While on the bus back from work, my eye caught a familiar yet rare shape in traffic. you couldn’t overlook it, as it was so different to anything else around it.
Once near, it became even more impressive once I discovered it was an XJR:
I wasn’t even aware those arrived in Israel at the time. And no, this isn’t a new import, because used cars can only be imported here after thirty years- so says the law.
In the past, XJs always seemed huge to me, but now I find it remarkable is that it doesn’t look all that big compared to the cars around it. Maybe it’s because it’s surrounded by a Voyager and a Discovery or perhaps the X308 was smaller than its predecessors.
I have previously photographed an X308, but it was a “lowly” XJ8, and in “project-mode”, no less:
Going back to the familiar shape, think how long it has been with us- surely by now it has become immortal. And it all started from this:
One of THE most beautiful sedans made, from the first model until the last, no matter which generation.
I still want one. I just wish I could justify it.
Yes the most beautiful but also possibly the hardest to live with. Cramped interior due to low roof line and very wide transmission tunnel. Then there were reliability issues …..
:’-(
Killjoy.
+1
The last 2 or3 years of that series is my absolute favorite. Esp the autobiography with chrome side vents in black. A real stunning car to me. Other than the airbag susp its reliable to.
I agree, this is one of the most beautiful cars ever designed in my mind. I found these pictures very interesting for another reason though. Other than the license plates, these pictures look like they could have been taken in any given city in the US. I don’t know what I had imagined the cars of Israel to look like, but these scenes look just like some I see every day driving around Atlanta. Well all except maybe the black car that is in front of the Jaguar.
agreed – a Mopar minivan, 2012 or so Civic behind, Toyota Corolla. I’m thinking the black car in front of the Jag looks like a Skoda, Fabia or Rapid perhaps?
Fabia with a red top (roof) option, no less!
It’s just a coincidence, I think. But yes, you’ve got a point- most of these cars could well make it as US cars.
Except in Israel the specs are different. For example, the Corolla arrives here with engines no larger than 1.8 liter- same with that Civic.
Thanks for the confirmation of the Skoda.
Corollas in North America to the best of my knowledge are equipped with 1.8 L engines currently. My wife’s 2012 Civic has a 1.8L, the current models have a 2.0L with a 1.5L turbo model.
Top three pictures are initially confusing giving the impression that Israel is right hand drive. The street must be “one-way”. In actuality Israel is a left hand drive country.
The X308 XJ8 is a superb car in looks and reliability, especially after the aluminum V8 went to iron insert cylinder sleeves starting in late 2001.
I never tire of looking at an X308. Sheer beauty of line, always giving me a smile..
Based on personal experience, Ford exorcised many of the reliability demons that plagued Jag for decades. Most critical electrical systems were outsourced to non UK suppliers like Nippondenso/Denso eliminating the chronic, endemic, seemingly forever electrical issues of Jaguars. I can’t comment about Jag’s reliability under current Tata ownership.
Supposedly it’s actually really good now.
That said, now they don’t really “feel” or look like one would think of as a Jag any more either.
Yep, this is a big street separated in the middle by this raised grass/plants, with three lanes at each direction. You can see the bendy-bus (a M.A.N., BTW) going the other way in two photos.
That last example is wearing late 80’s Chevy Caprice hubcaps with the badging removed and replaced. Different.
Looks pretty modern for a almost 20 year old car.
This model Jaguar aged much better than say the 1987 Model. By say 1997 (just 10 years old), the 1987 Jaguar XJ looked old and very dated.
However, at almost 20 years old-the 1998 Jaguar looks classy and still very modern in 2017 (when in mint condition).
Oh man, sex on wheels. Even my Yankee car loving behind can appreciate the beauty of these Jaguar XJs. I would like to own one, but I just don’t have the guts, or bravery, or insanity, to pull the trigger.
Joseph of Eldorado
People can say whatever they want about Jaguar brand good or bad. However, one thing could never be disputed. Which is that Jaguar has created some of the most stunning, beautiful, majestic, prestigious vehicles on the planet.
I can tell a Jaguar from a mile away, it’s distinctive cat like profile & headlight-along with the chrome hood Jaguar is simply amazing. It’s difficult for me to find a Jaguar model that I did not love. even though I thought the 1986-1994 model aged rather quickly. It still was a overall classy execution!
In 2004, a 1995 XJR presented itself to me for a price I could afford. Looked good in photos. I knew if I went to test drive it, I’d buy it. Good sense won out and I refrained.
I wish I’d at least taken that test drive. They were still using the supercharged I6 at that point too. Though the ownership experience probably would have been the complete inverse of the Mark VIII I ended up buying, which needed very little in repairs over the two years we were together.
An absolutely beautiful update on the near-perfect original. They should have gone a different way at the end of the X308 generation though–carrying the “classic” shape forward yet again with the X350/358 cars was a revision too far I think.
Chris M.
You should have gotten it, especially in XJR form. The engine in that model was class leading. and the mono colored mesh grill was icing on the cake.
Jaguar’s just have that “It” factor to them built in their DNA (interior & exterior).
They also have that “Foreign” flair about them that always screams British…
Beautiful car!
I owned an X300 XJ6 for about a year…short wheelbase/no sunroof car, which was weird for the US market. The huge transmission tunnel ate up a ton of space and there was just about NO rear legroom. The shape of the car was mind-blowing, even the rounded shape of the headlight nacelles on the hood were a joy to behold.
Mine was a high-miler (around 140K) and aside from some thumps and bumps coming from the rear suspension it was a great old car.