Jaguar XJ-Series

roycecole · July 2003

i am tired of dealing with a dealer that sucks
the ford side my family walked away from years and now the Jaguar side
1 they fix nothing correct
2 you get you car back dirty
3 they say well come back and we will get it correct like i have the time
4 they do not sell at good price anymore and the dealership is to be sold soon because of thier failing system
bye bye bye bye bye

sv7887 · July 2003

Hello all,

I'm wondering if anyone has heard anything about the reliability reports of the New XJ. Has the new car been spared the gremlins of the X & S Type launches?

To level with you all, I'm a Lexus owner in denial. I like my car, but every time I see a 1995-2003 XJ8 drive past my head turns. There really isn't anything else that has the flair of a Jaguar.

I'm encouraged by all the posts here affirming Jaguar's resolution of their reliability issues. Anyone here a long term owner of an XJ8? (5+ yrs)How would you rate your experience with the car?

Thanks!
SV

jarmstrong2 · July 2003

Dear SV:
I too was a Lexus owner.(3 LS 400s) And when a XJ8 passed, it turned my head too. So I sold my Lexus and purchased a low mileage 1998 Vanden Plas. It was a one owner vehicle in pristine condition,so I pruchased a 5 year/bum to bumper warranty from a Jag dealer. I have learned one thing about owning a used luxury vehicle, is that you buy a warranty. It will pay for itself the first time you use it. I have had this Jag for over 4 years. It still had the factory warranty,( Which I will tell you it is better than the Lexus warranty.)and my dealer fixed everything and anything on the car.( Including replacing the expensive floor mats)Other than the usual wear and tear items(Tires,brake pads, belts etc,) that go out on every car, NOTHING and I mean nothing has gone wrong with the car. We love it. It may not be as quite as the Lexus but it will out handle one. It definetley OUT CLASSES the Lexus and is a wonderful road car. You need to try one. Buy a used Jag with some of the factory warranty still on it. Have it checked out by the dealer while still in warranty. Since this was my first Jag, I did not know what to expect or think at first. But after a while you become a JAG person. I liked the JAG Vanden Plas so much I purchased a 98 XK8 with low miles too. What a sweetheart. Good Luck
Jarmstrong

sv7887 · July 2003

Jarmstrong,
So very tempted..I deliberately avoid driving past the Jaguar dealer, b.c the urge to go get one is increasing daily. I'm just waiting for the older Xj8's to flood the marketplace as the owners opt for the newer model. Since I'm too chicken to buy one outright, I'll probably lease for the first 3 yrs and buy it if there are no issues. Thanks for your advice!

SV

nvbanker · July 2003

I do so agree with you gentlemen.......

fenn · July 2003

I saw an article on an automotive Internet site that addressed the repair-ability of the new aluminum 2004 XJ8.....It was mentioned that only a Jaguar dealer will be able to do most major body repairs....I would hate to be the pawn of a Jaguar dealer for any body damage.

The article also mentioned that the author saw a 2004 XJ8 with aluminum structural breakage from a moderate crash....I am not citing this article as authoritative, but I am curious if anybody knows much about this...?

Any thoughts on this?

nvbanker · July 2003

I doubt that. Aluminum has been used in various panels of a lot of cars, including American ones for years. The Town Car has had an aluminum hood since 1990, I think, and millions of them have had repairs. The aluminum frame can't be that big an obstacle, can it? Maybe at this point, a Jag dealer could do it better or easier, but I can't imagine the rest of the body shops around won't get the hang of it really quickly.

jagboyxtype · July 2003

...simple hoods.

"The aluminum frame can't be that big an obstacle, can it?"

Oh no, my friend, it is a huge issue...

The big issues with aluminum repair are that it is VERY different and therefore more difficult to do/requires different skills and tools (at least $10,000 worth per body shop) than traditional steel repair, it is much more time consuming, and that aluminum repair must occur in a fully closed-off facility where no steel or any other contaminants can get to it.

Believe it or not, one of the most often-occuring and dangerous for the aluminum problems that comes through improper repair is contamination of the aluminum with things like steel flakes from tools or just the general repair area, etc. For some reason, such contaminations cause corrosion and more-often major paint problems to the aluminum cars, which is why there really are only 19 places certified to do big aluminum repairs for the XJ (Jaguar is seeing to it that 26 will be open soon) and an even less 11 sites for the Audi A8. This problem plagues Audi with the A8, which is why Jaguar is trying to double the number of aluminum repair facilities over the next few years and designed the XJ and newest version of the X-type to have fully-replaceable sections such as the bolt-on-front-end and rear, etc. Body panels almost literally hang on the side of the car, and can be replaced easily, significantly lowering labor costs (compared to A8 repair) and the problem of actual aluminum repair - if it's badly broken, they'll take it off, toss it, and put on a new part so no contamination can occur that would cause more problems to the car.

Another thing is that aluminum can only be worked on once or so; one cannot really go back to fix any little things that popped up during the repair (e.g. - hammered a panel a little too far) the way they can with steel, and thus would have to start over with a totally new panel. Welding aluminum is in most respects, impossible, so holes and areas in need of patches will pretty much mean a new panel or structural piece will be necessary. And it does not blend well with any other elements but itself, so contamination will quickly turn a clean sheet of aluminum into an ugly, oxidized, deteriorating piece of aluminum oxide - aluminum's form of what we commonly call "rust". Mind you, Jaguar uses an aluminum alloy in its cars, not pure elemental aluminum, but Jaguar's aluminum alloy also has to undergo a baking process for hardening and many other high-cost processes in order to make it suitable for its cars. In fact, the alloy Jaguar uses was created just for its cars, and did not exist before. Other aluminum alloys Jaguar tested would not hold their shape or would deform.

"I would hate to be the pawn of a Jaguar dealer for any body damage."

Jaguar doesn't actually do the repairs to the cars - they outsource to the few certified aluminum repair shops that are around. I don't know why anybody would not take their XJ to their Jaguar dealer for repairs, as like all the other Jaguars, it comes with a 4-year, 50,000 mile complementary scheduled service plan and a 12,000 mile complementary repair plan for most any damage done to the car. Taking the car anywhere but to a Jaguar dealer for fixes would void the free services and repairs and be a high risk to the car since finding one of the 19 certified aluminum shops for the Jaguar could prove difficult. Using anyone but one of Jaguar's certified aluminum specialist would yield contamination damage, and they can't just be good at hoods; if the article you saw was from Autospies, what happened was the bumper bar of the Bolt-on-front-end (BOFE) took damage in a collision and saved the rest of the car from any damage; that shop could not even understand how the structure of the XJ worked, so even if a certified aluminum specialist is found, they also have to be skilled at Jaguar designs. So despite there being more than just 19 aluminum specialist shops in the U.S. and Canada combined, only 19 so far have the training to work with Jaguar technology.

See this link for more on aluminum car repair; it tells a lot:

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2003-07-01-aluminum_x.htm

nvbanker · July 2003

Wow. My apologies for my ignorance. I appreciate the education. I would hate to see what will do to the insurance industry index for these cars. The repair bills must be frightening!

fenn · July 2003

Thanks for the information.

I meant no disrespect to Jaguar dealers... I just do not like the prospect of being the victim of high priced body and paint repairs if I should buy a Jaguar XJ. Many of us know of body shops that we trust who provide competitive pricing for body work....There is no competition if there is only one guy in your town that can work on your car.

I hate to think of the pricing, when a group of 20 or 30 shops control the XJ8 body and paint market for the next year or two.......That is a scary prospect.

pathdoc · July 2003

Supposedly Jaguar worked to make the body panels easy to replace with an effort to decrease the cost of repair. They claim that the insurance index will be lower than previous models. I am somewhat skeptical and will hold off on the new XJ for at least two years to make sure this is not a "fatal" flaw in the design. I think articles like the one in USA Today and Autospies may hurt sales.

nvbanker · July 2003

That's my concern as well. I love the car, and would like to get one in 06. By then, we'll have a good feel about repairability of the body and the nature of the car.

shs111 · July 2003

I drive a 1998 XJ8L. I checked out the new XJ8 at the dealer's today, and I've fallen in love all over again. What a beautiful car. I agree with the others, I'll wait until the 2006 model, and will be very happy driving mine until then. I think that Jaguar really has it nailed with the new XJ. Now, when will they think about an AWD version?

nvbanker · July 2003

Saw a 96 Vanden Plas yesterday that looked showroom clean. Anybody know how much trouble I can expect from the pre-Ford editions?

jagboyxtype · July 2003

I didn't mean to scare anybody off - I just wanted to make it very clear just how different aluminum is from steel in these applications. As has been mentioned, Jaguar builds the XJ and parts of the X-type to now have bolted-on sections as well as body panels that can simply be lifted off the cars if they are damaged. While one section takes damage, it saves the rest of the car from having to take structural shocks throughout, being better overall for the car as a whole.

For pricing, I think it depends on how much the automobile industry comes to rely on aluminum. If it turns out that conventional steel is found to be better than aluminum construction, and the industry turns to continuing steel use over aluminum, parts for the XJ may become steep in price. However, the turn of the industry seems to be to use aluminum more and more than ever before, and with Jaguar introducing the aluminum technology onto its existing cars, as it has done with the 2004 X-type, and planning for aluminum intensive replacements for all of its current cars - next is the XK - it seems that prices would be going down, especially since the technology now exists, instead of being in the discovery stage.

I'll also say that Jaguar will probably have a say in the costs at the body shops, since it is competing vigorously with conventional cars such as BMW and Mercedes, who can keep prices down simply because their cars are plain steel. Jaguar's not going to allow would-be customers to be driven away because of sticker-shock over how much a repair would cost. I'd say another good indication that prices for all of the XJ's parts will be competitive with competitors' is that its actual selling price is $13,000 less than that of the closest European rival, which is a conventional steel car. If Jaguar can keep the price of the entire car down and have the whole thing being made of aluminum, I don't see prices for individual parts of the car being any higher than conventional parts relative to competitors (emphasis on "relative" to competitors).

I'll also just add that Jaguar says the baked aluminum alloy they use actually comes out being twice as dent-resistant than the steel used by competing cars; it's not Coke-can aluminum or the conventional soft aluminum that allows for easy paint-chipping such as that of the hood of a G35 or E-Class, but a high-tech newly created substance that according to its maker, is stronger, lighter, and more resiliant than conventional materials.

Looking into a new XJ myself, I must admit that purchasing time for me will come in about a year and a half to two years, to make certain that there is no "fatal flaw" with the design (and also 'cause the "old" Vanden Plas still has much life left in it) - I'm 99% sure it's all practically perfected in every way, but it is good to be safe. I do know that Jaguar stands by its cars though, and the XJ isn't exactly its first aluminum car either. Anyone who knows about Jaguar's history understands just what a competitive company it is in everything from its road cars to its racing efforts - Le Mans. It's victorious C-type and D-type racers, and the old XK's, were aluminum cars too, so Jaguar is not entirely new at this. I'll tell you that the lightweight materials idea has been quite serious inside Jaguar, and for the last decade they've been experimenting and testing all kinds of things: fiber glass bodies, high-end polymers, carbon fibers, etc. I'll see if I can't find some of the pictures of the only ugly Jaguars ever made - the very first aluminum XK's, X-types, S-types, and XJ's; Jaguar tried to see how all of its normal cars would turn out when simply cast in aluminum for the first time - sadly to say, they didn't live. Some Jaguars were harmed in the making of the aluminum technology... Normal aluminum that everyone else uses isn't able to hold the volumptuous curves of a Jaguar, so the very fact that the new XJ still has a "scalloped" hood treatment is a testament to the new aluminum technology itself.

farnsworthy · July 2003

Did you ever buy that 90/91 XJ-S? I addressed the "slugishness" issue on my 94 XJ-S V-12 by installing Shafi Kiesler's excellent Tremec 6-speed manual transmission conversion. The original GM auto trans was just not a good fit to the engine. Having the right ratios available makes a big difference. The car will never be a "Viper-beater", but as it's currently set up, is most satisfying...

lenscap · July 2003

"...the baked aluminum alloy they use actually comes out being twice as dent-resistant than the steel used by competing cars; it's not Coke-can aluminum or the conventional soft aluminum that allows for easy paint-chipping such as that of the hood of a G35 or E-Class..."

Being dent-resistant is totally different from being chip-resistent. A hood, for example, may resist dents but still get paint chips. Paint chips have to do with the quality of the paint and the way is it applied, although all cars will inevitable get chips.

"Looking into a new XJ myself, I must admit that purchasing time for me will come in about a year and a half to two years..."

Since you were 16 when your parents bought you your current X-Type last year, that should put you at 18-19 years old, right? You may be the youngest XJ owner out there.

jagboyxtype · July 2003

The paint Jaguar uses is known for being of the best in the industry, and it is also known that Jaguar applies about double the amount of paint to its cars than other manufacturers do, in order to give an ultra-deep finished look to the cars. Traditionally, aluminum has always been softer than steel, thus with equal quality paints, the aluminum would take chips more readily than steel. Think about it: a rock hitting a softer substance covered in paint will more easily disrupt the bond between the paint and the soft substance, in this case aluminum, than it would with harder steel. Usually, the rock takes a small bit of paint and a chip of metal with it. Not so much with steel, but with normal aluminum alloys, little chips in the metal occur too. With Jaguar's new alloy, which is bake-hardened, it is supposed to be both more dent-resistant and overall less easy to chip than the standard aluminum alloys that other manufacturers have been using for quite some time.

As for my next Jaguar, I've been putting away for it just as I did for the X-type, with some aid from the folks, and much aid from the scollarships I have, etc. Jaguar wanted younger customers, now they have some. Nothing wrong with being spoiled, though I prefer to consider it being "well-taken-care-of", though I actually am the one working toward being able to purchase the cars; parents give gifts like heated seats and othe options, I buy the metal that is the car. Are you looking at an XJ? I haven't heard from you in, well, what seems like a year. How have you been?

fenn · July 2003

I posted the earlier question about the aluminum issues, since I am vacillating about purchasing a new XJ8 or even splurging for the XJR in the next few weeks........ I am interested to hear from any owners of the newest 2004 XJ8/XJR generation.

I really lust for the XJR, but for a daily driver here in congested L.A, I really wonder how much I can take advantage of the 0-60 acceleration or other XJR performance edges, since the new XJ8 really performs pretty well on its own......The price differential is significant too.

pathdoc · July 2003

As a current owner of a 2001 XKR convertible and previous owner of a 1998 XK8 convertible I say go for the XJR! I find the added acceleration invigorating. The handling is also better. The only down side I have noticed is the slightly firmer ride. I haven't driven the new XJ8/XJR but before getting the XK8 I did back to back comparsions(on a twisty mountain road) among the XK8,XJ8 and XJR and if I had not wanted a convertible would have definitely gone with the XJR. I am considering the new XJR but will be waiting a year or two to see how the aluminum body works out.

jaguar0094 · July 2003

My Jaguar is being bad.... I can drive quite often with nothing wrong, but then at times it starts to have no throttle response and all I have to do is shut it off and restart it... fine when you are not on I-95 doing 55. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

pathdoc · July 2003

I just drove the 2004 XJR.I had my XKR in for service and when picking it up was approached by my salesman who had just gotten a XJR demo. I took it for a drive up a very twisty mountain road(highway 74 out of Palm Desert) that I've used when evaluating cars before (see post 1762 above).
I now want an XJR ASAP. Not only is the handling and power awesome but the ride is oustanding. I think it handles better than my XKR. I recommend it to anyone interested in a wonderful combination of performance with luxury and (finally) room for touring.

fenn · July 2003

That is the feedback that I wanted to hear about the new XJR........

roycecole · August 2003

ok i am a jaguar owner for years i have a xk8 and VDP also i am going to buy a Xj8 soon and i can find a dealer to fix the car correct and most of all clean it and put stuff back\\
i feel the a ford dealer with owners the do not respect their customer and feel well they are making money then thing must be ok is stupid
i am after 18 year doing to Beverly Hills do get the service and we will see

roycecole · August 2003

i did read the information on repair but if the dealership can not get a small parts to repair something simple how ]can they fix a big problem also why would you have a dealer fix the paint when most do not have boby shops and i have seen spotting work on just a small repair but i have found out that the body shops the are up to date have invested in the new tools is anyone happy with the dealer repair in the LA Area i just started with hornburg the drive from the S.F. Valley just past the highland off ramp not to bad

lindsay8 · August 2003

After ordering 2 different sets of Bilsteins and having neither fit I contacted their tech support. They confirm they have no replacement as they are the OEM supplier themselves and have some kind of covenant with Jaguar not to compete. They had no explanation as to why they had shocks for the XJR8 listed on their site as it was a mistake. Also got a set of Monroes and again, they were not a fit. Monroe had no excuse why their site included the XJR8. OEM Jag then at $250usd each for the fronts.

lindsay8 · August 2003

Was more of a scrape as I pulled in really but the rad was not fixable. Jag wants $1000 CDN + labor so the whole job I'm sure will run $850USD.
Found an aftermarket option at radiator.com for $250USD shipped. I am not getting my hopes up as per my poor results locating shocks but if the product is up to snuff I will advise.

mikael1 · August 2003

Hi,
I've always loved the look of a Jaguar and finally started looking into buying a '96-'98 XJ6/8. I went to a Jaguar dealer and drove a '98 XJ8 with 49K miles and was frankly dissapointed by the ride and quality - and the sales tactics by the salespeople. It felt like I was at a Chevy dealer at the end of the month...
I thought the ride was not much better than my '97 I30 and definitely worse than my '93 Q45 that I used to drive. And if I hit a pothole or the lane markers, the whole dashboard/interior shook like it was loose - the car didn't feel solid. I drove another another '98 VDP with 60K miles and it was almost the same. About two years ago I was looking at series III cars and drove a few and I what I remembered the most was the nice ride.
Did I drive two bad examples or have I just my standards set to high?

-Mike

nvbanker · August 2003

I think you're a little too old there. The 98 is the first redesign, and it got progressively better each year.

kennethm · August 2003

I recently purchased a 1995 XJ6 with 77 000 miles - I love the car - recently showed it at British car day here at the Museum of Transportation here in Boston.

For all you folks debating whether to buy an XJ6 or an XJ8 - I can't help you - I only have driven this car but I just love the torque of that straight 4.0 six.

I have recently noticed a slight skip in the engine as if one cylinder is occasionally missing. My mechanic does not have sophisticated enough equipment to determine exactly what the cause might be - he is guessing either one of the six fuel injectors or one of the six ignition coils, as he has ruled out some of the more simple possibilities.

Any advice before I go to the dealer ? I understand that a complete set of coils costs over $2,000 at the dealer.

Many thanks

KennethM

audrat · August 2003

I may not be using the exact and/or correct terms, but my father always told me to avoid buying a car with an aluminum engine block, because of the terrible consequences that can be caused when the car overheats. I am about ready to purchased a pre-owned Jaguar, either a '97 VandenPlas or an XJ8 model, and was wondering if either has an aluminum engine block, or if both come with a cast iron (?) engine block. As always, I thank-you all for your consideration of my question, and I am grateful for this forum. Audra

nvbanker · August 2003

Your father was right, Audra, but the problem is, everybody is moving toward Aluminum engines these days to save weight, and improve efficiency. So you're going to have a problem avoiding one. Also, even if you get a cast iron block, many engines now use aluminum heads bolted on to them. The sad fact is, if you overheat any of today's modern engines, you're going to suffer a pretty catastrophic failure. They aren't like the old American cast iron V-8's. They're also twice as efficient and powerful today. The price we pay for that efficiency is that you can't abuse them as much as you could before.

There is another side to this issue though. You rarely find a cracked block today, and that used to be fairly common in the old cast iron engines. We get 200,000 miles out of many carefully maintained aluminum engines now, whereas if you got 100,000 out of the old cast iron engines without a ring & valve job, it was exceptional.

Frankly, I wouldn't worry about it. Todays aluminum engines are a far cry better than the ones that were first coming out 30 years ago. Buy the car you want to, and try not to abuse the engine. Get a warranty if you can, so that if it does blow, you're covered. It doesn't happen that often, your odds are pretty good, if you maintain it properly.

hyperion1 · August 2003

Ignition coil failure is fairly common. Usually it will set off the Check Eng light when it becomes bad enough.

gvran72 · August 2003

Hi guys,

have a 1996 vanden plas, midnight Blue with light cream interor, I think, one of the most beautiful cars on the road new or old. However, recently when I put the car into park, the car seems to want to slide back as if its slipping out of gear? any idea what this could be? really want to keep this baby and resisting all these 0% deals on the 2003's.

audrat · August 2003

for answering at length as to your assessment of the aluminum vs.cast iron engine block. I greatly appreciate your efforts on behalf of my concern.
Audra

nvbanker · August 2003

Buy your new Jag with confidence, Audra....

fenn · August 2003

I just took delivery of a new 2004 XJR. All that I can say is WOW. This car accelerates and handles like a much smaller car than it is. I am really impressed.

By the way, I drove the 2004 XJ8 extensively before going for the XJR version, and I almost decided to pass on the XJR because the XJ8 felt so quick and lithe in it's own form. The base XJ8 feels quicker around town than the new Audi A8L, and the BMW 745....and its responsiveness at low speeds was better than the 2002 Q45 that I traded.

The XJ8's responsiveness and driveability is awesome.. ...But, at the end of the day, I was impulsive, and went for the XJR for it's neck snapping acceleration....

nvbanker · August 2003

I'm sure you won't be sorry.

jagboyxtype · August 2003

Now do you see why I am so enthusiastic about all the Jaguars? Everything I've been saying is true! Have a fantastic time in your new car!

marsha7 · August 2003

for a used XJ8L, there are so few of them...so I ask the group...are all Vanden Plas models built on an XJ8 or and XJ8L frame???...if built on the longer frame (as a gussied-up XJ8L), then it will be much easier to find and "L" version...thanks

nvbanker · August 2003

I believe the Vanden Plas are all built on the L design.

jagboyxtype · August 2003

The XJ8L actually had its production stopped a few years before the old generation, short-wheelbase XJ's did and were replaced by the new one. Other short-wheelbase XJ's like the Sport and the long-wheelbase Super V8 - a supercharged Vanden Plas - were introduced when the XJ8L died. All Vanden Plas/Sovereign models were longwheelbase models, so it if the long wheelbase is what you want, it would probably be easier to find a Vanden Plas, especially if you want one from more recent years. A Super V8 would be quite a find, too.

marsha7 · August 2003

I would like to consider a 1999 or later... according to Edmunds list of features, in 2001 the XJ series had adjustable pedals as a standard feature...being of short stature, (but of GREAT mental capacity), the adjustable pedals are an attractive option...I also sat in the back of a friend's new XJ8, and the rear is quite cramped... anyone who thinks the rear of an XJ8 is designed for adults must be nuts...the extra inches of an XJ8L (or VDP, now that you have informed me) will make it a sedan for four adults

ronaldcross · August 2003

Ok, this is making me crazy. I bought a 2002 XJ Sport on Saturday. Every so often the key fob doesn't work. When I press ANY button, the car just beeps at me, and it doesn't perform the desired function. Later, after using the key in the door and driving, it seems to work fine. Am I doing something wrong somehow? The manual doesn't seem to be of any help. Key fobs used to be idiot free.... now I'm wondering who's the idiot? ;-)

nvbanker · August 2003

You're still under warranty, aren't you? You need either a new transmitter, or a new receiver.

ronaldcross · August 2003

Ok, this is making me crazy. I bought a 2002 XJ Sport on Saturday. Every so often the key fob doesn't work. When I press ANY button, the car just beeps at me, and it doesn't perform the desired function. Later, after using the key in the door and driving, it seems to work fine. Am I doing something wrong somehow? The manual doesn't seem to be of any help. Key fobs used to be idiot free.... now I'm wondering who's the idiot? ;-)

scottphillip · August 2003

Does anyone have one of the new models? Do you think that it would be "buggy?" I haven't had a Jaguar. The closest dealership is 1 hour away. I looked at the new car, but haven't driven one yet. I also looked at the Audi A8.

fenn · August 2003

I have a new 2004 XJR. I drove the XJ8 version several times, but I succumbed to the XJR powertrain. Except for the supercharger, suspension, wheels, and other performance gear the car the same as the XJ8 with respect to construction quality, systems and features.

The car drives flawlessly. I have a few minor gripes about some trim issues with the trunk liner and the console, but otherwise it is well executed.

I strongly considered the new A8 Audi, whose fit and finish and construction detail was superior, but the XJ8 is more responsive and much more fun to drive...

If you want a beautiful, smooth luxo cruiser, with a huge back seating area, the Audi is a very nice car, but it does not feel as quick and responsive as the new XJ8.....You can also buy a basic XJ8, which is faster than the Audi, for at least $10k less than the Audi.

Of course, I went the other way, and bought the XJR which cost about the same as a loaded Audi A-8....It also feels more like the ultimate sports sedan, rather than a luxo-cruiser.

minktail · September 2003

I currently own a 94 XJ6. I've got 2 active boys, a busy husband and work part-time, so I'm always on the go, driving at least 2 hours on a easy day. My car is like my mobile command center. Most of the time I adore it, but it is aging and things are going. It just turned over 100K. A week later the AC compressor quit 1 hour into a 3 hour drive- through SE Florida! We've been considering getting a newer car for me, but my husband thinks the Jag has been too expensive and is pushing for an SUV. (Those end-of-the-year sales are enticing.) He is thinking of spending about 30K. We've had quite a few repairs done, more covered by the extended warranty, a few not. The cost of the parts alone is amazing. I also had a couple of fender-benders that were about 2K each; other vehicles were fine. Is it just my imagination or do these cars seem to have mushy brakes? I would like to get the long wheel base. I would like to have a better knowledge of the car and the changes/modifications made between then & now. There were some changes in 98 and 2000- electrical and ??? I've found most dealerships of any make not to be woman-friendly.
So- any year in particular to avoid or look for? Any system/component known for problems?
Has anyone noticed any problems with any specific color? (Ford had a problem w/their silver a while back)
Thank you for any help!!

rea98d · September 2003

I'm wondering something...The new '04 Jag is supposed to be far superior in every way to the previous model, which is going to drive used car prices on the previous models down, both by giving it thereputation of a lesser, outdated car, and by a lot of satisfied Jag owners moving up to the latest, greatest thing to roll out of Coventry. My question is how far down the XJ food chain will this be felt? I'm pretty sure the XJ40's are trading on only slightly better image and Jag prestige than the Series III's, and probably won't feel a crunch in value, but what about the '95-'97 XJ's. Will their prices nosedive, or have they already taked their biggest hit when the XJ8 made them "obsolete?"

Jaguar XJ-Series

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