Your views on the new XJ

Bought my 04 xjr in november. 5k miles later i couldnt be happier with my decision.

Didnt want a 'bangle mobile'. The new bmw styling isnt for me. Drove mercedes various offerings. The amg offerings are amazing, but except for the biggest model, were too small. The xjr is the perfect compromise of space and pace.

My only issue is that i wound up buying a winter/beater after whacking those big rims over some potholes. Also the winter traction is poor on the stock rims and hi-performance tires.

I actually like the 'conservative' styling, even though im only 37. Its nice knowing ive got an underrated overperforming sedan. This thing feels as fast as my old nsx--although the mags numbers suggest it is slightly slower.

the only other car i would consider is the new quattroporte.

Boy do I love all of those replies; I will probablyà stick to her or get an XJR for the performances (just an idea, I didnÆt try yet). Still love my oldies after four weeks of this new chariot. I must concede;
It is a dependable car, no more surprises or the occasional cursing! Can I believe this car will remain dependable for years to come? I have a good feeling that I will not have to shove tons of cash to keep it on the road for the next 10 years. Still, I have to spend some time with her and get better acquainted, but in general, yes, my negative impressions of the LS are slowly fading away with time.
PS. IÆm not a distinguished older gentleman wanting to visit 4 stars restaurants with my ride! IÆm just a crazy and passionate 40 something, that love Chinese food (I take the subway to get at the chow place by the way!)

I also noted that Road and Track was quite impressed with the driving qualities of the new XJR and XJ8, but also noted that the styling was somewhat more understated than they had hoped. A completely new car underneath but almost the same skin was their assessment in a nutshell.

Hey, Im 29 and I quite enjoy my XJ and dont for a second feel like I am an old man on my way out to dinner, just a helluva classy and sophisticated one.

Bon Appetit, XJ owners!

Daniel Arsenault
Lakewood, CA
1994 XJ12 Morocco Red

Daniel,

I have had several opportunities to drive the new XJ. First was at Lime Rock last year during the Empire Club's HPDE weekend. First I drove the XJ8 around the little autocross course they had set up on the Skip Barber school area. It was a very nice car. I was particularly impressed with the driver's seat, which was much more supportive and had better adjustments than the seat in my current X300. But overall, the car was not special enough to make me want one instead of what I have now.

Then I drove the XJR. Hooboyyy! That was a cat of a totally different stripe. Can you say lust! The power, precision, control and sensitive response to every driver input was breathtaking! Iwantone, Iwantone, Iwantone! (Well, maybe on the Select Edition program some day!) I had another chance to drive the XJR on public roads, where there was opportunity to let it out more than the tight autocross course allowed. This only reinforced my earlier impressions This is a very serious driver's car.

On the visual side, the new XJ is undoubtedly conservative looking. Seeing it apart from the earlier XJ models it doesn't immediately register as being that different. In the case of the XJR, this could be a definite advantage to a hard-driving owner, because the car doesn't look like the rocket it is. And the legendary Jaguar ride has not been compromised to achieve this performance. I were to take my neighbors to dinner in an new XJR, I can assure you that the ride would be anything but what the Robb Report would characterize as elderly and conservative! This car truly carries forward those Jaguar qualities of Grace, Pace and Space -- especially Pace!

Regards,
Warren Hansen
70 E-Type FHC "Silver Bolide"
96 X300

Daniel,

I have had several opportunities to drive the new XJ. First was at Lime Rock last year during the Empire Club's HPDE weekend. First I drove the XJ8 around the little autocross course they had set up on the Skip Barber school area. It was a very nice car. I was particularly impressed with the driver's seat, which was much more supportive and had better adjustments than the seat in my current X300. But overall, the car was not special enough to make me want one instead of what I have now.

Then I drove the XJR. Hooboyyy! That was a cat of a totally different stripe. Can you say lust! The power, precision, control and sensitive response to every driver input was breathtaking! Iwantone, Iwantone, Iwantone! (Well, maybe on the Select Edition program some day!) I had another chance to drive the XJR on public roads, where there was opportunity to let it out more than the tight autocross course allowed. This only reinforced my earlier impressions This is a very serious driver's car.

On the visual side, the new XJ is undoubtedly conservative looking. Seeing it apart from the earlier XJ models it doesn't immediately register as being that different. In the case of the XJR, this could be a definite advantage to a hard-driving owner, because the car doesn't look like the rocket it is. And the legendary Jaguar ride has not been compromised to achieve this performance. I were to take my neighbors to dinner in an new XJR, I can assure you that the ride would be anything but what the Robb Report would characterize as elderly and conservative! This car truly carries forward those Jaguar qualities of Grace, Pace and Space -- especially Pace!

Regards,
Warren Hansen
70 E-Type FHC "Silver Bolide"
96 X300

Everything I have seen and read says the new XJ is a fantastic drivers car, on par with anything from BMW and Mercedez. Its attractive and every bit a Jaguar. Ive sat in it, poured over it at the dealers, but I cant say I have driven it.

That said, when it first came out I had to agree with many reviewers who said " I can hardly tell the difference between the 04 and the 03". Its not a very different car with regards to styling and I think Jaguar may have missed the mark on that front. No one wants it to be a bungled design heap that is the 745i BMW but Jaguar needs to do something a little more creative next time around. The RD06 coupe is a step in the right direction.

BTW there is a feature article in Robb Report this month which includes the new XJR. Their opinion was that it was a superb car for elderly conservative people to take their neighbors to dinner.

Daniel Arsenault
Lakewood, CA
1994 XJ12 Morocco Red

Well, tank you all for your comments, I will try hard for the next month to like the car and will bring it to its extremes to find out what she got, that I missed. That remind me the day I wanted a Harley, I tried for a week my friend Soft-Tail, and didnÆt quite like it due to the poor quality/price ratio. Went and tried a Victory V92C from Polaris an all American bike, I was so amazed after a few miles, that I got oneàRelationships sometime take more time than others to come, I suppose.
Regards and thank you again!
VDP87&XJ92
Jacques

Jerry, I hope you gave hium a ride in your " Ford ".
Art Dickenson.
1983 XJS GT \"Silver\"""

Ford & Jaguar. Funny story - I have a 2000 S-Type and I was parked near a NAPA store where I saw an 1930's era Ford parked. As I was about to get into my Jag, the owner of the Model A came out of NAPA. I said, I really love those old Fords. I had one in high school. He looked at the S-Type and said "I see you STILL have a Ford!"
1974 XKE OTS
2000 S-Type V8

The all new XJ for 2004 is a totally new car and probably as advanced in design and engineering as anything out of Europe and far past anything from the US. It has the all aluminum body and structure, the highly sophisticated suspension and the hot new 4.2 litre V8. The Lincoln LS is a S-type want to be and the Town Car has nothing in common with the new 2004 XJ.
My test drive was limited, but it was all Jaguar and very definitely British. Because it still looks like a Jaguar most people don't realize that this is the most distinctively new XJ since it began.

Jerry
1998 XK8
1986 XJSC 3.6

Many moons ago when Jaguar was in the process of being "saved" by an auto maker with deeper pockets than Jaguar, I was relatively happy with Ford being the high bidder. The financial backing from Ford has I feel allowed Jaguar to bring on their cars in a manner acceptable in our times.
The Jaguar company is maturing in a way like good wine, the cars are awesome in performance, and more desireable and available to more people.
Jaguars now rank in product quality with the rest of the top rankers.
Although I have not had a chance to sample one of the latest alluminium bodied cars, I am pretty sure on a race track the Jaguars would outperform the Lincoln. The new R models I feel are hot rods with a ride and body of a super....... firm, smooth and fast, so I hear anyhow, but it seems very acceptable to me, zoom zoom zoom..........
Art Dickenson.
1983 XJS GT \"Silver\"""

funny...

the new XJ is an all new car, with a alum shell, all new system. nothign in common whatsoever with Fords or Lincolns except maybe some relays and obscure parts... while I cna understand someone whinning about the entry level X-type not feeling like a Jaguar, I really don't see what the new XJ could have in common with a lincoln...

I've had a 94 and 96 XJ6s, now we have a 99 XJR and while you can feel the improvement thru the years ,the newer models still have the same soul. Less quircky and much improved.

I've only driven the new XJ a few times, test drives, and also on track at Lime Rock and Moroso and it's very much a Jaguar. nothing in common with lincolns...

what technical data are you refering to? the only thing in common, is that the LS uses part of the Jaguar V8 engine, the block mostly, but not even the same heads. it makes less power too...

Pascal Gademer
South Florida Jaguar Club
72 E-type 2+2
00 XKR Coupe
99 XJR