Last fall I bought a 2001 XJ8 VDP, and am generally happy with it, except for the prospect of sooner or later having to swap out chain tensioners, water pumps and many other things.

But after getting educated about all these weak points, I now wonder, was I too hasty? Was the XJ6 from (say) 96-97 a better or at least more reliable car?

Maybe delayed "buyer's remorse" ! I'm sure many here must have strong opinions about this.

 

its not an issue with a couple of the issue to address. Yes they XJ6 is more reliable in the drivetrain. But you dont have many nice things like steering wheels radio and cruise control. the V8 normally aspirated is more power the XJR 6 supercharged and gets better mileage. Fix the few known issues, the water pump is not an issue on yours just the tensioners and the plastic pieces in the cooling system, like the t stat housing and crossover pipe, oh and the occassional bad coil or 2, so enjoy the car

 

Define "reliable" :-).

AFAIC, a car that starts every morning, gets me to work, and returns me home without the assistance of a tow truck, is reliable. One that doesn't, isn't.

For others "reliable" means "not too much repair expense" and "unreliable" means it swallows money like crazy. :-)

It's true that the 95-97 XJ6s didn't have the engine problems that the V8s have. But they also didn't the V8 power, the better front suspension, and other improvements/features.

Get the engine updates done and enjoy the car without looking back. You know you'll never find more car for less money. :-)

Cheers
DD

 

My 02 has required less repair than my 95x300 vdp. The Jaguar I6 was a great engine -- very willing -- but not effortless power like the V8. The engine suffered its share of head gasket failures and the same oil in the coil pack/ spark plug problem of the V8 cars. I remember a lot of AC compressor failures -- same suspension issues.

Its important to remember that the expectations of the era were very different than today. The idea that all major systems would run past 120k without failure was not an expectation. Today a failed transmission at 120k is called unreliable we would have been blessing it back in 1995. Same goes with hoses/belts/fluids.

 

Unlike some who will offer their opinion, I have both. I agree with the previous posters and offer the additional fact that X300s are 3 years older than the X308s. If you wanted reliability in a 12 year old car, you should have bought a Civic.

 

Even with the issues I am currently experiencing with my 99..I would find it difficult to drive a different makers car. I had an 88 and it had its own peculiar "problems" Running well was not one of them!...Like previous posters have "said" focus your attentions on what you have, be thankful, and quit making yourself uneasy with the second-guessing. Rarely is the grass greener,...and what if if was? higher maintenance and more mowing?

 

You bought one of Jaguar's best editions. Just get those tensioners changed out ASAP, for heaven's sake!

 

The XJ8 bugs are easily and cheaply fixed.

Then you have a car that is similar to the XJ6 but is technically better in every way.

Plus it has had more development time from generous Ford to iron out the quirks.

So it is a reliable car.

The XJ6s are all quite old now and will require regular attention.

 

I had an XJ6R for about 6 months. Bought it out of impulse... I was not impressed by the car at all. Granted it had abusive owners which doesn't help, but I was kinda shocked with the ride and build quality... Idk, but for w/e reason it wasn't there on that Jag like I expected. I told myself I wouldn't buy another X300 again. And of course, not even a week after having sold the XJR I go buy an XJ8. I was skeptical, but the price was right and when I drove it, I knew it was a keeper . The ride and handling of the XJ8s are wonderful, better than our newer 2005 XJR. The dynamics of the car are great and I can really feel the build quality in it vs. the XJ6R. Unfortunately I'm having transmission problems at the moment, but I think and am praying its a sensor problem as the transmission was rebuilt not even 25k miles ago. I have nothing against the XJ6 platform, I probably just got a lemon, but that is my experience with the two of them.

 

The X308 is a far better looking car that the X300. The little changes between the two make all the difference I think. (No offence to any X300 owners BTW, just my opinion)
S.

 

I guess that is why we have chocolate and vanilla -- I prefer the bumpers of the x300 over the x308. And while I think the dash is better looking in the 308 I would have kept the 300's open gauge's vs the round ones in the 308.

I like the door trim in the X300. The back seat in the x300vdp was nice also - not the bench of the later VDP's


Overall it was a positive design change from 300 to 308 ...IMO -- I just did not like the "ford" round/curves introduced. The bumpers on the 308 looked like a Mercury Sable. And why curve all the wood trim?

 

I actually do like the bumpers and the instrument gauges more on the X300. I probably just had a lemon x300, but IMO the overall handling and feeling of the vehicle seems better on the 308s.

 

Yup, I also prefer X300 gauges and door veneers over X308's . I like X308 grill over X300 though

 

here is my 2 cents about x300 vs xj8 :
my mom, who always dreamed of owning a jag, bought a 1995 x300 in 1995 i drove it occasionally and i was impressed with the handling and the interior appointment of the little cat, so, when it became time to replace my 1997 cobra convertible. in 2000 i bought a xj8.
that turned out to be not a good choice for me, i drove 60,000 miles in 4 years and during that time i had a lot of problems. In short : when i turned it in in 2004 to get a lincoln towncar the car had a bad transmission somehow and was valued the whole of $12,000 against the purchase of the town car. mind you this was a car that i had paid something like $64,000 only 4 8 months earlier.