2003 XJ8 Sport 4.2

With editor Walton away, Paul Wager gets his hands on the project XJ8 for a couple of weeks. He comes away impressed.

- Paul Wager

REGULAR READERS will recall that I’ve been the long-term custodian of our bargain X-TYPE, picked up for peanuts as a project car for sister magazine Classics Monthly that has provided sterling service ever since.

After 12 months and some 13,000 miles, the X-TYPE was fast approaching its second MOT test in our custody and was accordingly dropped off at Nene Jag Specialists. Cunning timing on my part saw this dovetail neatly with the need to collect the XJ8 from Jaguar World editor Paul Walton, and for the past couple of weeks I’ve been very much enjoying the X-TYPE’s bigger brother.

I’ve sampled a few XJs of the X350 generation over the years, mostly when I was editing a BMW magazine, and I remember being fascinated by cars that offered an intriguingly characterful alternative to the dour BMWs, and one backed with genuine credibility.

Reacquainting myself with the model, I found the passage of time has made the comparison with contemporary BMWs even more interesting and the X350 has lasted well. Certainly the absence of squeaks and rattles bears comparison to the German competition, while the air conditioning blows icy cold and all the buttons still do what they should.

I’m fond of defending the X-TYPE, but even I must admit that the XJ is in a different league; there’s a feeling of genuine quality to everything from the armrest to the minor switchgear.