Engine vibration in '97 XJ6.

Hey everyone,

I'm a new member. I know a fair amount about cars and am looking at buying a '97 XJ6 or '98 XJ8. I have a question.

I drove a '97 XJ6 with 88,000 miles; it was in average condition. To me, the engine seemed to have a vibration to it and this made me hesitant about the car. I then drove a '97 with 36,000 miles and it too, seemed to have this same vibration. It's not severe, but feels a little bit like something is out of balance. I wondered why you would design an engine with a vibration like that.

I then drove a '98 XJ8 with 69,000 miles. It had no such vibration. Is this vibration I felt with the six just the way they are? Or, should a '97 idle just as smooth as a '98?

I suspect many will try to convince me I really ought to get the V8, just on general principle, rather than the six. The thing is, I really don't care about horsepower; the 245 of the six is more than adequate for me And the EPA mileage rating on the two engines is virtually the same. The fact that there is about a $4000 price difference between a '97 and a '98 makes the '97 quite attractive.

Was the V8 in '98 any more reliable than the '97 six?

-Jim Raymond