Well, there were some good guesses as to which car would be next. Here it is:
2000 Jaguar XJR: Well, with V8-RWD, 370HP and 390TQ, this is a car I HAD to check out. And surprisingly, it falls well within my price ranges. I asked the salesman why a nearly $100,000CDN car depreciates quickly. I believe his answer was straightforward and truthfully (since I had researched it beforehand). Simply put, the reliability of Jaguars before Ford owned them was terrible. In days past, any Jag with over 50,000kms could be a service nightmare. Not so since Ford took over. He confided that the X and S Types still aren’t where they need to be, but the XJs always had more attention put on them since they were the bread and butter of Jag sales. This vehicle had 75,000kms, and a complete service history, which was remarkably free of problems. I also was able to speak to the previous owner who upgraded for a 2004 model. I must confess to having been under the “Jags are crap” impression until I did my research. I was even able to talk to a few Jag owners who drive as much as I do, and their XJR seems to be at least as reliable as my Mark was.
The Walkaround: Nice car. Paint is very nice, with the usual chips you’d see on a 2000. Rims look huge even though they are only 18”. Styling is very classic, and not likely to get old anytime soon. Looks very similar to the new XJR, except the new one has slightly smoother lines. This is a car you will be noticed in. Not sure if this is good or bad!
The Interior: Holy smokes…it smells like I’ve just walked into a leather store! Strong leather smell….like the car is still new. The leather is buttery smooth. Seats are power adjustable, obviously, but so is the headrest. Different. Fit is cockpit-like, which reminds me ALOT of the Mark. Maybe only a touch less room than the Mark, but it’s fine for me. Anyone over 6 ft tall though, might be in for a tight fit. The wood inside the car is absolutely beautiful. From door, across dash, to the passenger door, there is beautifully finished burled wood. Very rich. You feel like this IS a luxury car. Some of the controls are in a nonsensical position…but maybe that’s how it’s done across the pond. Rear seat room is a joke (as it is in the Mark). We have no kids, so it’s not a big issue with us. Leather is called “Oatmeal” in colour. I call it beige. Did I mention it’s supple and very nice?
The Drive: Ok, start it up. Wow. I feel a teeny shake as the car starts. Pretty quiet. At least as quiet as the Mark. Perhaps a touch more. Driving normally, this car is quiet, comfy and serene. It REALLY reminds me of the Mark. Not as quiet as the Town Car, but still quite nice. Definitely more road noise though. Guess that’s what 18” wheels will do on fat tires. Ride is amazingly smooth, despite the big wheels. I was expecting a rougher ride, and was pleasantly surprised by this. The salesman prods me to “jam on the pedal”. Which one? “Just mat it”. Ahh..ok..the Loud Pedal. And boy, does this thing get up and go!! With test times of 0-60 in mid to low 5’s and a ¼ mile of 13.6 or so, you certainly could catch a C5 driver if he was napping at the light. This is what a Mark would feel like with 100 or so more horsies. Supercharger whine is kind of annoying to me…or perhaps I just need to get used to it. Sadly, it is about all you hear. The engine/exhaust is muffled and pretty mellow. The car is very quiet, and as such, the perception of speed is quite different. On a roll, this car is STUPENDOUS! As we all know, the Mark is a great car in roll-ons, and a match for any car. But this thing is amazing in this regard. From 80-120KMs in the blink of an eye. It just pulls so hard as to be unbelievable. I have a hard time believing that there are many cars that would take this car on a roll. It’s that fast. But smooth at the same time. You are surprised that the car is going as fast as it is until you look at the speedo. Handling is nice too. Corners tighter than the Mark….no surprise here. Brakes are great too. This is a great luxury-sport vehicle.
Overall: This is a fantastic all around car. It does everything pretty well. It’s reminds me a lot of the Mark, but seems to do everything a little better. This is a great, great car. If anyone is looking for a replacement, this could be it. On a bad note, I did ask what a new engine would cost if I ever needed one. Now obviously, I’d rebuild, but just for the sake of knowing a complete engine is a bit over $15,000. OUCH!! Double the price of a Mark engine. All in all, this car is near the top of my list. But I’m still kinda scared of the reliability, as I will be doing tons of driving. But great car. And fun too!
2000 Jaguar XJR: Well, with V8-RWD, 370HP and 390TQ, this is a car I HAD to check out. And surprisingly, it falls well within my price ranges. I asked the salesman why a nearly $100,000CDN car depreciates quickly. I believe his answer was straightforward and truthfully (since I had researched it beforehand). Simply put, the reliability of Jaguars before Ford owned them was terrible. In days past, any Jag with over 50,000kms could be a service nightmare. Not so since Ford took over. He confided that the X and S Types still aren’t where they need to be, but the XJs always had more attention put on them since they were the bread and butter of Jag sales. This vehicle had 75,000kms, and a complete service history, which was remarkably free of problems. I also was able to speak to the previous owner who upgraded for a 2004 model. I must confess to having been under the “Jags are crap” impression until I did my research. I was even able to talk to a few Jag owners who drive as much as I do, and their XJR seems to be at least as reliable as my Mark was.
The Walkaround: Nice car. Paint is very nice, with the usual chips you’d see on a 2000. Rims look huge even though they are only 18”. Styling is very classic, and not likely to get old anytime soon. Looks very similar to the new XJR, except the new one has slightly smoother lines. This is a car you will be noticed in. Not sure if this is good or bad!
The Interior: Holy smokes…it smells like I’ve just walked into a leather store! Strong leather smell….like the car is still new. The leather is buttery smooth. Seats are power adjustable, obviously, but so is the headrest. Different. Fit is cockpit-like, which reminds me ALOT of the Mark. Maybe only a touch less room than the Mark, but it’s fine for me. Anyone over 6 ft tall though, might be in for a tight fit. The wood inside the car is absolutely beautiful. From door, across dash, to the passenger door, there is beautifully finished burled wood. Very rich. You feel like this IS a luxury car. Some of the controls are in a nonsensical position…but maybe that’s how it’s done across the pond. Rear seat room is a joke (as it is in the Mark). We have no kids, so it’s not a big issue with us. Leather is called “Oatmeal” in colour. I call it beige. Did I mention it’s supple and very nice?
The Drive: Ok, start it up. Wow. I feel a teeny shake as the car starts. Pretty quiet. At least as quiet as the Mark. Perhaps a touch more. Driving normally, this car is quiet, comfy and serene. It REALLY reminds me of the Mark. Not as quiet as the Town Car, but still quite nice. Definitely more road noise though. Guess that’s what 18” wheels will do on fat tires. Ride is amazingly smooth, despite the big wheels. I was expecting a rougher ride, and was pleasantly surprised by this. The salesman prods me to “jam on the pedal”. Which one? “Just mat it”. Ahh..ok..the Loud Pedal. And boy, does this thing get up and go!! With test times of 0-60 in mid to low 5’s and a ¼ mile of 13.6 or so, you certainly could catch a C5 driver if he was napping at the light. This is what a Mark would feel like with 100 or so more horsies. Supercharger whine is kind of annoying to me…or perhaps I just need to get used to it. Sadly, it is about all you hear. The engine/exhaust is muffled and pretty mellow. The car is very quiet, and as such, the perception of speed is quite different. On a roll, this car is STUPENDOUS! As we all know, the Mark is a great car in roll-ons, and a match for any car. But this thing is amazing in this regard. From 80-120KMs in the blink of an eye. It just pulls so hard as to be unbelievable. I have a hard time believing that there are many cars that would take this car on a roll. It’s that fast. But smooth at the same time. You are surprised that the car is going as fast as it is until you look at the speedo. Handling is nice too. Corners tighter than the Mark….no surprise here. Brakes are great too. This is a great luxury-sport vehicle.
Overall: This is a fantastic all around car. It does everything pretty well. It’s reminds me a lot of the Mark, but seems to do everything a little better. This is a great, great car. If anyone is looking for a replacement, this could be it. On a bad note, I did ask what a new engine would cost if I ever needed one. Now obviously, I’d rebuild, but just for the sake of knowing a complete engine is a bit over $15,000. OUCH!! Double the price of a Mark engine. All in all, this car is near the top of my list. But I’m still kinda scared of the reliability, as I will be doing tons of driving. But great car. And fun too!
T 2