Jaguar XJ

Price Paid:  $60000.00 from Dallas

Year / Model Reviewed:
2005 XJ8

Strengths:
Drives beautifully on the highway when it is running okay. The hood ornament is great.

Weaknesses:
see review above.

Summary:
Junk. I am on my third transmission. Overheated several times due to poorly fitting rad caps. Computer won't "remember" seat settings. Glove compartment doors fits poorly.

Similar Products Used:
Mercedes

Price Paid:  $20500.00 from Carmax

Year / Model Reviewed:
2004 Jaguar XJ8

Strengths:
Build quality, engine, interior ambience, performance, economy (for the size of car). Navigation and in-vehicle telmatics are simple to operate and intuitive.

Weaknesses:
Not a DIY car, parts and main dealers can be exensive.
Can cause other drivers to exhibit childish signs of envy and petty behaviour.
Makes people believe you make more than you do!

Summary:
The XJ8 is a superb car, my 5th Jaguar and my 1st XJ8. The best Jaguar yet and a bargain used. The all aluminum body makes it light but strong, the 4.2L V8 is silky smooth and the 6-speed autobox gives me an average of 22MPG in mixed driving and over 30MPG on the freeway.
Jaguar still has an undeserved image of unreliability that is totally out of alignment with the truth. As with all modern complex cars, they are expensive to fix and poor maintenance is the main reason why things break. Look after them and don't skimp on the servicing and the car will reward you.

There is another 'review' of an 05 XJ8 that seems bogus. There are no systemic gearbox or overheating problems with the X350 [MY04 onwards in the US]. The poster reports something like 3 gearboxes in 50K miles, which is absurd and not at all in line with reality. Older XJ and S types did have issues with timing chain tensions, thermostat impellors and XF gearboxes. The first 2 issues could be addressed through proactive maintenance and in the case of the gearbox, one could expect about 100k miles before issues started showing up. Since Jaguar considered the gearbox sealed for life, this lead to replacement rather than repair.

Again this is not an issue on an 04+ XJ8 or S-type.

Similar Products Used:
Jaguar X-type VDP, Jaguar S-type, Jaguar XJ6

Price Paid:  $109420.00 from Tom Wood Jaguar

Year / Model Reviewed:
2002 Jaguar XJR 100

Strengths:
Exterior styling, interior styling, reliable (so far)

Weaknesses:
Navigation system is not extremely helpful and the screen is small.

Summary:
The XJ series from Jaguar is really something. I decided to take a test drive in a Jaguar XJ8 and I was very pleased with its performance. The sales representative told me about the XJR 100 and it sounded excellent. Two weeks later the car arrived and I took it off the lot. The car has had no problems and looks great. Every time I pull it out of the garage I get compliment after compliment. Jaguar has finally turned around and has made a great car.

Similar Products Used:
2002 Lexus LS430, 2001 Mercedes-Benz S600, 2002 Jaguar XKR 100

Year / Model Reviewed:
2001 XJ8

Strengths:
superlative quality inside and out
superb ride and drive
quiet, smooooooooth, and powerful (like a big cat)
unique, fresh, and yet classic head-turning looks
design, build, and invulnerable feel
amazes "fellow" motorists
super modern mechanicals and V8 engine

Weaknesses:
Sometimes a lack of road feel, I rented this car for 5 days and put about 1500 miles on it during March. When I drove this vehicle from Denver to Omaha we ran into some freezing rain. Although the Jaguar felt positively safe, sometimes I wondered how my tires' traction was doing while cruising at 85.

Summary:
This car is luxury moving. You don't drive this vehicle in the conventional sense, you more like move through space (and not much time due to its speed). It's a whole new plane of getting from A to B. Things you would be thinking about when driving other vehicles simply don't trifle the Jaguar driver. However, when you send it through a nice high speed bend this Jaguar really grips and rockets through. The engine noise (when pushed) sounds thoroughbred- not raucous but like an aluminum hand in a connolly glove. This car satisfies whatever you feel like experiencing at the moment. Rented it from DIA Hertz. Good way to get renters hooked on Jags...

Similar Products Used:
None compared.

Year / Model Reviewed:
2000 XJR

Strengths:
One word - STUNNING. Looks, performance, style, handling, cachee. It doesn't get any better. The power unit delivers amazing torque over pretty much all of the spectrum.

Weaknesses:
Tight headroom for a tall guy.

Summary:
$71,000 loaded. I would recomend this car to anyone that wants performance, luxury, style and heads to be turned.

Similar Products Used:
Jaguar S-Type. Still got that car and I love it too.