that large sill hump the early cars all have, simply is not Grant friendly.

The current S Type is soooo easy for me/us to get in and out of, so it is "the car" at the moment. VERY different to the saloons, but still an awesome car in its own right.

 

What do I like about my XJ6 Jag? Many things. First off it feels like a real car not a cross between a van and a compact. In my humble opinion the definition of a REAL car is one where you can see the hood,sorry, bonnet and the top of the front fenders. You can also see the hood ornament. The styling is superb. It doesn't have a trunk, sorry boot, that is humped in the back with reduced visibility out the rear window. Car companies do this just so they can claim more trunk space. It also has the engine pointing in the right direction and with rear wheel drive.

I have never driven a car that was as nice to drive as this car. It handles beautifully with superb steering. And my wife comments on these features every time she drives it.

The car is ruby red and still attracts attention and comments. Today I stopped at three places. At all three places I got very strong comments. The first stop a friend was there and when he told the lady that was complementing me on the car that I had another one, that blew her away. The other two people were complete strangers that wanted to know the year and all the details. One gentleman commented that the new Jags looked like any other car and there was no mistaking that mine was a Jag.

I have had this car for eleven years and they will probably bury me in this car. I'm doing my best to keep the car in tip top condition. Just redid the cam cover, replaced coils and plugs. I will write a thread on this work shortly.

I do not ever intend to get rid of this car. And at 80 years old I probably won't have to.

 

I would gain nothing except carrying capacity then as mine
does that already

The car is 'special' to look at.

Certainly one of the most interesting four door sedans
around.

It would be perfect with a five speed.

A towbar would make it perfect since hauling around
spare part finds while trying to maintain a pristine
interior is hard.

... and it is RWD

 

Yes, having the leaper lead the way is somehow very reassuring.

 

Well, although not unique to this car, it has the qualities of the type of car that just isn't made anymore. The proportions are just right, and even for a large long car, it looks sporty because of its low roof line.

And it definitely has its own style that is unmistakeably Jag.

And not to sound vain, it is fun to field the questions and compliments the car always gets. I get asked almost daily about the car, or get a compliment on how nice it looks, or "how they just don't make them like that anymore". Just last Friday I had two different coworkers ask if it was essentially "new". One though it had to be mid-2000s, another was shocked that it was 2 years shy of 20 years old!

I guess the only two knocks I have with the car are interior headroom and rear legroom. The former really isn't a surprise given the low roof, so that's a reasonable sacrifice for style I suppose. The rear legroom issue really isn't that awful, and no one really rides in the rear that often anyway!

It really is a great car It is one of those cars that you find yourself looking back at while walking away after parking!

.

 

I have an "L" no rear leg room issues, as far as head room, is your seat "lowering" function inop?

 

Yep my seat goes all the way down, but my hair rubs up against the roof. I don't know if my 5' 8" is mostly "torso" but I have to be careful as I only have about a finger's width between my scalp and the headliner.

 

It's English. It's different. It's a classic looking sedan.

 

I have to second EZdriver.

 

How do I count the ways:-) First is looks, the older it gets and now with fresh paint it looks less and less like everything else. Although not the fastest on the block, I like the way it keeps pulling hard to where you would get a serious ticket, nothing better than a straight six. The electronics as it gets older are also a challenge, but that's what you guys are for. Oh and there's something about having a real leaper as opposed to the new ones that are pasted on, I've only had one stolen in the 16 years I've owned the car.

 

I like mine for many reasons

it gives me an excuse to put a tweed jacket on

it gives me an excuse to park up with the Mrs and a small bottle of Moët and watch the sea

it gives me a reason to go a national trust property and waft about for the day

it still gives you a sense of opulence

it makes people smile when they see it

it’s powerful and shiny and provokes conversation and comment

and along with my Land Rover gives me the air of a country squire 🤣

 

I find my x300 makes driving an occasion to look foward to.

It makes me feel like an English bad guy getaway driver in the movies ( another kiwi here )

I really admire the build quality ( not to be confused with durability ) but the quality of the leather and the wood is something I find very satisfying.

The Jag Jag as I tell my 13 month old daughter rides so smooth and corners so well for a car so softly sprung . It makes me happy to slow down and just cruise . I like the sound of the AJ16 , it’s also a great connection with my Dad we read jaguar world and discuss his 2door coupe series 2 and his old XKR and as he’s getting older it’s a great connection to have to him also .

 

I've always been a BIG fan of not seeing what I'm driving. Have yet to see another 300, 305 on the road local other than mine or the ones I've sold in 15 years of ownership. The XKR is my daily but always enjoy the acres of burlwwod and cloud like ride of the XJ12. Nobody is confused about the fact that it's a Jag. And still after 25 years a 1996 XJ12 is still drop dead gorgeous. I may be a wee bit biased.

 

My automobile doesn't look like the "jelly bean" mold of the Japanese/Korean crowd. The 1997 "Topaz" colored X330 (XJ6L) rolls effortlessly down the freeway at 55 miles-per-hour with the 4.0 liter in-line six-cylinder engine turning at 1900 revolutions-per-minute. I'd be willing to venture that I'm obtaining 23-24 miles-per-gallon (US) at that speed. The Jaguar gets looks of approval everywhere I take it. It is luxurious without being "Herman the German" Mercedes-Benz or Bavarian Motor Works "stuffy". It makes me look great when I wear my herringbone-pattern sports jacket and my "bespoke" black bowler (made from beaver fur felt), and shellacked five times so that it is a true "hard coke". I either wear that or a bespoke beaver-fur felt fedora (caribou in color).
If it is summertime, I'll wear one of my "Panama" hats for "fun in the sun". I love the looks I get in Tijuana when I sit down in the Hotel Caesar and order a genuine Caesar Salad (where it was created in 1924). I am always treated well and I tip generously.
The X330 makes me look and feel rich above my station. Yes, dressing and acting classy when you drive a big Jaguar saloon makes you feel special. Perhaps that's because it is special!

The Jaguar marque, especially the XJ saloon is still a "sought after" bit of dignified kit, isn't it?

Cheers!

 

One thing that has lived up to some of the dreams and aspirations I had as a kid...the Jaguars I have known. They're more enjoyable than I could have known. My XJR is everything I wanted a Jag to be long before I could have one.

I also love the straight-six connection going back through the history of the company.

 

Same here LOL. First dream car was S1 XJ6. And I put off having a S3 (which are still easy to find around here) for the longest time. But once I got one and sorted it out (my fourth Jag), it became my favourite car, and I did commute daily in it (not winters) for the last two years of work. Driving that XJ home after whatever kind of hell had happened during the day made sure I arrived in a good mood--never failed. So pleasant to drive, plenty of oomph in traffic, great visibility, more comfortable than everything else.

 

I bought my first Jaguar, a 1976 XJ6, in 1997. I used it to go to work in. My boss asked me to park away from his car, a Rover Sterling and very new! I think that says all that needs to be said about the aura of a Jaguar!

 

I looked up some pictures of the 1997 Rover Sterling. It isn't bad looking, but it simply doesn't have the "cachet" of the Jaguar. You're right, the poor man was embarrassed with his choice of an inferior-looking automobile. The Rover isn't ugly, but it isn't a Jag!

 

1995 Silver XJ6: replaced front stabilizer bar links, front sway bar bushings, cleaned throttle body and EGR valve. High idle settling down, and handling tightened up. Reallly enjoying two new tool purchases - electric impact wrench for lug nuts, and cordless socket driver... saving much time, hassle, and soreness.