Jaguar I-Pace Concept: Electric Cat to Slink Onto Roads in 2018

Depends on what you want - Sedan or Sports car? The Aluminium bodied XJ's from 2004-09 (X350) are excellent, they make great long distance cruisers. The XF is also good, I would prefer the facelift models from 2010 onward with the 5.0, or one of the current AWD models. Going older, the 1995-97 XJ's (called X300) are also very good mechanically, but there are some interior/ trim things that break at that age. Starting to see more notes on the forums of the Japanese made ignition coils starting to fail at this age too. The 98-03 models (X308) could be troublesome. They had problems with the timing chain tensioners and waterpumps (both plastic) and the normally aspirated cars had that same ZF 5 speed transmission BMW used, with the same problems. XJR and supercharged cars used a Mercedes trans that seems to have been good. If one of these cars has the updated 4.2 style metal chain tensioners it will be good, same with the updated waterpump. The ZF trans is "sealed for life", but a fluid change will extend it's life considerably. The 2005-07 X Type is a good buy as Jaguar's first AWD car. Caution point is the transfer case, they only held 550 ml of oil from new. Another one of those "sealed for life" things, but a leak can kill it quickly. Changing the oil is recommended, lots on various Jag forums about how to do that. In sports cars, the first XK8 (1996 on, 4.0 models) had the same engine and trans problems as the X308 sedans. The 4.2 cars had it fixed. I would recommend an XK from 2007 onward (X150), again with an aluminium body. Those have proved to be pretty much bulletproof, much more reliable than the MB SLK sports cars. The F Type is amazing, nothing has shown up as an "they all break here" thing, but they are also all still under warranty. Assuming I didn't have to deal with winter and need AWD, my first choice for sedan would be 2005-8 XJ, and sports car 2007-14 XK. With AWD, I would get a 2013-on XF.

@Jagboi You're forgetting about the Nikasil defect prior to Mid 2000 on AJ-V8s.

@28-Cars-Later That doesn't seem to be an issue anymore. The engines that wore out have been replaced with steel sleeved versions (or the car scrapped), and now we have low sulphur fuel so any survivors should be ok. It seemed to be a bigger problem in Europe than in North America.

@Jagboi "The engines that wore out have been replaced with steel sleeved versions (or the car scrapped)" Now I hesitate to accept these sort of "it's fine now" explanations where time is the primary factor. Because Northstar.

@Jagboi Those cars wouldn't be on my must buy list anyway, but more for the ZF transmission than the engine. A 2001 and onward reverted to steel linered bores so no problem. Although a Vanden Plas Supercharged would be a very nice ride, if I could pick up one that had the water pump and tensioners done I wouldn't hesitate.

@Jagboi I actually ran into a low mile'd MY98 XJ8 last year. Pity as I believe it was sold for peanuts from the original elderly owner. The Nikasil defect affected many Jags stateside at the time, but it was so long ago most won't remember. Additional: Didn't the earlier I6 X300s use a ZF transmission (or the same one)?

@28-Cars-Later Just get moar cylinders. https://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/5853186444.html

@Jagboi He should pay me to take that.

@28-Cars-Later That V12 walnut panel on the passenger side is probably worth $500.

@Jagboi 28- the XJ6/VDP X300 cars used a 4 speed ZF, not 5 speed. It's bulletproof. The XJ12 and XJR used a GM 4L80E. Same internals as the trans used on 3/4 and 1 ton trucks and Suburbans, but in a case unique to Jaguar. Corey - that XJ12 is a rare car. I don't have numbers produced off the top of my head, but ~1000 is a good working number. The colour is "rose bronze". A rather unfortunate colour. I have only seen one car in that colour in person, and it doesn't look much better than in the photo. A bit, but not much. My Grandmother had a 1990 Crown Victoria in a very similar colour called Woodrose. Very much an old lady colour.

@Jagboi I have also seen a Town Car in that pink color, from the 90-94 generation. It comes off very... oddly in person. Always looks kinda dirty IMO. However, they used it in two-tone format on the slant back Continental in the mid 80s, with a darker brown/red color, and that looked awesome.

@Jagboi I have seen an XJS/Chevy SBC swap but I wonder if the later XJ81s and X305s with the GM transmission will also accept a swap?

Personally, I would take the XF. I freely admit to being biased though! Drive both and see what you like. For Canadian winters, I love the AWD, and Canadian market XF's come with a heated windshield. You'll never have to scrape frost again, which I quite like when I have to park outside. It's hard to make a recommendation of XF vs Camry without knowing what's important to you and what sort of driving you do. You won't have to worry about the Jag falling apart in your driveway though. The idea of owning a car out of warranty doesn't bother me in the least, I know I've come out ahead financially vs the depreciation of a new car. I have a friend who isn't mechanically inclined in the least and would never consider owning a car out of warranty, he's petrified of potential repair costs. I think he pays a high price for the peace of mind on depreciation, and new cars are not immune to breakdowns either. You just don't have to pay to have it fixed. There are several XF trim levels, see if you can get a Portfolio, that is the highest level, and used prices don't seem to differentiate much between the trims. A general spotting feature is 2 tone seats and contrasting piping.

Be aware there was a 2.0 version, I think starting in 2014 that was RWD only. I would stick with the 3.0 AWD. This is my favourite colour combination, Caviar exterior and an Ivory interior. There was a variety of different finishes available, from piano black to ebony, and burl walnut like this car. I love the walnut! http://www.autotrader.ca/a/Jaguar/XF/Toronto/Ontario/5_29585404_ON20080114094512226/?ursrc=hl&showcpo=ShowCPO&orup=22_15_58

@Jagboi I wouldn't really get a Camry but a 3-4 year old XF AWD, A6 3.0T or E350 4 matic I would consider. $1000 a year repair costs would be acceptable and I always do my own oil changes and can do simple socket wrench repairs on my vehicles. Absorbent ride quality is my most important requirment since the streets in my city are 3rd world grade. I'm guessing the MB rides the softest but is least fun to drive and the XF 3.0 is the firmest riding but the most fun? With -30 winter weather heated steering and remote engine start are a must for me. Does the heated steering in the XF heat the entire circumference of the wheel?

@GS 455 Yes, the heated steering wheel goes all the way around. I have not driven a E350, but I have rented a 2013 E250 when I was in the UK. Personally, I though the XF was nicer riding and much nicer to drive than the MB. The controls were more logically laid out and I could figure it out without reading the manual. Couldn't do that in the MB. Jag has a touchscreen, MB didn't, so that made entering an address in the navigation a pain in the MB. I don't own an XF, but I have rented them a number of times in the UK, so I have a fair amount of seat time in them. Seems odd to me now to have one that isn't right hand drive! Ideally, drive the XF, A6 and E350 and see how each rides on your roads. Historically, Jaguar has always had the best compromise between comfort and sport, the Germans tend to bias more toward sport and a firm ride. I can use a comfortable ride everyday, the slightly increased cornering ability I might never use.

@Jagboi Thank you for all your helpful comments!

@Jagboi My pleasure! Was it the car on Autotrader in Winnipeg you were looking at? I've only been through Winnipeg on the train, so I have no idea what the roads are like.

@Jagboi Yes, the black 2013 XF although I don't like black exteriors or interiors either, I think I'll go have look at it anyway. Like a lot of people I've always liked Jaguars but have been afraid of their reputations. I know that they've improved greatly and are probably as good or better than German cars in terms of reliability but old attitudes die hard.

@GS 455 Agreed on black. Did that once and said never again. Then guess what? 2 cars later, black on black. The old wives tales do die hard. Jaguar has made great strides lately, especially under Tata. Doesn't hurt that the chairman of Tata is a big Land Rover and Jaguar fan, he bought the company because he liked the cars, and has poured billions into them. A few years ago now Jaguar tied with Lexus for the #1 reliability spot in the JD Power surveys. I belong to a big Jaguar club on the west coast and I see it in the members cars, the newer ones just don't have anything go wrong. The days of going to the dealer with a long laundry list of things to be fixed are over.

@Jagboi The MY14s were holding at about 30K for the XFs and 40K for the other models. Historically they should be much lower in terms of valuation.