by Connor Parks
2003 Jaguar XJ8 V8, owned by Daniel Covington
Want to see your ride featured? Feel free to submit it by contacting connor.parks@centre.edu.
If you’ve ever been to a major world city like London or New York, you’ll know there’s a certain phenomenon that only happens once in a while. You’re strolling along the sidewalk, traffic meandering by, when out of nowhere a dominant presence fills the air, silently announcing the arrival of something very important. A businessperson headed to a high-level exec meeting or shareholder conference cruises past, chauffeured in the back of a dark-coloured luxury sedan, and traffic simply parts as if an emergency vehicle were coming through. It’s an imposing sight which can’t help but stir up the same feeling in many who experience it: if only that were me. 22 years ago, this very same Jaguar XJ8 would have been exactly one of these dominators of the road. Seeing it around campus, despite these regularly selling for less than $8,000 in good condition these days, instilled the same reverence in me for this graceful, powerful machine. When I learned it was owned by another Cento writer, I felt practically obligated to get behind the wheel and review it: for the good of the public, of course.
Daniel’s 2003 XJ8 is the first car I’ve reviewed for the Cento that hasn’t been a daily driver, with this being his backup former project car that he’s driving as his newer Audi A6 has some work done. Yet given the heavy work he’s done to keep it in fantastic condition, after buying it non-running for cheap from the parking lot of a mechanic’s shop, it’s hard to see why someone wouldn’t want to daily drive something this well-kept. It’s easy to see what drew Daniel to inquiring about the XJ8 upon seeing it just once or twice. Its styling, based directly on the late-80s model XJ and refreshed in 2004, is the unmistakable pinnacle of a British luxury sedan. From its four circular headlights, to its sleek chrome lines, it demands the attention of all who lay eyes on it. Additional features include sleek aluminum plates separating the very heavy doors from the frames, the omnipresent leaping Jaguar logo on the forward-tilting hood, and the gas cap located on the top of the trunk. Said trunk is very wide, but not as deep, with lots of space taken up by the spare wheel under a flap. I wouldn’t be terribly concerned about the storage, but it’s definitely a factor for consideration. Some might say the one thing that really hampers the 2003 XJ8 is its admittedly antiquated styling, but I’d tend to disagree: if anything, I believe it only adds to its immensely classy presence.
The XJ8’s front seats and dashboard brought some of the best luxury surprises I’ve seen in a 20+ year old car. From the factory backup sensors, to the optional navigation and car phone (not seen in this model), it poses as something much more modern than it is. The central “infotainment panel” (if you could even call it that due to its age) included dozens of buttons controlling everything from “valet mode”, to an analogue clock, to front and rear heated seats, to extensive climate controls and more. The Alpine sound system has plenty of options, and the 6 disc CD changer up front (plus a second smaller one in the back) allows for plenty of ways to use it. The leather seats are incredibly thick and plush, with extensive adjusting capabilities on both sides, including 3 seat settings presets on each. The side mirrors are surprisingly small, as well as the glovebox, yet the latter has a separate panel specifically for storing documents. The steering wheel is lined with firm leather and real wood trim like the rest of the front, and includes buttons for taking calls, volume, and more. The wide windshield only has one long wiper, yet it’s very effective and sprays cleaner fluid from the blade itself. I could go on about the factory “map lights”, the electronically adjustable headrests, the rearview mirror’s light-resistant laminate, and more, but the interior generally just drips with luxury beyond what anyone would expect for a sub-$10,000 used car. Every ergonomic motion, from pulling the door handles to flipping a turn signal, is designed to be as smooth and clean as possible.
In the rear, meanwhile, a major drawback to the entire interior became very evident. Even with elevated sections above both the front and rear seats, the headroom does get a bit tight even for a medium-height person like myself. Regardless, it’s equally as plush and opulent for rear passengers as up front, and the connecting panel that splits the two seats includes extensive climate controls and seat heaters. Even without the optional “smoker’s package”, this model includes tiny plastic ashtrays under the wood panelling on both rear doors, a proper relic of their time. Due to the strange fuel tank placement, there’s no direct opening to the trunk through the armrest, yet it’s wide enough to accommodate two full arms and anything you might want to place atop it. The massive electronically controlled sunroof extends all the way over the rear seats, providing an open-air experience when open.
There’s no way I can beat around the bush when it comes to this thing on the road: the XJ8 was, in practically every aspect, one of the finest driving experiences I’ve ever had. Offering two drive modes selected with two center console buttons, which Daniel dubbed “Grandpa” and “Sport Mode”, it’s equally as comfortable cruising slowly around town as flying down the freeway. The XJ8’s namesake 4.0 litre V8 puts out about 290 horsepower, although with the way it got up to speed on straight stretches of highway I would honestly suspect more. Despite being an automatic, and the gears shifting seamlessly as the car accelerates quickly, Jaguar’s fascinating “J-Gate” transmission system allows drivers to select from manual and automatic transmission separated by a bottom line in the leather-surrounded gearshift. After a while, the speed sort of blends together, but by all means it’s a surprisingly quick ride with insanely tight steering (by far the best I’ve ever driven) and very responsive braking and handling for how huge and heavy this car is. The suspension, operated by independent front and rear air suspension modules, only add to the smoothness of the ride. If the interior didn’t already prove it, the XJ8’s drive perfectly explains its original $79,330 price tag in 2003: equivalent to over $140,000 today.
Of course, owning an older XJ8 isn’t without its share of reliability concerns. The delicate suspension tends to be prone to expensive repairs, and the high likelihood of corrosion (even in warmer climates) does pose some potential issues for body work. Despite this, the XJ8 is much easier to personally repair than its German contemporaries, with Daniel having recently replaced the front suspension coils and springs in less than a weekend. If you’re willing to address these few mechanical issues, plus the low headroom, mediocre storage space, and styling that some see as antiquated, you’ll be rewarded with one of the greatest possible luxury and driving experiences for an absolute steal of a price. In the age of the crossover takeover, as big luxury sedans gradually become a relic of the past, there are increasingly few cheap options for emulating that road-dominating experience that only something like an XJ8, BMW 7-series, or Mercedes S-Klasse is capable of. If this is the experience you’re seeking in a daily driver, with some added British flair, I hope your good taste leads you to an XJ8 or one of its newer successors.