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View Full Version : XJ220 ownership - not all it's cracked up to be?



samoht
May 27th, 2017, 01:47 PM
I met up with an ex-colleague (well, we were both on the IBM gap year scheme together nearly 20 yrs ago). Anyway, he's done quite well for himself, so I was intrigued to hear how his Jag XJ220 was. Basically, he said it is pretty unusable - it's absolutely huge, so it's near impossible to park anywhere, especially as the doors need a lot of space to open into. Then, the gearing is comically long as it's a 5-speed with ~210mph top speed, so you're in 2nd gear much of the time. And the engine sounds naff and has a huge turbo that delivers all the power in one big wallop, so it's hard to drive unless you're a pro. Finally, maintenance is a pain, and he didn't have much time for Don Law, who's had a monopoly on parts for the cars until recently when Jag heritage got back into the game.

It's funny, I almost ended up feeling sorry for him !!! Yet I still love the XJ220, the looks, the Saturday club story, the sub-8-min Ring time back in the day, the same reasons he chose to buy one.

Freude am Fahren
May 27th, 2017, 01:53 PM
Yeah, I'm sure most of that's pretty much true of all the supercars before the current gen.

Wouldn't stop me for a second if I had the money.

Leon
May 27th, 2017, 02:15 PM
It'd be like a Countach, or Jennifer Lawrence. Pretty, but also a nightmare.

Godson
May 27th, 2017, 10:17 PM
J law isn't a nightmare.


That's the Kardashians...

Leon
May 27th, 2017, 11:04 PM
I realise it's a sidetrack, but you kind of have to figure that any actor or actress of such stature would be a nightmare to maintain, due to having an ego the size of a planet.

Yw-slayer
May 28th, 2017, 12:01 AM
I'm sure it's a pain to own and drive, but hey, it's still an XJ220!

Rare White Ape
May 28th, 2017, 12:22 AM
Charlize Theron, or Arianna Grande. Absolute cunts, by many reports.

They're both heaps better to look at than an XJ220.

MR2 Fan
May 28th, 2017, 04:14 PM
I love the looks of the car....so I'd buy one and keep it in a nice display, not to drive.

neanderthal
May 28th, 2017, 06:29 PM
Charlize Theron, or Arianna Grande. Absolute cunts, by many reports.

They're both heaps better to look at than an XJ220.

I'd still take Charlize.

Yw-slayer
May 28th, 2017, 08:26 PM
I'd be happy with Charlize, Ariana, and/or the XJ220.

Drachen596
May 29th, 2017, 12:14 AM
I think I'd rather have the XJ220. At least when I get bored of it I could sell it and get some money back for the time.

Yw-slayer
May 29th, 2017, 03:50 AM
If I weren't happily married I'd go for the women. As things stand, I'll plump for the car as I'd be able to flog it to one of the crazy collectors here.

Rare White Ape
May 29th, 2017, 05:41 AM
I can't fathom the love for XJ220s, aside from misplaced national pride.

All I see in them is dodgy early-90s British Ford quality.

*shudder*

MR2 Fan
May 29th, 2017, 06:30 AM
I can't fathom the love for XJ220s, aside from misplaced national pride.

All I see in them is dodgy early-90s British Ford quality.

*shudder*

It is kind of the example of "lowered expectations" in the early 90's....went from V12 to V6, only reached 212mph...oh and a lightly modified MR2 with less than 500hp went 218 mph around the same timeframe :D

Freude am Fahren
May 29th, 2017, 07:08 AM
Yeah, but I do think they're beautiful, I know not everyone does.

It's probably a lot nostalgia too. I was falling in love with cars right around the time it came out.

dodint
May 29th, 2017, 08:11 AM
All I see in them is dodgy early-90s British Ford quality.

*shudder*

If I'm pulling from this category can I just have a Ford GT90 Concept? kthx.

Godson
May 29th, 2017, 08:38 AM
You'd go for a Ford????!!

That's a big surprise to me.


Personally I could chase out a lot of other vehicles for 500k.

Blerpa
May 29th, 2017, 09:29 AM
If I'd have to go car AND Jaguar... then XJR-15, rather. In metallic british racing green, obviously.

Blerpa
May 29th, 2017, 09:37 AM
http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2013/03/the-xjr-15-and-xj220-when-jaguar-tried-to-be-cool-and-failed/

The comical story of both cars, and the hilarious one about the XJR-15s gone racing!

EDIT: According to this highlights video of the XJR-15 series race at Monaco in 91 some of the facts in the article are exaggeration, since only a car spun at the chicane after the tunnel instead of the plethora of accidents I was expecting

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nrh2_1TIGs0

Freude am Fahren
May 29th, 2017, 01:07 PM
Yeah, I'd take the XJR-15 too probably.

Godson
May 29th, 2017, 01:23 PM
And for the price of only 180-300k. It appears to be a markedly better deal

speedpimp
May 29th, 2017, 02:15 PM
Nah on the Jag, but a yes to both Charlize and Ariana. Miss Grande is the definition of a spinner.

Crazed_Insanity
May 29th, 2017, 05:28 PM
Yep, women over any Jags here too... Assuming I can afford them that is...

Gorgeous women might lose out to certain ferraris or Porsches tho...

IMOA
May 29th, 2017, 06:00 PM
I can't fathom the love for XJ220s, aside from misplaced national pride.

All I see in them is dodgy early-90s British Ford quality.

*shudder*

Thats kinda where I am to be honest, they're sort of the who gives a shit supercar from the era

In all seriousness I wouldn't swap anything mentioned in this thread for what I have already.

novicius
May 30th, 2017, 06:47 AM
XJ220 ownership - not all it's cracked up to be?
Yep. :lol:

Phil_SS
June 2nd, 2017, 05:18 AM
I think they look great but yeah, if I was buying a supercar a XJ220 would not be it. I think a Countach is a much more beautiful car and my 8 year old self would be much happier.

That being said, F40 all the way.

novicius
June 2nd, 2017, 06:12 AM
Yeah for classic supercars please sign me up for a '80 Lamborghini Countach, tough-to-drive be damned.

Y'know, like this one. (http://www.carbuildindex.com/6673/6673/) :cool:

Godson
June 2nd, 2017, 06:51 AM
That'd be a combo.

#stonehands

novicius
June 2nd, 2017, 06:57 AM
I won't lie, I can't drive. #RIP

Phil_SS
June 2nd, 2017, 10:02 AM
Granny shifting, not double-clutching like you should....

Yw-slayer
June 2nd, 2017, 07:45 PM
Quarter mile, bro

speedpimp
June 3rd, 2017, 10:23 AM
Best memory of a Countach I have is from a 1983 issue of Car & Driver in which they road tested one and the cover read "Whips! Chains! Roses! Roses?" and they calmly pointed out that the spoiler cost the same as a base model '84 Chevette($4995).

Rare White Ape
June 4th, 2017, 02:48 AM
If I was to have to pick a Countach, I'd make sure it was one of the very pure early models, from before they 'improved' it with wings and shit.