What is the average top end? I have had my 90 xjs convertible v12 up to 115 mph and backed off. If I were still in my 20's or 30's I would know the answer but at 61 not as brave and no tickets in the past 15 years.

 

Average, no idea.

Mine was at 230KPH ISH once only, and I was in a hurry, and forget why now.

I was not looking at the speedo, more interested in what was in front of the car, and then the "brave pills" ran out, and I backed down to 180ish.

That was the 85 HE Coupe, and when I backed off the damn thing was still pulling hard.

The PreHE Sedan, Series 2, no idea, the speedo went wobbly over 180, but the tacho saw the red line frequently.

 

Most magazine tests of the era show a top speed of +/- 150mph for the Euro versions, about 140 for the USA cars.

Cheers
DD

 

I've driven for about 30-45 minutes sustained at 130 mph on a trip once, took it totally fine. Gave it a bit more to see what it would do, since it seems to beg for more revs. Hopped up to about 148 no problem and still seems to have more leftover.

I think on a decent road I could easily see an XJS doing 155-160mph, the tranny/diff and a couple bits of aero start causing issues at that point. Despite what people say, it isn't exactly a slow car.

 

Fastest I ever went in mine was 120 mph....which was utterly drama-free. Felt the same as 70.

Cheers
DD

 

I have heard that the power is on the back end, Jay Leno I think ?

 

I would be way skeeered to go that fast in a 27 year old car or any car.

 

i got my 92 v12 up like 130 on i 83 last year

 

UK spec car in top condition: 152 mph for sure. Air temperature has a great effect on the V12 power output too. In minus 10C my car, two up with luggage, pulled over 150 mph UPHILL and was still pulling like a train; but I chickened out. As Doug said, 120 in an XJS feels not much different from 70. But for me, at anything over 130 things start to speed up exponentially and looking at instruments is not an option! That is the passenger's job.


My car has been radar beam speed checked at 144 mph from a standing start over one and a quarter miles on a runway. Still pulling like mad as we crossed the beam.

 

Love it Greg,!!!!!

 

242 kph via GPS on the A27 between Bremen and Walsrode...

 

151 mph. Love it too.

 

And I remember still pulling. Just had to slow down, as the Walsroder Triangle has a 100 kph limit... But there was a lot more to go...

 

As doug said, in a properly sorted XJS it isn't much different from 75 mph really, just the odometer moves a bit faster. At around 145 or so the steering lightens up a bit but nothing too bad.

 

my XJS is a little different than most,some slight performance mods!

seems the faster you go the more it wants to go, runnin around 130-140 front gets light(NO front chin spoiler), if you have the road, it pulls maybe up to 150 but things happen fast!

so being i kinda like pullin away -or passing quickly i set my rear gear ratio with a 3.73, and 700R4 30% overdrive , gives me a final ratio of 2.60, to be honest have never tried it for maximum top speed.
open top really has wind buffeting above 120 or so, starts to lose aerodynamics.

now my Camaro was clocked at 165MPH, 476" ,7.6L, BBC big block Chevy, geared for 200MPH, still pulling hard, but i'm not going there, might never come back,LOL!

 

some Jag pix, darn i made a video of jag but this site wont take it!

i'm sure its me and my computer skills.

maybe later, as they say ,"a picture is worth a thousand words".,, and a video is worth 10 thousand words.

Nope tried upside down ,still comes out wrong.

 

suggestion ;i think JF should expand its picture/video program!

 

Ron,

Videos are best upgraded to youtube and set on 'private' or 'not listed'. Like that you can't search for them if not wanted. Then all you do is copy the link and inserts it here without any codes. Done-did.

Pictures seem your achilles... Do you up oad them or hose them somewhere else (up load ing them somewhere else)? If so, try flickr. You can even rotate them online incase they are upside down.

 

.

mac the jag v12 has whats called a long flat torque curve, the available torque is not that hi (contrary to what some believe) , torque comes on and last for a long time ,so it shows on the topend!

 

I forgot to say, when my speedo reached 90 it stayed there for awhile but I was still gaining speed, finally it started moving again and I let off at 115 mph.

I also noticed when I let off the speed dropped to 90 and stayed there again and finally started dropping down, so I have no idea how fast I was really going.