Geez Stu!!
  "There should only be one engine underneath a leaping cat - and its got
12 cylinders and runs on petrol."

Is the XJS a Jaguar???
Ironically, the XJS never came with a leaper and is the worst looking of the
Jags to have one added  -- Next to the XKE!!

In reality, Jags with a V-12 engine are in the minority of Jags ever
produced.  Most Jags have a 6 cylinder engine based on the XK engine until
1988 and then the AJ6/AJ16 engine  from 1988-1994. In 1960, the V-8 was
introduced to the Jaguar line through Daimler and then re-introduced in
1998.

To say that the only true Jaguar should have a V-12 does a terrible
dis-service to the history of Jaguar. To make such a statement would mean
one would have to dis-credit the XKE as well as the entire line of
magnificent saloons built from the end of World War II to today.  After all,
it is an XKE that is on permanent display at the New York Metropolitan
Museum of Art -- not an XJS!!

In terms of speed and horsepower, my friend's 2000 Jaguar XJR will make the
XJS V-12 look silly.  In terms of pure class and design excellence - the
2004-2005 XJ8/XJR Series is unequalled!!

So where does this leave the discussion?  The thrust here is toward the new
variations of cars being sold under the Jaguar marquee.  The idea that Ford
has become involved with Jaguar is nothing new.  Jaguar has had problems
since the 70s and has had to merge with other entities on a number of
occasions.  In fact, your XJS was a product of that miserable period in time
when Jaguar was owned by British Leyland.  Aren't you glad Jag owners didn't
have the same opinion back then as you do now about new designs and
corporate change!!!

So if it takes a diesel car, or a car built on a Taurus or Mondeo frame or
even an estate wagon as is now being sold -- then so be it. Like everything
else, time changes all things and if Jaguar is to have a hope of survival,
they must broaden their reach to grab the Beemer and upscale Ford owners.  I
can still drive my classic Jags from the 60s or by and XJ8 that still
carries the traditions and standards that have made Jaguar the marquee it is
today.

In terms of Jags being run only on petrol. Stay away from the UK. With
petrol running $7-$8 per gallon, more and more of my UK friends have
transformed their Jaguars into LP gas vehicles.  The other day, one of my
friends was complaining about the fact it cost him $120USD to fill the tank
on his XJ40.

The times  --- they are a changin'!!!

Webserve.

I hope they still are...

but still the most beutiful cars out there!

...

I know - seems a shame doesn't it.

I disagree - quite strongly.  The XK is, in my opinin at least, one of the
most inportant engines in the history of the British automobile.

I, personally, can't think of a more special car to own than my '83
Daimler Sovereign.
That's not to say I don't appreciate the range - my ideal stable would
include a 420G and a Double-Six.  What I'm trying to say is that Jaguar
cars were and, at least to some extent are, special - truely the best!
I hope Jaguar continue to make cars that we can feel passionate about.

2003 S-Type R.  Bought it fresh out of the wrapper.  Had it for 11 months
now.  Have never seen another one (lots of regular S-types I'll admit but no
S-Type Rs).  Oh, let's not forget about the many many horsepowers.  Sweet.
Need I say more?

It is interesting to see this debate being based upon solely the engine
specification; I think that this runs much deeper.

In my opinion, Ford should have kept Jaguar as a 'Halo' brand and set out to
make cars more along the lines of the XK and the XJ Series 3, however, the
powers that be at PAG have decided to base their plans on mass production.

The re-badging of cars has happened throughout the years in almost all major
car manufacturing circles, inlcuding Audi, who seem untouched by this fact
and still maintain the 'Halo' appeal within the VW Group. Just ask an Audi
TT driver where the top of the range engine for his car came from and enjoy
his blushes as he tells you it came from the Skoda plant!

It appears to be an economic reality that PAG are going to press ahead with
their plans, so why fight it?  Wouldn't it be better to simply appreciate
proper the Jag engines and body styles that do come out of the mix, like the
newest LWB XJs?

Oh, and just to really annoy you, I drive a diesel X Type estate during the
week!  Though I obviously prefer to drive my XJ6 Series 3 at the weekend.

Regardless, noone could say that the X Type diesel engine is a bad one,
though I can understand that the elitists among us Jag drivers will feel
that the diamond mine is only producing paste at this point!  However,it
drives and performs like a petrol engine and can easily compete with Audi
and Mercedes in the A4/C-Class arena.

In the days of ludicrous petrol prices, very few can afford to run a big
engine every day and when you consider that you can get the horses, torque
delivery and (almost) the right exhaust note from the new V6s and the like
why bother with the additional complication of 12 pots anyway?

I think that I have finally developed schizophrenia - and so has Jaguar!

Cheers,

Nev

I own both an '88 XJS v12 and an '01 XJ-8 v8 and drive them both each week.

The v12 is superb and has an awsome sound and feel to be sure.  The v8 in my
XJ-8 is likewise an excellent power plant with excellent torque throughout
the full range of my driving style (fairly agressive most times).

Which body style do I like more ... the one I'm driving at the moment of
course.  Certainly as you said in your original post, every eye turns when I
take the XJ-S out - man, woman, children all turn their heads to see that
beautiful big cat.  But, the XJ-8 has one wonderful benefit ... 30 year old
women always look twice - and since I'm 44 and single, 30 year old women
looking at me a second time is a beautiful thing for sure.

I used to call the S-type a "jaguar taurus" until I spent some time near one
... Oh my gosh, I'd take one for sure ... and an S-type R I'd take in a
heartbeat.

If you need that elite feeling, purchase the higher priced models for
goodness sake!  Sure there are lots of X & S's on the road - they're
intended to introduce the masses to (IMHO) one of the greatest car
manufacturer's products in the world ... Step up to an XJ-8 or better yet if
you can live in 2 doors, an XK ... or dare I say it (be still my heart) an
XKR.  Elite?  Sure, you just don't see many of them on the road (the XKR
that is) ...

But, seriously, its not what car you drive that makes you "a cut above the
norm" ... Jags are (all of them) a cut above the norm ... Who and what you
are makes you "a cut above" ... not the car you drive. And certainly, not
one component (the engine) ... the whole car is a beautiful thing regardless
of which model, which production year, every Jag is a delight to the eye and
a treat to the senses.

Rick