Discussion
cml said:
I read with interest that James May considers the XJS one of the most beautiful cars ever made, partly inspired, he admits, by the fact he has bought one.
I always thought he is the one voice of sanity on Top Gear.
Thanks James.
I always thought he is the one voice of sanity on Top Gear.
Thanks James.
But only by comparison with the others.
Other than that he is of course barking mad.
No, its not beautiful but he isnt barking. It has got its points and there is a picassoesque something there. Half close your eyes and look at it from low down on the front quarter. But it has a lot of awkward unresolved details and there is something of the design by committee about it. If it was genuinely beautiful the jury wouldnt still be out 31 years after the event. I remember the first picture released by Jaguar in 75 and I thought, please dont let this be real - and after the e-type. It was accompanied by a nauseating publicity campaign about some really seventies type called 'Morrissey' who was using his XJS to meet wealthy friends in various far flung parts of Europe. The whole thing was sickeningly decadent and I have to say not unlike the current'Gorgeous' campaign. But then in the 70s BL ran Jag and that seems to me to have been a load of workshy bolshies managed by a crew of smug suits who, whatever they were, were certainly not car people. Me Im into XJRs.
I never understood why people don't think the XJS is beautiful. Then again when I see some of the kit cars out there which someone took from design to reality it dawns on me that not everyone sees things in the same way
Lets just get this out of the way, the XJS is stunning, not truly beautiful as an E-Type but its interesting and certainly looks far more purposeful. There is a not a bad angle on an XJS coupe (pre facelift) or convertible, the cabriolet is excused!!
The main argument I keep reading is that the XJS was supposed to be a replacement for the E-Type and it wasn't, well why not? The E-Type had grown into the 2+2 and coupes were outselling the roadsters. At the time there were fewer and fewer sports roadsters being made. I think the Spitfire, TR7 and MGB were about it. The XJS came in with a manual or Auto full 4 seater V12 supercar. Take a good look at an early model and they really are something else.
I recently saw a top shot of an XJS next to an E-Type and the nose end is definately the same family. If Jag had made the XJS sportier it just would not have sold, anyone who has driven a well maintained XJS knows what a fantstic cruising machine they are. Upgrades will make them sportier but in standard form its such a winning package.
The XJS is one of the best cars Jaguar has ever made and a nice one still cuts a swathe through a society car park. Long live the XJS !
Lets just get this out of the way, the XJS is stunning, not truly beautiful as an E-Type but its interesting and certainly looks far more purposeful. There is a not a bad angle on an XJS coupe (pre facelift) or convertible, the cabriolet is excused!!
The main argument I keep reading is that the XJS was supposed to be a replacement for the E-Type and it wasn't, well why not? The E-Type had grown into the 2+2 and coupes were outselling the roadsters. At the time there were fewer and fewer sports roadsters being made. I think the Spitfire, TR7 and MGB were about it. The XJS came in with a manual or Auto full 4 seater V12 supercar. Take a good look at an early model and they really are something else.
I recently saw a top shot of an XJS next to an E-Type and the nose end is definately the same family. If Jag had made the XJS sportier it just would not have sold, anyone who has driven a well maintained XJS knows what a fantstic cruising machine they are. Upgrades will make them sportier but in standard form its such a winning package.
The XJS is one of the best cars Jaguar has ever made and a nice one still cuts a swathe through a society car park. Long live the XJS !
A regular one, or KWE?
Thats an interesting question. I remember James May rubbishing XJS's on Top Gear with a very wide brush. He basically stated that they all are rubbish to drive unless you buy a KWE one. Anyone with a rubbish driving XJS should spend not a lot of cash getting new shocks, rubbers and bushes. Most wallowing problems are caused by poor maintenance in this area and for about £350 it turns the car around.
I saw the KWE one that he drove and to be honest I would not bother, they stated 50 more BHP, well you can do that on the V12 a multitude of cheap ways with your eyes closed but its of no real interest as the 300 is good enough already. I think they wanted £25k for a re engineered one which did not look like anything special. I would say that anyone spending that sort of money on an XJS should pick up a low mileage 6.0 XJS-R and get all servicable bits done, that way you should get a great motor and about £15k change!!!
Thats an interesting question. I remember James May rubbishing XJS's on Top Gear with a very wide brush. He basically stated that they all are rubbish to drive unless you buy a KWE one. Anyone with a rubbish driving XJS should spend not a lot of cash getting new shocks, rubbers and bushes. Most wallowing problems are caused by poor maintenance in this area and for about £350 it turns the car around.
I saw the KWE one that he drove and to be honest I would not bother, they stated 50 more BHP, well you can do that on the V12 a multitude of cheap ways with your eyes closed but its of no real interest as the 300 is good enough already. I think they wanted £25k for a re engineered one which did not look like anything special. I would say that anyone spending that sort of money on an XJS should pick up a low mileage 6.0 XJS-R and get all servicable bits done, that way you should get a great motor and about £15k change!!!
I agree with the above . The XJS is a fine motorcar in most of it`s incarnations and I will be looking for one when I`ve sold my Porsche 924 GT . They just aren`t worth pouring thousands of pounds into though and very nice as the KWE stuff is , I think there`s even more pleasure to be had locating a standard car (or Jaguarsport version ) for a fraction of the price . Values seem to be firming up a bit for the mint early cars but the later (better made models ) have dropped off over the last two years as XK8`s are still depreciating .
Noted on the KWE site (for sale/work in progress):
"1990 Jade green V12 Convertible being prepared for a BBC TV Serial. The car will be driven by a rather well-known Top Gear presenter, accompanied by a wine expert, around the wine and cheese making districts of France. Status: In progress."
"1990 Jade green V12 Convertible being prepared for a BBC TV Serial. The car will be driven by a rather well-known Top Gear presenter, accompanied by a wine expert, around the wine and cheese making districts of France. Status: In progress."
cardigankid said:
No doubt stung by criticism, I once read an article by someone who was at Jaguar in the early seventies alleging that Sir William Lyons had had a part in the design of the XJS, which i do find hard to believe. Anybody know?
Must have signed the paperwork on the design I guess. By that time he was an old man. I do remember seeing my very first XJS just after they came out. It was a black one and was covered in yellow marks (that yellow crayon they use on tyres) which the irate owner had highlighted the appalling blemishes in the brand new paintwork. The owner? A certain Mr Patrick of Patrick Motors - in those days probably the biggest BL/Jag dealers in the W Mids. One of the best examples of a shot foot in the annals of motoring history - alienate your best dealership!!
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