Driven: 2008 Jaguar XJ

[Submariner]

An affair with an older woman?

Every time I make my way to the British marquee?s dealership, I come away angry.  You may ask why.  The answer is simple: space.

The space that isn?t taken up by inventory.  That space that isn?t taken up by mechanics.  The space that isn?t taken up by customers.  What gives?  Why the disdain for this once great brand.  Surly they once deserved this scorn, but do they now?

The horror stories of Jaguar are well known.  We all know about the stories, the horror, the anger, all caused by those pesky cats.  How people put up with them so long, I will never quite know, but they did.  Thankfully, they did.

The showroom was fitting, golden marble, soft lighting, expert salesmen, it was all there.  The d?cor was even more inviting.  A white XJ, a red XK, and a black XF.  What cars!  Such poise and presence, and those paint jobs?the best in the industry I dare say.  Every thing excited me, but my main fixation lied on the XJ.  Yes, the old girl amongst the group took my fancy, but I have always taken notice of older women, the elegant ones, who have aged gracefully, and much like a fine wine, improved with age.  God she?s a beauty.  I had to wine and dine her. 

The professional I dealt with promptly had two subordinates wheel the car out the door for me to try, but not before I was instructed to behold the changes, and the similarities.
The Bentley-esque front end, the power vents, the subtle spoiler, all suggested that this woman took a few shots of Botox and a membership to the gym.  However, I wasn?t too sure I liked what I saw.  Yes, the outside was striking, but was it?s true charm swept away?

Moving to the inside was more familiar, though.  Aside from some low key changes, it was all the same.  The lack of modern day electronic appliances was, at first, shocking, but then, settling.  The absence of push button ignition, screens galore, electric air diffusers was comforting.  I was even pleased to see no silly ?autotronic? or ?stepmatic? manual automatics, just the obtuse, obnoxious, annoying J-gate.  I loved it. 

Mmmmmmmmm?that?s what she sounded like.  Not a roar or a growl, like so many vulgar cars of today, but a smooth and confident awakening.  Shift out of park, and off we went, and nearly instantly, I fell in love.

Everything about this car is just so good.  Tangoing with this madam was a delight.  Never once did the car ride rough, yet it never once lost it?s composure on the twisty roads I threw at it.  Flat cornering was followed with smooth straight-aways, and only in the most vigorous of moves was she flustered.  The chassis was playful, and always let me know when I was pushing it.  I was let down by the overly boosted steering, but with so many wondrous qualities, how could I let one thing let me down?

What I noticed about this car, compared to say, the BMW I had used to go there, was the power delivery.  I think James May put it best when he was driving an older Bentley.  Throttling up is more of a dignified urgency, and less of a rush.  In a way, the old girl felt slower than the BMW, but it wasn?t.  The 6 speed transmission coupled with a nearly 500 pound weight deficit meant the Brit would take the cake in any race.  Another complaint was the muffled exhaust.  The two mode system found in the XK would work wonders here, but alas, older women won?t yell, they whisper.

First dates don?t last forever, though, and we had to end our fun.  I returned her, only to come away wanting more.  You see, with this new XJ, I believe Jaguar has managed to pick up where the E38 left off; classic design, beautifully crafted, exhilarating, and relaxing.  But oddly enough, the one area where Jaguars should excel, the interior, I found a bit lacking.

When I say lacking, it?s all relative.  The build is first rate, and so are the materials (mostly) I just feel they could have done more.  I would love to see gauges with the elegance that those in the Mercedes E-class exude, window switches that look like they came from a 70,000 dollar car, not a 20,000 dollar one, plastic trim parts around the base of the doors that didn?t come from a GM product.  Jaguar got so much right, but they may need to take a lesson or two from Mercedes, Audi, and BMW on how to get the small things right. 

So did Jaguar miss the point?  Did Jaguar break the trend, and rather than softening up their cars, they made them harder edged?  Well, no.  Jaguar created what I believe is, the finest sedan made today.  It?s so sensual, it?s so?so?honest.  The Jaguar has a true heart and soul.  For the first time, in a long time, I smiled while driving, even when I wasn?t hitting some amazing stretch of back road.  Everything about this car came together.  It seduced me, lulled me, cradled me.  I fell in love with an underdog, someone who not everyone may like.  Her classic beauty it not one of acquired taste, but one of fine taste.  Unfortunately, I?m not sure everyone may see it, but no matter.  I hate to say it, but my BMW may have met it?s match. 

No pictures this time, so google will have to do.

The professional I dealt with swooned me with an incredibly attractive lease.  It?s a year old, white, SWB with, as near as makes no difference, 8,000 miles on the clock.  To be honest, I was astonished at how cheap the lease would be.  In the same light, it?s actually saddening, that these brilliant cars have to be nearly given away. 

Will I?  Should I?
 

[68_427]

You should, I'm trying to talk my mom into an XJ as well.

[Raza]

Do it.

And you're nuts if you think older women don't yell.

[Submariner]

Do it.

And you're nuts if you think older women don't yell.

Well, I'd just like to think they don't.  It's the only way the thought of marriage can even enter my mind. 

[Madman]

You have eloquently summed up everything I love about Jaguars.  Forget all the techno-geek gimmicks, this is a proper car fit for a gentleman.

Well done, sir! 


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[MrH]

Is the 7-series on lease, or did you purchase?  Anything left on the loan or do you own it outright?

[TBR]

Somebody has been taking writing lessons from Raza...

[Submariner]

Somebody has been taking writing lessons from Raza...

Hey!  I have always written like that!

[Submariner]

Is the 7-series on lease, or did you purchase?  Anything left on the loan or do you own it outright?

Leased, then bought outright.

As for the car.  They said that they will keep it for a week, that that I'm too worried about it selling.  It's been on the lot for 5 or 6 months.  The poor dame has not gotten any love. 

[ChrisV]

Get it. You know you wanna, all your friends are doing it...

And if you don't, then DO something cool with the E38.

[Cookie Monster]

Spend it on a 6 speed swap for the E38.

[SVT_Power]

And if you don't, then DO something cool with the E38.

Like you and your ricer 7er?

[Submariner]

Heres the deal.

It's being sold at an amazingly low price.  Come to find out, It was returned for a faulty satnav (amongst other radio/navigation gremlins.)  It was promptly replaced, and other than that, all records indicate no additional problems.  Even if the satnav were to go bad again, I could live with it.  I guess that helped to scare away buyers, helping to drastically drive down cost.  Most reviews have said the XJ (both short and long term) is a solid vehicles, so I don't have too much to worry about. 

If I were to buy it, I would order chrome air vents and mirror housings (yes, I'm a ricer, I know) and some different wheels.  The standard 18's are elegant, but this car demands something more..."loud".  Jaguar charges quite a bundle for their wheels (3,700 for the 20's I like!) so I'll either keep trying to talk them down, look for a cheaper choice, or look online.

[CALL_911]

Heres the deal.

It's being sold at an amazingly low price.  Come to find out, It was returned for a faulty satnav (amongst other radio/navigation gremlins.)  It was promptly replaced, and other than that, all records indicate no additional problems.  Even if the satnav were to go bad again, I could live with it.  I guess that helped to scare away buyers, helping to drastically drive down cost.  Most reviews have said the XJ (both short and long term) is a solid vehicles, so I don't have too much to worry about. 

If I were to buy it, I would order chrome air vents and mirror housings (yes, I'm a ricer, I know) and some different wheels.  The standard 18's are elegant, but this car demands something more..."loud".  Jaguar charges quite a bundle for their wheels (3,700 for the 20's I like!) so I'll either keep trying to talk them down, look for a cheaper choice, or look online.

Exactly how low is 'amazingly low'? And would you purchase or lease?

[Submariner]

Exactly how low is 'amazingly low'? And would you purchase or lease?

Low and i'm not sure.

[Laconian]

Lease prices are generally lower for vehicles with low depreciation, right? How can a car that depreciates quickly (like a Jaguar) offer a competitive lease price, then?

[Submariner]

Lease prices are generally lower for vehicles with low depreciation, right? How can a car that depreciates quickly (like a Jaguar) offer a competitive lease price, then?

The actual cost is low, we never talked lease prices.  It could be a deal breaker though.

[Cookie Monster]

Pony up for the XJR.

[Submariner]

Pony up for the XJR.

I would love to, but I cannot find a 2008 for anything less than 65.  Way too much.  The XJ has plenty of power as is, and likely, I will give it a ECU, cold air box, exhaust treatment.  Arden apparently is a respected jag tuner, and does an exhaust system very similar to the one I love so much on the XK.

[giant_mtb]

I dunno if this is off-topic or anything, but I like the more old-fashioned-looking Jags much better than the new ones.  The new ones just do what every other luxo manufacturer did.  The looks are gone, but I'm sure the quality and charisma are still there!

[Submariner]

I dunno if this is off-topic or anything, but I like the more old-fashioned-looking Jags much better than the new ones.  The new ones just do what every other luxo manufacturer did.  The looks are gone, but I'm sure the quality and charisma are still there!

That's the way I feel.  Truth be told, I have driven an XF and it really as good as they say it is (good looking too) but it just doesn't feel the way a Jag should.  That's why I love the XJ.

[Cookie Monster]

I would love to, but I cannot find a 2008 for anything less than 65.  Way too much.  The XJ has plenty of power as is, and likely, I will give it a ECU, cold air box, exhaust treatment.  Arden apparently is a respected jag tuner, and does an exhaust system very similar to the one I love so much on the XK.

Go for a 2-3 year old XJR.

[Submariner]

Go for a 2-3 year old XJR.

Most have more than a few miles on them, this is nearly new.  Not to mention, I love the upgrades to the 08'

[Cookie Monster]

Most have more than a few miles on them, this is nearly new.  Not to mention, I love the upgrades to the 08'

Can't have everything...

[CALL_911]

Can't have everything...

Which is why he chooses not to get an XJR.

[Cookie Monster]

Which is why he chooses not to get an XJR.

Ok.

[Submariner]

haha gents easy.  300 HP in a 3700 pound car is plenty, and the 6 speed does a great job of managing it.  In the future I may look at a blower kit, but for now, what I have planned will be more than enough.

[Cookie Monster]

haha gents easy.  300 HP in a 3700 pound car is plenty, and the 6 speed does a great job of managing it.  In the future I may look at a blower kit, but for now, what I have planned will be more than enough.

But you get the better suspension, the S/C and the gorgeous wheels too!

[Submariner]

But you get the better suspension, the S/C and the gorgeous wheels too!

Yes, but I cant find any in my price range, save for high mileage examples, that aren't the post face lift models.

Besides, I do not like the wheels found on the XJR, and if there are any suspension differences between them, I cannot tell the difference.  They both feel similar.

[CALL_911]

I'm assuming your price range is ~$40k?

The XJ is a nice choice. I do like the XJR more, like Rag, but if you like the XJ, the normal car is wonderful.

Would you ever consider an X-Type?