I'm trying to decide between two cars: an 06 Super V8 Portfolio with 49K miles and an 07 XJR with 23K miles. Both are in nice condition, though a PPI of the Super V8 has revealed some possible issues with the wheelspeed sensor and the transmission controller that the selling dealer says it will fix. The inspection also revealed that the Super V8 had dirty filters, so someone had been trying to save money on maintenance although for most of its life Carfax shows it was properly maintained by the Jaguar dealer. Price for both cars is similar (around $31K).

So, on the one hand, the Super V8 is beautiful, especially inside. The satin finish wood and the soft leather are very, very appealing. On the other hand the XJR is much lower mileage and has over a year of factory warranty left. What would you do?

 

oooo hard call to make. But when you decide and purchase dont be a stranger here : )


p.s. post pics of car's if ya can

 

Both are awesome. I would take the one that makes you feel the best driving it. If thats equal. Pick the one with lower miles and under warranty!

 

my 2 cents I would go with the XJR, the super v8 has too many things to break. both cars are very cool so you can't lose though!

 

Thanks for the advice - the more I think about it, the Super V8 is a car with stories, the XJR is the one to go with. Especially since the dealer keeps sweetening the pot...

No question, though, Portfolio has one of the nicest interiors I've ever seen short of an old Bentley.

 

The XJR will ride harder. I would pick the car that looks nicer or has the options you want. 25K differnece in mileage is nothing for these cars.

 

What's so different about the Portfolio Super V8 that won't break on the XJR? The rear entertainment/climate system?

 

I bought a 06 Super V8 portfolio Edition a few months ago and love it! The large backseat legroom is great and the 20 " wheels are real head turners. That car was $116K new. If u can get it for $31K then buy it.

 

Super V8 and buy an extended warranty on your own. Super V8 is darn beautiful to pass up. It is the best variant of the XJ8 series.

 

After much thought I bought the 07 XJR - the deal was just too good to pass up (and the Portfolio had too many questions hanging over it). I've just driven the car back from Las Vegas and I thought I'd share my impressions of both cars as well as the 07 BMW M5 I tried.

The XJR, as you who have driven it know, has one of the great chassis designs of all time. The balance of ride, brakes and handling is better than anything I've ever driven...someone at Jaguar really knew how to pick spring and shock rates. It is so smooth, yet the control is always there and it never feels floaty or Cleopatra's barge-like. I'm also impressed by the power of the brakes and the way (characteristic of great cars) that everything is so balanced and harmonious of effort and response. And bloody hell - it's quick!

In comparison, the Super V8 Portfolio has a more luxurious interior and a flashier exterior. The one I considered was finished in a sort of pale greenish-gold, very attractive in the sunlight (and a very high-quality paintjob). It has 20" Callista wheels which give it a more macho look than the 20" Sepang alloys on the XJR (the Sepang wheels look a bit ghetto in photos but quite elegant in the flesh). The Portfolio has most of the same interior bits but the leather on the seats is much higher quality than the XJR - soft and thick like a Coach jacket. Unfortunately the soft leather sticks to you like a second skin and becomes hot and sweaty to sit on after a while. The satin-finish veneer is also, in my opinion, more elegant than the polished look of the XJR. And the rear seats, which is where you'd really want to travel, have every toy known and masses of legroom in the Portfolio. Supposedly the Portfolio has a softer ride but I couldn't detect any difference.

One thing all the reviewers mentioned was that you don't notice the extra 5" in the LWB cars - my experience was the opposite. Perhaps I was just too aware of all the space behind the driver's seat, but the Portfolio felt really large whereas the XJR seems to shrink around you on the move.

So, as someone once said of the difference between Rolls and Bentley, the XJR is the car you drive, the Portfolio the car you are driven in.

And the M5? A bit of a letdown - even in manual (non-SMG) form. Around town it feels soft, dull, even under-powered. Granny could drive it with ease and have no idea she was in a car capable of 205 mph. The sense of driver involvement that was so present in the E39 M5 is gone - Jeremy Clarkson was absolutely right about this car...and yes, I did have the M button on!

So thanks for your thoughts - I'm planning to drive up PCH tomorrow to let it run in its natural habitat (Malibu).

 

Congratulations. Enjoy your car.

 

Good to hear you bought one. You will love the R if you like speed and turnng. Everytime I get in mine I forget I have room for 5 people.

 

Hey if you are going to get rid of those sepangs let me know. I can't find any anywhere lol.

 

If you buy Sepangs make sure you get a pack of toothbrushes at Costco - you're going to need them to clean the brake dust out of all the nooks and crannies!

 

I would buy some if I could find some used ones out there lol