On my second X350 / X358; an XJR more than 300,000 miles in them with incredible performance and reliability. At fifteen years old the Jag still prompts strangers to start a conversation with "What a beautiful car.".
I think it all comes down to image when comparing these two. I'd be happy behind the wheel of either, but I can imagine some people being firmly Audi or Jag because of what it says about them.
My brother had the XJ6 X350 for over 10yrs and, tbh, it was a lovely place to be. He's just traded it in for a Super V8 lwb - need to have a little spin in that. Have always liked the A8, particularly the S8 variants. Appreciate the clean styling of them when the alternatives are Beemer/Merc. But when you parked the two together at the end; you could see how svelte the styling of the Jag was. German design always seems to be a bit slab-sided to me. Of the two, I think I'd have the Jaaaaag... 🙂
Wafting down the street in a 20yr old clean and tidy X350 will still draw plenty of admiration.. no one will even glace at the A8. Its not about garnering attention... its simply that attention reflects how you feel as you walk up to the drivers door,
@@ClassicsWorldUK the A8 is a bit quicker. It's also a bit stiffer then the Jag. The jag had a great rumble while accelerating. And I think the seats and arm rests held me better in the XJ8. The steering wheel controls where a little better to me in the XJ8. I love the cruise control set up on the Audi. The Audi MMI screen gets hard to read when the sun is out. I mean i like them both but I think the XJ8 fit me better.
Car magazines back in the day were split. Autocar thought that the diesel in the Jag was more refined, the seats and ride were more comfortable and it was a better driver's car overall. But Car thought that the Jag was too old-fashioned and preferred the clean style of the Audi. Everyone agreed that the Audi was more spacious, especially in back, and that the Jag looked very old-school. To some extent, then as now, it comes down to personal preference. If you like the classic styling and Gentlemen's club interior, than the Jaguar is far more capable than it looks. If you want something that looks modern and shows off its recent origin a bit more clearly, than the Audi is attractive, with a great interior and flawless build quality. Personally, I like Classic cars, so the Jag is more appealing. But they both were far more desirable than the hideous BMW 7-Series of this era.
The Audi looks drab in comparison. The Used Car lot opposite my flat had a lovely black X350 diesel (i think it had the XKR kit and wheels, it looked stunning!) for sale and I've never seen another of their cars get even a tenth as much attention as that Jaguar! Men and women, young and old, literally everyone that walked past either stopped to look around it or at least gave it a big, lustful stare. Sure the Audi is a superb car but the Jag is on another level!
The X350 looks like a big X-Type, which was based on a Mondeo. It makes a more efficient use of space, but it doesn't look like a Jaguar anymore. The XJ40-X300-X308 shape is pure Jaguar, different from any other sedan, so unique and well proportioned.
I have now come to the conclusion that any post XJ40 Jag will have a droopy headlining, that's why there are several companies out there specialising in replacements. Jaguar just never seemed to bother fixing it - probably along with a load of other things as well.
There is no battle here at all. The Jag wins hands down- it looks like a proper prestige car, whilst the Audi is typically Germanic- soulless, it looks more like a taxi. The Jag has far more presence, character and style- it's leagues ahead of the Audi- no matter how good the latter's build quality might be. I never look twice at Audi's, BMW's or Mercedes- utterly soulless creations. The Jag is beautiful and a real eye catcher- CLASS.
@@clunkclickeverytrip no but the vehicle has class.germans cant make luxury cars,just posh taxis with no style.they might have loads of unnecessary tech but no character.jaguar hands down is easily the best,it has class,character and charm in abundance.
@@ivanfernyhough3851 you're very right and very wrong at the same time. The Jag has class an presence for miles while the Audi is as dull as a car can be. There's never going to be a time when this Jag won't look spectacular. It looks like a premium car while still being understated. It doesn't demand attention, but it does command attention. Now for where you're wrong... Yes Audis tend to be full save for their supercar, but saying Germany only makes soulless taxis is just incorrect. I think BMW made the best run of luxury sports coupes/sedans ever, namely the E36/E46 3 series from 1992- 2004, the E39 5 series from 1996-2003, and the E38 7 series from 1994-2002 (I may be just a bit off with the years since I'm just going off the top of my head). Put the Jag's contemporary and competitor at the time, a 2002 BMW 540i sport/M-sport (not the same as the M5) next to this X350 Jag and you'd be hard pressed to pick which one looks better. How about the 840/850 of roughly similar vintage? Can't say that's a taxi. Mercedes has pretty much every AMG ever made and cars like a 2001 R119 SL280/300/500/600 which has some serous presence of it's own. Audi tends to make dull cars but the German auto industry isn't just Audi. I'm a bit of a BMW fanboy but I'm also a Jag fanboy so the bias evens out. Two cars I hope to own one day are an XJR of about this same time period and the last few years, 1991 to 1996, of the absolutely gorgeous XJS. The XJ-S/XJS is one of the best looking cars ever made. I know the E-Type is supposed to be the pinnacle of Jaguar and car design in general but I much prefer the yards of hood and flying buttresses of the XJ-S/XJS, but if you gave me a free car and I had to choose between a 1994 XJS and a 2002 BMW 740i with the sport package I don't think I could do it. Both are equally pretty rides. I'm guessing you're across the pond from me and I understand things like Bmws and Mercedes are used as taxis so maybe the association with those taints your opinion of them but I still can't understand how you think German cars have no soul at all.
@@jamesstaggs4160 i have a jaguar x350 superv8 as my daily.they are stunning cars,you will love it when you get one.i have driven only jags for 25 years excepting my rolls royce silver spirit.i have a 1968 s type jag so i love me jags,wouldnt say fanboy because it sounds crass lol,the only other cars to interest me are fords.i have had sierras,granadas,a zodiac over the years,loved them.german cars no matter what they are leave me cold,except maybe some of the 60s mercedes or a bmw 635csi.all other bmws are about as appealing as stubbing my toe unfortunatley.
I had a d3 3.0tdi it was a rocket ship especially after the remap. I had S320cdi before that and that was a big wallowy barge, the A8 was so high performance and handled incredibly! By far the best car I’ve ever had, nothing else compares I’m looking right now for a nice 4.2 V8 tdi D4
My 2006 4.2 v8 Jaguar sovereign is a dream ❤!!!!!!!!. I was lucky enough to own E350, S320,350,G320, 7 series. But I always wanted a Jag, since my grandad had them in the 70's and my dad bought his first one in 82' when I was born.
Audi really were at the top of the design game during this period. A1, A3, A4 (particularly the Cabrio), A6, A8 and original TT, each one an understated, elegant and classy machine. It’s a shame that not long after they started to lose that in favour of bling and shoutiness. I guess it’s what people wanted as Audis are everywhere but I miss these smooth, smart ones.
Had both, the A8 isnt a patch on the Jag. The ride quality in the Jag is better, its better built, more reliable, lovely to drive and looks and feels like a luxury car. The A8 was bland, the quality of the lights awful the mmi a nightmare with buttons on the console that stuck etc. Eventually the gearbox module packed up on my A8 and I was glad to see the back of it. Returning to an x350 xj6 was a different worlds. Its always been the same. Only the S Class comes close to the Jag but its not quiet there.
I generally don't like Audi's, but from this two I'd go for it, sorry Jaguar fans. Another interesting comparison Joe, great video and scenery to drive those cars on.
I had a V8 X350. Best car I ever drove Worst car I ever owned. Shocking reliability. It hit 50K miles and went into self destruct mode. Air suspension, suspension bushes, steering rack and air con compressor and other sundry components failed. In total I spent around £5K on repairs/ servicing over 30K miles in 3 years. I also had corrosion problems from the technique Jaguar used to fit the body panels. Where alu panels were attached to steel structures they used zinc coated rivets. Fine, so long as the zinc coating is intact, but when it fails it creates a galvanic cell resulting in corrosion. a lot of X350 I saw were all showing corrosion in the same place as mine. You can respray it but it just keeps coming back. My advice is to borrow one, drive it, enjoy it, tick it off the list and walk away.
Thanks for the video. I don't understand what you mean however by saying the X308 '...had enough modern technology to make it a genuinely viable daily driver'. All XJs from 1968 onwards were all viable daily drivers!
I had a D3 3 litre V6 diesel, loved it. In sport mode it could be thrown around like a hot hatch but gave great fuel efficiency. I preferred to a mate's V8 diesel which felt more nose heavy without that much more power. The first car I owned which I could drive from the alps back to north UK in a day without re-fuelling and still walk on arrival.
I always hated the VW Chuncky shifter they put in everything, including the Bentley Continental. I feel like the X308 is aging super well and becoming quite desirable. A well sorted X350 is roomier, has better seats and the ride is superb with the air suspension, but it's not as good as looking at the X308. 4.0 and 4.2 are fantastic power plants especially with the supercharger. Of course I would take the Jag, tech in both is super outdated. I much prefer the non touch screen stack in the Jag, I think it's aged much better.
Oh my god this is SO hard! (Said the actress to the bishop) I'd have the Audi. No, the Jag. NO the Audi! No the JAG! Argh! Both. I'll have both. Thanks :)
Both great to drive and ride in but only one stands with distinction when you look at your classic from afar. Jaag every time for me. A8 looks like an overgrown econobox!
I have an x358 LWB in indigo blue- I love it. It replaced my Audi S5 which was an amazing car but no room for the kids. Funny thing is that the Audi never got any attention but I regularly get comments about the jag! My mrs calls it the “Walnut whip” 😂
Audi has a Volkswagen Phaeton looks and $130000 tag similar.The Jaguar it's much cheaper and reliable. Bullet proof engine to last 500 k.and aluminium frame rust proof. Thanks
I've been driving a 2006 A8 4.2V8 since 2010. It really is an excellent car, but I wish they hadn't bothered with the stupidly complicated and incredibly expensive to repair air suspension and just put a few springs in. It would have saved me a LOT of money.
I'm a fan of these Jaguars, I'll be looking to buy one around this coming November. I have a 2016 F-Type 3.0 S manual transmission coupe, a XJ VDP from 2006-7 would be a good addition. But a question, why do Jaguar headliners keep falling down? I had a lovely 1984 XJS, its headliner was falling down. Has Jaguar learned nothing from this perennial problem? Or do British environmental regulations come into play?
I loved the first Audi A8 and it’s still a car that I would like to own, but the second generation doesn’t appeal to me as much, therefore I would go for the Jag.
The Audi is a great car, although it looked a bit too much like a big Passat for me. Not keen on the X350, much prefer the X358 facelift as the revised front and rear give the car much improved proportions and reduce the perceived height of the car.
Audi = Volkswagen, Jaguar = Ford. I’d rather have bought a Polo or a Fiesta and had enough money spare to dump it at the airport and bugger off on holiday for 6 months
The Jag… just gets better and better with age… so much feel good factor… I’ve had every gen A8 except the current one… but … great cars but Jags are something else
I like both and have had many cars and would consider myself knowledgeable about vehicles and service and maintenance and currently have as one of my cars a 2005 XJR silver on dove, air turned to arnott suspension and everything works and zero issues and almost no wear on the interior. I think the jaguar for me is pure class in the looks department and love the interior as its simple and everything. but i think the main reason is in canada and the USA that 4.2 V8 in the audi is a absolute nightmare to maintain and costs way way more to fix then the jaguar and that engine is not as reliable as the Jaguar. i am sure someone out there has a high Km one and so on, but to keep it top shape the vs a top shape engine from the jaguar the audi costs way more. I just dont think the audi aged gracefully because the Jaguar was meant to look "old school" traditional from the get go it aged well as that was its intention from the get go. and the newer version was such a departure that this is considered the last jaguar.... where as the audi as soon as the new one comes this thing looks absolete to me...aside from the s8 v10 which was cool but few friends had one and legit had to drop engine from things other cars you could get to without lol
I've several cars, but all a bit older... Just bought a Audi 200 20V avant quattro, and in october '22 I bought a Daimler Six LWB... The 200 is the top fivecilinderturbo of that era, and the Daimler is the Ueber Jaguar with the last real 6 inline Jaguar produced... (among the other toys are two Lancia Deltas, a 90 quattro 20V, a 200 avant quattro exklusiv and a MINI Cooper) If I had to choose... it wouldn't be the A8. Would go for a SWB Daimler Super Eight - the top X350. - I was actually in the market for such a Daimler, but couldn't find the right one....after a year and a half I came home with the Daimler Six! Heavier...but sleeker - more XJ!
Always been an Audi owner, I have owned A4 to A7, and all the numbers between and I am a huge fan. I have owned a diesel X350 for a year and spent over 3k on it, from head liner to body corrosion issues. I loved every minute of ownership, it just felt so nice too drive, rubbish in the snow , but just felt like you just put on a nice suit and it made me feel so good, would have one again, once I find the right one, but never had an A8 and wouldn’t mind a new one, i am over 50 now so i can easy
The fact that the audi is so much taller than the jag, is definitely a plus for it. These are luxury cars and the ease and grace of ingress and egress is important as well as a more commanding presence on the road. It helped Rolls and Bentley distinguish themselves in the silver shadow era.
