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It is a rare consumer that will ever own the 2006 Jaguar XJ8. In fact most people may never drive an eighty thousand dollar luxury automobile. Yet for very affluent and discerning drivers, the 2006 Jaguar XJ8 represents one of the finest motorcars on the road. Very few vehicles compete at this level and each aims for a different subset of the premium large luxury sedan market. Joining Jaguar in the quest to satisfy the needs of the well heeled, the Mercedes S-Class, BMW 7 Series and Audi A8 offer prestigious competitors. While Rolls Royce, Maybach and even Bentley may anchor the near half-million dollar stratosphere, most consider this $60K-$120K range to be the pinnacle of premier luxury sedans. Mercedes Benz, BMW and Audi all have stretched the modern sleek design limits to controversial levels. It is Jaguar that maintains a conservative and traditionally styled large sedan. This classic cat received some welcome upgrades for 2006 including a very cool chrome mesh grill insert and removal of dated window moldings. The current all aluminum body style of the Jaguar XJ8 debuted in 2004 and is the seventh rendition in over 30 years. I especially like the deeply sculptured hood or "bonnet" as the British might say. Thoroughly modern the chassis and suspension is extremely advanced and capable of providing a luxurious ride with excellent performance handling. The 2006 Jaguar XJ8 comes in both the short and long wheelbase models and can be powered by either the 300 horsepower naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 or the supercharged version producing 400 horsepower. $62,495 is the entry level MSRP for the short wheelbase XJ8 while the Super V8 Portfolio Long wheelbase edition MSRP tops $115,995. My test vehicle was the long wheelbase Vanden Plas model with the standard engine and nudged $80K. Among high-end luxury sedans, Jaguar is noted for it's classic design and uncomplicated luxury. You will not find the challenging multifunction "I" drives in the Jaguar but rather a vehicle that can be driven without additional schooling. This doesn't mean that the Jaguar lacks technology but that technology has not interfered in the driving interface. My test vehicle was well equipped with an excellent Navigation system and advanced rear-seat DVD entertainment package including two video screens imbedded in the rear of the front seat head rests. The 320-Watt Alpine stereo was excellent except changers for the DVD and CD were located in the trunk. The CD also did not play MP3 disks as I have come to expect. This is a substantial vehicle. The ride is rock solid and subtle innovations like laminated side glass and retractable shades for rear windows isolate this luxurious environment from the harsh exterior. Rich woods, leather and deep pile carpets invite you to spend hours soaking up the hospitality in this extraordinary automobile. Exceeding expectations, power provided by even the standard engine is fast and smooth. The six-speed automatic provides extremely smooth and refined driving both on the highway as well as urban streets. I did not drive the 400 horsepower supercharged version but the 300 horsepower of the normally aspirated engine was more than adequate to launch this cat from zero to sixty MPH in 6.3 seconds. The supercharged engine will beat most muscle and sports cars with a 0-60 time of 5.0 seconds. Maybe you don't purchase the Jaguar for economical reasons, but I found the estimated 18-MPG in the city and 27-MPG on the highway to be outstanding for a car of this weight and power. Power and fuel economy - now that is special! You can get an entry-level car for under $15K and $30K will buy a very nice sports sedan. So what are the motivations for spending $60-$120K on a depreciating asset? At this level each buyer has different motivations. Some want extreme safety and comfort for their family. Some want to make a statement of success and attainment. Others recognize that an investment in quality is never a frivolous expense. For whatever the reasons, the 2006 Jaguar XJ8 carries on a long tradition of legendary motorcars in excellent fashion.
2006 Jaguar XJ8 Vanden Plas L Premium Large Luxury Sedan 4.2 Liter V8 Engine
$79,795 MSRP as driven 18/2/ MPG Additional Web only Information and Resources For Additional Reviews: |
©2006 - Stan Risener