Best XJ for ride quality.

[Busterbvi]

Seasons greetings to the club forum. I'm a new member thinking about buying a good used XJ. I'm currently driving a 2003 BMW E39 525i SE Saloon auto, a lovely low mileage mint condition example. I love the car but the harsh ride is spoiling my enjoyment of it. 

I am retired now and my boy racer days are long gone, all I want is a nice super quiet, smooth comfortable ride. I did my time at a BL garage back in the 70's then moved on to a Jaguar dealership working on the XJ range for some 5 yrs. The build quality back then was really quite awful but I do have fond memories of the lovely quiet & comfy wafty ride the XJ range offered. Having returned from 25 yrs overseas nearly 3 yrs ago, I am completely out of touch with the Jaguar XJ range but reading up and watching YouTube tests and reviews on the XJ I think it may be the car for me. I'm looking at the X350 cars but have picked up on negative comments about the air suspension being harsh at low speeds, even Clarkson commented on it in a old Top Gear test suggesting it "Had to Go"

I recently read an old march 2019 issue of Classic Car Buyer that did a XJ40 v Lexus LS400 comparison test. I quote. " Lexus openly admitted that it had benchmarked the XJ40 for ride quality while developing the LS, if you drive the two back-to-back, it's close but no cigar. The LS400 is an extremely comfortable car but the XJ40 is a wonderful one, who's ride quality wouldn't be bettered until the 2002 X350 XJ came along"

I'm certainly looking at the XJ40, also the X300 and X350 V6 and V8 cars, (no diesels) I would be most grateful for some advice from members on which model to go for for the ultimate in a quiet, smooth comfortable ride at low speeds on normal roads ? I appreciate that this can be quite subjective but I am hoping there is a car that really stands out with a general consensus as the one to go for.

The later XF and XE have not been ruled out.

Thanks. Busterbvi.

 

 

 

[Parker]

Hi and welcome.

I'm not a mechanic mearly an enthusiastic amateur who loves a modern classic.  I have a 2005 X350 and the ride is superb, I also have a Bentley Brooklands with the hydraulic suspension.

Personally I find the Jaguar a much smoother ride, it handles beautifully in the corners and smooths out those rough road services.

As a driver I would highly recommend the X350.

Good luck with your road testing and future car.

[Rob22]

Hi, I agree with Parker

I have the same XJ 350 and the same year 2005.

Its much smoother /quieter than our 2013 XF.

Nice Bentley Busterbvi

Regards

[Busterbvi]

On 11/30/2020 at 10:51 AM, Parker said:

Hi and welcome.

I'm not a mechanic mearly an enthusiastic amateur who loves a modern classic.  I have a 2005 X350 and the ride is superb, I also have a Bentley Brooklands with the hydraulic suspension.

Personally I find the Jaguar a much smoother ride, it handles beautifully in the corners and smooths out those rough road services.

As a driver I would highly recommend the X350.

Good luck with your road testing and future car.

 Thanks for the reply. I'm just down the road from you in St Athan ! Which model / spec do you have, what size wheels & tyres ?

[Parker]

Hi, oh not far at all. Porthcawl here 😊

Mine is a 3.0 V6 Auto on 18's. Just put 4 new Goodyear on. 

 

[Busterbvi]

On 12/1/2020 at 8:23 PM, Parker said:

Hi, oh not far at all. Porthcawl here 😊

Mine is a 3.0 V6 Auto on 18's. Just put 4 new Goodyear on. 

 

How do you find the new Goodyears for road noise ?  I just fitted a set of 255/55/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetricc 5 SCT ( Sound Comfort Technology) to my BMW E39, very disappointed, no better if not worse than the Avon ZV7's they replaced ! They are marketed as a "Comfort" tyre but I find them harsh with a constant thump thump on poor roads. Expected better from Goodyear at £540 a set.

[Parker]

I find them to be fine limited road noise. Must add my Jaguar  is a Sunday car really I don't do a great deal of  motorway driving in it.