Jaguar XJR - thoughts?
 

(I posted this in the Euro Forum, but I guess nobody goes there)

So, I was preparing myself psychologically and financially to get a 2001 7-series, until a friend of mine pointed out that for about 5-7k more, I could get a 2004 XJR. Now, the thought of owning a Jaguar was scary (electrical issues), but after some research, it appears it's not horrendous. I've seen people saying it's reliable!

So, does anyone here own a Jaguar? What's it like? It seems small from pictures, and I'm about 186cm. I've been looking around the city, and MCL has a 2007 (i think), but I'm not going to go in and waste people's time so I can sit in it, especially without cash in hand.

Thoughts? Is it even worth considering? 0-60 in 5 seconds flat and 24mpg is... odd... and attractive.

Financially ready to get a 2001 7 series? That's like the price of a new Civic, probably not even. I think you are better off saving your $. Even if you are "financially" well off to afford a balling 2001 7 series, maintenance cost will rape you in the end. Same goes with Jaguar.

yea bro, stay away from the dying the breed. jags arent what they used to be, although only recently are making a jag comeback.
2003 - engine issues
2004 - fixed the engine issues, made it lighter, more sportier, less room
2004 - tranny and braking issues. brake line corrosion known for brake failure. has oem air suspension but no driver control.

http://www.edmunds.com/bmw/7-series/...ewId=200641747

i would stay away..

^^^ identifix gives the '07 xjr 5/5 stars though for reliability

As I've said, I've crossed the 7-series off my list. "Financially ready" means having cash in hand equal to the price of the car, plus another 50% or so for any emergency repairs or whatnot.

so what exactly is your budget?

i would go with the 7 series imo

Figure 30 or so, maybe a tad more. Planning to purchase next summer.

30k? you have tons of choices. what are some of the options you look for in a sedan

It's more what I want to drive. 4 doors, 4 wheels, reasonable sized trunk. Not a piece of shit like an Audi. Not Japanese (unless I could score a LS460 for 30k, lol). I like Jags. I like Peugeots (go figure), but I can't get an 607 here. Too bad.

An Opel Carlton? Heh, that would be fun, but a piece of shit here in Vancouver. Maybe bring one over and buy a Defender 90 for winter.

But seriously. Has to be quiet, powerful, luxurious and reliable. the XJR is the one that comes closest. If I wanted just a means of transportation, I'd just buy a 92 Tempo and throw it away when it broke.

pos like audi? wtf...


u should just grab a new hyundai sonata limited for $31k and enjoy great warranty coverage (or the sonata hybrid)

or a genesis... likely more reliable and cheaper to maintain


and ur not going to get an XJR for $30k not now anyway and you may have to pop over to the east coast... plus all those km's... (an XJ sure)


if i was going used for that year id get a POS Audi A8 :P

See, the A8 is frikkin' huge. Very hard to find an A8, all I see is an A8L. And plus, I have a few friends that have Audis, and they are always in the shop. I don't want to always be in the shop :(

I am thinking of buying the car on the east coast and driving it back. I have family there and in the middle of the US, so it would make a nice summer vacation. Provided I don;t get stranded in Montana, which would suck balls.

VW Phaeton?

I just got a Sonata turbo because I got tired of keeping old cars running and wanted something with a warranty. With 0% financing right now, it frees up a huge chunk of your savings to invest in something that'll make you money.

Why not a LS430? There are quite a few around for less than $30k. It's probably the most reliable big luxo barge you can buy.

The Jaguar is less "big". The Phaeton is a "nightmare car". I've heard it from at least two VW service guys. Plus, I hate Volkswagens.

its a lil above your price range, but what you think of the buick regal S 6sp turbo.
speed, comfort and size of a buick all in one.

Depends on what you're looking for.. luxury, sport, etc.. and financial situation.. cause in the end it comes down to the old triangle of cheap, fast, reliable.. you can only have 2 of the 3.

People seem to forget that, even though, say you're paying 30k for an 80k+ car, all your maintenance will still be for that 80k+ car..

Go sit in one and test drive it. It feels nothing like a German or Japanese luxury sedan. It's not engineered as well, but it has class and unique character. Plus, they look gorgeous. I'll be in the market for a X300/'02-'03 X308 later this year.

Our fam has a 2001 Jaguar and the following two items were major repairs:

- 2 years ago had the engine replaced due to the winter.
- currently in the shop for a blown transmission.

If you have 30k, buy something brand new. And if you think audi is a piece of shit, what is better in that price range?

Engine replaced due to winter? Wtf are you talking about?

What Jaguar was it? What engine did it have in it? I've only seen Jaguar engines need replacing for one reason: jumped or broken timing chains due to tensioner issues. Tensioners are a common problem, but rarely result in damaged engines. I say rare because they make noise for a long time before they get bad enough to cause real problems.
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Im no car guy so I dont know the correct terms, but roughly what my dad told me was the belts inside the engine froze up, and when he started the car, the belts started whipping inside the engine and damaged it to the point where it had to be replaced.

The result was he negotiated with the dealer and then got the engine at a favorable price but it was extremely troublesome.

Edit: car is 2001 Jaguar XJ "Vanden Plas"

^ That would be the timing chains, which is what I said. Sorry to say, but this is an avoidable problem. Not only would it be noisy, but the check engine light would almost certainly come on and the engine would have a rough idle and/or a miss at idle. All this long before any real damage could take place.
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What I heard is that I would not want to touch anything pre-2004 for Jaguars.

As for maintenance, I have no problems in footing the bill. I just want a car that I don't have to spend 6 weeks in the shop every year, which seems to be the case for most luxury cars.

My uncle had a brand new XJR in 2003 and he had to have the engine replaced 8 months into ownership. It's not a car that screams quality.