I have been looking at the XK8 for a while but now I'm thinking I might like the XJ series a little better. I have a friend that has a 97 XJ6 and she loves it, beautiful car. I was wondering about opinions between the 6 or the 8, reliability wise. I can do most of my own wrenching but would like something to drive more than working under. Thanks for any info, Jack

 

If you go to the top of this section there's a Ser III buyer's guide in one of the sticky threads. These are the "older" Jags. Not really sure that's what you're after. They're "the most modern of all antique autombiles". :-)

If you go to the top of the "X300" section you can find a buyer's guide for the 95-97 XJ6s.

All of these cars are getting of the age ( and mileage, usually) where "reliabilty" is gonna have more to do with how the car has been treated (that is, how many repairs have been neglected) than anyhting else.

Others will comment on XK8/XJ8 models

Cheers
DD

 

the 8 cylinder engine is essentially a Ford block and it comes with issues that will keep you on your toes. You won't have to be working under the car but you will have to be working on the top. Better get to know the XJ-8 before you dive into one. I've read many horror stories about the 8 cylinder engine.

 

Although Jose is right about the early XJ8 his statement does not stand firm for the whole range. The engines were suspect up to 2000 but were greatly improved after that. 2004 and onwards is an absolute dynamite engine and will put a smile on your face every time you get in to drive it due to the power it produces and its fuel economy.

I owned an X300 XJ6 for a while and as Doug has suggested it is important that you look for one that has been well treated in its past life, mine apparently had not been. I spent more time fixing that car than I did driving it. Nice looking car, comfortable but liked to drink gas and had a habit of eating electrical circuits. Not an easy car to work on either.

(Must have been me though. The present owners have not had one bit if trouble with it so far.)

I presently own a 2005 XJ8L VDP and would not think about swapping it for any other Jaguar model right now. Does everything I want it to do and they are presently in a price range that makes them very affordable.

(Warning if you test drive one, you will get hooked.)

 

i have a personal bias towards new cars.....and bigger engines.

id say XJ8

 

Ownership does make a difference but perhaps not in the way you were suggesting.

We're auto enthusiasts. We tend to be fussy about every operational aspect of our cars. Non-enthusiasts, though, are often blissfully unaware of faults.....non-critical ones, at least.... or simply don't care about them :-)


Cheers
DD

 

Early designs of the AJ26 through AJ28 V8s used in various Jaguar models incorporated a Nikasil coating on the cylinder walls, which could prove problematic when high-sulphur fuels were used under short driving cycle conditions.

Nikasil treatment of the aluminium block allowed the steel piston rings to seal without damaging the soft aluminium surface of the cylinder walls.

Ford/Jaguar were not the only manufacturers to utilise this type of engine block as BMW and others used it as well. While these engines can prove very reliable, they have developed a reputation for needing repair to correct the oil consumption issues caused by the degradation of the Nikasil coating. Jaguar and other manufacturers abandoned the Nikasil coating in favour of steel cylinder inserts residing inside an aluminium block with the 2002 MY engines.

The inline six cylinder engines used by Jaguar prior to the AJ series V8s utilise a cast iron block with aluminium cylinder head, and while reliable, does not have the performance potentials of the AJ V8 in all its variants.

 

Not totally true. The XK engine from 1948 to 1986 had a cast-iron block and aluminium head, but the AJ6 and AJ16 engines, (also straight sixes), had aluminium blocks and heads. The AJ6 engine started it life in the XJS, and then went into the XJ40 (XJ6 saloon from 1986), then the X300 came out in 1995 with the AJ16, a development of the AJ6. The all-alloy straight six engines are the most reliable of all the engines used by Jaguar. The V8s finally came good, but a lot of owners suffered much pain in the process.

 

It should have read, 'the XK inline engines...' Thank you Fraser for pointing that out.

 

I agree with everypost here, have had the pleasure of driving an xj8 1998-2002 and i am hooked especially on the 4.0 V8

i am having a hard time trying to convince the wife to trade in the X-type,
as i wont trade my SIII lol

but i have heard ensure that they have had the tensioner upgrade, this should have been done at around 100k if not its around a 3k job and will apparently save the engine and you from a costly repair job