Jaguar XJ8

[SimonT]

I've managed to convince she who must beobeyed that the time has come for the Omega to go to the big car lot in the sky (120K miles, body still perfect but things are wearing out). I was looking at a replacement and quite fancy a Jag XJ8, either a 3.2 or a 4.0. Has anyone any expirience of these cars, what to look out for etc?

Any advice would be welcome

Simon

[numlock]

I've driven plenty of XKR's so I only know about these: I think the difs can take a bit of a battering (probably not a problem on the lower powered versions), if its gone the whining won't be difficult to hear. Seats aren't all that comfortable if you are 6 foot+ tall and rear bench is next to useless. Economy not to bad considering (XJR used to average 18mpg, no mercy shown). Steering can be a bit lifeless but the cars could be hussled along quickly, on the lanes, once you realised that they actually gripped and handled pretty well. Brakes are pretty lame. No personal experience but I would go for the biggest engine version you can afford. Its a heavy car and I wouldn't be surprised if the 4.0 got better (real world) fuel economy than the 3.2 because you will have to thrash it less.

All in; nice cars but better fun can be had for the same money, saying that the supercharged ones are entertaining for sheer effortless acceleration that doesn't seem to dimish untill you chicken out for licence losing reasons!

PS go for the coupe in dark metallic blue.

[marki]

xkr`s are a hoot and actually handle a lot better than you think they are going to, they just dont really give so much feed back , and i would agree about economy mine is averaging 19-20 mpg which is good for the kind of use it gets . servicing is very cheap at about £160-£180 for the yearly 15,000km service which came as a total suprise to me i would have thought it would have been at least double that ,,, enjoy

[Jasper Gilder]

I had one that did 63000 miles and the only thing that went wrong was a diff related problem. It's worth getting an extended warrenty, but at that mileage it still felt like new, there were no stone chips and the oil consumption was 5000 miles per litre (ish)Mine was a 3.2 and although the 4 ltr S we replaced it with is a lot quicker,I still mis it. Also had a 3.2 XJ6 new shape and that was also a hoot and the only problem was corrosion on the wheels. If you're getting one - the sport is the best model by far - better handling and lots of goodies!

[pbrettle]

I have known a couple of people have the early XK6 models (the updated ones just prior to the XK8's) which were very hit and miss. You get a good one and it is fantastic - much better than the BMW / Merc equivalent. Get a bad one and it is not nice.

However, this was with the 6 cylinder models and not the newer 8's. Not heard anything bad about those. Their rating in the JD Power survey in the US has shot up and they cant make them fast enough - sounds like they have cast-off their old 70's and 80's reliability problems.

Would have one for myself - as a long distance car of course - but as I am totally pathetic at parking this would be a costly experience. Couldnt have a 4x4 either - compaired to large normal cars (Omega's) they are actually really long - or is this just the design.?

Cheers,

Paul

[alanp]

Try jag-lovers.org and register for the modern group, loads of comments on XJ6 and nothing on XJ8, so no news is good news?. Im also considering one it seems the 4.0 is the one to go for, more power, less stress and better mpg and a few more toys.

Prices falling rapidly through the dealers as the new XJ8 is due in September, so I'll try an XJR now