I saw a 99 listed for $11500. Bung for buck, that's a 370hp supercharged car.

Does anyone has experience with these?

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With best regards

Al

They're cool, I knew a guy had one, liked it but sold it because he bought it new, high payments. I think they're pretty rad, with a stick. Unique, at least in these parts. Im in the process of getting an old grey market German XJS with a 5-speed. The sports car line of Jaguars through time had been good me thinks. Not reliability, personality and stuff. The sedans, ups and downs, if you like them, go for it. Let me know, I'm kind of curious how Jags are of late.

A friend of mine has a '97 XJR, though it's a six cylinder supercharged motor. It's been a reliable daily driver for him, and he claims the interior is much nicer than current Jag models.

I'm inclined to agree, I didn't like the Dash changes much when they went to the V8 models.

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With best regards

Al

I looked at a few before settling on the S600. Nice driving cars, fairly quick, sharp lines, country club interior -- though ergodymanics aren't so great. Odd thing is that I rarely see them with hi-miles. Also, people seem eager to dump Jags after their leases expire...

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

I can't comment on reliabiltity or durability other than repeating the often heard stereotype, but I think XJR's are one of the most beautifully styled cars I have ever seen.

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Paul S.

2001 E430, Bourdeaux Red, Oyster interior.
79,200 miles.

1973 280SE 4.5, 170,000 miles. 568 Signal Red, Black MB Tex. "The Red Baron".

only real problem is that with pre 2001 models, the V8 engines have had some problems with the Nickasil cylinders, compression loss, etc. 2001 & up have cast iron liners. Also there were problems early on with cam chain tensioners self destructing. That being said, I have a 99 XJ8 Vanden Plas upgraded with an '01 engine and love it. Just wish I had obtained a supercharged engine...

Jags have a different feel than MB sedans IMHO, not better, different

folks say they are a lot more reliable since ford bought them.

personally they look a lot like fords to me (the sedans).

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Yeah I know a lot about them. They are not built as well as Mercedes thats for sure, but they are a bit cheaper in some respects, British in others... They handle great, look great, go like a bat out of hell, etc.

The downside:
The timing chains for the cam's can snap and destory the engine. Replace them ASAP if they have not been done already.
The engines can lose compression, no fix. Buy a 2000+ model.
The transmissions are ZF junk and can blow up. Figure at least $3k double if you let the dealer change it.
The electronics are junk, figure $1k a year to keep the climate control doing its thing.
Your looking at an XJR so R specific parts cost a lot of money. Like brakes, but no more so then AMG. Still front discs and pads are going to cost you all of $800.
If you are used to Mercedes, Jag parts prices will bring you to your knee's!

They are great cars though, with Jag's the newer the better. 1997 XJ6's are good buys. 2001+++ XJ8/R's are the models to get, but as they went through their production run (X300 I think) they got better. 03's and up seem to be pretty trouble free.

I'm tempted by them, the engineering and quality isn't the same as MB, because they just don't have the money MB does. But they are really fun cars to drive. If I were to buy one it would be a 2002 or newer, with some sort of warranty.

My grandparents have driven them for 30+ years and owned just about every model built since the early 70's. Except for the 220, and the junk litte S and X types they build today. So lots of good memories, and I grew up around them so I know all the issues.
The old ones burned a lot of oil, the new ones burn through electrical parts. The worst one they owned was the 1994 XJ6, bought almost new, total POS. The 1998 so far, has been decent, well except for the fact that it sucked down $10k worth of parts in 2005.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The problem is not the timing chain; rather, it was caused by the secondary tensioners. Yes, you do need to replace the timing chain but it's the plastic tensioners that cause the timing chain failures. Make sure you get the second generation tensioners if you ever get a pre 2001 V8.

Yeah I was to lazy to type that.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

We were looking at an XK8 about 6 months ago to replace the SL. While my dad and I agreed that it was a nice car, and that it looked gorgeous, we just thought about the $$ that it would cost to maintain. Just the parts alone deterred us from advancing on that one.


Other than that, a friends mom has a new XJ8 VanDen Plas(sp?). Its a gorgeous looking car, and the interior is beautiful. She traded her faithful 560SEL for it, and although she loves her Jag, she misses the feel of the Merc.

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Didn't the early XJ8's have a (troublesome) Mercedes-sourced tranny? Or did I dream that?

No they have a ZF, similer to Mercedes 722.6 in function. Except the 722.6 is a stronger gear box.


Don't hold me to this but I *beleive* the Jag's used almost the same trasnmission as the late 90's 7 series BMW's.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Sorry,, I meant XJR ,,, the early ones (1998-2002 I think) had a Mercedes tranny.