This long post is for American would-be owners of Jaguar X308-series XJs, 1998-2013 model years. I’m on my third and know them pretty well. I’m writing this because not all car guys are rich, and more than a decade of experience has convinced me that an XJ of this vintage is within the means of a regular working guy to buy and run. Rich assholes should not be the only ones who get to drive Euro luxury sedans! The video hits most of the main points but I want to add some important details for prospective American buyers. First, how to find a nice one. Jaguar XJs from this generation can be bought for peanuts ($4000-$6000) online at Craigslist and eBay. Buy privately, not from a used car lot, and buy one only if it’s clean and well kept, with all service records, and no record of an overheat in its history. Avoid cars from the rust belt. Take your time and ideally look for one that's been owned since new by an elderly gentleman who babied it. Check out a Jaguar club if there’s one in your area. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which abounds with pampered Jags. There are still plenty of first-generation XJs from the 1960s cruising the local freeways. San Francisco is America's Jaguar capital. If you live here and are careful, you can buy a beautiful XJ from a loving owner who will, without irony, insist that it goes to a good home. Some preventive maintenance is required to remedy this series' few design flaws, but everything is completely fixable. Replace the plastic timing gear and water pump with factory metal parts. This is essential. If the previous owner says it has been done, ask for verification. All 4.0 AJ-V8s were produced with plastic timing tensioner guides and plastic water pumps, both prone to failure. Early on the factory made available metal replacements, reasonably priced but a big job to install. It’s worth the effort and expense, though, because (especially in supercharged form) it’s a superb engine that has been documented to be running like new even beyond 220 thousand miles. To avoid an overheat (the car is never the same afterward) swap out the original plastic water pump with a metal one, and while you’re at it replace the thermostat and, if necessary, the fuel pump. You can tell an engine's been overheated by cooked-on sludge around the valve covers. When Ford owned Jaguar in the 1990s they invested billions in quality control and according to JD Power the XJ's owner satisfaction score was second only to Lexus. Americans haven’t caught on to the fact that post-1996 XJs are super reliable, far more than German luxury cars from the same era, so it’s possible for a guy who doesn’t make a lot of dough to own and run a world-class exotic Euro sedan. If this appeals, read on! Make sure you have your XJ serviced by an honest, independent Jaguar specialty shop, NEVER by a dealer! And Bob the mechanic down the street will bugger up your Jag good and proper so don’t let him near it. There’s a myth that XJs contain Ford parts, including engine components, but in truth the car is 100 percent British designed and built. From the double-wishbone race-type suspension to the quad-cam 32-valve alloy V8 with available Eaton supercharger, this is one of the most sophisticated cars of its era and must not be worked on by mechanics who lack experience with the brand. In fact, I would not recommend buying an X308 XJ unless such a shop is near to you. (Check your local Jag club.) The honest and skilled technicians at Continental Imports in Oakland CA have made this underpaid technical writer's dream of being a Jag owner a reality for more than a decade. (But FYI, Conti are picky about taking on new customers and want nothing to do with aftermarket warranty scams.) The maintenance schedule is very reasonable for such a high-end car. Don’t scrimp on maintenance and you’ll be rewarded with reliability and low operating costs. (Except fuel economy. Premium is required. The standard 4.0 engine gives 24 mpg highway; the supercharged will give you 21 mph at 70 mph and 15 mpg around town.) Oil change intervals are 10 thousand miles. Use synthetic oil. You will need to top up the oil occasionally - a quart should get you between oil changes. The ZF “sealed for life” transmission (a ridiculous marketing lie) uses synthetic fluid that gets clogged with metal dust around 80k miles and is prone to failure, a $6,000 catastrophe. But there’s a solution. Around the 80k mark have a guy who knows what he is doing give the transmission's guts a THOROUGH cleaning, including scavenging the sludge out of the torque converter. Replace all filters and magnets and use only factory approved replacement fluid. I do not trust transmission shops and am grateful to have such a skilled service shop who serviced my 01 XJR’s transmission at 80k miles. Now the car has 152k miles on the clock and the transmission fluid is still not seriously dirty. In another ten or twenty thousand miles I’ll get Continental to clean out the tranny again. As I said before, there are plenty of XJs from this generation continuing to give excellent service at 220k miles and beyond. I’m shooting for 250k miles for my XJ, because my extensive research (including membership in a Jaguar web forum) indicates the car's lifespan should easily reach that mileage. And more to the point, I know I’ll enjoy driving each and every one of those miles. I’ve been a Euro car guy all my life, thanks to my Dad's also being one. I grew up with interesting cars. My Dad could afford it so they were all wonderful makes: Jaguar of course, along with Rover, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, early Audis, a succession of fabulous Citroen DS21 ultra-luxury sedans (maybe the most memorable of my Dad's cars) - and his one concession to Detroit, a 1963 Olds Starfire convertible whose heavy driver's door gave him bursitis of the shoulder! So I’m picky about what I drive. In late middle age I don’t go apex strafing anymore, but I still want a car that delivers handling and performance. It’s got to be packaged as a luxury sedan, though, because I want to be cosseted with a pillowy ride (but not wallowy), a quiet environment at highway speeds, excellent outward visibility, a beautifully designed interior crafted from the best wood and leather. And from the outside the car has to be show-stoppingly beautiful. My 2001 XJR, supercharged, with factory optional Emerald mica paint and ivory Connolly leather, meets all those requirements. And one more: driving it is effortless and, to a car guy, highly pleasurable in the way that only a responsive and superbly engineered automobile can be. If things go as planned, this will be my last car. As I said, the point of this long post is to provide other motorheads to whom the XJ appeals strongly with (a) assurance from a veteran owner that the car delivers on its promises at affordable cost; and (b) using the right strategy and following the stated precautions - and depending where you live - you, a working stiff like me, could make at least one of your one-percenter dreams come true and own one of the greatest production sedans of its time, if not THE greatest. Good hunting!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I have never owned a Jag but want to but it's reputation for high cost of repairs has not allowed me own one. The big "IF" in your post is to find a good local Jag specialist. I live in western suburbs of Chicago and I wonder of there are Jag specialists. I do know there are Mercedes specialists. Which year XJ do you recommend for around $10K? Your advice of not buying from corner lots is well taken. Is there an exception to this, example if it has a good service record? Also, wouldyou recommend getting inspected by dealer before buying a used Jag. I was close to buying a 2003 LS 430, but few posts here may have changed my mind :)
I read every word you wrote, and boy is it fantastic! Honestly, I could've read it if it were an entire novel. Thank you soooo much for this review. Outstanding! I'm interested in purchasing a 2002 XJ8 with 138,000. It's a 1-owner car. It was owned by a lady whose husband bought it for her brand new and the maintenance and repair history is impeccable. I know this post is 2yrs old, so I'm hoping you see this post. My question is, should I purchase this car? Thank you, again, for your review. 😊
@@nasarazam these cars aren't new anymore. They need work so you'll either need a decent mechanic or you'll have to get your hands dirty. DIY is cheap though. It's the labour that costs.
I've got a jaguar vanden plas 1999 and my undercarriage is rusted out severely and I'm currently working on it now and I am also making a solid steel perimeter chassis to make it stronger 💪
Very truthful reviews covering all the good and bad points these cars have to offer. Im a massive fan of the marque but unfortunately a lot of the earlier cars have expensive issues to fix which can ruin the ownership experience
@ 1:40 he says " Once you've had it, once the jaguars bit you, you can't drive anything else". That's exactly what's happened to me. Since 2006 I've owned 2 2004 XJ VDP and love it.
the X308 is a nice car but they do have known problems: the cam chains and cam chain guides do wear and you do have to account for changing them at some point. The automatics can have problems as well.
I dare you to drive one of these XJ's. We now have 5 Jaguars sitting in our driveway. Believe me when I tell you that the sedan drives like a sports car. You get this rock solid feedback from the car. You won't want to ever drive anything else.
I paid $600.00 for mine, and aside from oxidized paint and large miles 225,000, this vehicle has not seen a mechanic, other the a brake job,oil change, and other minor things connected with normal wear and tear. I've sanded mine down and prepped it for a paint job, still deciding on a color. This is a fun sporty euro car with all the perks and privileges one would expect .
WELL THEY SURE DID NO KNOW ABOUT THE 98-2000 ENGINES WITH THE TENSIONERS ETC..LOLOL my 1997 straight 6 was the best engine ever from Jag, it was bullit proof unlike the first V8 just after this in 97-2000. They used plastic parts and the cylinder walls gave away too
Mitch Grooms I picked up on that too. The early straight 6 cylinders are the ones to have now, not the V8's. In the states, the V8's had so many problems with blown head gaskets and costly repairs. The inline 4 liter 6 cylinder motor is the best choice to buy. Period.
The tensioner issue is quickly resolved by replacing the plastic bits with factory metal bits. Also do the same with the plastic water pump. Do this preventive maintenance and you’ve got a bulletproof engine. At 152,000 miles my ‘01 XJR with supercharged 4.0 V8 is as strong as new and doesn’t burn oil. And it doesn’t blow head gaskets either. Jaguar still use this engine, bored out to 5 liters, in their current cars, some tuned to give more than 550 hp. Dating from 1948 and starting at 3.4L, Jaguar's in-line six was the best six-cylinder of its time, better than anything the Germans could come up with. This engine in nearly stock form won Le Mans five times in the '50s, and in the early '60s powered the 150-mph XK-E. Over the years Jaguar refined the engine, eventually boring it out to 4.2L (I had a 1970 4.2 E-Type roadster). That this engine remained in production until 1997 is testament to the excellence of its design and production quality. And in 1997 Jaguar offered that great engine's swan song: a supercharged version in the very first XJR sedan. I’ve driven one and it would give my supercharged V8 a run for its money. Try finding a 1997 XJR these days. It’s a collectors item. So my point is you don’t need to put down Jag’s V8 to defend their inline six. Both were superb engines. Here we are in the second decade of the 21st century and there are still thousands of Jags running around out there with both engine types. Their owners wouldn’t have it any other way.
But don't forget, this programme would have been aired around 98. Therefore it's highly likely they didn't know about the timing chain tensioner issue yet.
Men and Motors, dear Jag Fans = This is a a X300 Jag with that old 6/12 cylinder motors, not well build at all comparing it to a X308 with the 'new' 8 cylinder motor block from 1997 to end of 2002. That is the item PPL want to own. It was build new in many ways. The driving is much more comfortable comparing the X300 (as shown here) to the newer X308. The 8-cylinder motor is a great gift compared to the 6/12 cyl. models build till 1996, the old 6 cyl. motor were constructed in 1959. - The 8 cyl. engine is so smooth, beautiful and relaxing. Those were build very well which can be compared to any German cars of that time like a Mercedes S-class or a BMW 7 Model or even to the new German premium cars!!!. - No doubt - the Jags & Daimlers of that time are very reliable to date. I am German and I drive a Daimler V8 with only 40000 miles, left side driven, central European model this is what I want to drive. The quality is great, the fun as well & typical English ... My LWB based British Racing Green model with beige interior looks like new, no rust, no problems. The X308 is an icon! - This one showed here never will be an icon. - In this case the newer model is the better one. That starts with the beautiful design of the interior as the X300 has an awful front interior design ... the X350 build after the X308 is not what the REAL thing was = the were build to high, not a real XJ but as well not that bad.... as a X300. Sorry folks!
Plastic tensioners & nikkasil issues plus a hopeless gearbox.nasty ford switchgear too.the x300 was the real jag.the x308 was better performance but a poorer car overall that doesn't get the respect that the previous model did
Josh Charlie its a beautiful car inside and out , but they can have problems is they are not properly taking care of , ive been searching for a new one since i wrecked my last one a year ago , there also super easy to work on yourself , no need to pay expensive dealer prices for labor
Find an elderly gentleman who's owned his X300 from new and babied it, but his driving days are nearing an end. Tell him you’ll give it a good home. Seriously!
Also the factory sent out a service bulletin stating that if a clacking sound emanated from the 4.0 V8 engine on start-up, the dealer should replace the plastic timing chain tensioner guides with metal ones at no charge to the customer.
Insurance for me is cheap fully comp just under £400 for the year and I'm 31. Also fuel economy isnt bad its livable with. You don't buy a jag of this era and expect it to be economical on fuel you buy because you love them
just bought 04 vanden plas. I can't count the amount of people that made the comment "they are expensive to repair don't buy it". absolutely false. yes if your DVD GPS dies in the trunk or the HID headlights fail its expensive but any vehicle with the same system cost is same. I get that 2001 prior is horrible its best to stay away from pre ford takeover. its funny how magnetic the interior is I find myself not wanting to exit the car quickly sooo amazing to drive power + comfort = delight! find a shop and stick with them . there are idiot shops that claim they can repair but if they don't even know it takes 45 mins to retrain the onboard computers after a dead battery run away .
I've had 2 of the same car ( 04 vanden plas) my first one I got 2 years old and had for 3 years and 2nd I got in 2013 and still own. Very good for daily drivers. At around 100k miles the air suspension will probably go but all other high end luxury cars do the same.
John Ward And these steel-body X308-Series XJs were the last XJs off the legendary Coventry line. An aluminum X350 XJ looks bloated and tubby next to a previous-generation steel XJ. The last version of the XJ to be approved personally by Jaguar's founder Sir William Lyons, the steel XJ sits several inches lower than the aluminum one. It is much sleeker and sexier. (And yes, I own a steel one.)
For reliability, the 95-97 XJ6. Get the Vanden Plas for upgraded wood and leather. I’ve had the 04 XJ8 Vanden Plas and they are very satisfying but not as reliable as the XJ6 simply because the larger motor. My mechanic has been working on my 2nd Vanden Plas for 6 years now and they say it’s a good luxury car. Around 90k-100k miles prepare for suspension repair, transmission service and a few others in that area like tie rods and seals. A good mechanic will look for anything and hold long you can go before taking it in.
I have never understood the mentality of people who put private plates on a car to hide it's actual age; as though the owner wants to give out the impression of, "I can afford an expensive car!" - even though they aren't, and can't. Totally idiotic and with a whiff of the spiv mentality about it.
Jaguar, biggest load of garbage ever .. apart from VW, and that's saying something. My boss and my uncle had jags. hideous things to fix and maintain, and they do go wrong ... often!
After owning 3 Jaguars an 92 XJ6, a 99 XJ8 and a 03 XJ8 that we are still driving, I will say that they are a very reliable car. The biggest repairs that I have had to make on any of them was a head gasket and blower motors for the 92. When they switched to the V8 format they only got better and cheaper to maintain. The 99 was bought because my wife liked a white Jag better than the Champaign color of the 92. The 99 was totaled when someone felt it was more important to text than to drive. My wife was stopped a stop light and he hit her from behind at 45 mph with out even touching the brake. My wife had no injuries and the car was still drivable. We drove it for 2 months waiting for his insurance to pay, he skipped the country and after 2 months his insurance said the policy was lapsed when the accident happened. My wife wanted another Jag so I took the insurance money that our insurance paid for uninsured motorist and bought a one way ticket to California and bought the 2003. 2003 was the last of the real Jaguars. 2004-2009 they were a glorified ford Taurus as far as the interior of the car was concerned. I don't like the new XJ series. From 92 to 03 they were a great car and still are.
Victor Schmidt It's because utubecomment21 is full of shit. He doesn't know what he is talking about, and if a dealer talked his uncle into paying for repairs on a jaguar that is under warranty, then his uncle is nothing more than a damn bloke who deserves to pay for those repairs.
Jags like this filter out idiots, any negative statements are clearly from stuffed shirt dopes who need instructions to guide them through procedures of how to open a tool box, and show them which end of a screw driver to hold. The best part of owning an old Jag is getting to know, love, and learn the beauty of it's design, and engineering. The love and appreciation of the methods that was designed into each model is outstanding. All have their own personality and no two are exactly alike. You learn each car is designed on a day to day progressive evolution, you can almost hear the builders on the factory floor in Coventry speaking to the engineers as they built your car, discussing each improvement as they worked on it, and the desire to fit it personally for each order the customer wants. Order a Ferrari, you get the same type of attention to detail, and spend 100's of thousands or a Martin guitar. It's all yours, learn to play it is up to you. Buy the Ferrari, learn to drive it get a Jag and learn to drive it, get to play it too. Or just go get yourself a boring honda and sit in the customer lounge while they check your oil and put air in your chinese tyres, reading "people magazines" droning on about your favourite celebrities.
Easy, DON"T DO IT, unless you are willing to waste tens of thousands of pounds on a vanity project like Jay Leno etc. and still have an unreliable rust bucket. It's cheaper to get divorced :) Your money would be far better spent on a used modern US Muscle car like a Mustang, Barracuda or Challenger V8, ANY of these cars will smoke any jag except their one-off racing models.
If ever there was an typical Jag dealer, he'd be it ! He's awesome !
This salesman is so smooth he convinced me to buy an old xj6 😂
This long post is for American would-be owners of Jaguar X308-series XJs, 1998-2013 model years. I’m on my third and know them pretty well. I’m writing this because not all car guys are rich, and more than a decade of experience has convinced me that an XJ of this vintage is within the means of a regular working guy to buy and run. Rich assholes should not be the only ones who get to drive Euro luxury sedans!
The video hits most of the main points but I want to add some important details for prospective American buyers.
First, how to find a nice one. Jaguar XJs from this generation can be bought for peanuts ($4000-$6000) online at Craigslist and eBay. Buy privately, not from a used car lot, and buy one only if it’s clean and well kept, with all service records, and no record of an overheat in its history.
Avoid cars from the rust belt. Take your time and ideally look for one that's been owned since new by an elderly gentleman who babied it. Check out a Jaguar club if there’s one in your area. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, which abounds with pampered Jags. There are still plenty of first-generation XJs from the 1960s cruising the local freeways. San Francisco is America's Jaguar capital. If you live here and are careful, you can buy a beautiful XJ from a loving owner who will, without irony, insist that it goes to a good home.
Some preventive maintenance is required to remedy this series' few design flaws, but everything is completely fixable. Replace the plastic timing gear and water pump with factory metal parts. This is essential. If the previous owner says it has been done, ask for verification.
All 4.0 AJ-V8s were produced with plastic timing tensioner guides and plastic water pumps, both prone to failure. Early on the factory made available metal replacements, reasonably priced but a big job to install. It’s worth the effort and expense, though, because (especially in supercharged form) it’s a superb engine that has been documented to be running like new even beyond 220 thousand miles.
To avoid an overheat (the car is never the same afterward) swap out the original plastic water pump with a metal one, and while you’re at it replace the thermostat and, if necessary, the fuel pump. You can tell an engine's been overheated by cooked-on sludge around the valve covers.
When Ford owned Jaguar in the 1990s they invested billions in quality control and according to JD Power the XJ's owner satisfaction score was second only to Lexus. Americans haven’t caught on to the fact that post-1996 XJs are super reliable, far more than German luxury cars from the same era, so it’s possible for a guy who doesn’t make a lot of dough to own and run a world-class exotic Euro sedan. If this appeals, read on!
Make sure you have your XJ serviced by an honest, independent Jaguar specialty shop, NEVER by a dealer! And Bob the mechanic down the street will bugger up your Jag good and proper so don’t let him near it.
There’s a myth that XJs contain Ford parts, including engine components, but in truth the car is 100 percent British designed and built. From the double-wishbone race-type suspension to the quad-cam 32-valve alloy V8 with available Eaton supercharger, this is one of the most sophisticated cars of its era and must not be worked on by mechanics who lack experience with the brand. In fact, I would not recommend buying an X308 XJ unless such a shop is near to you. (Check your local Jag club.) The honest and skilled technicians at Continental Imports in Oakland CA have made this underpaid technical writer's dream of being a Jag owner a reality for more than a decade. (But FYI, Conti are picky about taking on new customers and want nothing to do with aftermarket warranty scams.)
The maintenance schedule is very reasonable for such a high-end car. Don’t scrimp on maintenance and you’ll be rewarded with reliability and low operating costs. (Except fuel economy. Premium is required. The standard 4.0 engine gives 24 mpg highway; the supercharged will give you 21 mph at 70 mph and 15 mpg around town.)
Oil change intervals are 10 thousand miles. Use synthetic oil. You will need to top up the oil occasionally - a quart should get you between oil changes.
The ZF “sealed for life” transmission (a ridiculous marketing lie) uses synthetic fluid that gets clogged with metal dust around 80k miles and is prone to failure, a $6,000 catastrophe. But there’s a solution. Around the 80k mark have a guy who knows what he is doing give the transmission's guts a THOROUGH cleaning, including scavenging the sludge out of the torque converter. Replace all filters and magnets and use only factory approved replacement fluid. I do not trust transmission shops and am grateful to have such a skilled service shop who serviced my 01 XJR’s transmission at 80k miles. Now the car has 152k miles on the clock and the transmission fluid is still not seriously dirty. In another ten or twenty thousand miles I’ll get Continental to clean out the tranny again.
As I said before, there are plenty of XJs from this generation continuing to give excellent service at 220k miles and beyond. I’m shooting for 250k miles for my XJ, because my extensive research (including membership in a Jaguar web forum) indicates the car's lifespan should easily reach that mileage. And more to the point, I know I’ll enjoy driving each and every one of those miles.
I’ve been a Euro car guy all my life, thanks to my Dad's also being one. I grew up with interesting cars. My Dad could afford it so they were all wonderful makes: Jaguar of course, along with Rover, Porsche, Alfa Romeo, early Audis, a succession of fabulous Citroen DS21 ultra-luxury sedans (maybe the most memorable of my Dad's cars) - and his one concession to Detroit, a 1963 Olds Starfire convertible whose heavy driver's door gave him bursitis of the shoulder!
So I’m picky about what I drive. In late middle age I don’t go apex strafing anymore, but I still want a car that delivers handling and performance. It’s got to be packaged as a luxury sedan, though, because I want to be cosseted with a pillowy ride (but not wallowy), a quiet environment at highway speeds, excellent outward visibility, a beautifully designed interior crafted from the best wood and leather. And from the outside the car has to be show-stoppingly beautiful. My 2001 XJR, supercharged, with factory optional Emerald mica paint and ivory Connolly leather, meets all those requirements. And one more: driving it is effortless and, to a car guy, highly pleasurable in the way that only a responsive and superbly engineered automobile can be. If things go as planned, this will be my last car.
As I said, the point of this long post is to provide other motorheads to whom the XJ appeals strongly with (a) assurance from a veteran owner that the car delivers on its promises at affordable cost; and (b) using the right strategy and following the stated precautions - and depending where you live - you, a working stiff like me, could make at least one of your one-percenter dreams come true and own one of the greatest production sedans of its time, if not THE greatest. Good hunting!
I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. I have never owned a Jag but want to but it's reputation for high cost of repairs has not allowed me own one. The big "IF" in your post is to find a good local Jag specialist. I live in western suburbs of Chicago and I wonder of there are Jag specialists. I do know there are Mercedes specialists.
Which year XJ do you recommend for around $10K?
Your advice of not buying from corner lots is well taken. Is there an exception to this, example if it has a good service record? Also, wouldyou recommend getting inspected by dealer before buying a used Jag.
I was close to buying a 2003 LS 430, but few posts here may have changed my mind :)
I read every word you wrote, and boy is it fantastic! Honestly, I could've read it if it were an entire novel. Thank you soooo much for this review. Outstanding! I'm interested in purchasing a 2002 XJ8 with 138,000. It's a 1-owner car. It was owned by a lady whose husband bought it for her brand new and the maintenance and repair history is impeccable. I know this post is 2yrs old, so I'm hoping you see this post. My question is, should I purchase this car? Thank you, again, for your review. 😊
Thank you, kind sir
This salesman.. the Jag has certainly bitten me!! I bought an X308 with 155k on it and she's fantastic
This salesman is the best.
Superb
Same voice as Marco pierre white.
I would buy a used Jaguar from him in a second. So knowledgeable.
Totally biased. Very pro.
Jags are crap. But after listening to this salesman speak so smoothly and confidently I want one.
The straight sixes were better than the V8s
Make sure that your old jag has coil suspension and not air. It’ll be a reliability revelation.
I bought my first Jaguar when I was 17 and I am 54 now I still got two Jags
Are repairs very expensive?
@@nasarazam you need to check for rust. If you're any good at welding, it'll help. There's a few places that really need checking
Neither good at welding nor nor at any mechanical work :) BTW, I live in suburbs of Chicago
@@nasarazam these cars aren't new anymore. They need work so you'll either need a decent mechanic or you'll have to get your hands dirty. DIY is cheap though. It's the labour that costs.
Im 19 and got an x type when i was 17. On saturday im getting a rose bronze x300 4.0 😂
I've got a jaguar vanden plas 1999 and my undercarriage is rusted out severely and I'm currently working on it now and I am also making a solid steel perimeter chassis to make it stronger 💪
The Jag salesman sounds like he is selling you James Bond's car
Very truthful reviews covering all the good and bad points these cars have to offer. Im a massive fan of the marque but unfortunately a lot of the earlier cars have expensive issues to fix which can ruin the ownership experience
I have a 1997 Jag XJ6. Fun to drive and aside from the small hiccups connected with a car this age, it's basicly trouble free.
@ 1:40 he says " Once you've had it, once the jaguars bit you, you can't drive anything else". That's exactly what's happened to me. Since 2006 I've owned 2 2004 XJ VDP and love it.
I bought my first Jaguar when I was 17 and I am 54 now and I still got to jaguars
the X308 is a nice car but they do have known problems: the cam chains and cam chain guides do wear and you do have to account for changing them at some point.
The automatics can have problems as well.
There is no other car that gives the feeling of driving a Jaguar.
Robert Parkes
Not even an S class Mercedes?
@Theodore Frazier Which one has a better feel?
I dare you to drive one of these XJ's. We now have 5 Jaguars sitting in our driveway. Believe me when I tell you that the sedan drives like a sports car. You get this rock solid feedback from the car. You won't want to ever drive anything else.
I paid $600.00 for mine, and aside from oxidized paint and large miles 225,000, this vehicle has not seen a mechanic, other the a brake job,oil change, and other minor things connected with normal wear and tear. I've sanded mine down and prepped it for a paint job, still deciding on a color. This is a fun sporty euro car with all the perks and privileges one would expect .
you hit it on the head ,I got a 2000 s-type , then a 2005 s-type followed by 2003 x-type and now a 2004 XJ8 . Once you drive one you can't go back .
WELL THEY SURE DID NO KNOW ABOUT THE 98-2000 ENGINES WITH THE TENSIONERS ETC..LOLOL my 1997 straight 6 was the best engine ever from Jag, it was bullit proof unlike the first V8 just after this in 97-2000. They used plastic parts and the cylinder walls gave away too
Mitch Grooms I picked up on that too. The early straight 6 cylinders are the ones to have now, not the V8's. In the states, the V8's had so many problems with blown head gaskets and costly repairs. The inline 4 liter 6 cylinder motor is the best choice to buy. Period.
The tensioner issue is quickly resolved by replacing the plastic bits with factory metal bits. Also do the same with the plastic water pump. Do this preventive maintenance and you’ve got a bulletproof engine. At 152,000 miles my ‘01 XJR with supercharged 4.0 V8 is as strong as new and doesn’t burn oil. And it doesn’t blow head gaskets either. Jaguar still use this engine, bored out to 5 liters, in their current cars, some tuned to give more than 550 hp.
Dating from 1948 and starting at 3.4L, Jaguar's in-line six was the best six-cylinder of its time, better than anything the Germans could come up with. This engine in nearly stock form won Le Mans five times in the '50s, and in the early '60s powered the 150-mph XK-E. Over the years Jaguar refined the engine, eventually boring it out to 4.2L (I had a 1970 4.2 E-Type roadster). That this engine remained in production until 1997 is testament to the excellence of its design and production quality. And in 1997 Jaguar offered that great engine's swan song: a supercharged version in the very first XJR sedan. I’ve driven one and it would give my supercharged V8 a run for its money. Try finding a 1997 XJR these days. It’s a collectors item.
So my point is you don’t need to put down Jag’s V8 to defend their inline six. Both were superb engines. Here we are in the second decade of the 21st century and there are still thousands of Jags running around out there with both engine types. Their owners wouldn’t have it any other way.
So if i need to buy one for around $10K, which year s the best. I never owned a Jag because of the fear of expensive repairs. Is that a myth or truth?
Changing the belt tensioners and pump for metal ones isn't cheap. My friend spent around £1k doing his.
I want to buy a car, no I want to buy a Jaguar from this salesman, He is very informative.
I have a 1999 jaguar xj8 im selling for 2000
the x300 deff had issues withvthe crank shaft position sensor , 80 dollar part and 7 minute fix though
Salesman has exact same voice as Marco Pierre White.
I can't unhear it now
ilyjax
Apart from the northern twang
2:58 You could also buy a nice Cessna 150 for that money...or pay off the mortgage :)
150's are a lot of fun, but why not both? I had my 150 AND an XF Supercharged.
3:50 Just wind down the window in the UK ..make sure the heater works might be a better choice? perhaps both if you are lucky.
I'm sorry ol' chap but the 97-2000 did have a few issues sir with the engines but still is a spectacular car!!!!
Which they quickly fixed
But don't forget, this programme would have been aired around 98. Therefore it's highly likely they didn't know about the timing chain tensioner issue yet.
@@cactusthomas914 true!!
Men and Motors, dear Jag Fans = This is a a X300 Jag with that old 6/12 cylinder motors, not well build at all comparing it to a X308 with the 'new' 8 cylinder motor block from 1997 to end of 2002. That is the item PPL want to own. It was build new in many ways. The driving is much more comfortable comparing the X300 (as shown here) to the newer X308. The 8-cylinder motor is a great gift compared to the 6/12 cyl. models build till 1996, the old 6 cyl. motor were constructed in 1959. - The 8 cyl. engine is so smooth, beautiful and relaxing. Those were build very well which can be compared to any German cars of that time like a Mercedes S-class or a BMW 7 Model or even to the new German premium cars!!!. - No doubt - the Jags & Daimlers of that time are very reliable to date. I am German and I drive a Daimler V8 with only 40000 miles, left side driven, central European model this is what I want to drive. The quality is great, the fun as well & typical English ... My LWB based British Racing Green model with beige interior looks like new, no rust, no problems. The X308 is an icon! - This one showed here never will be an icon. - In this case the newer model is the better one. That starts with the beautiful design of the interior as the X300 has an awful front interior design ... the X350 build after the X308 is not what the REAL thing was = the were build to high, not a real XJ but as well not that bad.... as a X300. Sorry folks!
Plastic tensioners & nikkasil issues plus a hopeless gearbox.nasty ford switchgear too.the x300 was the real jag.the x308 was better performance but a poorer car overall that doesn't get the respect that the previous model did
Guy sounds EXACTLY like Marco Pierre White
The English are certainly proud of their cars. If this was American they'd be praising how great the 90's era Lexus LS400 is.
That is because Lexus are better than Cadillac and Lincolns. We should not shy away from speaking the truth..
Lexus are Japanese my Amerimutt friend
You do know at this time ford had already owned jaguar so it’s wasn’t really Brit anymore
How old ist this video?
Jaguars like this cost now 4.000.-
This video was filmed in 2003
houseofwine about 02 or 03
I seriously want an X300. I do 50 miles a day...its now or never surely? There aren't many good ones left as it is...
Josh Charlie its a beautiful car inside and out , but they can have problems is they are not properly taking care of , ive been searching for a new one since i wrecked my last one a year ago , there also super easy to work on yourself , no need to pay expensive dealer prices for labor
Find an elderly gentleman who's owned his X300 from new and babied it, but his driving days are nearing an end. Tell him you’ll give it a good home. Seriously!
This is gorgeous as today!
I like to verify any advice from someone with a vested interest.
did jag have an engine call back from99 to early 00
Also the factory sent out a service bulletin stating that if a clacking sound emanated from the 4.0 V8 engine on start-up, the dealer should replace the plastic timing chain tensioner guides with metal ones at no charge to the customer.
alanrtment porter Same thing with the BMW’s of this era my 7 series has the nikasil
The downside in the UK is mpg and high insurance
Not for me ins wise, mpg i'll live it as don't do many miles but will travel in comfort when i do
Insurance for me is cheap fully comp just under £400 for the year and I'm 31. Also fuel economy isnt bad its livable with. You don't buy a jag of this era and expect it to be economical on fuel you buy because you love them
Roll forward to 2018 I've owned 3 and they rot like no tommorow yet my 20 year old Volvo C70 t5 coupe is rot free !
Does X308 has Air Suspension?
Nasar Azam if I’m not wrong it has rear independent suspension only
Some x308 have cats suspension but it's adaptive and not air. Next gen x350 has air I think
Lemon?
just bought 04 vanden plas. I can't count the amount of people that made the comment "they are expensive to repair don't buy it". absolutely false. yes if your DVD GPS dies in the trunk or the HID headlights fail its expensive but any vehicle with the same system cost is same. I get that 2001 prior is horrible its best to stay away from pre ford takeover. its funny how magnetic the interior is I find myself not wanting to exit the car quickly sooo amazing to drive power + comfort = delight! find a shop and stick with them . there are idiot shops that claim they can repair but if they don't even know it takes 45 mins to retrain the onboard computers after a dead battery run away .
I've had 2 of the same car ( 04 vanden plas) my first one I got 2 years old and had for 3 years and 2nd I got in 2013 and still own. Very good for daily drivers. At around 100k miles the air suspension will probably go but all other high end luxury cars do the same.
2004? Aluminum body junk. 98-2003 are Best coach.
John Ward And these steel-body X308-Series XJs were the last XJs off the legendary Coventry line. An aluminum X350 XJ looks bloated and tubby next to a previous-generation steel XJ. The last version of the XJ to be approved personally by Jaguar's founder Sir William Lyons, the steel XJ sits several inches lower than the aluminum one. It is much sleeker and sexier. (And yes, I own a steel one.)
..and what year is that?
He is so biased it's hysterical
Lewis black
he's a knowledgeable man who knows his stuff that's all friend anyway do you have one
Austin Dude hes a salesman. UA-cam has spoiled this new gen. Dont be so naive
Which Jag would you say is the best all rounder for longevity and reliability?
For reliability, the 95-97 XJ6. Get the Vanden Plas for upgraded wood and leather. I’ve had the 04 XJ8 Vanden Plas and they are very satisfying but not as reliable as the XJ6 simply because the larger motor. My mechanic has been working on my 2nd Vanden Plas for 6 years now and they say it’s a good luxury car. Around 90k-100k miles prepare for suspension repair, transmission service and a few others in that area like tie rods and seals. A good mechanic will look for anything and hold long you can go before taking it in.
1997 VDP for 7 years now, coming to 225,000 miles. Still going strong, another 100k for sure.
Now 400 quid.
No problems ever wey aye
My advice: Don't. Although I admit that over the years they slowly got less bad.
My advice do. Not only did they get less bad they got way better.
Ronald de Rooij б/у запчасти ягуар1988-94гxj 6рулевой механизм отопительная система тормозная система
nice good
If I ever paid 70,000 dollars for a car, I would want to get 1 million miles out of it without having to replace so much as a spark plug.
And you'd be left looking pretty dumb for not understanding a machine's limits.
I have never understood the mentality of people who put private plates on a car to hide it's actual age; as though the owner wants to give out the impression of, "I can afford an expensive car!" - even though they aren't, and can't. Totally idiotic and with a whiff of the spiv mentality about it.
Not every one does that. I have a business. And the plate stands for that.
Jaguar, biggest load of garbage ever .. apart from VW, and that's saying something. My boss and my uncle had jags. hideous things to fix and maintain, and they do go wrong ... often!
After owning 3 Jaguars an 92 XJ6, a 99 XJ8 and a 03 XJ8 that we are still driving, I will say that they are a very reliable car. The biggest repairs that I have had to make on any of them was a head gasket and blower motors for the 92. When they switched to the V8 format they only got better and cheaper to maintain. The 99 was bought because my wife liked a white Jag better than the Champaign color of the 92. The 99 was totaled when someone felt it was more important to text than to drive. My wife was stopped a stop light and he hit her from behind at
45 mph with out even touching the brake. My wife had no injuries and the car was still drivable. We drove it for 2 months waiting for his insurance to pay, he skipped the country and after 2 months his insurance said the policy was lapsed when the accident happened. My wife wanted another Jag so I took the insurance money that our insurance paid for uninsured motorist and bought a one way ticket to California and bought the 2003. 2003 was the last of the real Jaguars. 2004-2009 they were a glorified ford Taurus as far as the interior of the car was concerned. I don't like the new XJ series. From 92 to 03 they were a great car and still are.
Maybe you could help with the costs of my uncle's brand new Jag having to go back to the garage 8 times in the first year.
Why is he paying for repairs if it's new. Should be under warranty.
Victor Schmidt It's because utubecomment21 is full of shit. He doesn't know what he is talking about, and if a dealer talked his uncle into paying for repairs on a jaguar that is under warranty, then his uncle is nothing more than a damn bloke who deserves to pay for those repairs.
Jags like this filter out idiots, any negative statements are clearly from stuffed shirt dopes who need instructions to guide them through procedures of how to open a tool box, and show them which end of a screw driver to hold. The best part of owning an old Jag is getting to know, love, and learn the beauty of it's design, and engineering. The love and appreciation of the methods that was designed into each model is outstanding. All have their own personality and no two are exactly alike. You learn each car is designed on a day to day progressive evolution, you can almost hear the builders on the factory floor in Coventry speaking to the engineers as they built your car, discussing each improvement as they worked on it, and the desire to fit it personally for each order the customer wants. Order a Ferrari, you get the same type of attention to detail, and spend 100's of thousands or a Martin guitar. It's all yours, learn to play it is up to you. Buy the Ferrari, learn to drive it get a Jag and learn to drive it, get to play it too. Or just go get yourself a boring honda and sit in the customer lounge while they check your oil and put air in your chinese tyres, reading "people magazines" droning on about your favourite celebrities.
Easy, DON"T DO IT, unless you are willing to waste tens of thousands of pounds on a vanity project like Jay Leno etc. and still have an unreliable rust bucket. It's cheaper to get divorced :) Your money would be far better spent on a used modern US Muscle car like a Mustang, Barracuda or Challenger V8, ANY of these cars will smoke any jag except their one-off racing models.
what nonsense you're talking good god man