I have been driving XJR's for about 8 years. I had an accident that totaled my first one and I replaced it with another 2001. This one is showing some wear and I took home last night a 2008 XJR. The 08 is a very nice car but it just dont got that wow effect. Does anyone have any thoughts or opinions about the 08? I made an offer and it looks like its going to go through but I am not 100% sure if it is the right move. Any help would be great.

 

In my opinion, recent Jaguars are morphing into pseudo-Volvos.

 

Thanks
I was thinking Ford

 

Exactly!

I've been in a similar situation when I bought my X308 earlier this Year.
Budgetwise I was able to look into the X350 range as well.
But after examining one thoroughly I decided against it and went with it's predecessor the X308.

Techniquewise the lightweight alluminum body, all the modern security features, the fully developed engine, the up to date sound-, telephone- and navigation-system, the improved handling and it's better mileage should have led me to buy the newer X350.

But the appearance of the X350 finally didn't grow on me.

In my opinion the XJ8 X308 is the last one of the "classic" Jaguars.
It has the sleek but sporty lines that made the big Jaguar sedans so adorable since decades.

The X350 is a nice car, but even if it is the more modern and maybe the better vehicle it is just to "plump".
Unfortunately with the X350 series Jaguar finally and totally lost the elegance and the style their cars had in the pre-Ford-era.

David

 

Thanks for the input. I went ahead and sealed the deal on the 08 XJR. I guess time will tell. The older I get the quieter I like my driving and after returning the 08 and driving my 01 back home, the ride is far more quiet on the 08 but I am having a hard time letting the 01 go.

 

I love my 308s, but know that the 350 would grow on me.

 

I see no fault in moving into an X350 R, especially since you've had two X308 Rs. Tell me this: did Jag put in an honest effort in keeping with the spirit of the X308?

 

The X308 and XK8 have that wow factor,m because they were designed in the tradition of Lyons, by Geoff Lawson, who has the same exact approach. Callum is obsessed over puposefullness and correctness. The newer XJR is better, but worse looking, and the interior is bigger, but has less of a sense of occasion. The X350 was in my price range, but I didn't like the styling, interior, or key as much. Plus the X308 is right in line with the XJ220, XJS, and E Type, wheras the X350 is sort of out by itself. Here is a video about what I mean:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCQIbckoOmQ . I left a comment, my username is "Acct1941".

 

I think the X308 is unique in that its beautiful interior is more visible from outside the car than any other sedan I can think of. The low horizontal belt line gives an airy open feel. An beautiful interior is necessary to complete this exterior appearance. Some modern cars, like the Chrysler 300C are able to hide their cheap interior from the public view. Imagine a X308 with such a cheap interior. That car would look much worse even when just driving by.

I prefer clear glass on X308s for this reason. Tinted glass on the X350 looks better than tint on the X308. I can imagine my Ivory interior VDP would look much less dramatic from the outside with tinted glass.

 

The 308 was a very nice car. The 350 is starting to grow on me. I would say that Jag put about 85% in keeping the spirit. The new one looks to have a bit of Ford in it. I have to say that the technical advantages on the 350 is a big plus. I really had a hard time letting my 01 XJR go.They were one of the finest auto's I have ever owned to date

 

Well, I had an '80 Series 3, now that was an elegant car even if built very badly. The squared-off XJ40 that came after never cut it for me, but the X300 did. I have to say the X308 started to drift away from the X300 in subtle ways, (look at them side by side), and the X350 came back closer to the original style although obviously it is much taller and "fatter". Ian Callum had a difficult job to do, as he had to make more room inside the car, and also the boot capacity, which on all previous XJs was very poor.

Anyway, I like the style of my XJ6 X350 just as I liked my Series 3. The only other car I would have had, if I could have afforded it at the time is the X300, but they are all a bit too old and rusty now for an everyday car, at least the ones in England are. I also get much better fuel mileage from the X350 because of the lightness of the car from the aluminium construction. This is very important in England, where we are now paying £1.21 per litre for petrol which is £5.50 ($8.58) a UK gallon, (the US gallon is slightly smaller).

 

Pardin for being slow but you guys across the pond call them all something different. Is there a conversion chart some where? LOL

 

Geoff Lawson designed the majority of the X350 until he passed in 1999. Ian Callum completed the design. Lawson designed the X300/X308, XK, S-type, X-type and the XJ220. Cullum seems to 'forget' to mention his brilliant predecessor. Lawson can be seen in the offical XJ40 video on youtube describing his XJ40 steering wheel and center ski slope design.

Callum designed the beautiful RD6 concept however.