I'm still shopping for my first Jaguar. Last night as I was drifting off to sleep I sat bolt upright and wondered if the XJ8L I've been messaging the seller about can make it up my driveway! We have a typical subdivision house with a concrete slab driveway in front of the garage, but it's quite steep. With two adults and two small teens in the 1999 Ford Taurus we have to creep the car down the driveway so it doesn't scrape at the front. If I go with a longer car...am I gonna scrape it up? I realize it's a hypothetical question that without measurements etc cannot be answered. But does anyone have any soothing words for me? Do you have to be careful with steep approaches with your Jag?

I'm admittedly gunshy about it because my ex husband was such a dick about his stupid Camaro when we were newlyweds. I cringe driving my suburban over extra tall manhole covers on construction sites. Now I'm off to research wheel-base lengths and vehicle lengths now to ease my over active mind.

I think the standard car is 16 feet long in total, and the LWB is 18 feet. It's the rear overhang you have to be more careful of on an XJ8, it is quite long compared to other cars. That's what makes it beautiful though.

That said, I've driven up some pretty steep slopes in mine, and it's been ok. Just keep it slow to reduce the amount of suspension travel if it is a steep drop to the road.

Go up the driveway at a slight angle and straighten up before you park. This will avoid the front at least from catching.

Get a longer driveway, please don't scrape the new cat. LOL Sagekat

I have seen someplace where a homeowner put some sort of a plate at the end of his driveway to bridge the gutter, allowing the runoff to pass underneath but reducing the approach/departure angle. I have the opposite where at the top of my driveway it flattens out going into the garage. The Jag makes it just fine but my Corvette scrapes in the middle unless I approach it very slow and at a slight angle. But you may just need to take a test drive all the way home, try it very slow with someone watching from outside the car.

[QUOTE=Stu 1986;940129]I think the standard car is 16 feet long in total, and the LWB is 18 feet. It's the rear overhang you have to be more careful of on an XJ8, it is quite long compared to other cars. That's what makes it beautiful though.

And $950 to repair/replace the exhaust on my 2002 VDP back in 2005
Still remember that bill. Luckily it was the wife that bounced the rear coming out of the drive. Called me later that afternoon and asked if I had put a performance exhaust on her Jag.

First of all, thank you all for not laughing (at least not obviously) at me!

I was considering some sort of way to make the end of the driveway more shallow, hadn't quite concocted the bridge in my head yet...love it.

I am obsessing over this purchase process. But that is how I want it. I used to take tender loving care of my big dually pickup and my suburban. Then I had someone drive up and make me an offer I couldn't turn down on my suburban and I've been stuck with this Durango I hate since then. I'm looking for a vehicle that is worth pampering and throwing some elbow grease into maintaining. And seeing that these Jags are in the same price range as some really dumpy stupid cars...it's a no brainer!

Oh, and it looks like the XJ8L has a 9.4" longer wheelbase than our 99 Taurus, and is only 5.2" longer overall. So if I've thought this through right, maybe she'll have LESS trouble with our driveway?

One thing to check is the ride height. The springs and shock mounts age and the car rides lower. I don't have the specs for the sedans, but I'm sure some one can help. It's typically measured from the center of the wheel to the lip of the fender.
If your Taurus had a problem the Jag is likely worse. Definitely a trial is called for. Good luck.

Could always "Test Drive" from a dealer and give it a try.
Alternate would be to measure on flat surface the existing clearance of the Taurus front and rear and compare to a XJ8L or VDP (same body different appointments)

My driveway has a dip at the end (or beginning). I am used to it and never really think about it. One day I was working on the wife's Land Rover and she needed a car so I told her to take the Jag. Fifteen minutes later I get a call, the car is steaming and stalled out. Long story short, she backed straight out of the driveway and smacked the radiator on the dip in the drive. Crushed radiator, but no other damage. So, yeah, try a test drive, especially if you are used to driving an urban assault vehicle.

One - why would you marry a guy that drove a Camero?

Two - there's only one way to answer your question!

I ask myself that often. To make it worse, it was a V6 and was an underpowered downer. I wised up eventually!

So according to the numbers I found on Cars.com comparing a 1999 XJR and a 1999 XJ8L and a 1999 Ford Taurus, both Jags have the exact same difference in overall length minus wheelbase (84.8"). So...does the L NOT have a longer rear overhang than the regular length Jag? For comparison, the Taurus has an overall length of 89" more than wheelbase, but without sticking a tape to it, it looks pretty proportional front and back.

If this rain would ever let up I might just take a tape measure into a few Portland dealerships and make some salesmen upset this afternoon! I usually make them uncomfortable anyway...my name is Katrina and for some reason used car salesmen love to say "Katrina, like the hurricane?". Then I tilt my chin, narrow my eyes and reply "Yes, only not as friendly" and try to keep my poker face and not laugh as they take an involuntary step back. I hate high pressure sales, and that usually deflates them at least temporarily.

LOL nice. If you get serious about the purchase dont rule out the SF/Carmel/Walnut Creek area. When I was shopping for my car I noticed a lot of clean, well cared for, low mile x308s in that area. Just a thought

LOL Too funny! Way to win back the perceived salesman power over the "little woman seen as prey and far from an equal in the car buying arena".

Seeing that most of my scrapes come from my vehicles that I've altered the ride height-you might get lucky without any scraping. Might be good as previously mentioned to take a Jag test drive up and down your driveway for verification giving you confirmation to buy. Glad to see you're thinking the complete buying process out and perceived issues. Report and let us know how it goes.

Chris