Saturday, May 9, 2015

1994-1997 Jaguar XJ X300 Review!

 
 

The X300 series Jaguar XJ retained the classic profile of it's predecessor, the XJ40 of the late 80's and early 90's. A silhouette that is instantly recognisable as a classic Cat. The hunkered down stance with elongated hood and tailgate clearly resemble a Jaguar, crouched ready to pounce. Adorned with subtle lashings of bright work, optional pin stripes and finished off with the leaping Cat hood ornament, (Which they need to bring back) this car looks bespoke without being obnoxious or garish about it.



The interior follows suit and affords the occupants a wafting stateroom on wheels. A complimentary English Manor smell is included....free. The car makes an occasion of any situation and you will find yourself dressing to meet it's standards. Anything less than a sports jacket would look out of place here. Beautiful timber and numerous cattle hides really make it the place to be and the seats are in my top 5 most comfortable of all time (Just don't expect the clock to work).



The X300 XJ was actually the first vehicle built by Jaguar under Ford's ownership tenure. This is not something to scoff at because the company brought a much needed cash injection into Jaguars Castle Bromwich facilities. This included very advanced new robots and a significant step up in reliability and electronics. It is only if one really scrutinizes the X300 can any trace of Ford be found, some sections of the interior that are rarely used and somewhat hidden bare traces of the Blue Oval parts bin.

Believe it or not there was no 8 cylinder option in the X300 series, a slew of different inline 6's and a range topping V12 were the choices. Many people get the X300 and it's replacement the X308, which is almost identical, confused as the same car. It was the X308 that introduced the range of V8's from the end of 1997. I have had the privilege of driving the standard 3.2L I6 as pictured here and also an XJR which featured a potent 4.0 supercharged I6. Both cars used a 4 speed automatic, a German ZF unit on the 3.2 and a General motors unit on the XJR. Of course both were shifted through the infamous J-Gate shifter, something that I miss on the new Tata Jaguars.



Driving impressions were very different on both cars, I found the XJR staggeringly fast, c. 322 horsepower and a fantastic muffled supercharger whine dispatch with the 0-100kph run in around 5.5 seconds. That said, the 200 horses the 3.2 provided were better suited to this cars purpose, it really is a very nice torque-y little engine. The seats were far more comfortable than the firmer sports seats in the XJR and I guess common middle ground would be the naturally aspirated 4.0 I6. The ride is exceptional, noise reduction is good but impact terms are non existent, potholes become something entirely un-concerning.

Various trim lines existed for the model and even some special editions such as the Heritage pictured in this review. In ascending order of expense I believe it went XJ6, Sovereign, Sport, XJR, XJ12 and the Daimler badged Vanden Plas capping it off. Long wheel base variants were available too, queue the rear timber picnic tables!



When looking to buy these, believe it or not, the I6's were more trouble free than the later V8s that replaced them. Make sure the vehicles is accompanied with receipts and books and obviously check all the main functions are operable (A/C, heat, stereo, windows, wipers, etc..). Check the exhaust manifold and suspension components as well as timing tensioners. Rust can appear in gas filler cap, under rear windscreen and around the guards, although Australian examples should be free of it.

Leaving this car is something to regret, everything about driving or riding in one instantly makes a bad day all the better. Age does not diminish their curbside appeal and waxed up there is no reason a Valet won't put one on display, even around the age of 20.

It is little connotations of heritage constantly thrown at you that make this car special. Look down at the walnut wheel and the face of a Jaguar is embossed in the leather, snarling at you. look over the hood and it's leaping forward in chrome, glance about the cabin and although you probably don't own a library wing in your house the timber and leather make you wish you had one, and a pipe. Even the leather trunk close tab is colour matched leather. For the paltry sum these beasts change hands for in the year 2015, it is well worth owning and enjoying one.








3 comments:

  1. Hi Mark, I hope you still own your X300. I have a 1996 Xj6 version of the X300. I have the 4Ltr long wheel version. I just love this car. I had a series 1 in the early 70's and went off them when they started changing them in the eighties etc. I t wasn't until Geoff Lawson redesigned the car and stripped away all the changes that did not enhance the original series 1 designs beauty. Geoff Lawson should be commended for bringing the X300 back to the earlier design. The X300 design is smooth, clean and curvaceous. I can't find a car regardless of price that pleases me as much as the X300. I won't be parting with mine until I can't drive any more and then I'll probably still keep it just to look at.

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  2. Just got my first real Jag. I do not count the xtype i owned. After just a week i can say i love the car. So smooth and the looks are magnificent,really. This is the car i wanted for years and finally i got one. Feel like a King driving it.

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  3. I second the X Type reference there, they're not proper old school Jaguars. I love my 1995 3.2.

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