Jaguar XJ

Jaguar is a four-door sports saloon

Jaguar is aiming for full electrification. The design concept it recently announced completely overturns the image of Jaguar in the 20th century, and there’s no doubt that it’s trying to be “reborn.” This is all the more shocking because no other established brand has ever attempted such a bold image change and succeeded in doing so.

However, the automobile industry also has to consider its future, just like Japanese home appliance brands, so perhaps this was the only option available to Jaguar, which was on the verge of collapse.

So, this time we’d like to focus on gasoline-powered Jaguar vehicles, especially the four-door saloon, which is expected to remain the mainstay even after electrification. The previously announced design concept was a two-door coupe with a chopped roof, but the first commercially available model is planned to be a four-door. It could be said that Jaguar has maintained its tradition of being a four-door sports saloon.

Suddenly from the 350 series to modern

So, what four-door sedan is Jaguar-esque and should I drive now? It’s hard to throw away the last models like the XJ and XF, and they’re certainly models that retain Jaguar’s distinctive character when it comes to future electric models, but I feel like I want to explore a model with a more classic Jaguar feel now. So, the question becomes: choose from any of the XJs of the past. And, at any rate, I want one with four round headlights. Naturally, this limits the models to a few: the 1994-2003 X300 (late model X308) or the 2003-2009 aluminum-bodied X350 (X358).

The tricky part is that when you actually drive and compare these two models, it literally feels like a world apart. I once traveled from Coventry, where JLR Classic headquarters is located, to Paris in a series of XJ models. This was in 2018 as part of a program to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the XJ series. I was able to test almost every model in the XJ’s history, starting with the original XJ6 Series 1, then Series 2, Series 3, XJ40, X300 series, X350 series, and the X351 series, which was still in production at the time. At the time, I felt that the driving feel of the 350 series suddenly became modern, and I also remember being strangely attracted to the classic ride feel of the 300 series, yet also its modern functionality. I thought it was the last Jaguar with a classic feel that was still in production and suitable for practical use.

The 350 series is certainly modern. It’s light on its feet and easy to handle. However, it lacks a certain charm. I can’t help but think that the 351, the last XJ model, would be better, even though it doesn’t have rounded headlights.

Find the right 300 or 308

The 300 series is different. This generation was originally a major minor change from the 40 series, so it’s only natural that the ride quality retained a nostalgic feel, but it retains that feeling in a good way. It’s by no means old-fashioned, and yet it’s not as simplistic as the 350 series. You could even say it has a moderately wet and human-like ride quality. And I’m pleased that the feel is so typical of a Jaguar.

Searching Carsensor EDGE.net for 1995-2003 Jaguar XJs, I found a single 350 for just ¥350,000 (90,000 km), which I found a surprising bargain. I was tempted, but I held myself back and continued scrolling. High-mileage examples are actually a sign of the reliability of this model. Personally, I’m happy with cars with less than 40,000 km, especially in terms of interior condition. I searched for a decent 300 or 308, and there it was! A 1999 XJ Executive 3.2 V8 with 28,000 km and a base price of ¥1.2 million. From there, I found several examples in almost the same condition, in a variety of colors. The more I looked, the more I wanted it. Damn, I’ve gotta call it a day…

So, if you have a 300 or 308 that has matured to the fullest in 40 years, you will have relatively few problems, and you can still enjoy the atmosphere of a round-eyed, low-slung saloon with a unique handling. Now that Jaguar is about to transform into an incredible brand, I think it would be good to take a look back at the past.

Related reading

So many reasons to buy the highly anticipated used Alpine A110 [If you’re buying now, maybe this is the one? #35]

The used car market fluctuates dramatically with the coming and going of car trends. If you’re going to live the used car life, you want to accurately capture those trends and make a good deal. To guide you through these times, Jun Nishikawa introduces cars worth buying “now.” In this 35th installment, we look at the new Alpine A110, a timeless classic compact mid-engine car that debuted in 2017.

Serial  GENROQ If you were to buy it now, maybe this would be it?

Industry Column 2024.12.15

Reexamining the XJ, the car that led Jaguar’s tradition as it underwent a major transformation [If you were to buy one now, perhaps this one? #36]

Industry Column 2024.10.25

So many reasons to buy the highly anticipated used Alpine A110 [If you’re buying now, maybe this is the one? #35]

Industry Column 2024.09.27

It’s more expensive than a new car, but I want a Lamborghini Aventador, especially an early model. [If I were to buy one now, maybe this one would be it? 34th car]

Industry Column 2024.09.06

The Mercedes-AMG GT Coupe: A Pure and Spartan Luxury Sports Car [If you were to buy one now, this might be it? #33]

Industry Column 2024.08.25

I want a manual transmission Aston Martin Vantage! [If I were to buy one now, maybe this one would be it? 32nd car]

Industry Column 2024.07.26

A V12 Ferrari for under 10 million yen? The 612 Scaglietti [If you’re buying one now, maybe this one? #31]