1998 Jaguar XJ8 review from North America
"Classic looks, low maintenance costs"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
Front suspension bushings replaced three times; determined to be design defect and was cured after third time.
Driver's seat setting memory is faulty; doesn't return to set position.
Too much travel on brake pedal.
General comments?
Car is driven only a few thousand miles a year. Wife, who is 5'3" loves the car due to comfort, ride and looks, and claims she will never get rid of it. I find it too cramped, hard to get in and out of (I'm 6'3"), and that it has poor trunk space, but once I'm in it and have finally got the seat set correctly, I like the smooth ride. It's a great long trip cruiser. But compared to my BMW I find it sluggish (even with the 290 hp V8) and spongy in turns. The interior is plush and the exterior looks are classic.
Another poor characteristic is the terrible resale value. The blue book as of 11/05 is only $11,800! The car is worth much more to us to keep than to sell since the replacement cost is so high (north of $60K?) for a car which still looks and feels like new.
Recommended reviews
| Stay Away from Car |
|
| I cannot recommend a jaguar vehicle to anyone and will never purchase one again |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Model year | 1998 |
| Year of manufacture | 1997 |
| First year of ownership | 1997 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2005 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 6 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 9 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 9 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | 8 / 10 |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 8 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 0 miles |
| Most recent distance | 26000 miles |
| Previous car | BMW 5 Series |
| Date of Entry | 13th November, 2005 |