There's a lot of hubbub about the new XJ, but it's interesting to think about when our X308 cars were the most advanced XJ out there

I found this on youtube, it's a 1998 Jaguar XJ promotional video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz1VU...eature=related

 

I posted this video and, a X300 video, and a video that is IMHO the more detailed and interesting XJ40 development. Check out them out. Especially the XJ40 one. I don't like the car but it really shows the engineering behind Jaguar.

 

I agree, the XJ40 is horrid looking car which does not excite in any way whatsoever. In fact when I see one I cover my eyes. But it is interesting to see the development methods of the company, especially how and where they test the cars.

(Sorry to any XJ40 drivers, but I really hate them!)

 

LOL Stu, everyone has a different opinion

 

It's amazing to see that they were doing back in the 80s on that XJ40, and the XJ40 isn't the prettiest pot at the pottery, but I've always maintained that all XJs are very cool in their own ways for different reasons

 

I used to dislike XJ40s but recently I've starting warming up to them a bit. I think it's due to my even greater distaste for overly-roundish styling where every car looks like a jelly bean or, more recently, the bulked-up, slab-sided, slit-windowed, bustled-rear-end fad.

I will say, though, that the "right" color and the "right" wheels can absolutley make or break an XJ40 :-)

Cheers
DD

 

I think the only XJ40s that look ok are the '93-'94 XJ12s. They had a nice interior. My mom used to have a '88 XJ6 in the early 90s that actually got compliments. When I was young I thought the car looked nice, but that was prob b/c it was expensive. I bet if it was the price of a honda, I would have thought it was trash.

The car got flooded in '94. My parents were glad that car was gone.

Most XJ40s driving around these days look horrible. The only luxury car that looks good today IMHO from that 80s era is the E34 BMW 5-series ('88-'95).

 

...'cept the e34's weren't really luxury cars. The 5-series were the 4-door sports car...the "cash cow" for BMW. The luxury car for BMW was the e32's...the 7's. I have a '91 735i and absolutely love that body style. I do like some of the technological advancements and interiors of some of the latter 7's, but to me the beauty is the e32.

In fact, it was a beautiful sunny day here in the Alamo city today and after my son and I finished hand washing both Vandy and Black Beauty, I was standing at the garage door starring at Vandy. My son asked what I was looking at and I told him I absolutely love the body lines of Vandy. He agreed but said he really loves the lines of my 7...to which I also agreed. Two very beautiful rides...just different...like a red-head and a brunette!

 

Stu, Sorry mate, I must disagree. Other than the bustleback Cadillac Seville or the Bentley Mulsanne, the XJ40 was unrivalled. That was a great car, and a great looking car. And today, at my school, a basketballist said that he thought my car was a 2011. And he even likes cars. (of course, mine was waxed and sparkling at the time, as per usual). The XJ Sport is a classic, and it is the last truly enduring Jaguar saloon design today. Perhaps though, the X350 will mature like ours have. The X308 is one of the last cars designed in Lyon's tradition, not like the scientific approach Ian Callum uses. He is skilled, but not as talented as Geoff Lawson or Sir William Lyons. My car looks new today, and its only done 40,000 miles, so I'm thinking that the X308 is a truly enduring classic, in the finest tradition. It exemplifies the perfect 20th century ideals of a car, and I'm relatively attached to those.

 

I was blessed with a new 1982 Series III -- it was turquoise with a cream interior -- beautiful. I was thinking about the XJ40 when it came out -- but I never liked the exterior - I seriously looked at a red one but bought a Mercedes S class. We had a 40 in the family and it was nothing but trouble. Jaguar had to build the 40 -- the original XJ was outclassed and too expensive to build -- but Jaguar had terrible money/management problems in the 1980's.

Although -- much of the XJ40 survived until the end of the x308

 

The XJ40, esp the later year Vanden Plas, had a very nice interior (except for the weird front seat headrests on the '88-'90). I think the only other car at the time that was competitive for interior design was the BMW e32 (7-series). The lexus LS400 had a pretty weak interior along with the Mercedes S class of the era. Even the '92-'98 S-class interior paled in comparison to the VDP XJ40. The infitinti Q45 was also not very impressive in that aspect either. Audi was far behind at the time.

Too bad IMHO the XJ40 looked worse than all of those cars on the outside except for the Q45 the Audis.

 

I think the W126 is > than the XJ40 but then again I'm biased because I'm originally a Benz nut at heart

 

You really cannot compare interiors of these cars in terms of design and build quality because they all acquire different buyers.

BMW: German, stoic, dark, cold, heavily sport/performance/driver oriented, not as well built as the Mercedes, but for the VERY seriously involved driver

Mercedes: German, stoic, dark, cold, designed for ease of use and ergonomics, the benchmark in build quality and solidity (they aren't known for that for nothing), meant for the executive business men who want a serious luxury car, and we're comparing the equal 79-91 W126, not the 92-98 W140 which is meant to be pinned against the X300-308

Lexus: Japanese, a bit pedestrian, designed also for ease of use and ergonomics, equally a benchmark to the Mercedes (they weren't known for that for nothing either), meant for the executive business men who wanted a serious luxury car for a price conscientious buyer

Infiniti Q45: Japanese, again a bit pedestrian but heavily sport/performance/driver oriented. Infinti's were seriously praised for their attention to detail in build quality during this era.

Jaguar: British, the most unique, charismatic, and designed for a surgeon and to be pleasing and soothing.

All cars with different ideologies. they all were built at a time when cars were still outrageously over-engineered to today's standards...the only thing that should be compared between any of them is by the people who buy them.

 

@ ianclemants: We are all entitled to our own opinions, that is what makes life interesting! But I honestly loathe the XJ40, I hate it's squareness and its slack ar*ed rear end. I hate it's interior colours and dashboard. I hate it because its from the Thatcher era and I hate her too! But I love the X308. It is (to me) the perfect Jaguar. Its styling is wonderful, just the right amount of curves and swoops. I love the V8 and I love the styling cues such as the blades in the lights or the chrome strip that runs along the lower grill splitter. The X350 is too tall and the new XJ looks like a Citroen C6. Even though my X308 gets used, a lot, it gets pampered just as much-I love my car!

However, I must admit something here. At the same time I bought my X308 I very nearly bought a 2001 BMW 740i in Red with a grey interior. I always liked that shape and era of BMW and after seeing "Tomorrow Never Dies" I wanted one. But when it came down to it the Jaguar was always going to be the winner. Simply because its a Jag and I'm a Jag man!

I also like the 2008 Audi A8 Diesel V8. Though sadly the A8 has a bit of a stigma attached to it.

S.

 

Who on earth hates Thatcher. That era produced cars that are still brilliant, 1n 1993 you could go into a Jaguar dealer and ask for a square-but-brilliant XJ40, or even an XJ220. It is still faster than most modern supercars. And yes, that 90's-01 BMW 7 series is a looker, I considered one of those. Too old though, BMW isn't all that reliable.

 

Seriously- Don't go there! A LOT of people around here where I live and work were badly effected by what her government did to the country, and some are still feeling the effects now. She is not well liked at all!

I don't want to get into an off thread political debate - That is not what the Forum is for - but I've said my piece and that is that. Many people may disagree with my opinion but that is life and their choice.

Now Back to cars....

 

http://imcdb.org/vehicle_204649-Jagu...XJ40-1993.html

 

What is so "horrid" about them? It still had the classic XJ lines albeit more square corners. If you think about it what Jaguar did in 1988 with the then new XJ40 is basically what they did in 2011 with the new X351. Took a radical styling approach.

The XJ40 is a better car then the 88-94 7 series. And the late 80's Mercedes S class was dated in comparison even by 1988 standards until it got replaced in 1992.

 

The MB126 changed everything when it came out in 1979 - and it lived until 1991. The series III XJ was nicer looking -- but outclassed.

I loved mine -- and it was a much better car then the w140 that replaced it.

The W140 was the worst car I have ever owned and I was not unique in that -- stopped buying Mercedes after that ............ Until I recently bought a E CPO Wagon.

 

I agree with AJ16er, the XJ40 was a radical departure, just like today's XJ- and its architecture was used on the X308 to some extent. XJ40 is a classic- if I could get one in black with a V12 I would be extremely happy.