Hello everyone!

I have been dailying an 03 XJR-R1(X308) from July 2023. I got it at 64K miles and now it has 93K miles. Before it, I had an 04 XJR. Recently I purchased an 06 Super V8(X350) with 68K miles (It was my dream car before getting it). After driving it from the last two months, the driving feel is different from X308 XJR, I don't no if I so got used to driving the 03 XJR, I'm not thrilled to drive the Super V8.
Driving dynamics of both the cars:
XJR: I can feel the weight of the car. It feels more like I'm connected to the road, it's planted to the road and feels more stable. I can feel the grip of the tires iyk what I'm saying. It's more agile and I love driving it. I can hear the supercharger whine and the V8 rumble.
Super V8: I can't feel the weight of the car. The ride is floaty(Still has air suspension). It feels not as stable as the XJR. It insulates me from the road both in terms of feeling the road grip and road/ engine noise. I don't hear the super charger whine at all. There is no V8 rumble.

Since I got the Super V8, Mrs is asking me to sell the XJR.
Logically speaking I should keep the Super V8 (because of the low miles and it's condition) and sell the XJR (it rattles some times). But I'm having a hard time and I don't know if I'm making a mistake by getting rid off the XJR.

Specs of the Vehicles:
03 XJR R1, Black on Black with 93K miles. CATS suspension. Georgia, California and Texas owned
06 Super V8 Liquid Silver with 68K miles. Air Suspension. Stayed in Texas all it's life.

I like spirited driving and now I'm unable to decide between the two. What are your thoughts? What should I keep? I would like to keep my car for a long time.
Here are the pictures of both the cats.

 

Personally, I would go with the '06. I had an '06 VDP and loved it but it was totaled. I am keeping an eye out for an '08 or '09 because of the changes in the seat construction. I really enjoy my '03 VDP, close to the last X308 made, and it has won all kinds of unnecessary plastic objects from car shows. but at the age of 76 and being less flexible than in my younger days it is less comfortable to enter and drive. Some consider the X308 the last of the totally classic Jags. I'm not such a purist, but sure wouldn't get anything past '09. I'd also swap the '06 suspension to coil overs at the first hint of any air shock issues. My thoughts, worth exactly what you paid for it.

 

Personally it's the 03' - You mentioned it yourself, you like spirited driving, of the 2 chassis, Jaguar developed the X300/308 platform the longest, and with the R1 you have the last best and final iteration. The values will go steadily up - condition over miles, and the 06 will go the other way. Lawson vs Callum, you decide.

 

I can’t compare the X308 to the X350 but I can compare my ‘01 XJR daily driver to the three Series 3 V12 VDP’s I’ve owned (one of which I still own). Appearances aside - the Series 3 and the X308’s are the last classic Jaguars to my eye and the X350’s are more of a “swing and a miss” - the XJR “drives differently and I drive her differently” than the VDP’s, much like you’re describing with your X350. The VDP is a sublime ride, possibly better than anything else on the road, but the XJR is a naturally more involved/active ride. I use the J-gate all the time in the XJR and the VDP always sits in Drive from departure to arrival. I enjoy them both and am happy my wife doesn’t insist on my choosing one over the other.

 

It's an R1, rare R1: sounds like an easy choice . . .

 

I suggest marriage counseling. Seriously, keep the XJR-R1. Only driven a supercharged X350 once on a test drive so no long term based advice to give. I didn't pull the triger on the X350 because of the body style. No where near the beauty of the X308. Higher belt line ruins lines and to me it looks like a Ford Crown Vic from the rear.

 

When you have to pull the blower (or timing cover) off the SV8, you’d know which car to keep.

 

The X308 s are one of the most beautiful cars on the planet and they don't
make 'em like that anymore.

 

I've never owned any Jags but my '01 XJR, but I bought her and keep her because she's just so darned pretty.
Maybe random strangers of all ages come up and comment on X350s as well...

 

The X350's are comparable, true enough, however the X308 has a certain
ambient flow to its lines From my point of view, in many cases the x350 shows
a more modern approach to electronics, but lacks the fluid feel of grace and
power, as well as the aggressive stance of a lower profile.

 

Personally I would take x308 over x350 anytime of the day.. x358 a little exception

 

You should buy my 42,000 miles XJR (just down the road in Arlington), and sell the other two.

 

I have fond memories of Dallas/Ft. Worth. That said, those memories
were dragged through the dust on my last visit there. Loop 12 which
used to be my main method of travel seems to have disappeared, or at least,
is no longer where it used to be. At least Hwy.183 is in the same place.

 

I thought that exact thing about the Crown Vic after parking next to an X350 recently.

 

I'm not saying to leave your wife but.... hang on to that steel body jag as long as you can.

 

To my eye, the X308 is by far the more beautiful car, and it is probably similar to the X350 in terms of reliability (though both will require more and more maintenance and repairs as they age).

The X350 suspension should not be "floaty." It is very likely that at this age the Bilstein shock absorbers are tired. New Bilstein air spring/damper units all around should restore proper ride and handling, but the Bilsteins are expensive when you can find them. Converting to coil springs will not improve the ride or handling, especially on a supercharged car that is driven as it should be. I've converted close to two dozen X350s to coil springs, and the ride and handling are good, but not nearly as good as a properly-working air suspension with healthy air spring/dampers.

I assume the XJR-R1 is standard wheelbase and the Super V8 is long wheelbase? That certainly would be one of the differences in driving dynamics.

If you weren't daily driving the car, the R1 would be the obvious choice to me. But as a daily, I'm as torn as you are.

Cheers,

Don

 

The x308 is the nicest looking car ever put on pavement by any manufacturer in history. That’s a fact I thought everyone knew! I’m partial to my black XJR, but Ken Cantor’s red one is jaw-dropping too. Lots of stunning pictures of x308’s on the forum. There’s never been a more beautiful car made.

 

The Series 3 cars have some pretty elegant detailing to them as well, including what might be the prettiest rear end that ever hit the road.

 

What was the outcome of this thread? I choose the X308R out of all the modern Jaguar models for the looks and V8, and I was picky that my interior had to be black also. Only 10k in the last 2 years and still a work in progress repair wise, a slow step at a time.