| Author | Message | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 300 Registered: 2-2003 |
It is VERY sexy. I've seen it three times up close when I was in the UK, twice in the museum, once at an event.     | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 641 Registered: 5-2002 |
The best XJ design was the XJ-13.. They can never come out with a more beautiful car... | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 247 Registered: 2-2003 |
The '96 XJ12 is a fabulous machine and compares very favorably in performance and luxury to the 750i. That two year price difference means the XJ12 is around half the cost of the 750i, if that matters. The engine refinement and power of the 750i gets the nod, but believe me, both are silky smooth and quiet. Hard to beat the Germans at their own game. The 750i has a little more room in the back if you have two passengers back there. The XJ12 makes up some ground (all subjective, of course) on exterior styling, interior materials/design, and has that British old world elegence behind it. The XJ12 is also 300 or so pounds lighter but I haven't put both around the corners hard  Both will run you a few thousand a year in regular/preventative maintenance to keep them reliable. The XJ12 is the rarer of the breed. Also, Jaguar will not be making another V12 engine. Pappy Ford has decided Aston Martin will be the sole British marque in the Premier Auto Group to retain the rights to a V12 engine configuration, FWIW. Both are wonderful. Can't go wrong for a V12 sedan with those two choices, in my book. If you have the padding in the wallet, go for the 750i. Or you could dare to be a little kooky.. I mean different, and go for the XJ12. | ||
| Omar (Auraraptor)
Member Username: Auraraptor Post Number: 408 Registered: 9-2002 |
Sunny, how are the 95( did they even make a 96?) XJ12? I really like them. How would it compare to a 98 E38 750iL? they seem like they would make a great highway crusier. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2190 Registered: 2-2001 |
The XJ is a great looking car, has been for many generations, No need to mess up a classic design, just freshen it up a bit You want to see Ugly check out the upcoming BMW 5 series, some1 posted pics here, BARF!!!!! & the current M5 is SO good looking | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 243 Registered: 2-2003 |
Evolutionary rather then revolutionary which is exactly what they intended.  Lets see, three beautiful designs that never made it past concept stage, none of which good enough to replace the XK8/XKR. They are the XK180 (WOW), F-Type (wow), R-Coupe (more of a GT through). Jaguar has to become more of a volume manufacturer to keep the likes of the XK and the XJ going and to please their daddy who's keeping the company afloat at a loss. XK is dated.. its a 1996 design, time to move on fellas. XJ is bigger, better, faster.. isn't it always. Maybe Pininfarina should jump in again | ||
| Ron Thomas (Ronsupercar)
Member Username: Ronsupercar Post Number: 583 Registered: 5-2002 |
Still looks the same.. They need a new design.. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 233 Registered: 2-2003 |
Will be on the US market cars, likely mainland European cars too. The UK hasn't adopted legislation for the spring loaded/break away variety, I don't think. This has been going on since the early 70's. It is endorsed as a factory accessory in the markets that allow them. It doesn't stop people from retrofitting them on there. Come MOT time, they have to be removed or they may not pass you (if your not on friendly terms). I've even seen some XK8/R's with one here in California.. very odd looking. | ||
| Taek-Ho Kwon (Stickanddice)
Junior Member Username: Stickanddice Post Number: 219 Registered: 11-2002 |
Where's the leaper? | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 232 Registered: 2-2003 |
William, Dealerships in the UK were able to select one of their customers to take home one of the new XJs on an extended test drive for days (or maybe it was a couple weeks) and then report back their impressions. It will also be available in the UK before here, so the techs I know (dealership and specialist) in the UK as well as owners will be liberally spreading around complaints and compliments before they hit our showrooms. If I see anything on the three forums I'm a part of (one of them with 10's of thousands of members), I'll let you know if you like. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 231 Registered: 2-2003 |
Jim, I agree with you. 60k is normal wear/tear. I've had a pinhole leak in one of my 4 mufflers (rolls eyes ), cracked rear exhaust manifold, cylinder coil failure on #6, sunroof sensitivity switch going out of whack due to cable friction/resistance/lots/daily-year-round use. Not bad for lots and lots of hard miles. Individual cylinder coil failure is also not unheard of for the three model years and is very straightforward to fix. 3 torx, 2 screws, unplug the coil, replace the gasket with an updated one, refit. In 76k miles, I expect something to go wrong. But, a lot of these common problems appear much sooner then that - thats the gripe. 30k miles for some people comes up in a year and a half, sometimes more or less. The '95-97's are still holding together better then anything newer made since then. You and I.. we got lucky Sunny | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1528 Registered: 7-2001 |
From that perspective, I had the shock bushings wear out at 60k miles, I guess I didn't consider it premature. I also had some sunroof issues, but again, at 60k miles, it earned it. Nothing I would consider unusual for a car I'd driven that long. | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 229 Registered: 2-2003 |
William, great choice. What year? A mid-late 60's will have the most interior/redesign tweaks out of the Series 1 run, but wouldn't it be nice to have an early VIN too. Hi Jim, consider yourself lucky.. '95 (and early '96's) specific problems: Headgasket failure EGR and throttle body problems Cracked exhaust manifolds (hidden under chrome heat shield) LCD clock failure Seat/Steering wheel motor failure Sticking T-stats Sub-standard water rail hose Sub-standard lower main coolant hose Idler pulley seizing (XJRs only; very common) Premature wear of upper shock bushings Premature wear of A-frame bushings Premature water pump failure Premature oil sender failure Inconsistant fuel guage sending units Common to '95-'97 all model XJs: Sunroof glitches EGR and throttle body routine cleaning necessary Cracked exhaust manifolds Definite improvements were made in the short run of the inline six's, with the '97s having little or none of these problems from the owners I know and my experience. I track mine once or twice a year, autocross with it two or three times a year, and race mine through canyons with sports cars. The last year is damn near bulletproof and great to drive at the edge of their limits. With the introduction of the XJ8, it began a whole new wave of issues that took a couple of years to sort out. The list of minor irritating issues is twice as long for the XJ8s, yes, thats not a typo. The big ones for any 8 cyl XJ until mid-'00 model year are Nikasil engine liners, plastic water pump impeller failure (10-30k miles), premature throttle position sensor failure, transmission ground failure, MAF/intake problems. The '01 X-Type was engineered poorly. It was common for the first 6 months to spend equal amount of time at the dealer fixing design flaws and complaints then on the road. The '02 X-Types are better, but still suffer a lot of the same problems. The biggest issues that come to mind are noisy air temp motors in dash (design, some do it some don't, corporate and dealers don't care), main ECU replacement (revised fuel maps for one), boot latch sticking.. the '03s are definitely the pick of the litter. Also, owners just complain about the lack of torque now compared to the inline six's and the V8s The S-Types have the smallest list of little problems out of all the new Jags. I would guess the new XJ will be very refined, with a few minor problems, but hopefully fixed sooner then later. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1525 Registered: 7-2001 |
My 95 XJ has been largely trouble free, not sure what 'bugs' you're talking about. | ||
| William H (Countachxx)
Intermediate Member Username: Countachxx Post Number: 2171 Registered: 2-2001 |
Sunny, that sounds like Sage advice, maybe I'll wait a few months before placing my order for a new XJR. If I do get an XJR I'll just Have to pick up a nice 1st Gen E-type roadster to go with it | ||
| Sunny Garofalo (Jaguarxj6)
Junior Member Username: Jaguarxj6 Post Number: 228 Registered: 2-2003 |
Personally, wait a year before you even think about it. Better quality issues aside due to $$$ infusion, the first year of a run of a modern Jaguar is bad news. Take the '95 XJs, the '01 X-Types, the '98-'00 XJ8's and some early S-Types as well are filled with lots of little problems. Wait for the bugs to be worked out and there will be bugs, sometimes very irritating or potentially costly. I've been on the forums for years sharing my knowledge of the '95-97 XJs amongst other modern owners, unless you just have to own one, the next years production will be much better off. | ||
| Jim E (Jimpo1)
Intermediate Member Username: Jimpo1 Post Number: 1523 Registered: 7-2001 |
You and William H! It's growing on me, but I'm still not ready to rush out and buy one. | ||
| Kenny Herman (Kennyh)
Member Username: Kennyh Post Number: 726 Registered: 8-2001 |
http://www.autoweek.com/cat_content.mv?port_code=autoweek&cat_code=coverstory&loc_code=index&content_code=02742640 I like it. |