Can anyone who has driven XJS 5.3 3-speed auto and a later 6.0 4-speed tell me how much difference there is?
Also, if you have driven these and a LWB X300 V12 6.0, can you tell me the differences?
On paper, the saloon is similar weight to XJS, but I presume there is the potential for quite different handling.

I am keen on a V12. I like the clean look of the late 80s XJS.however 4 seats would be useful.

There are some good 5.3 XJSes in NZ. 6 litre ones are rare over here.
There is a very good X300 LWB V12 potentially for sale, for similar $$ to a good 5.3 XJS..

so Help! all advice appreciated

 

Al, as you know I have been V12 forever.

I did get the chance to drive a Daimler X300 ONCE, and that was whilst I had the various 5.3 V12's, and all I can say is MAAAAAATE that is a car.

My knowledge is:
The Nippon Denso engine management is awesome, and makes the X300 6 ltr what it is.
SMOOTH, in a very different way to the 5.3.
The 4 speed trans is what that engine needed from day 1 in my opinion, and this electronic unit is the bee's knees.

Comparing the XJ-S and the LWB is simply a no no.

The XJ-S is different by design is many ways, and based on a "Sports Tourer" factor from the '70's.

The Saloon is what it is, and even my SWB X300 is vastly different to the XJ-S's as far as ride etc goes. Then add the 10+ years of standard production upgrades etc, and the 2 are worlds apart.

I looked seriously at a Daimler Insignia Double Six, some time back, but the guy selling it was from Auckland, and the car was always unavailable in OZ (which is where it was supposed to be). It was that Mushroom (Purple) colour that I thought I could live with if I ever got the chance to eyeball the thing. Never happened, I moved on.

Drive the 6ltr, you will NEVER look back, trust me.

 

I agree with Grant.

Cheers
DD

 

I mostly agree with Grant, but let me add some other opinion FYI...

As far as I know, 5.3L engine of a pre facelift XJS is much smoother than the facelift 5.3L.
I don't know why, but I believe it is because the earlier engine were neatly built. but it is a fact of a Jag the older the better. I heard that Lucas ignition 5.3s made until '86 are nicer.

The 6.0s are not always a good buy, at least in Japan.
I know some serious failures of the engine itself. Head gasket blow out, oil pump breakdown, burnt valve etc... 5.3s are more reliable in a mechanical point of view.
The tranny is the same. TH400 is totally simple. 4L80E has some weak points, ECU and wire harness sometimes go bad.

However, when you are on 5.3, you will definitely want more power, more gear...

 

I had a 91 5.3 and currently have a 94 6.0. The 6.0 is more refined, and quicker off the line (though not a muscle car).

I have to disagree with Ikuma. My 6.0 is less troublesome than my 5.3.

 

I mean, the management IS more reliable after the facelift, I do admit that, and I think X305, managed by Denso, is one of the most reliable V12 car in the world. And of course I don't mean 6.0s are generally worse...
But if it should go bad it would be fatal.

I have a friend who have ridden nearly 100 XJSs(crazy!) and he is also saying he has no good impression with 6.0s when it comes to engine quality.

It might be because of the toughest road environment of Japan, though...
Always slow, in summer it easily rises above 100F, you can't drive most of the European cars made before 90's in safe.

 

I have owned 7 XJSs now. One of them was a 95 6 liter convertible. In the time I had it, it seemed as spot on reliable as one might expect a Honda, or a Toyota to be. Very refined. I will add however, that if you are thinking a back seat would be nice, I would stay with the 6 liter sedan. Go to a couple of car shows, check out the back seat in a XJS convertible....may be good for a toddler, or even a very small child. But other than that, truely useless in my opinion. My daughter was around 9 when I had that car, and she would sit across the back, just to have a place for her legs/feet, and she was/is a petite young lady, even though 18 now..

 

Grant, I was re-reading the thread.
Can you expand on your opinion of the difference in handling between X300 saloon and XJS?
thanks

 

Al, I can not comment on performance between one or another, but if 4 seats are a necessity, simply forget the XJS.
My wife has to move her seat all the ways forward to get my 9 year old in the back, and he still whines there's no room here. There is no chance I can get my other children in the back being older, so we compromise to who goes in the car when and limit it to simply two people.

 

Improvise, adapt and overcome.
Had 4 adults for a weekend in France in a Coupe many moons ago.
Just kept foot on loud pedal (it was a Lister) to drown out the noise of the ladies complaining in the back.
Simples.