Absolutely right, Gavin. My '01 XJR with 4.0L and 370 hp gets only 21 mph highway and 15 mpg city. And its 4.0 L block is the direct ancestor of today's 5.0L. It’s a great example of innovation through development and living proof that British R&D is right up there with the Germans. As an old guy (Harry's age) let me recommend to you 35 yo motorheads out there . . . You’re living in maybe the last golden age of gas-engine supremacy and an off-lease XJR is probably the performance bargain of your generation. Why drive a cloned 5-Series or me-too A7 - both great cars but big yawn - when you could have a genuine head-turner like this XJR for pennies on the dollar?
finally not one of these "young" down juiced you tubers reviewing something. A premium millionaire gentleman with manners and class doing it! This is the lifestyle! Money rules the world!
Harry, you're great. You don't just do reviews. These are great "inside looks" of the cars you pick. You produce the best automotive related content on youtube by far. Really
I must say you have the perfect spec for this car. My mate had a old XK8 many years ago & that did 24 mpg so this with all that power doing 31 mpg is incredible
Worked for Jaguar Canada for 32 years in the marketing department. Always enjoyed driving the big XJ models. The last one I drove was a 2007 XJR , a real thrill.
Hi, fellow Canuck here, now living in the Bay Area. I’m Harry's age, and must be close to you in that demo. I inherited my motorhead madness from my Dad. Memories of darting along the Ontario backroads in the early 60s, riding shotgun in my Dad's Mk. II. In the late '70s I owned a Leyland Series 2 E-Type, not a happy union but hey, I was 20-something and owned an E-Type roadster. I moved to the Bay Area in the mid-90s because I worked in tech. Retired now, I’m on my third X-308 and will never sell the 2001 XJR I’m driving now. (This is a mantra I will repeat until senility claims me because I once owned a pristine low-miles Vanden Plas Supercharged, one of 248 built that year, and I SOLD IT.) I suppose if I moved some checkers around I could buy a current generation off-lease on the cheap. It’s my inner geezer that is stopping me. I am totally charmed by the current generation except for its buckboard ride, thanks to those rubber-band tires. What a foolish price today's generation pays for vanity! I’m surprised there was ever a Jaguar Canada. What did you guys do all day? Drink tea and discuss maintenance issues with the guys in the downstairs garage? Alas I fear for Jaguar's future. I know sales are in the shitter. Despite Mr. Tata's doing everything right and letting the horse have her head, the brand seems unable to bridge the vast generational gulf - probably more like two generations - between the brand's gravity-like pull on the kind of young men you’d want to emulate . . . and those who buy Euro performance sedans now. Yes, Mr. Tata and Mr. Callum and countless others of Britain's best and brightest couldn’t quite put Humpty Dumpty together again. Well they could but they couldn’t sell them. Because the Millennials equate luxury and status with Germany, close quote full stop. And so like me you must regard your relationship with Sir William and your time keeping up your end in the colonies with a bit of being pulled two ways. You represented one of the world's great brands, but in the autumn of its reign. Or maybe early winter. Especially in Canada. Anyway it was nice talking. If you’d like to keep up the conversation, below is my email. Johntechwriter@yahoo.com.
Awesome video as always. Really loved the attention to detail about the phone app honestly. So many cars have got crazy gimmicks and features that are overlooked by car testers who simply throw it at a track and pretend that's the end of it - but with this sort of car, the gimmicks and features a very valid part of the experience! Also, I wish more testers were like Harry in regards to pointing out how a car feels when leaving from a dead stop. Cars start and stop all the time, if it's a cumbersome experience, this is important! Thank you for covering it all Harry!
Great video Harry. Always loved Jags. Something uniquely cool, powerful and beautiful about them. Lets hope Jaguar never forget what makes it one of the sexiest brands on the planet.
We’re all old men. Except for those of us who are young. And female. Though I don’t think they watch this informative information. And by informative information? Literally would take an act of congress, a lucky lotto win, or me becoming a single minded, cash obsessed prick (back to that man part, I guess) to get me a jaguar. Though I would get one, I like cats. Harry gets to show us the mentality of the one percent.
I love stumbling across a new Harry's garage. Your self and Chris Harris do make me rather happy. Such honest reviews portrayed in such a poetic manor.
Always one of the best "real-world" reviewers. Almost as good as being there. I enjoy the mix of classics and new cars. The phone connectivity was a revelation for me also.
Hello sir, great video! There is nothing better than the British gentleman like you taking a pride representing his domestic supreme ride with the automotive heritage. I like Jaguars better than RR, Bentley or Aston Martin.
I've said it on one of your other videos, but I'll say it again: the cherry on top of watching you drive awesome cars is seeing what watch you're wearing. Beautiful gmt you have there sir.
It’s called good taste and people like Harry who have it, like Harry, are an endangered species. Here on RU-vid we see some absolute monstrosities under the Bentley and R-R labels. Very wisely, Jaguar seem to have brought in Harry as an influencer to add some bling to the brand without making it into a rolling self-parody.
I enjoy so much when you starts geeking out on suspension setups, the teams developing the machines and small details on the cars. Where else you can see a hands-on of the Countach interior! Keep up the good work Harry!
For those that were asking who is he? Well he is called Harry Metcalfe, he is the founder of EVO Magazine launched back in 1998. Great video and I have subbed.
"About" button ... where? I'm on your Web site and see none, and I don't think 'Tube videos have them. Oh--your home page on here ... If you ever need an editor/proofreader ... I'm in Canada but I do prefer UK spellings, and am happy to move. (Well, worth a try...)
@@harrysgarageHey, Harry. Your videos are terrific! Congratulations on the amazing run that you have had in the automotive industry. Do you still own this XJR? My name is Eric and I live in California. I have owned my 2015 XJR L for just under two years now. I have racked up over 46,000 miles already. =) WHAT A JOY! More horsepower than a DB11 that I rented a few years ago, yet longer than an S-Class. The best of all worlds for me…….. I hope you are doing well over there!
I bought this exact car fully loaded with 45k miles on it at the beginning of the pandemic for a smoking deal. Although not the best for around-town driving (it is long). It's a fast beast, and I love it for road trips; surprisingly, it gets decent mileage on the freeway. It purrs effortlessly at 90mph with plenty more to give. My favorite car I have ever owned; highly recommended!
A lot of the qualities that Harry talks about this car having are definitely things that I associate with my original shape XK8 4.2 as well, especially the smoothness when pulling off and general composure. Jaguar really are exceptional when it comes to sorting out suspension systems and making a car that just gets down the road really nicely.
What a joy to watch. Metcalfe always does it right. The car spec, detailing and colour, the right tyres for the conditions, all the toys and gadgets, and makes full use of the performance available, whenever the circumstances allow.
I have the supercharged with a few less horses and let me tell u this thing is I believe underrated in power it flies and the drive and quality is absolutely amaaazzzzzzzing . It’s so fast
Gotta agree S Miller as he has worked for JLR. I still enjoy your vlogs Harry. Really informative in general keep them coming if poss. More would be better if you have the time old boy!
I got to ride in an xjr one time, with a rather reckless but skilled driver and that car is one of a kind. Has that special feeling that cant be explained you just have to do some big donuts in one to understand.
Another lovely insight into what it's actually like to live with the car! My brother in law has the RRS SVR and am always bowled over by that epic supercharged V8! Long may JLR keep producing them! On a different note, I once had the pleasure of serving you on a Silverjet flight. Wish I'd plucked up the courage to chat about cars.... Next time we meet!
Great video Harry, love your no nonsense enthusiasm and sure is a lovely vehicle - one thing you didn't touch on much was how the internals compares to say the Range Rover (which I regard as the perfect long distance cruiser and comfort ride)? I get the Jag drives much better but how does the luxury stack up?? Thanks for posting and enjoy the snow - crazy that the ski season is still under way at Val - enjoy La Folie Douce ;0)
Very nice video! I like the calm way you talk about the cars from an owner point of view. Never really thought about the XJ except from the looks. Beautiful car - you can never have enough Alcantara in your cabin :-D
I have to commend you on your awesome colour choices on both cars! I could only wish I had them two exact cars. Please never ever sell them, they are beautiful!!
I have an XJ Portfolio 3ltr diesel, really goes and is incredibly good on fuel. But this monster is sex on wheels, Jag at its best, much better than the every other car on the road German offerings. Great review.
Been a subscriber for a while and a fan since issue one of Evo. You sir, are a true car enthusiast and petrolhead. Love your videos and the honesty and passion within them. Never stop making these videos!
That's very pretty, Harry. Love the paint scheme. And I love the fact that when you accelerate, you stop speaking. Some serious thrust there. And 34.7 mpg??? WOW!!! I'm so happy that British car makers are considered among the best in the world right now. I was lucky enough to drive Canada's F-Type press car and I was blown away. I can only imagine how good that XJ-R is.... Enjoy!
Great video this one, I must have watched everything during the Covid19 lockdown as this popped up and I watched it again and still enjoyed it just as much. One point though - the XJR wasn’t always automatic. The straight six was designed to be a manual(but was also available as an auto) and was also the only XJR to come with a mechanical LSD. So as a pure drivers car, the original ‘94-‘97 XJR6 manual is rather special. Don’t get me wrong though, it would be left for dust on those mountain roads compared to the x351 but you’d be having just as much fun in the six. If you’ve never driven one I can highly recommend it.
I like the matching paint schemes. You just need a Rover 200 BRM to go with them.. There was actually an XJ40 XJR and all straight 6 XJR's were available as a manual.
To the best of my knowledge, the six-cylinder XJR was based on the X-300 platform, with Jaguar's new-generation inline 4.0L six blown to produce 322 hp. This XJR version was available through 1995-1997 model years, inclusively. I am not aware of a manual transmission version of this powertrain but then I have been mistaken in the past, which makes me a minority of one among Jaguar owners. Starting with model year 2008 the XJR was based on the new X-308 series' supercharged version of their all-new 4.0L AJ-V8 engine, giving 370 hp. When the all-aluminum X-350 series was introduced for model years 2013 onward, the AJ-V8 received major displacement and horsepower increases, all without reliability problems. A note about Jaguar AJ-V8 reliability issues: Over the 1998-2012 model years, the original AJ-V8’s plastic timing chain tensioners and water pump caused reliability problems unless swapped out with factory metal replacement parts. Jaguar's warranty covered replacement of these parts. Unfortunately, the factory failed to get ahead of the problem and required the car's owner to present a list of symptoms that matched the engine’s pre-failure mode before swapping out the plastic parts at no charge. In essence, the factory created a “Catch-22” paradox, whereby only owners who were aware of the issue got coverage, while those unaware, and who subsequently allowed their warranty to expire without correcting the problem at no charge, were stranded. In other words, only those who didn’t need coverage received it. As a result, many first-generation AJ-V8 owners were caught unawares and stuck with engine failure post-warranty. The resulting bad faith resurrected memories of the brand's reliability problems decades earlier under British Leyland ownership. This was all the German competition needed to trash the brand once again. To what extent this issue caused then-owner Ford to “dump” the Jaguar brand in 1999 for a song onto its next owner, Tata, is the subject of ongoing controversy.
Watched the video last night and thought it looked good with the orange accents. Saw you early this morning out in it and it looks even better in the flesh!
Best review so far! Pretty much sealed the deal to buy one over 2010 db9 and a 2014 s63 amg this on year 2020 with depreciation running rampid on this cars in the u.s
Great review! I didn't really have second thoughts about this car before watching your video, but now I find it gorgeous and an all around amazing car.
Not all XJRs were automatic. The XJR6 X306 was produced in very very small numbers with a Getrag 290 manual transmission. A manual XJR is a completely different animal and very special indeed.
@@harrysgarage There is a fantastic, and recent, review on a particular manual XJR6 I've had the pleasure to test drive myself. JayEmm does a great job on understanding the car's character, picking up on some of the points why people like myself are so obsessed about manual XJR6s. I have an automatic XJR6 myself, but am now determined to convert it to manual. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-u7GcSWpcNJs.html
2:54 Err, Harry. XJR was first launched as a TWR-modded 3.6 XJ40, with a bad bodykit in 1988. It then went to a 4.0 XJ40 XJR, both N/A. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jaguar_XJ_(XJ40)#XJR It was only when the X300 was launched did it get a supercharger. It was also available as a 5-speed manual. I don't think that SVR/ETO has their own powertrain section !!
The XJ in any guise is a fantastic, old school motorcar that handles better than any other big exec that I have driven in the past. The Jaguar XJ and the Range Rover Vogue are THE only two JLR brand that has me getting my money out of my wallet. The other Jaguars, bar the F-type simply do not cut the mustard. The engine line up on JLR brands is also a bit lack luster if I am honest. But the XJ really is a thing of beauty. It drives better than any other of its class as far as I am concerned and has an old school feel about it. A gentleman's express, not as an example, a rowdy Mercedes-Benz AMG which I will add, you can not drive in the wet like a Jag. Shame other JLR branded vehicles are not remotely near that of the XJ, other than the Range Rover Vogue. The rest of the JLR brand are overpriced motor vehicles.
You should paint those calipers either black or orange. IMO would look best in black. They aren't as pretty as ones on the AMG's, M's and RS's. And love the paint. Such a stunning color.
It's 2 bad you don't do more videos cause your passion for cars and driving them is second to none. You have a very unique way of talking about cars and you sound genuine. Tc
Another great vid harry - one for my (distant) future shopping list perhaps ... still loving my STR DD for now - 100,000 mile service tomorrow and pretty much feels as it did new - love these big reliable Jags ;)
Really enjoy these review - road trips Harry. Great insight into the cars, the countryside and the feel of the journey. Love your 'shed' mate. Brad(Australia)
Harry, usual excellent video and an underrated gentlemen's carriage. Jaguar now seem to have the right mix of heritage and modernity. The only ancestor I can recall is I believe a xj12 in the early/mid seventies, with a 6.4 litre V12 (!), run by Jaguar Experimental dept. John Paterson
Petrolhead Grandpa (As I call him ) has the best job and he´s brilliant at it. Thanks for testing these lovely cars and having the most interresting reviews in the world.. Greetings from Czech Republic and carry on in this job.. (y)
Harry, loved your latest fiat 500 vid, just thought I'd revisit this one too! Brilliant videos, brilliant relaxed style and your gorgeous home, makes one think you've done a bit of alright for yourself!Love the Cotswolds, reminds me of Home a little further north when I'm in the UK.I have an XF 3.0 V6 Supercharged Petrol in Qatar where I work and my god do Jaguar build a car these days!Just wish I had the lovely bendy roads we have at home to drive it on though.
Harry, I am located in US. I have a 2011 Jaguar XJL Supercharged, I add some details based on your XJR. It's stunning now!! Looking forward to get your reply. I will show you the picture. And thank you for sharing this with us!!
Dear Harry,please upload videos more frequently because they're so good and profound that we become addicted and I get tired of checking every once in a couple days if you've got any new video.. 😊 ✌
30.6 wow, a tad bit better than my 1985 Suburban 5.7 liter pushrod powered tow machine... that being said thats at 60mph..... nice review Harry thanks again!
Great video! These roads are perfect for testing such sport cars. I am living 1h30 from Val d'Isère. Appreciate you are coming here to ski. My choice will be an XE with AWD more safely in winter. Thanks for your videos, my prefered: the road trip in Morocco with the Testarossa.
