Faults:

RE: Flooding conditions and cylinder wall cracking issues. I had this problem 3 times and learned a "Pre-notice" Bulletin was being issued 1/20/03. VandenPlas engine had gone to a titanium lined cylinder for weight reduction. The metal proved too rigid and would not expand and contract at proper metallurgical rates and resulted in microscopic cracks that caused flooding and other downstream conditions. Replacing plugs and adjusting compression was the fix. Jaguar approved engine replacement in spring 2003, N/C.

Once my new engine installed 3/03 at 46,000 miles, have had no problems of that nature.

General Comments:

I love the car, have 124,000 miles and still get 23mpg on long trips! Will retire soon and probably sell it.

Faults:

Hub caps fall off no matter what the glue is.

Airbag light on (bad seat sensor).

Rear view mirror (liquid bad).

Have to add 6 oz. coolant to fill the tank every six months.

Do not !! Do not !! Ever wash this engine off with water. Only wipe off with damp rag. Water will run into sparkpug holes and short out the ignition. Take off spark plug covers and blow out water with air compressor. Then it will start.

General Comments:

It rides like a floating cloud (nice ride).

4.0 engine does not use any oil at 99,000 miles! I can't say that for my old F-150 at 2 quarts!

Rear doors squeaky on rough roads.

No engine problems so far at 99,000 miles engine runs very well. Super unleaded only !!

I have never had so many people come up to me and tell me what a nice Jag you have!!

Windshield wiper arm is easy to hit when starting, and can be turned on while turning steering wheel.

Faults:

I am a 52 y/o male PhD educated professional. I am the second owner of this car; miles on it when I bought it were highway miles. I have driven this car hard, locally and cross country, and have been very satisfied with it. Jaguar is a finicky car and requires constant attention to detail, and you must fix the little things or they will become big things. These are the only surprises I have had from the car (I always use premium gas, and full synthetic oil changed every 3,000 miles) :

The 100,000 mile scheduled service caught me a little off guard -- almost $2500.

The thermostat housing (ironically made of molded plastic) shattered -- only an $85 repair, but in the shop for two days.

I had to replace the fuel pump recently -- of course it is located in the gas tank -- that was an unexpected $850 repair, but completed within 36 hours.

The car runs and looks great, especially for a 1999. It is detailed once a month, and I am very happy with the car. I have read a lot of the comments, and have to wonder two things: are the vehicles being properly maintained, and is it possible that there are 'bad' Jaguars just as there are bad models of everything? I would buy another one just like mine tomorrow. They are not cheap to operate, but they look and perform like a precision vehicle. If you want higher reliability and cheaper operating costs, buy a cheaper "run of the mill" car.

JLS.