1997 Jaguar XJ Consumer Reviews
Review Summary
Most Helpful Reviews
Positive Review
I have owned a 1995 XJ6 and a 1997 XJ6 Vanden Plas and I'm now buying another 1997 VP in a color I've not owned previously. Let me say, these are the BEST cars Jaguar has ever made. Period. The in-line six cylinder engine is one of the best automotive power plants ever made by any manufacturer. It will easily run 200k miles without problems (as long as you do regular maintenance). These cars drive silky smooth, they are all the power you could want, and for a European luxury brand, are surprisingly inexpensive to maintain or repair. Prices have stabilized and you can drive a nice clean XJ6 for years and not lose any money on depreciation...even a Toyota Prius will depreciate more than one of these cars. Now, as for styling. The 1995-1997 XJ's are as Road and Track put it, "The most beautiful four door sedans ever created." Pull into the gas station and you'll get compliments almost every visit. The styling is timeless and sadly of another era when form meant more than function. Geoff Lawson, the designer of these cars has passed on, but his work lives in the beautiful sculpture that is an XJ6. Ok, so what's not to like about these cars? Well, here are a few (and only) shortfalls I have found in owning two. The rear headliner tends to sag over time. The readout on the clock will fail after time. And after 60k miles, I had to replace the front suspension bushings ($250) on my Vanden Plas. Other than that, NO problems at all. The father of the owner of my service facility has driven his XJ6 over 200k miles with no major issues. Try doing that in a BMW or Mercedes (not to mention they don't drive/handle anything like an XJ). So my advice to you is to search through the Auto Trader ads and find a 95-97 XJ with under 50k miles (yes, they are out there) and latch onto it. You'll love looking at it. You'll love the way it drives. You'll love the low cost of ownership. And someday when you do finally decide to sell it, you will love the fact that you'll get most, if not all, of your original purchase price back. What car can give you more than that? Oh, and one more detail. A silver cat on your hood is so much sexier than a peace symbol, don't you think?
VS
Critical Review
very good reliable take it anywhere the car has new tires it needs a paint job the color is fading from the sun
1997 XJ Reviews
Showing 8 of 119 reviews.
Nearly everything. Just felt "special"
Electrical issues if left to sit for too long
I watched top gear as a kid, and I remember Jeremy and Richard talking about how great these cars were but they depreciated really quickly. I was 16 and started searching online to see how much. I think my dad paid $3400 for a 60k mile cranberry red car. I drove it all through high school and a couple years of college as "the kid with a Jaaaag". I loved that car, and if I could find it and buy it back I would. Once I bought another car, it sat outside at my parents house through winters and started developing electrical issues the longer it sat. It really just needed to be driven. The 2006 S-type I replaced it with just wasn't the same. Its probably nostalgia, but I really miss this car.
fun to drive, smooth, great for cruising
needs paint/dings, driver side seat PS leak, AC
Lots of power, Classic looks in in Flamenco Red w/beige leather int., new Michelin tires on 5 clean Jag wire wheels, Cat back custom exhaust and air intake system, HK Sound system with
A delight to drive. Comfortable and classy.
None
This car handles like a nimble sports car and yet offers maximum comfort. The seats are very comfortable and the noise from the road is minimal. The six in line engine is smooth and moves the car very swiftly with a reasonable economy for a car this size. The repairs cost can be reasonable for the DIY owner and any more complicated maintenance can be handled by regular care shops.
Dependable inline 6 cylinder engine
Bad bushings on suspension and sub frame
This car is a work horse. I have been using mine since College, my only car for 14 years now, every day Monday- Sunday and my car clocked 300,000 original miles. It still runs strong, compression still holds up to specs on all cylinders giving the high mileage. Pros: Dependable inline 6 cylinder engine, ZF transmission, Differential Cons: Due to age and road abuse ( bad bushings on suspension and sub frame, door lock mechanisms, and door seals, and bearings) To look for: bad MAF sensor, bad TPS sensor, bad Oil Pressure Sensor, poor quality after marker ignition coils, blown relays and fuses, and - all due to age and poor quality after market parts if the car had multiple owners). I still highly recommend this car as a daily driver as long as the owner has enough mechanical knowledge to maintain it by himself if he has the time. Poor maintenance on these cars if they had multiple owners who often neglected the vehicle can become a money pit for the unexperienced owner who just needs a toy. These cars are not toys. They are dependable in the right hands.
Style, Comfort
Rear trunk space for such a long car
I bought my 96 Jaguar XJ6 Vanden Plas from an estate auction. The car has classic lines but the modern reliability from one of the best inline 6 motors ever created. From 1995-1997 they produced this engine and it is amazing. Very easy to work on and run. If you want a stress free Jag ownership experience I would recommend this car. Nothing else on the road looks like this car. Even the newer Jags look too German. There is no better sedan in the world that mixes luxury, class, and sportiness quite like the XJ6 Vanden Plas. Everything on the interior is covered in Connolly leather and it smells amazing. I have a Maserati and I have had a Rolls Royce but for the money, you cannot beat this car.
not much to say ,just a CLASS vehicle. love it!
n/a
i have dreamt about owning a xj6 from i was a small boy ,had one with my job in 1976 then my first ownership was a 1997 xj6sport i now have a 1995 xj6 , i think everyone should have one of these during their driving career . engine and gearbox totally bullet proof this car is just soooo BEAUTIFUL i could live in it a little expensive to run, but only ever in garage for service which is pretty cheap as a DIY person could do almost anything she needs styling comfort handling lively class car!!!
not much to say ,just a CLASS vehicle. love it!
n/a
i have dreamt about owning a xj6 from i was a small boy ,had one with my job in 1976 then my first ownership was a 1997 xj6sport i now have a 1995 xj6 , i think everyone should have one of these during their driving career . engine and gearbox totally bullet proof this car is just soooo BEAUTIFUL i could live in it a little expensive to run, but only ever in garage for service which is pretty cheap as a DIY person could do almost anything she needs styling comfort handling lively class car!!!
Extremely fun to drive
Ok in snow due to RWD
Feels very safe to drive. Looks amazing and has that classic gentlemen look. Really gets attention and turns heads. For its last year off the line 1997 it’s a great vehicle.
