JAGUAR XJ

In 1988, Jaguar scored just next to dead last in the J.D. Power & Associates Initial Quality Study (IQS) with 300 problems per 100 cars. Then began a turnaround that culminated earlier this year with Jaguar scoring the fewest number of defects per 100 vehicles of any nameplate in Power's IQS. Just 110, while the whole auto industry averaged 167 problems per 100 cars.

What happened? Ford bought the company in 1989 for $2.5 billion and has since sunk another $3.5 billion into rebuilding Jaguar. As Jaguar North America president Mike Dale puts it, "If there is one thing that Ford disciplines and suppliers have brought to Jaguar, it is an emphasis on quality."
All of which leads to this conclusion for the used car buyer: the older the Jag the more alert one should be to quality and reliability issues-especially electrical ones. True auto afficionados will already know that, but for the rest it's a caution worth knowing.

It's also worth knowing the steps Jaguar took along the way to upgrade and improve its lineup of VJ sedans. The most recent and important upgrades happened for the '98 model year, when Jag turfed the previous inline six-cylinder and the ponderous V12. In their place came the V8 introduced the previous year in the XK8 coupe.

Aside from the luscious V8 engine--which by the way in the non-supercharged cars produces 290 hp. for an 18 per cent increase over the last 245 hp. straight six-cylinder engine--Jaguar also introduced in '98 two new five-speed automatic transmissions, a restyled interior, front side-impact airbags, a sharper steering rack, a front double wishbone suspension adapted from the XK8, a stronger body structure with minor styling changes and a quieter rear differential assembly.

A long list, certainly, yet most important of all was the work done to finally tame the historically troublesome electrical gremlins that plagued Jaguars for years. 

Essentially, what Jag did was scrap the tangle of copper and plastic which constituted the old wiring system and replaced it with a modern, lightweight and terribly efficient multiplex wiring harness. 
Less wiring, fewer connectors, reduced complexity equal the kind of reliability astronauts need. No wonder multiplexing is an original from the aerospace industry. And in a modern car loaded with power features it's absolutely vital. 

The '98 upgrades were preceded by a facelift these sedans received for the 1995 model year. That year some 2,000 re-tooled components went into the XJ cars and the results were obvious in quicker, quieter and safer sedans. 

Among other things, the normally aspirated (non-supercharged) 4.0-litre six-cylinder received a revised cylinder head and block, new pistons and valve gear, along with a new engine management system. Horsepower jumped to 245 horsepower from 223. . The 313-hp. V12 did not receive any major changes. 
Also for '95 Jaguar returned to fenders and hood with integrated round, quad headlamps that were a Jaguar signature until they disappeared with the last generation XJ sedans. The front grille was also remade in a more traditional Jaguar image, as was the rear end. 

The cabin also received a once-over. Power seat controls, for example, were moved to the base of the seats where they were much more accessible than they were on the transmission tunnel in previous cars. Dual airbags were standard and they put a cupholder between the front bucket seats. 
Also in '95 Jaguar introduced the XJR, a sedan with a supercharged engine that produced 322 horsepower. Sold in limited numbers, the XJR could hit 100 kilometres an hour in seven seconds. The XJR was the first non-normally aspirated offering in Jaguar's then 72-year history. Since then Jaguar has gone to offering supercharging on both the V8-powered XJ sedans and the XK coupes.
This year Jaguar introduced a completely new model, the S-Type and within 18 months another is due to arrive, code-named X400. What a difference a decade and Ford's deep pockets have made.

CURRENT RED BOOK PRICING (avg. retail): Jaguar XJ Vanden Plas
1998-$62,700 ($89,900 original MSRP)
1997-$51,975 ($86,000)
1996-$40,850 ($86,500)
1995-$31,875 ($83,000)
1994-$23,100 ($80,000)
1993-$16,750 ($76,001)

BUYER'S ALERTS: Note that some owners have reported corrosion of engine-bay-located electrical connectors that supply the heated windshield (TSB 418-08, Nov. '98) as well a minor squeaks, rattles and groans (910-04, July '98). Also look for intermittent instrument illumination (413-03, Sept. '98), and rattles or knocking noises in the engine compartment (310-03, Sept. '98).
In slightly older cars check: the sliding roof for smooth operation (13-39, Jan. '99); for corrosion blistering on the rear fender (13?38, July '98); for steering rack oil leaks (10-11, Aug. '97); for intermittent sticking of the throttle (05.1-23, Sept. '96); for poor idling that may be traced to carbon deposits on the exhaust valves (97-03.1-10, Aug. '97); for a fuel tank that will not fill above three-quarters (19-30, Feb. '95); for a no-start concern that may be caused by erratic operation of the security system (86-139, Dec. '94); for power seat fuses that blow (86-138, Dec. '94).
Under recalls, note them for the following years:
1998-No. 1998026 is related to limited opening of the throttle.
1994-No. 1998219 is related to the hood liner that, through being impregnated with water, my interfere with throttle operation.
THE VERDICT: Always elegant in styling, but your best bet for reliability starts no older than the '95 model year.

CHECK THE SPECS
1995 JAGUAR XJR
Market segment: prestige performance sedan.
Typical market competition: BMW M5. Competitors for the XJ series include Mercedes-Benz E-class, BMW 5- and 7-series, Infiniti Q45 and Lexus LS400. 
Engine: (front engine/rear-wheel drive) 4.0-litre inline six-cylinder engine with four valves per cylinder operated by dual overhead camshafts; electronic fuel injection; 322 hp at 5,000 rpm; torque rated at 378 lbs-ft at 3,050 rpm.
Transmission: four-speed automatic.
Steering: rack-and-pinion, speed sensitive power-assist.
Brakes: power-assisted front disc\rear disc with anti-lock braking and standard traction control.
Tires: P255/45ZR17 Pirelli P Zero radials.
Fuel economy: (litres/100 km) n/a.
Wheelbase: 2,870 mm (113 in.).
Curb weight: 1,912 kg. (4,215).
Pros
* Exceptional styling 
* Unparalleled performance in a Jaguar
* Potential collectible
Cons
* We all know about the quality woes 


Overall Score: 7.0

ROAD TEST REPORT CARD for 1995 Jaguar XJ6
Access: B-
Driving position: B+
Instruments/Controls: C+ 
Visibility: B- 
Climate Control: B
Steering: B+
Brakes: B+
Handling: B+
Acceleration: B
Engine: B
Transmission: B 
Interior space: C 
Trunk/Cargo: C
Noise/Vibration/Harshness: B

DURABILITY/RELIABILITY REPORT CARD 
Overall: C-
Mechanical: C- 
Hardware/Body/Paint/Trim: B

SAFETY REPORT CARD
Anti-lock braking: yes 
Airbags (driver/passenger): yes/yes 
Traction control: yes (later years)
Driver/Passenger Front Crash Protection (0-5 stars with five stars the best): NA

INSURANCE HISTORY
Collision cost rating: NA
Comprehensive cost rating: NA
Theft claim cost rating: NA