Jaguar XJ6/XJ12 vs. X300
 

I am considering purchasing a Jaguar, and I have been looking at the series III XJ6, and the XJ12. I have also been looking at the X300. I was just wondering what would be the best choice that could be my daily driver, and that does not have many problems. I know someone who has a 1986 XJ6 who would be willing to give me a good deal, but I do not know if I should buy that or go for a XJ12 or X300. Please express your opinions.

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I have read your post MANY times to get my head around what you are looking for.

My advice (the daily driver bit made this comment easy) is the X300.

The S3 6cyl is a close second, but the age now has issues that may not be so friendly to your DD needs. Once sorted, YES, by all means.

The V12, AWESOME, but NOT for the feint hearted, and most are sooooooo neglected now, the DD thing would be daunting in my opinion.

I have had many S2's ( 6 & 12's) as DD cars, and fantastic.

The X300 is just further up the ladder, so quiet, reliable, user friendly, easy to maintain, etc etc. Ours has been awesome in all areas. The "catch up" maintenance was less by a long shot than any other Jag prior to it.

If you do all your own maintenance, things will be easier.

Doug will slide by soon and add his S3 comments, as he is the S3 man.

I agree with the above. For a daily driver, the X300 would probably be your best bet if you don't like maintenance. However, a S3 would be a better looking car, in my opinion, but with it's age, it will likely be more of a handful in the long run. Personally, I'd shy away from the V12 as a DD (though I wouldn't mind on to tinker with on a project).

Bought my 1995 XJ6 4.0 at 69K km, sold it 3 1/2 years years later at 170k km. Drove it four seasons through our snowy/salty-road winters using 15" wheels from an XJ40 and Michelin Arctic Alpines 215/70-15. During that time I had an front exhaust pipe welded (it had cracked), changed the water pump ($115 and it was easy to do), starter (nasty to get, I pd someone), front wheel bearings. I never felt disappointed with the car's reliability, though twice I left it running and it locked me out. Probably on purpose.

All in all, the X300 is a good daily driver (just my opinion). It's also a lot less prone to rust than the S3. It's quicker and gets better gas mileage. It's safer, with ABS and airbags. I now have a Series 3 and to me it it a classic car that needs to be treated like one.

Sorry to rescue this oldish thread but i'm going through a similar process than the OP and need yor advice. I'm trying to decide between a 4.0 sovereign x300 and a seriesIII XJ6. My heart goes for the old one but my head is on the newer (well actually i shouldn't buy a Jag if i wanted trouble free motorig but..)

I plann to drive it some weekends and twice a week to go to work, 25 miles return. I'm very little mech inclined an hate to break down or even think about it. On the other hand absolutely love jag lines and heritage but never owned one.

What would you recommend?

The Series III cars have a lot of charm. I just sold my X300/XJR after nine years and 138000 miles. Going back to Series III driving!

The X300s are better cars by any objective measure. Only the heart brings me back to the Series III.

Any Series III is of the age where a fair bit of work is likely to be needed. For someone without too much mechanical ability the X300 is a better choice.....although even they are old enough now where caution is required before buying.

Cheers
DD

My heart is going all over the place with the series III. Even considering a XJ12 now OMG

Go for the X300, you still get a straight six engine, and it is far better assembled than the Series 3s. Also it is still a DIY maintainable and repairable car with almost all parts available. The X300 was the car that put reliability back into Jaguar. It's worth having just for the engine. A Series 3 will need a lot of time and effort to keep on the road. Good for a hobby but not for going to work !!

Of course you could always have both !

I drive my Series III almost as my daily car. I prefer it over the XK8 or the SLK230 that sit in the garage most of the time. The looks and thumbs up all the time are great! Regarding the maintenance factor, I guess I'm lucky. Bought a good one with a rebuilt engine and transmission and the converted air conditioning. Only big ticket items I've added are a new radiator and tires. She runs like a swiss watch. It is truly one of the finest cars on the road and it gets lots of admiration from people of ALL ages. She's BRG with tan hides with chrome wires. What could say more class than that??!!! I live on the top of a mountain here in San Diego in the 'fire country'. Wife has asked when (not if) the time comes to evacuate which of the cars I'll take out. My response is the XJ6 SIII. I can always get another of the XK8's or the SLK's but this SIII, not to many in this condition out there any longer. BTW.....I only paid $900 for her about 2 years ago :-)

A good Series III is simply a delight. Built like a tank and drives like velvet. The most modern of all antique automobiles. I drove one daily for many years myself.

But you did perhaps get a bit lucky. Good Series IIIs are getting harder and harder to find.....and here in the 'States most V12 Ser IIIs will have come down from Canada which means most of them are pretty well rusted-out.

I'm in the market for another Series III right now, in fact :)

Cheers
DD

I think the x300 is the most reliable car Jaguar ever built (except from maybe some post 2000 cars, dont know much about those).
The engine is bullet proof, but also the rest of the car is just well done. The later v8 engines were far less reliable (tensionors, timing stuff etc).

However, for the looks I would prefer a series 3. Just a bit more classic and the interior is more distinct compared to series 3.

Why not buy a x300 as daily driver, and a series 3 for the sunny weekends? :-)

I did get lucky on this one, very lucky indeed. Belonged to the wife of the former general who ran Ft. Ord in Monterey I found out.


Sell it? Everything is for sale :icon_wink:, I'm a real estate developer after all.

Well, all three options mentioned come in to the vintage car category. In my opinion, the choice should be guided by condition. Get the best car available within the budget, whichever it is.


But, you gotta like the car. If you don't it's probable faults will drive you crazy. If you do, you'll be more likely to accept them and deal with them.


I've had both kinds!!!


Carl

also isnt the X300 a Ford developed Jaguar?

"Developed"? No, not really, IMHO....but it might depend on how we define "developed" :)

The X300 was not a 'new car' by any means. It was simply an evolution of the XJ40.....which was developed and already in production well before Ford ownership.

It's probably fair to say, though, that improvements resulting from the infusion of Ford money and technology were instrumental in making the X300 as good as it was. The last of the XJ40s also benefitted, I'd say.

Cheers
DD

My first Jag sedan was a 1990 X40. My current is a 1987 XJ6. (I also had a 1996 X300) The X40 was I will admit a nice car. Road nicer and quieter than the XJ6 and I think the engine was smoother too. But it didn't have the charm and character or get the attention my XJ6 does. Isn't what we drive something we should all love and love to be seen in. I mean, I don't date ugly women.

I had my Series 3 for 14 years, so got to know it fairly well ! Yes, I agree with Doug, a good one is a delight, and the ride quality is sublime, but a bad one is a nightmare, and the trouble is there are so many nightmares out there. If the OP is new to Jaguar a Series 3 might put him off for life if it's a bad'un.

Of course the X300s were only made from 1994-1997 so there may not be many around in the USA. A V12 version was made too, but in very small quantities.

I would happily have a Series 3 again but it would be a hobby car, not my daily. Fuel costs so much here in England filling up makes one's eyes water !!

Owning and driving an older XJ6, X40, X300 or any vintage sedan of any make isn't just something for the faint hearted or small wallet. Let's admit, it's only out of some sort of love for those things or insanity...or both. You want a daily driver to go from Point A to Point B and return using little gas, by a Honda. You gotta' wanta' drive something that weighs 4000 pounds, sucks fuel and likes to visit the doctor or surgeon once in a while. But I sure do get a lot more "wow, nice car!" or a thumbs up from other drivers when I cruise mine. Pure old guy ego I guess but in a Honda you can blend in with the other millions.

I have a weakness for British cars. Besides the Jaguar I have three MGs and my daily driver is a 2010 MINI Clubman S.

I average 30 mpg with the MINI. The Jaguar gets 11 mpg in town and 17 on the road.

Jaguar consumption sounds about right ! Of course the US gallon is smaller, but here in the UK despite the fuel price reductions we're paying around £5 a UK gallon, (or $7.7). So you can see why cars on 17 mpg don't get used a lot here.