The Generation Game: Jaguar XJ

[Tornado]

As dumpy as the XJ40 appears in this XJ line-up, its not half as bad as some of its late 80's contemporaries. That mid to late 80's period was the height of squared-off styling. The XJ40 looks svelt and curvy compared to the Caddy Brougham and Lincoln Town Car or Volvo 740 of the same period.

It doesn't help that the example used for illustration was hardly prime XJ40 with those square headlights.

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I'd say the W124 (which, granted, is a size class down) and the E32 are both better and much more modern looking cars, though; and ones much more likely to have been cross-shopped with an XJ40 than awful full size Cadillacs and Lincolns from the late 80s. And while it's not directly comparable since it's only a 2 door, I do believe one contemporary Lincoln of a nearly identical size is also substantially less awkwardly 1980s (in spite of its own retro kitsch touches) than any variety of XJ40 was:

At least according to JAMES BOND.

 

[05XR8]

The XJ40 has basically all the qualities of the other pre 2010 cars, yet has zero votes. Y'all just suckers for the Mitsuoka-like take on traditional English luxury that a few ripples in the bonnet, and circular headlamps, brings.

My problem with it is all that ‘80s chrome trim. Trim that looks like it’s about to come off or doesn’t line up right after a couple days of ownership. Seriously though, that’s my only peeve with thick chrome trim during that era on all cars of the era. Hey, it could be a really cool car, but I’m traumatised by it from my teenage years. shivers

 

[wfooshee]

The XJ40 has basically all the qualities of the other pre 2010 cars, yet has zero votes. Y'all just suckers for the Mitsuoka-like take on traditional English luxury that a few ripples in the bonnet, and circular headlamps, brings.

Well, yeah... other than the black-clad bumpers and the square headlights. Even when they moved to round headlights, they kept them in the rectangular space, and they kept the Yugo-level black-clad bumpers.

 

[Dennisch]

Series One with the V12 and the accompanying grille.

 

[Tornado]

Yeah the round headlight XJ40 just looks like a particularly clumsy example of a Federalized model that they sold everywhere for some reason

 

[Greycap]

Seeing that I've half seriously considered buying an X308 more than once, it's an easy choice. Not going to happen without a lottery win though.

Years ago I knew a guy who drove an XF that he couldn't afford but of course banks happily give loans with a high interest to people who just have to have things, an absolute ****er of a man (pick any of the F/T/W versions, they all fit) and he kept telling everyone about his Jag. When he got to me I told him to first get a real Jaguar, like an E-Type or at minimum an XJ instead of a disguised Ford, and then get back to it.

 

[Liquid]

The X300 takes it in the closest poll so far.

@Tornado You described exactly what I love about those XJs - the way the bonnet and boot sloop but don't look floppy, the packaging of the greenhouse. It's just such a good look.

 

[TexRex]

Missed this poll. Anyway any car that'd have Kent alloys optioned is my preference but a Series III takes top slot, followed by II and then I.

Sovereign in particular is a treat. Just look at that fluted grille shell.

Come on.

Then an X305 long cat.

 

[sirjim73]

To all those who dissed the XJ40...:


I missed the vote, however I would have gone for the Series III XJ6.
It was the first car I ever took notice of when growing up, all courtesy of Robert McCall.



PS the reboot show doesn't exist in my mind

 

[ScottPuss20]

Seems as though the Jaguar XJ is a GT Planet favourite.

 

[Centroid]

Talking of the XJ40, I think this earlier version of the theme works better as its more 'pure' and had a bit more of its own identity.

 

[05XR8]

Looks a bit too Cadillac Cimarrony or Chevy Celebrity like for me.

 

[Eunos_Cosmo]

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This is amazing, by the way. The contemporary 7 series did it as well, but the only other modern-ish cars I can think of offhand that had such an extreme amount of "wheels pushed to the top of the side profile" is stuff like this:

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All cars that either had basically a strip of plastic covering the wheel well when the hood was open or (on the C4) absolutely nothing. Only enough fender above the wheel as is actually required to house the wheel, with just a pinch of flaring on the very edges (like factory fender rolling) to maximize clearance without compromising the appearance. It's such a striking, defining aspect of the design of those three generations of XJ, it's not something you really see at all anymore (later Ferraris, Vipers and Corvettes didn't do it, and now all cars have those slab sides fender wells that I'd think would preclude it) and it's on a fairly regular sedan; and all without the help from raised outer fenders like the 1960s XJ (and it's derivatives) used to accomplish the same look. That extremely low beltline (and the increasingly larger wheels as it went from XJ40 → X300 → X308) does just as much work making the car look as impossibly low and shark-like as it is as its 911-matching overall height does; but the latter aspect does still help put the X300/X308 a cut above even the best looking E38 models. It's something the X350 actually did a reasonable job replicating, but its comparably more bulbous hood spoiled the effect of.

+Honda S2000
+AMG GT
+Maaaybe Maserati GranTurismo

 

[ScottPuss20]

+Honda S2000
+AMG GT
+Maaaybe Maserati GranTurismo

 

[-Fred-]

View attachment 1465461

That's got like a foot and a half of fender between the top of the arch and the top of the hood, it's not even in the same discussion.

 

[Tornado]

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American pickup trucks have had less visual height between the wheel well and top of the hood than this.

 

[CTznOfTime]

Man how did I missed this vote ??!

I know why:

It's because I was busy getting a Jag of my own, spur of the moment with the reluctance from the wife, but she didn't outright say no....

So I went for it

Saw the car on June 28th
Bought the car pretty much right then and there...
As I got myself ready also to go on long summer vacation starting on July 4th, which I missed my flight ... (Another long story for another day)
The week leading to my vacation I still managed to get the car cleaned up and assessed the damage of my decision:

Photo of the car while I was cleaning it out before I left for vacation:

Actually I am still on vacation right now, stuck in the middle of a cat 3 storm in South East Asia.

That's why I decided to check out GTPlanet out of boredom and couldn't sleep.


And so I see this thread that I missed:

The series I , II and III are my favorite.
I am now particularly bias to it due to my recent acquisition.

But even without it, and the reason I got the car is because:
The Jag is my earliest memory of me loving cars in general.

I was in preschool kindergarten
There was this plastic green toy car, and I already knew the brand and model, I was back then 3 or 4, that thing was one of my most favorite toy car, and thus the real car is near and dear to me, a quintessential representation of what a car is and Should be: elegant and a moving piece of art.


And so my vote has to be in order:

1) Series III
2) Series I
3) Series II
4) X300
5) X308 (this should be considered a series II of the X300, because honestly I didn't even know this was a thing, nor there was a difference with the X300)
6) X351 (I actually really love this design right from the get go, I find it relatively unique, modern and elegant)
7) X350
8) XJ40 (this car is actually quite elegant in its own right, the design actually matches the philosophy at the time, I remember really liking it back then, it just hasn't aged as well as the other designs in the family, this is similar to the less loved E36 or E90 in the BMW 3 series family)


All Jags are so pretty in their own ways I must admit, and elegant as they should be.

The car is a one owner car

The car has been garaged stored for the past 20 years...
But the car works and drives....

It is not perfect.

It has been resprayed at some point.

It has Patinas and its own history.

I can't wait to be able to drive it, but I still need to do a whole car mechanical check up, refresh, all the usual maintenance and finalize the paperwork and smog check....

Thank you @Liquid for making this thread

Edit: I drove it "illegally" a couple of times around my neighborhood, and I really love it, can't wait to be cruising around town.... Sunday drive