Doh! I meant x358 purchase
As an avid XJ fan, and owner of an XJR6, I'd really like one of these diesel x358 to use as a daily driver, so I'm wondering what they are like to live with on a daily basis. As a petrolhead, it almost broke my heart when I had to bite the bullet and swap from older hi-spec turbo/supercharged car ownership to a lower-spec modern diesel eurobox (VW Passat '08 140PS). Admittedly, fuel costs were at least halved and I've only had to have the timing belt done (my first trip to a garage ever), whereas with the previous petrol cars, which were around 10-14 years old, I spent quite a while under the things, sometimes by choice and sometimes by necessity.
My first question would be to those x350/x358 owners who travel around 12k/year for a car 7-10 years old - are they still pretty reliable?
Secondly, I'm getting just under 50mpg (UK) day-to-day running (60mile round trip commute and local stuff too) so would the XJ get the claimed 35mpg for similar driving?
Thirdly, while the XJ (x300) was always a superb motorway cruiser, I felt it was a wee bit boat like on smaller roads. Does the x358 feel more nimble and is there a setting to adjust the suspension set up (or is the Sport version 'tighter' than say the Sovereign?)
I think that's enough questions for now, so thanks in advance.

 

Put your mind at rest on the handling issue. These cars feel like one half the size and weight on twisty roads due to the lightweight aluminium construction and the CATS system.

However, if you're thinking of a diesel X350, there are a number of issues that could come up due to the complexity of the engine and its ancillaries. There is a DPF and two EGRs that could get clogged up and need replacement, and this engine has a cam-belt, unlike the petrol cars. The exhaust pipes are known to crack quite close to the exhaust manifold, and until recently, it was a £100s job, but now a replacement part is available on the after market that reduces the cost very considerably.

It is also not unknown for these cars to suffer "diesel runaway" when the engine starts running on its oil that has got diluted with diesel fuel.

Diesel engine runaway - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

OK, it's rare, but there is a need to regularly check the engine oil to ensure the level is not increasing, thus indicating it is being diluted by diesel fuel.

 

Thanks for the comprehensive reply there. Much appreciated. I'm going to do as much research as I can. Cheers.