Jaguar XJ (1994 – 1997) Review

Jaguar XJ (1994 – 1997) At A Glance

Reliable and liked by owners. Cheap to buy now. Refined with a sporting edge.

Not much real legroom. Alloy wheels corrode. Bodies rust.

Ask Honest John

Can I drive my car with power steering failure?

"I have a 1994 Daimler Double Six (X305) with a serious power steering leak. I have booked it into a specialist garage but will it still be drivable with no power steering? The garage is 12 miles away."

I would argue that this is a very bad idea. The fluid acts as a lubricant for the power steering pump and driving the car without this vital component will quickly create friction and heat in the pump, which could then result in costly damage to the engine (depending on how spectacular the pump failure is). Arrange for the car to be trailered to the garage or organise a home visit. Do not drive it.

Answered by Dan Powell

What's the best battery for my 1995 Jaguar XJ?

"I need a new battery for my Jaguar XJ (X300) 3.2L 1995. Which one would you recommend for me?"

The first thing is to find out what batteries are available to fit your car. Look for the size reference (normally a three-digit code eg 063). Other considerations include cranking amps (CA), which is the maximum current a battery and deliver in one go, and amp hours (AH), which is the total amount of electricity a battery can hold. High-end batteries are generally best suited for specialist applications so a decent mid-range one (such as Halfords) will be fine.

Answered by Keith Moody

More Questions

Model History

• January 0001

Jaguar XJ (1994 – 1997) Buying Guide

Good

Extremely Low 1 out of 9 point death rate from accidents in this model.

XJ6 1995-1997 rated average for brekadowns, problems and faults in 2003 Which survey. By 2005 had sunk to £2,000 - £4,000.

Bad

When the XJ8 came out in 1997 a glut of these were p/xd for XJ8s by status seekers and prices fell. They climbed back up once the market realised how good the sixes were in comparison to early V8s.

In May 2007, no waterpumps were available for XJ6s because the manufacturer had gone bust.

Watch

Less than pristine examples are worth a lot less. Also check the spec, because you don't want a standard model with cloth seats and no aircon unless it's dirt cheap.

Look for a proper Jag franchise or independent Jag specialist service record.

Bodies may flex and crack windscreens.

Alloys oxidise easily.

Rear bumper protector falls off.

Check all electrics, particularly the dashboard computer.

Feel the discs for lipping or scoring and watch out for uneven braking on the test drive. Brake judder may be due to drivers sitting on the brakes after a hard stop which causes localised overheating and warps the discs. For older cars, see tips for previous model XJ 40 above. 

On startup rattling timing chains are common, and not the big warning signal that they are on the V8 engines. Transmission grumble is also present, but this isn't terminal since they go on for many thousands of miles like this. Gear changes should be smooth and acceleration brisk. Handling should be sharp and not wallowy especially on cars with the sport as opposed to confort setup, if they are lower wishbone bushes are in need of replacemet. Head gaskets tend to go at 140,000 miles, especially on the XJ-R Supercharged, on which the supercharger goes as well. Watch out for rust on the wheel arches and the front windscreen surround, especially on the early cars. All cars with alloys have corroding alloys unless refurbshed. Electric ariels can go if not looked after (but there is meant to be an easy fix). Inside A worn drivers seat is status quo as most of these machines have done well over 80000 miles. All electrics should work well, aside from the electric steering adjustment if present and the autodim mirror if present. The radio lights and the clock bulb also have a tendency to go, but that is an easy fix.