What A Testament To Fords Ownership Of Jaguar
Discussion
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202209099...
Owning many Jaguars over the years and getting around the various gatherings in the Summer its a popular criticism that I have heard many times . This opinion held by some that Ford took Jaguar downmarket is one that I have always struggled with , firstly you only have to look at the marketplace to see the prices being asked for some of these " Ford ' Jaguars . There has never been a second hand XJ prior to this which retained such a significant part of its value . I think back to all that British Leyland rubbish of the Seventies and as a kid I well remember clambering over them in Scrap yards with barely 50.000 miles showing and the bodywork completely ham shankered . I look at the car above having covered 200.000 miles , still going strong and I am completely bemused . Mileages such as these were completely unheard of by my Fathers generation and I salute the only owner of this XJR for sticking with it . Is it worth a punt do you think at this mileage ? I think it must be .
Owning many Jaguars over the years and getting around the various gatherings in the Summer its a popular criticism that I have heard many times . This opinion held by some that Ford took Jaguar downmarket is one that I have always struggled with , firstly you only have to look at the marketplace to see the prices being asked for some of these " Ford ' Jaguars . There has never been a second hand XJ prior to this which retained such a significant part of its value . I think back to all that British Leyland rubbish of the Seventies and as a kid I well remember clambering over them in Scrap yards with barely 50.000 miles showing and the bodywork completely ham shankered . I look at the car above having covered 200.000 miles , still going strong and I am completely bemused . Mileages such as these were completely unheard of by my Fathers generation and I salute the only owner of this XJR for sticking with it . Is it worth a punt do you think at this mileage ? I think it must be .
Best thing that ever happened to Jaguar I think.
Despite Egan's achievements in the'80s ad subsequent increase in quality I doubt the brand would still be alive now in any recogniable form without Fords investment.
The thing perhaps Ford should've done differently was not go for the retro pastiche design language of the S and X Types and instead launched a fresh new look with them.
Despite Egan's achievements in the'80s ad subsequent increase in quality I doubt the brand would still be alive now in any recogniable form without Fords investment.
The thing perhaps Ford should've done differently was not go for the retro pastiche design language of the S and X Types and instead launched a fresh new look with them.
Leaving the styling direction to one side, the combination of the excellent engineering Jaguar always had with the "I don't want to see this thing back under warranty" manufacturing skill of Ford made for some very robust and high quality cars particularly with the X350 which doesn't suffer the corrosion issues of the S and X.
Tried and tested powertrains, relatively simple electrics compared to contemporary barges, a transmission that ZF got right first time, and all put together properly. Brilliant cars.
That said I've just picked up a 12 year old 100k mile X351 and it is hard to believe only 7 years separates the launch of the X350 and X351, if you can put any conservative feelings about styling aside the 351 is a fabulous car.
ETA - To answer your point about worth a punt at high mileage I'd actually say no, simpy because the dampers inside the air struts will be very tired at that mileage, if it had conventional struts there is NO WAY you'd be running on original dampers unless you like your cars to be a soggy floppy mess, but in the case of an X350 a suspension refresh is £2400+ just in air struts for proper Bilstein units.
Sadly I think the cost of a proper refresh will condemn all but the most loved and cherished X350s to becoming very tired feeling; mine was starting to feel it's miles at 150k in a way that would normally be easily solvable with £500 of dampers and an afternoon on the tools. The ZF6 can't be expected to last forever even with regular oil changes, although these days you can get a reasonably well rebuilt box put in for £1,500, just don't expect it to shift quite like a new one.
They are aging well though, particuarly the 2006 ish X356 with the naff Ford era rubbing strips removed but without the rather cack handed X358 facelift.
https://driventowrite.com/2020/05/21/2007-jaguar-x...
Tried and tested powertrains, relatively simple electrics compared to contemporary barges, a transmission that ZF got right first time, and all put together properly. Brilliant cars.
That said I've just picked up a 12 year old 100k mile X351 and it is hard to believe only 7 years separates the launch of the X350 and X351, if you can put any conservative feelings about styling aside the 351 is a fabulous car.
ETA - To answer your point about worth a punt at high mileage I'd actually say no, simpy because the dampers inside the air struts will be very tired at that mileage, if it had conventional struts there is NO WAY you'd be running on original dampers unless you like your cars to be a soggy floppy mess, but in the case of an X350 a suspension refresh is £2400+ just in air struts for proper Bilstein units.
Sadly I think the cost of a proper refresh will condemn all but the most loved and cherished X350s to becoming very tired feeling; mine was starting to feel it's miles at 150k in a way that would normally be easily solvable with £500 of dampers and an afternoon on the tools. The ZF6 can't be expected to last forever even with regular oil changes, although these days you can get a reasonably well rebuilt box put in for £1,500, just don't expect it to shift quite like a new one.
They are aging well though, particuarly the 2006 ish X356 with the naff Ford era rubbing strips removed but without the rather cack handed X358 facelift.
https://driventowrite.com/2020/05/21/2007-jaguar-x...
Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 10th October 10:37
stickleback123 said:
To answer your point about worth a punt at high mileage I'd actually say no, simply because the dampers inside the air struts will be very tired at that mileage, if it had conventional struts there is NO WAY you'd be running on original dampers unless you like your cars to be a soggy floppy mess, but in the case of an X350 a suspension refresh is £2400+ just in air struts for proper Bilstein units.
Actually this isnt true now providing you are prepared to take abit of a risk - I replaced my front struts with Chinese knock offs from Amazon £189 each then had them fitted by my local garage. The high cost items I've had since 200k - alternator £800 + fitting, valley pipes under the Supercharger - cant remember exactly but I think around £500 . New radiator. Earth points will all need renewing. probably need a new coolant tank . If it hasnt been done will definitely need a new air suspension compressor , ~£400 for a proper one. parking sensors will probably be dead or dying - not expensive but fitting is a pain and they need painting too. lots of other niggles will materialise so its a cheap car but I budget ~£1500 a year for 'stuff' on top of servicing.
If anyone is going to take a punt then you will nee this forum - saved me thousands over my years of ownership
https://www.jaguarforum.com/forums/xj-x350-x358-al...
https://www.jaguarforum.com/forums/xj-x350-x358-al...
Dodsy said:
Actually this isnt true now providing you are prepared to take abit of a risk - I replaced my front struts with Chinese knock offs from Amazon £189 each then had them fitted by my local garage.
The high cost items I've had since 200k - alternator £800 + fitting, valley pipes under the Supercharger - cant remember exactly but I think around £500 . New radiator. Earth points will all need renewing. probably need a new coolant tank . If it hasnt been done will definitely need a new air suspension compressor , ~£400 for a proper one. parking sensors will probably be dead or dying - not expensive but fitting is a pain and they need painting too. lots of other niggles will materialise so its a cheap car but I budget ~£1500 a year for 'stuff' on top of servicing.
Must of those items could have happened on any car at that mileage, I'd call that a good effort.The high cost items I've had since 200k - alternator £800 + fitting, valley pipes under the Supercharger - cant remember exactly but I think around £500 . New radiator. Earth points will all need renewing. probably need a new coolant tank . If it hasnt been done will definitely need a new air suspension compressor , ~£400 for a proper one. parking sensors will probably be dead or dying - not expensive but fitting is a pain and they need painting too. lots of other niggles will materialise so its a cheap car but I budget ~£1500 a year for 'stuff' on top of servicing.
Regarding non OE dampers, both Chinese ones and the Arnott ones, you don't get adaptive damping on any of them they just have a resistor to fool the CATS system into thinking it does. I'd expect odd driving dynamics if you fitted them to one end of the car and very odd behaviour if you replaced a corner, with the proper dampers switching from hard to soft mode and the replacements staying in whatever they're built as.
I have heard tell that some rebuilt ones (aerosus?) rebuild the damper and keep the adaptive functionality, but it's also possible you get a new air spring but a tired damper that's been wiped over with a rag...
Some fascinating comments . Stickleback I am not surprised the sceptre of the X351 has made an appearance and as you say its a good car . A couple of differences and I wonder how they will impact on future desirability and indeed values . The majority of them were as we all know Diesel , is a Diesel Jaguar ever as desirable as a Petrol one to future enthusiasts and collectors ? They were also the first Jaguar aimed squarely at the Leasing Market and therefore largely bought by a completely different type of Owner . Has this helped to drive up the prices and maintain the desirability of the X350 , the last proper Jaguar XJ ? I dont know .
The X358 refresh was for me a complete disaster . the only positive benefit being the integral indicators in the door mirrors .
On the question of Dampers and a possible £2400 outlay I think its likely that more Enthusiasts will be going down this route , £20,000 is a relatively commonplace asking price for the best of these X350 so for many the expense will make perfect sense .
The X358 refresh was for me a complete disaster . the only positive benefit being the integral indicators in the door mirrors .
On the question of Dampers and a possible £2400 outlay I think its likely that more Enthusiasts will be going down this route , £20,000 is a relatively commonplace asking price for the best of these X350 so for many the expense will make perfect sense .
reddiesel said:
Some fascinating comments . Stickleback I am not surprised the sceptre of the X351 has made an appearance and as you say its a good car . A couple of differences and I wonder how they will impact on future desirability and indeed values . The majority of them were as we all know Diesel , is a Diesel Jaguar ever as desirable as a Petrol one to future enthusiasts and collectors ? They were also the first Jaguar aimed squarely at the Leasing Market and therefore largely bought by a completely different type of Owner . Has this helped to drive up the prices and maintain the desirability of the X350 , the last proper Jaguar XJ ? I dont know .
The X358 refresh was for me a complete disaster . the only positive benefit being the integral indicators in the door mirrors .
On the question of Dampers and a possible £2400 outlay I think its likely that more Enthusiasts will be going down this route , £20,000 is a relatively commonplace asking price for the best of these X350 so for many the expense will make perfect sense .
Clean low mileage 350s and 358s are being advertised for very strong money, although if they sell for that strong money I don't know, although leggy ones (which many are now) are fairly in the doldrums; auctions give a much fairer idea of actual value vs fantasy greedy dealer pricing for cars photographed on a white background and I recently saw a clean 54 plate 130k mile 4.2 Sovereign sell for £1,800 at BCA, which is proper old school XJ value for money given it's arguably the best model to have.The X358 refresh was for me a complete disaster . the only positive benefit being the integral indicators in the door mirrors .
On the question of Dampers and a possible £2400 outlay I think its likely that more Enthusiasts will be going down this route , £20,000 is a relatively commonplace asking price for the best of these X350 so for many the expense will make perfect sense .
Unlike the x300 and x308 though you can keep them running indefinitely and still actually use it as a car rather than a hobby without them ending up as a patchwork quilt of welds, so I wouldn't be at all concerned by higher mileage if you're planning to spend the money to keep it tip top. I'd love to drive one again now after a couple of years away from the model (except for a particularly knackered 3.5).
https://www.jagwestlondon.co.uk/stocklist.php
This Blokes Website I continually seem to browse . I enjoy viewing the stock and the various specs , some interesting options offered on the Japanese Market .The X358 XJR in silver has hung around for a bit , for some reason the shortcomings of the X358 revamp for me appear more startling in the Silver . Those bulbous bumper mouldings and the fake brake cooling vents at the front particularly grate . Danny has mixed up his centre caps on the silver Jaguar Super V8 wheels ( extremely low mileage ) Daimler ????
This Blokes Website I continually seem to browse . I enjoy viewing the stock and the various specs , some interesting options offered on the Japanese Market .The X358 XJR in silver has hung around for a bit , for some reason the shortcomings of the X358 revamp for me appear more startling in the Silver . Those bulbous bumper mouldings and the fake brake cooling vents at the front particularly grate . Danny has mixed up his centre caps on the silver Jaguar Super V8 wheels ( extremely low mileage ) Daimler ????
X350s and X358s sell for absolutely sod all at Japanese auctions, even with current high shipping costs and "strong and stable" exchange rates those cars cost him £4k - £6k landed after duty and VAT. Hammer price on a 3.0 is likely to be around £1k.
They'll be super duper mega clean though.
They'll be super duper mega clean though.
stickleback123 said:
Clean low mileage 350s and 358s are being advertised for very strong money, although if they sell for that strong money I don't know, although leggy ones (which many are now) are fairly in the doldrums; auctions give a much fairer idea of actual value vs fantasy greedy dealer pricing for cars photographed on a white background and I recently saw a clean 54 plate 130k mile 4.2 Sovereign sell for £1,800 at BCA, which is proper old school XJ value for money given it's arguably the best model to have.
Unlike the x300 and x308 though you can keep them running indefinitely and still actually use it as a car rather than a hobby without them ending up as a patchwork quilt of welds, so I wouldn't be at all concerned by higher mileage if you're planning to spend the money to keep it tip top. I'd love to drive one again now after a couple of years away from the model (except for a particularly knackered 3.5).
Im not too sure its just greedy Dealers who are asking big money . A quick glance at the Autotrader will reveal several Private Sellers doing likewise .Unlike the x300 and x308 though you can keep them running indefinitely and still actually use it as a car rather than a hobby without them ending up as a patchwork quilt of welds, so I wouldn't be at all concerned by higher mileage if you're planning to spend the money to keep it tip top. I'd love to drive one again now after a couple of years away from the model (except for a particularly knackered 3.5).
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202208218...
This one raised my eyebrows ( both of them )😳
Edited by reddiesel on Monday 10th October 21:09
reddiesel said:
https://www.jagwestlondon.co.uk/stocklist.php
This Blokes Website I continually seem to browse . I enjoy viewing the stock and the various specs , some interesting options offered on the Japanese Market .The X358 XJR in silver has hung around for a bit , for some reason the shortcomings of the X358 revamp for me appear more startling in the Silver . Those bulbous bumper mouldings and the fake brake cooling vents at the front particularly grate . Danny has mixed up his centre caps on the silver Jaguar Super V8 wheels ( extremely low mileage ) Daimler ????
"What is a Re-Imort? This is a Jaguar RHD manufactured on the same production line as all other Jaguars for the UK market but with minor changes to suit the local market. Built to the same standards and specification but usually with more factory fitted options but critically a UK built and supplied car thats just had an easier life overseas, (we only have to replace a very small number of items to make indistinguishable to a UK examples detailed further below)This Blokes Website I continually seem to browse . I enjoy viewing the stock and the various specs , some interesting options offered on the Japanese Market .The X358 XJR in silver has hung around for a bit , for some reason the shortcomings of the X358 revamp for me appear more startling in the Silver . Those bulbous bumper mouldings and the fake brake cooling vents at the front particularly grate . Danny has mixed up his centre caps on the silver Jaguar Super V8 wheels ( extremely low mileage ) Daimler ????
You'd think with a 300% margin on the cars they'd spend the money on a version of Word with a spellchecker
I think one thing we can all probably agree on is that these Supercharged R Cars represent a golden era in Jaguar history that wont be repeated . Against the older equivalent a Mk2 3.8 for example , £20,000 looks remarkably good value for a low mileage X350 XJR so its my humble belief that a good one is worth the money all day long .
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