1999 Jaguar XJR V8 from UK and Ireland - Comments

Electric Steering column adjuster seems to be a little erratic at times.

I am very pleased with this car. It's almost everything that one could want in a car.

The only down side is the fuel economy which is a bit thirsty at about 19mpg average on my commute although I do get more on longer trips - about 21mpg ish.

Service costs aren't that bad - about £400 per service at the moment, and the tyres are between £150 to £200 each for the 255/40/ZR18 depending on what make you get.

It is very easy to drive fast in this car. 0-60 in 5 seconds and a (limited) top speed of 155mph mean that the acceleration is somewhat vivid. The 4.0 litre supercharged V8 gives 370bhp and basically you get instant punch and then ride along on a wave of torque to the next bend.

The handling is better than I expected - the steering is precise and direct and it really isn't a floaty barge at all, goes around corners very nicely.

Ride is quiet and irons out most road bumps. Not much wind or road noise and the engine is very quiet, you hear the supercharger more than the engine when accelerating hard.

I looked at the BMW M5 and Mercedes E55 AMG and bought the jag because it was cheaper, it looked more individual, and I preferred the interior. I really didn't like the interior on the Merc and the seats were too hard, and the new M5 I thought was overpriced and it didn't have the same interior ambience as the jag. Of the three, I think the jag looks and feels the most "special" car.

I really love the interior of the car. You have connoly leather, walnut, plenty of toys like memory seats/mirrors and steering column, parking sensors, power fold mirrors, auto dipping rear and wing mirrors, CD changer, heated seats, a sunblind etc. Leather upholstery is very soft. After a hard day at work, I look forward to getting in the car because the seats are so comfortable. They adjust in lots of different ways and I find headroom fine in contrast to some reviewers and I am 6' tall so it can't be that bad.

The rear accommodation can be tight if you want to put 3 large adults in the back, but if you mainly carry only 4 people it's fine. Nowhere near as tight as some of the reviews I read suggested.

Overall it's a sublime diving experience and if you get one, you won't be dissapointed. This is one hell of a car.

What sort of noise to you get from the super-charger? Is it in anyway obtrusive?

The noise from the supercharger is not audible in normal driving. When accelerating flat-out at about 4000rpm upward you get a whine from the supercharger. It isn't intrusive though. I don't often drive the car that hard - you really can only hear it when your foot is _flat_ to the floor.

Actually, I think the supercharger noise adds to the attraction of this beast. I love the sound of that whistle as you wind it up!

Hi guys, well I drive a 1998 XJR and I love it :-),no problems at all, i love the sound of the V8!! and I must add the looks you get from the boy racers as you beat them easily off the lights!! no one knows what the car is capable of unless you know what the R stands for!!people think its just another jag even an old mans car! the only annoying thing I find with the XJR is over sensitive traction control, of which I have been told DO NOT TURN IT OFF!! I cannot get anymore than 18.1 mpg on a long run, around town 16mpg, you guys that have the rear sunblind is the blind black? or colour coded to your trim?if you want to email me feel free gazxjrjaguar@aol.com would love to chat to you XJR peeps gaz.

I don´t start from lights with full throttle. Only with smooth touch on pedal, because I know I can be usually the fastest. And, when I meet a "racer" with "tuned" common car on the road, give him more space to fly. There is also another reason for only calm handling of Jag - in different powerful cars I noticed (for the 1st 10 seconds) light swim in my head - in the case to be a passenger only, not a driver. In Jag I feel the swim also to be a driver - and, the 1st question from ladies sitting on the seat beside me is: has it the sleeping mode?

Stan tools@aparatea.cz.

Huh? what was the last comment about?

Have read all comments on xjr's and think there a great car, don't own one myself yet as I'm only 21 so a v6 mondeo is all I can muster for now due to insurance and even that's a bit steep.

In regards to the last comment if I understand it correctly, your saying the car is very smooth away from the lights, I would have to agree with this statement as my older brother of 29 owns one and it is very rapid indeed! perfect opulance in the interior and very nice cream leather like the details such as 'supercharger' written on the rev counter kind of like 'v6' on the mondeo's a nice touch.

I just bought the 1999 XJR and it is an amazing value car! I love it! The interior is simple gorgeous and beautiful! The engine 4.0L supercharged is amazing! It is not noisy at all, it sounds awesome! It is not loud, it sounds like the air is being sucked into the engine. I love the car!