About the JAGUAR XJ-V8-L [circa 2000]

By Dr. David Ewdard Marcinko MBA CMP™

Proof is in the long haul, of course [more than a decade for me], but it appears as if Jaguar finally threw off the curse of unreliability. Credit typically goes to many sources, but leading the pack has to be Jaguar’s prior owner, Ford, which has brought its mighty engineering and quality suppliers into the Jaguar picture. Tata Motors, today.

Based on my experience, the XJ8L represents the highest point in Jaguar’s history. Many think it’s one of the finest luxury sedans ever built. The Vanden Plas, named for a famous British maker of custom automobile bodies, is the most luxurious XJ8L, swathed in chrome, walnut and lambs wool.

As the XJ8 designation suggests, this is a V8-powered Jag. The V12 and inline 6-cylinder engines were discontinued with the 1999 models. The 4.0-liter V8 called a sweetheart was refined in 2000 to reduce emissions. Performance was not affected.

Jaguar’s XJ8 was available in four versions in 2000: Originally priced at $55,780 XJ8, the $60,830 long wheelbase XJ8L, the even more luxurious $64,880 Vanden Plas and the $69,030 supercharged and fully loaded XJR. Those prices compared favorably to those of the $66,970 BMW 740iL and the $74,495 Mercedes-Benz S420; back in the day.

Walkaround

Regardless of trim line, Jaguar’s XJ is a beautiful car. It is stately without being stuffy, and the soft lines are uniquely Jaguar. The 2000 XJ8 continued the design theme set in 1986; Jaguar tried horizontal, contemporary-looking headlights in the 1980s, but they were so universally assailed that the company came back with round lights and they are critical to the overall look.

The Vanden Plas shares the longer wheelbase with the XJ8L, which is 117.9 inches. The standard XJ8 and the XJR ride on a 113-in. wheelbase. Visually, that wheelbase extension is reflected in the length of the rear windows.

The powertrain, suspension and electrical system were new to the sedan. Tata now owns Jaguar and has brought financial support and technology to the company, which greatly benefited the XJ8. Electrical systems, electronics and other traditional Jaguar problem areas have been eliminated since Ford got involved.

The 4.0-liter V8 has double overhead-cams and four valves per cylinder. It produces 290 horsepower at 6100 rpm and 290 pound-feet of torque at 4250 rpm.

That impressive power is delivered to the rear wheels through a five-speed automatic transmission. This electronically controlled automatic adapts to varying driving conditions; it senses whether the driver is cruising along the highway, hot-footing down a back road or climbing a long grade and it varies shift points accordingly for optimum power and efficiency.

The transmission also had a self-regulating adaptive capability; it compensates automatically for the effects of aging by adjusting shift quality based on any slippage it detects. Sport and standard modes can be selected by the driver: The standard PRNDL pattern can be used, or shifts can be made manually by moving the stick to the left.

Automatic Stability Control comes standard on all Jaguars. ASC operates at all speeds, using engine intervention to reduce wheel spin on slippery roads. If a rear wheel starts to spin, the anti-lock brake (ABS) controller signals a computer, which controls the spinning by reducing throttle, retarding ignition timing or cutting fuel to the cylinders. This feature has been a bit problematic for me; and others.

An optional traction control system includes all ASC functions plus brake intervention. This system comes as part of the All-Weather package, which also includes heated front and rear seats. Both types of traction control can be switched off.

The front suspension is fully independent with unequal-length upper and lower wishbones, coil springs, shocks and an anti-roll bar. Double wishbones are also used at the rear with the drive shafts acting as upper links.

They are arranged for anti-lift under braking and anti-squat under acceleration. Variable-ratio rack-and-pinion power steering is speed-sensitive.

Interior

Jaguar’s uniqueness is especially evident inside my vehicle. Getting in is like sliding into an English gentleman’s club, with yards of supple leather, luxurious deep-pile carpeting, and polished wood on the doors, instrument panel and steering wheel. The instruments are simple and understated in keeping with the elegant mood.

Memory functions automatically adjust the driver’s seat, steering wheel and outside mirror. The driver’s seat moves back when Park is engaged for easy exit. It moves back to the last position it was set when the ignition is turned on. A [fragile] cup-holder pops out from the console, but any drinks in it tend to get in the way of shifting.

Thanks to the long wheelbase of the Vanden Plas, or L model, the rear compartment is huge and legroom is expansive. The bench seat has two depressed seating areas, but a third person would be comfortable in the middle. Airplane-like tray tables fold down from the front seatbacks. A small pod with two rocker switches on the left side of the passenger seat allows rear-seat passengers to move the seat fore and aft and adjust the angle of the seat back. Headroom is just as generous as legroom.

Driving Impression

The unique looks of the XJ8 and L are complemented by a driving experience all its own. Mercedes and BMW share a ride that is more on the firm side and generally feel tight and buttoned up. Lexus and Infiniti offer a softer ride and a more relaxed atmosphere. The XJ8L is wonderfully comfortable with an elegant feel.

Acceleration performance is startling with instant throttle response. On dry pavement, the Jag will light the rear tires up if the traction control is turned off. In a handful of seconds it’s hurtling past the speed limit. Jaguar says the XJ8 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 6.9 seconds, an impressive feat given its size and weight at 290-horse-power. (The 370-horsepower XJR can do it in a mere 5.4 seconds.)

Shifting is silky smooth, even at full throttle. You can almost feel the transmission signaling the engine to reduce power slightly because a shift is coming. It’s an almost imperceptible pause as the shift is made.

I had some fun with the manual shifting mode, but it seemed superfluous with a transmission that does such a great job on its own. The manual operation is electronically controlled to prevent downshifting at an inappropriate speed. The gear can be selected, but the shift won’t be made until speed has dropped sufficiently.

Differences between Normal and Sport suspension modes are perceptible on rough surfaces and in hard cornering. The Sport setting lets a little more road roughness come through the steering, but gives the car a slightly flatter stance in cornering.

Driving on narrow roads, I discovered that the fenders loom large from the driver’s seat. The left front fender obscures the center line and the right front fender masks the verge to give the driver a feeling the car is taking up all the lane and more. But it isn’t; and we never posed a threat to mail boxes or other vehicles.

The steering lets the driver feel connected to the road, providing a strong sense of control. The wheels do not straighten by themselves after a tight maneuver; they must be brought back in line by turning the steering wheel, just like a race car.

Quiet is an expected part of the luxury quotient, but we didn’t expect this much quiet. It is so quiet inside it’s almost eerie. No wind noise, no road noise, no harmonics from various systems. You can hear the transmission as it reaches a shift point, and there is a sound you realize must be the engine, but it is more like an electric motor humming than a V8 combusting.

Visibility is good in all directions; but I find the headrests make it a bit cumbersome. The C-pillars are quite thin, so rear visibility is above average for cars this size.

Overall, my 2000 XJ-8L provides a very pleasurable driving experience.

Assessment

This is certainly one of the finest cars built – yesterday. Ford’s involvement has undoubtedly had a lot to do with that achievement. The old quality bugaboo seems to be just a memory.

BMW and Mercedes and the rest really can’t be compared with the XJ8, other than in price, because the Jaguar offers something altogether different. In price, however, the XJ8 or L was very competitive. For luxury with a difference, drive a Jaguar XJ8 or L series.

Conclusion

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