1998 Daimler V8 in the UK
#1
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
My grandad passed away last year and left me a little bit of money to buy something for myself which I would keep and enjoy. After thinking about it and discussing with Mrs cv01jw I set about looking for a suitable classic car.
I have wanted an XJ ever since my brother rocked up in a bright red one when I was 7 or 8. He was a mechanic and had popped out for lunch in a client's car. I sat in the leather interior and stared at the wood and digital dash in awe. At the time my dad had a poverty spec E reg Escort (1.3 popular) and so the Jag was, to use my 11 year old son's favourite word, epic.
That car was a Series III. In my research I had figured out that a decent Series III was both out of my budget and unsuitable to be kept long term outside. As I have no garage I discounted these and moved on to newer models. I spent some time looking at XJ40’s, the most recent of which I saw only a few days ago, but the cars were either way over budget or rotten.
Feeling disheartened after seeing what appeared to be a lovely XJ12 turn out to be rotten, and being stuck in a Premier Inn room for the Saturday night with the family, I trawled the internet for X300’s and X308’s. I found a number of potential candidates but one stood out in particular – a 1998 Daimler V8. It was in Birmingham, which is a long way from me in Dorset, but I was staying overnight in Monmouth and so my man maths said I was already most of the way there. Our plans for the Sunday were changed and we drove up to view the car.
Thankfully it was not a wasted trip and the car looked as good as the ad suggested. I ended up buying it there and then and driving it home, following my wife who has to drive my Mii back.
Here is the obligatory petrol station shot, taken on the journey home:
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/Ht8QUohE.jpg)
And one showing it (just) fits on the drive:
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/ukAWm3XJ.jpg)
The car is a 1998 Daimler V8. It is essentially an X308 Jaguar XJ in LWB guise with a 4.0 litre V8 and 5 speed auto box. It is running on Daimler 16 inch wheels with 225/60 R16 tyres. It ticked over 120,000 miles on the journey from Birmingham to Dorset. On the run down I averaged 24mpg which I was happy with, especially as I was using the journey to get to know the car and its performance.
The plan was to have it as a weekend car but I, um, accidentally drove it to work on Monday and Tuesday 😊. I have a feeling I may do for a few more days, to run it in of course.
Even though it was really clean when I left Birmingham it is now covered in bugs, and so I will take some photos once I have cleaned it up again. For now, below are a few from the advert.
It may not strictly be a classic, but I love it and with time I think it will become seen as a classic – much like the XJ40 is doing now.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/V6n2ezNL.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/CwRyhQ0Q.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/NHue4DkC.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/66k00aXB.jpg)
I have wanted an XJ ever since my brother rocked up in a bright red one when I was 7 or 8. He was a mechanic and had popped out for lunch in a client's car. I sat in the leather interior and stared at the wood and digital dash in awe. At the time my dad had a poverty spec E reg Escort (1.3 popular) and so the Jag was, to use my 11 year old son's favourite word, epic.
That car was a Series III. In my research I had figured out that a decent Series III was both out of my budget and unsuitable to be kept long term outside. As I have no garage I discounted these and moved on to newer models. I spent some time looking at XJ40’s, the most recent of which I saw only a few days ago, but the cars were either way over budget or rotten.
Feeling disheartened after seeing what appeared to be a lovely XJ12 turn out to be rotten, and being stuck in a Premier Inn room for the Saturday night with the family, I trawled the internet for X300’s and X308’s. I found a number of potential candidates but one stood out in particular – a 1998 Daimler V8. It was in Birmingham, which is a long way from me in Dorset, but I was staying overnight in Monmouth and so my man maths said I was already most of the way there. Our plans for the Sunday were changed and we drove up to view the car.
Thankfully it was not a wasted trip and the car looked as good as the ad suggested. I ended up buying it there and then and driving it home, following my wife who has to drive my Mii back.
Here is the obligatory petrol station shot, taken on the journey home:
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/Ht8QUohE.jpg)
And one showing it (just) fits on the drive:
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/ukAWm3XJ.jpg)
The car is a 1998 Daimler V8. It is essentially an X308 Jaguar XJ in LWB guise with a 4.0 litre V8 and 5 speed auto box. It is running on Daimler 16 inch wheels with 225/60 R16 tyres. It ticked over 120,000 miles on the journey from Birmingham to Dorset. On the run down I averaged 24mpg which I was happy with, especially as I was using the journey to get to know the car and its performance.
The plan was to have it as a weekend car but I, um, accidentally drove it to work on Monday and Tuesday 😊. I have a feeling I may do for a few more days, to run it in of course.
Even though it was really clean when I left Birmingham it is now covered in bugs, and so I will take some photos once I have cleaned it up again. For now, below are a few from the advert.
It may not strictly be a classic, but I love it and with time I think it will become seen as a classic – much like the XJ40 is doing now.
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/V6n2ezNL.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/CwRyhQ0Q.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/NHue4DkC.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/66k00aXB.jpg)
![](https://thumbsnap.com/s/hMll3e7C.jpg)
#2
![Default](/forum/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Welcome to the forum cv01jw,
(I've deleted your duplicate of this thread)
Good to have you with us at Jaguar forums. A very successful weekend. Looks superb.
I had the Jaguar Sovereign LWB but would definitely have gone for the Daimler version if I could have found one at the time.
Follow this link XJ XJ8 / XJR ( X308 ) - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the X308 forum for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues.
Please remember to add vehicle details to your Signature to help others to give relevant advice. Go to the User CP button on the left of the top menu bar, then Settings & Options under Your Control Panel. Select Edit Signature and enter the details.
You can also visit the UK & Eire Region forum by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/uk-eire-68/ to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums.
Graham
(I've deleted your duplicate of this thread)
Good to have you with us at Jaguar forums. A very successful weekend. Looks superb.
I had the Jaguar Sovereign LWB but would definitely have gone for the Daimler version if I could have found one at the time.
Follow this link XJ XJ8 / XJR ( X308 ) - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the X308 forum for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top is a good place to start for information on regular issues.
Please remember to add vehicle details to your Signature to help others to give relevant advice. Go to the User CP button on the left of the top menu bar, then Settings & Options under Your Control Panel. Select Edit Signature and enter the details.
You can also visit the UK & Eire Region forum by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/uk-eire-68/ to find other members in your region.
Enjoy the forums.
Graham
Last edited by GGG; 05-23-2018 at 10:26 AM.
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Welcome to Jaguar Forums cv01jw,
Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.
If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help
Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.
If you haven't done so already you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.
If you need help with getting around and using the forum follow this link for some help Forum Help
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