Jaguar XJ Saloon (1994 - 2003) XJ8 3.2 4d Auto (2000/W) Owner Review

What does this car say about you?

A connoisseur of fine English carriages whose fallen on hard times and can't afford a Bentley.

What do your friends / family / neighbours think of the car?

They are all impressed.

Would you buy this car again and why?

If it was still made, maybe. The seats in the later models are too hard for my delicate rump.

What are you likely to buy next?

A Citroen C5 estate (because Jaguar never made an XJ estate, and I now need to carry large, heavy items around).

Type of dealer you bought from?

Independent

Did you buy this car new?

No

What price did you pay?

£7,000

When did you buy the car?

July 2007

Did you get a good deal and why?

It was average.

Is there any special reason why you bought this car?

I wanted a good, long-distance cruiser for a 144 mile daily commute.

What was the dealer like?

Friendly staff, but an out-of-the-way garage with no forecourt.

What's it like to drive?

Very smooth, plenty of power, but more tyre noise than you might expect with a car that is otherwise so refined. Best not to have big wheels with low-profile tyres, because that makes the ride harsh. Cheap to run if you get it converted to LPG, and no ill effects from the conversion so far (after 60k miles of running on gas).

What's it like to park?

Reasonably easy, considering the size.

Have you had any problems with the car?

Corrosion of chassis leg. Worn suspension bushes and balljoints. Broken front spring. Worn shock absorbers. Fortunately, there are cheaper aftermarket parts that in some cases (shock absorbers) are better than the OE parts. The front suspension requires an expensive special tool to compress the spring, but it's possible to make one with the appropriate sized high-tensile steel rod.

What's most practical about your car?

It's great for long journeys, and has never let me down.

Favourite gadget, option or accessory?

Excellent airconditioning system.