Perhaps Callum should ask himself; where is the XJ now? where is this radical new design language? Because - like it or hate it - the xj, in various but similar forms, had marched on for 41yrs neither upsetting or over-whelming its customers until this 'radical new design language' ended one of the most beautiful saloons ever to grace a road. I don't hate the X351 but everyone could see it wasn't Jaguar's natural evolution of the XJ. Incidentally; my brother has the lwb Super V8 and it is all the car you'd ever need. Ever....
@@ClassicsWorldUK X308XJR, I think, was the best incarnation of the 'modern' Jags. It really made the most of the cigar-shaped bodyline. Failing that I'd go back to the pillarless XJC12....
The X358 is absolutely gorgeous, Ian Callum and his team did a fantastic job with what little they could work with, so classy yet sporty and elegant all at once. whenever I see one of these in person I always stop and stare!
But he runied the brand later with Honda Accord looking sedans. And now they are dumping all their cars, keeping the F type and going electric. Good luck and RIP Jag. Its a matter of time. Dead brand walking.
I am the happy owner of a 2004 Super V8 (350) which is, in my opinion, the best ultimate design of the classic XJ. I do not like the face lift of the 358 and would not swap my car for it. I have been dreaming of the XJ since my 1st visit to England in 1973 and decided I would find a good XJ8 of the last generation when I can afford it. This materialised 3 years ago and mine has only 60,000 km (less than 40,000 miles) since new. It is the best compromise of comfort, performance, space and reliability with the traditional look. Since then, except for the F type, Jaguar has been unable to design nice cars and has joined Land Rover with the worse reliability reputation. I also own a Discovery IV 3.0 diesel which is my daily and has 215,000 km (some 150,000 miles) and would not change for any other car until it falls apart. A real Swiss knife. These 2 cars are the very best the British industry has produced. Such a shame this is past history.
i have a 05 super v8, i had it for 3 years now and use it all year round. Currently at 90k km. Before this i had a 03 4.2 and droved it from 90k km til 140k km. The two most reliable cars i have ever owned. They drive well and looks good. The only downside is parts availability. Its easier to get parrs for my e type than this..
I agree about parts availability. I am looking for a new rear axle (or have it refurbished/rebuilt) and I can’t find any. Is there any specialist in the UK?
@@bertranddyvoire5375 i bought a spare diff of ebay got i shipped to a place to get a qauife diff fitted. I dont think you cn buy brand new diffs, check sng barrat
XJ legend died when Callum callously recreated the XJ. It looks OK from the front, but the side and rear are horrid compared to all previous XJ's that had the true lineage. Also the interior of the last XJ, hideous. With no full blooded XJ, all electric only I fear Jaguar itself will be no more within five years. Long live proper Jaguar XJ's that will always have grace, space, pace and great value for all to enjoy!
X308 >> X350 >> X358 in my view. Always thought the front bumper of the X358 looked like an afterthought (which it actually was). Nice cars though. Although a Diesel in an XJ is a big no no.
Yeah, the X358 with a 300 HP V8 sounds really better, for the Car Lovers....I agree the previous period of XJs had given Superb Cars, too...Wide and long XJ X300-X308 were just SUPERB, for sure...I loved a lot the Portfolio Editionand the Vanden Plas, too.....Another time....
X350 over the X358 for me, just because of the latter's OTT front end. Above all a Jaguar should look elegant, not aggressive. The '358 front-end restyle was the motoring equivalent of Kenny Everett wearing the false chin for his Marcel Wave character!
As a self-confessed Jag man, I never really likes the look of the X350. But then my brother bought an XJR version and my mind was changed. However, I do prefer the look of the X358, it’s somehow more purposeful and coherent. And, I admit, I do love the X351 too.
I owned a 1978 Series 2 Daimler Sovereign and I reckon I would still have it had it not been T-boned on the driver's door and written off (I'm very grateful to the car that I didn't get written off at the same time). I actually would have preferred a LWB Series 1 VDP Daimler but, sadly, the pristine example I hunted down had just been sold and I never found another. For me, Jaguar have been steadily walking away from their traditional customer base and largely failing to find their feet with a new one. I can see why Callum was keen on an identifier on the side of the cars: without it one could easily fail to realise it was a Jaguar. That is not something one would say back in the Sayer/Lyons era.
It might have been me that bought the pristine Daimler Double-Six VDP series one that you were looking at. Mine had only 22k miles on the clock and was like new. I regret selling it now 😢
@@nigelbond4056 The one I looked at was in Cheshire (I forget exactly where) it was an Australian who was selling it - he was a sick as a parrot that his company had called him home early so he couldn't take it back home under some strange regulation that Australia had at the time. I ended up with a very good dark blue Series 2 with 18k on the clock that had been chauffeur driven and didn't look like anyone had sat in it so I did OK in the end.
Ian Callum was a "one hit wonder" with the Aston Martin DB7. Everything after that just looked derivative of that design. The side gills on the X358 look like the cheap add ons that they are. And the wider chrome strip across the bootlid looks less refined than the original, but that's a subtle look, and it's probably more of a "change for change's sake" than anything else. Callum pretty much ruined Jaguar's design. Glad he's retired, and looking forward to seeing what Jaguar's new design language is going to look like. When I went looking for a good 350 to buy, the only decent car I could find locally was a 2009 X358 in the exact same color as the one in the video. Despite not liking the tacked-on fake vents on the wings, I love the rest of the car. A previous owner had swapped out the problematic air suspension for coil overs, and I replaced the 20" wheels with 18's. Replacing the wheels made the ride quality so much better. Best thing you can do to the car. It rides like it's on a cloud, without all the wallowy body roll Lincolns and Mercurys are famous for due to their cushy rides. And I am absolutely in love with that 4.2L V8. I've driven a lot of big cars in my day, and this X358 doesn't handle like a big car. Behind the wheel, it feels much smaller than it really is. At least until you get into a cramped parking lot. Then you remember exactly how long an XJ8L really is.
Callum ruined the XJ and the X358 was the start of it. American chum of mine said the X351 looked like a Honda Acura. The late X350 cars pre X358 are the best looking in my opinion. Not sure how those bonnet louvres make the car look like it's moving when it's standing still, but there you go.
I have an X350 Portfolio Edition and I love it. The billet aluminium gills are striking and performance is all anyone could ever want. To me its the perfect automobile.
Personally I dislike the Halfords special X358. I think Ian Callum, as good as he is, never understood Jag, and his penchant for sticking big bumpers on cars, Saab 9-3 Viggen, X100 facelift, his own Mark II, and this X358 ruins the purity of each car - especially the X100. Don't get me started on the X351, the car that killed the XJ or crying out loud! As a direct competition, I would also argue the X100 is aging better than the DB7. Geoff Lawson did a good job considering the brief he got.
You missed one important difference. The X350 had a big design flaw that the electric seat motors are in the wrong place so that rear seat passengers can't slide their feet under the front seats. This was fixed on the X358.
the 308 looks better from side and front, but i think the 350 has better tailights/rear bumper, looks more like the first xj. Great cars all of them, but since i live were it snows i chose the 350 because of aluminium body. Always on the look for a nice 308 and will buy one once i find the right one. Your daimler super v8 is a very nice car
@@quattrofrank i do agree that x308 wins in the side profile and in the line defining the dashboard, but loses badly with the head and rear lamps... especially the rear is utter isht, and as for the front ones - the inner ones gotta be smaller ffs! 😡😁
I love my X350 Vanden Plas, and I've never thought to swap to an X358. Granted, I'm a broke college student so...I kinda can't swap if I wanted to lol. It's a fantastic platform which perfectly evolved to the X351, which is an incredible car which Jag should still be making today! The way I look at it is the X350 will never be a "popular" XJ but like the XJ40, it's an incredible value for the money if you can find a mint one. Great video as always 👍
Great video thank you. I have a X308 and believe like others that it’s the best looking of all the variants, long and low and beautifully proportioned. A true classic. Having said that I do like the brutish looks of the X358 and agree that Callum did a good job. Would like to try one out dynamically - so long as it wasn’t a diesel!
Interesting I know 2 importers bringing these in from Japan ( on the same street i work, so wonder around at lunchtimes) - talking to them, faster turn over & more demand for 356 model( the 350 update) than the 358's ( what they call that old xj style). The whole 358 range style package is " aggro sporty bling" They do sell, just take longer, both in the same price, mileage range. 356 models go in 2 weeks, 358s 2-3months. 1 dealer told me, no more 358s too slow to sell, rather ship in lower grade/class ( higher mileage, rougher) new shape 351's. I think the best of the lot is the 350 with the full chrome sovereign grill, chrome trim round the windscreen - 356 & 358s models lost the glass trims ( when u get up close you can see it looks like somethings missing) only have mesh grills & 358 chunkier mesh, leapers gone, just a badge.
It’s always down to personal taste! Unlike some, but like others who prefer the 358, for me it looks like the perfect tweaked evolution of this beautiful design that epitomised Jaguar and its associated curves! The haunches of a resting cat! The clue is in the name! As each new change arrived, none offended me, whereas the 358 deeply stirred me! Perfection, whereas, upon reflection the previous models all became simply a progression! Whichever is your personal choice, let’s just celebrate what Jaguars was and will never be again!? Cheers
Always thought the X358 was a very tasteful update, seemed to tone down the overly upright stance. Had a 2004 X350 which replaced my X308 and while I liked it as a "car", it was a let down as a "Jag" and didn't feel special. Some of the trim, headliner, leather, carpets felt chintzy, too much Ford, and the car lost, in my mind, that lovely leather scent that Jags always had. The engine was fabulous though, but that low speed ride was too choppy. After a few other in between, I ended up back in a Series III XJ6. I will say though that the X351, while a complete break from the traditional Jag look, is fantastic in its own ways (aside from the self destructing 5.0 V8).
There was no change to the headliner fabric and leather specifications or suppliers from one model to another. Maybe your X308 was a higher trim spec with the suede type headliner fabric instead of the standard woven one and had the standard embossed leather instead of the softer nappa leather. The ownership by Ford did not result in any downgrading of these materials.
Great video, the red one with the mesh grill at 3min 50 sec was mine !!!! A 2003 XJ 3.5 SE, I traded it some years ago for a 2004 Super V8 in the same Radiance Red that I still have now . I also have a 2015 X351 LWB so have had Jaguars for over 30 years now
X358 is beautiful, sadly I have never seen one in Australia. But doubt I would but a Diesel in a Jag. In my latter years, doubt I will ever own another Jag. I have 2 X308's, 4.0 LWB's, identical. "Daily Driver" is an Aussie Holden Statesman, the Aussie idea of a luxury car. It is very reliable, well powered and even longer than the X308 LWB's, but in comparison, NO comparison!! I love the older syled Jag's, the 350 was a bulbous (in Aussie speak, Fat-Arsed) monster. But that's just me. This is a brilliant review, if I find an X358 I would be tempted (but would have to have the 4.2 V8)....
Maybe an iconoclastic thing to say but I don’t think Callum’s designs are all they’re cracked up to be and tend not to age that well. Bertone got it right with its B99 concept in 2011 (designed by Brits incidentally for the Italian styling house) but we got the X351 which has not improved with age: it’s just stuck in that moment of never being quite right and remains there. On balance it’s got to be the X358 despite the ‘blobby’ bumpers simply because the reference back to original XJ is still there and the engineering was decent. We’ll not speak of that Ford/Peugeot diesel engine and blame Gordon Brown….🤔
I have an X358 and people are always in awe of the facelift. Previous owner chromed-out the top and bottom mesh grille. Also kept the option for the leaper hood ornament
Bit Jag nurd here. There was an x356. Very mild external face lift over x350 basically no door bumper strips. But did have the mechanical upgrades of the x358. Possibly the best of both worlds.
can i know what is included in mechanical upgrade? all i know is that old 2004 Jags had problem while gearbox gets stuck in P and does not move in other gear and that happenes when screw falls from below, under the car which ties shifter cable on place.
Both lovely cars, but for me, I'd buy the X350 as that grille is more subtle than the X358, but you wouldn't say no to either if one were offered to you.
I have a X350 Super V8.Have changed both upper and lower grill to mesh.Looks much better alongside all the chrome.Original factory Prestige wheels.Perfect. More I look at the X358 the less I like it.Front end looks like a face.
Currently rocking a 2008 X358 Daimler Super 8. Agree the low speed ride is not as good as my X308 especially on UK pot holed roads. However it does come into its own on motorway blasts especially in Germany!
I like the simpler design of the 350, fewer lines and creases. After driving mine up to 109,000 miles and going strong with 29 MPG & 75 MPH all day long, it's as pleasant as can be.
The 350 looks the dogs,the 358 was slightly ruined by callum and then he went on to totally destroy the xj with the 351.not a fan at all of callum I'm afraid.and todays jags,like most other cars to be fair look dire.jag will unfortunatley be finished soon when it turns its back on true fans,goes silly expensive snd only creates battery operated crap.
I have an X350 but I also prefer the X358 look. It's a shame that they are unobtainium with a petrol engine. An X358 with a petrol V6 is sometimes worth double the price of a looked after X350 V8. So of course I settled for an X350 V8. If I'm ever fully respraying my car, I'm getting rid of the door protection strip and move the indicators to the mirrors, and fully convert it looks-wise to an x358. I've seen that x358 bumpers go for 1k a set so it's still cheaper than swapping it for a real X358. As a final touch I would swap the Custom 19 wheels for Callisto 19. I would only really be missing out on the ventilated seats of the facelifted car.
X350 looks nice but a bit bulbous from some angles. X358 is better looking in my opinion and looks sportier but the X308 is still the super model saloon especially as an XJR. Those are just gorgeous. They also have little space inside for the size so I can see why they changed it. X351 I cannot make my mind up on. Definitely different and colour sensitive. Bit odd though from some angles. Probably rather have an X358.
love the newer XJ perhaps not the headlights as they mimic the lower xf.... but the XJ is an very beautiful car. the interior is also just brilliant. as for the older model i definitely like the side shark gill version.
I have a 2006 jaguar xj vanden plas. I absolutely love the car. My entire life if always admired everything about it till I bought it off my grandpa. He’s now passed and it’s not only sentimental but I can’t wait till I have the money to maintain it and drive it since I have another daily driver I can’t afford both. I’m in a pickle. I don’t have the room really but I don’t want to have to sell it. What should I do?
I have a x358 diesel, a simple remap giving 258bhp and 400lb ft torque. I always thought the high X350 roofline made it look bulbous, a bit of a fat ballerina. The revised front and rear of the X358 reduce the perceived height of the roofline and give a much better stance on the road. It has aged rather gracefully.
First, I have never seen an ugly Jaguar. In the video I admired both cars up to 7:55. Then the X351 was revealed. I had to admit it was a progressive step forward in aesthetic design!
An enjoyable video - thanks. I'm researching possibly an X350 XJ8. With regards to the styling, I think the 358 actually looks really bad. I can certainly understand the criticism of the 350 looking old fashioned but that's part of what attracts me. It accepts it's old fashioned and that's OK. The 358 is like an middle aged man wearing a tank top. Just accept you're old and that's OK. And as much as I respect Callum, the last gen XJ looks awful.
I have a 2008 X358 in the same color as the one in the video. I bought the 358 because a nice one showed up in my hometown that almost never sees a Jaguar, and I snapped it up. As much as I love the car…the X350s really look much nicer. The fake plastic vents on the fenders just look like tacky, overdone add-ons that take away from the car. And it’s quite clear the grille and front fascia have nothing in common with the rest of the car, style-wise. The changes to the rear end are more subtle, and not nearly as jarring, but the do make the back end look less classy…like Jaguar was looking for a way to make the rear end cheaper. I replaced the grille on mine with a chrome mesh X350 grille, and it looks much nicer. I also ditched the ridiculous 20” rims for some aftermarket 18’s. The car rides so much better, and I have never liked the giant-rims-with-no-tire-sidewall look. A previous owner swapped the air suspension out for coil overs, and I have had to replace the tie rod ends and lower control arms. The thermostat went out, and I went ahead and replaced the water pump and a bunch of hoses while I was in there. Overall it’s been a great car, and I have made several out-of-state road trips in it. But I still think the original X350 look was much better.
I have been driving an X358 for 16 years. I'm sad to say that I can't find any repair parts for it these days and that I'm getting close to saying goodbye soon😢
The X358 is kind of what I'd expect a Max Power version of the X350 to look like. Bold and aggressive, but lost the elegance in the process. Not a bad looking thing on its own, but imo the X350 is much closer to a traditional Jag. I get that's kind of the point though, Ian Callum deliberately wanted to get away from that, but then you eventually end up with the X351 which just looks like any other car. Sometimes sticking to a unique identity is a good thing. Jag has no identity anymore.
I much prefer the late production models of the 350 with the smaller bumpers and grille surround but without the side rubbing strip of the early cars although I prefer the full width finisher across the boot. I bought a diesel as at the time I was doing several thousand miles a year on the continent when diesel was about 30p a litre cheaper than petrol but now I would certainly buy a petrol version.
Had a few 350s and always aspired to a 358 which I’ve also had now… just got another 350 Sovereign and think my minds made up … 350 is the purer design … love it, elegant and beautiful… Had a 351 also … lovely cars but various quality issues compared to the 350/358 generation… sticky buttons dis coloured milky gloss black trim, corroding and creaky sunroofs…no such issues with the previous gen… my 18 year old 350 is in amazing condition and materials are un matched… go see an 18 year old Merc/ BMW / Audi … leather etc will not compare ! Jags grow old gracefully, the others just look dated and sad
X350 => X58 is one of the only two times that I disagree with Ian Callun. Let's be blunt, when I think of the XJ, I think of an old British gentleman, dressed for the ocassion, maybe a bit lackluster or out-of-date but allways classy and refined. You see that in the X350 front (despite the plastics). When you look at the X358, it's like looking at the bully of the neighbourhood or the bouncer of a disco. It's awful. The gills are unneeded.
Lines of the X308 are so timeless, nothing can beat that elegance. The X350 was a really good successor but I don‘t like the front and sides of the X358. Too much going on there which is not blending in with these otherwise smooth lines.
X358 to my eyes is a little more handsome. The x351 is the odd Cat out though. I don’t like it at much-the interior is nice in some colors. The Bertone B99 concept should have been the way forward: recognizably Jaguar and modern.
I have a 3 liter 3.0 V6 S-type but considering the X350... the V6 would do me just fine but the V8 isn't that much worse on fuel compared to my S-type. I'd never consider the X358 as I think it is a tarted up (fatter) version of the X350 and it looks too much like AMG had their hands on it with those fat bumpers. But that's just me... I like retro cars... might hang on to my S-type (which is really brilliant) or even get an XK. Or end up with a Fiat 500.
I had the V6 x350 up until someone wrote it off on the motorway. The V6 got me 39mpg from London to the North West. I now have the 4.2 V8 and get about 35mpg so I can concur. To be honest though, the V6 has plenty of power to it. If the right x350 came along in good condition and with nice features like heated seats, I wouldn’t worry about the engine size too much. Both great cars and a dream for motorway driving.
Similiar position. Got a manual 3.0 S-Type, very hard weigh up against a V8 X358, especially when considering the driving-feedback the hard coil springs give and the rounded front when dealing with tight backroads.
@@jaromor8808 I have my second one now! A shame to see my racing green V6 be written off by an idiot on the motorway. Nice to have the 4.2 V8 now. Japanese import so it really is sweet as a nut. I’ll hopefully be doing an installation of an interesting new device on my channel in the next month or two… we’ll see.
X350 is superior in that it is a cleaner and leaner looking design. X358 is blobier. The two add ons front and rear look heavy. They look like cheap chinese after market boy racer parts.
I would argue that Ian Callum ruined Jaguar , where is the Jaguar XJ now ? an his last effort of an XJ was horrible it switched me a life long Jaguar man into a Mercedes owner
Jaguar is irrelevant now. I miss these old ones. Callums design language is why Jag is dying. No character. The XE and XF look Japanese. The SUVs are like everyone else. I was a kid in the 80s and every movie I saw was successful people had jags in them.
It's a 2.7L PEUGEOT DIESEL. the worst ever diesel engine ever made. Rubbish ! If you cant afford fuel for an old jag, buy a 1.6tdi golf. Pls. Dont buy the diesel. Its like castrating a wild cat
Absolute tosh. Mine has 195,000 miles on it. It uses no coolant nor oil and drives beautifully. It's faster than the V6 petrol, more refined on the motorway (cruises at 70mph at under 2000rpm) and will do 40mpg if you drive it hard or 50mpg if you are gentle with it. The only problem with them really is the lack of ULEZ compliance but the early petrol ones weren't compliant either.
For me, the X350 is the most beautiful car Jaguar has ever made. The X308 is admittedly a close second. Not thrilled with the X358's "aggressive" tweaks, though it is hardly an ugly car. BTW, I'd take *any* of them over the XE or XF models. I loathe the looks of the modern Jaguars. No character at all.
Well, the OLD Classicl CarLovers, like me for example ( 73 Years Old ) , like very much the X358, with its New NOSE, and front Grille....Imagine Asshole Elon MUSK choosing an UGLY design on a Jag.....He is already preparing UGLY Cars , if you see the CyberShitTruck ....ARGL :(
Beginning of the end for Jaguar. X350 was utter garbage. 300bhp from a 4.2 V8 is crap. Merc was getting 292bhp from a 3.5 litre V6. Interior quality was poor and chassis flex was atrocious thanks to the soft aluminium. The crashy ride rattled the whole interior - and hit a big bump and the wing mirrors flap up and down (seriously!). Even Jason Plato said at the time: "Its just not sorted." X358 is no better - just looks like a Chinese knockoff that's spent too long shopping at Halfords. Ian Callum was completely devoid of talent, now has nothing to do except flog overpriced Vanquishes.
Perhaps Callum should ask himself; where is the XJ now? where is this radical new design language? Because - like it or hate it - the xj, in various but similar forms, had marched on for 41yrs neither upsetting or over-whelming its customers until this 'radical new design language' ended one of the most beautiful saloons ever to grace a road. I don't hate the X351 but everyone could see it wasn't Jaguar's natural evolution of the XJ.
Incidentally; my brother has the lwb Super V8 and it is all the car you'd ever need. Ever....
It certainly divided opinion, which is your favourite XJ, Paul?
@@ClassicsWorldUK X308XJR, I think, was the best incarnation of the 'modern' Jags. It really made the most of the cigar-shaped bodyline. Failing that I'd go back to the pillarless XJC12....
The X358 is absolutely gorgeous, Ian Callum and his team did a fantastic job with what little they could work with, so classy yet sporty and elegant all at once. whenever I see one of these in person I always stop and stare!
But he runied the brand later with Honda Accord looking sedans. And now they are dumping all their cars, keeping the F type and going electric. Good luck and RIP Jag. Its a matter of time. Dead brand walking.
I am the happy owner of a 2004 Super V8 (350) which is, in my opinion, the best ultimate design of the classic XJ. I do not like the face lift of the 358 and would not swap my car for it. I have been dreaming of the XJ since my 1st visit to England in 1973 and decided I would find a good XJ8 of the last generation when I can afford it. This materialised 3 years ago and mine has only 60,000 km (less than 40,000 miles) since new. It is the best compromise of comfort, performance, space and reliability with the traditional look. Since then, except for the F type, Jaguar has been unable to design nice cars and has joined Land Rover with the worse reliability reputation. I also own a Discovery IV 3.0 diesel which is my daily and has 215,000 km (some 150,000 miles) and would not change for any other car until it falls apart. A real Swiss knife. These 2 cars are the very best the British industry has produced. Such a shame this is past history.
i have a 05 super v8, i had it for 3 years now and use it all year round. Currently at 90k km. Before this i had a 03 4.2 and droved it from 90k km til 140k km. The two most reliable cars i have ever owned. They drive well and looks good. The only downside is parts availability. Its easier to get parrs for my e type than this..
I agree about parts availability. I am looking for a new rear axle (or have it refurbished/rebuilt) and I can’t find any. Is there any specialist in the UK?
@@bertranddyvoire5375 i bought a spare diff of ebay got i shipped to a place to get a qauife diff fitted. I dont think you cn buy brand new diffs, check sng barrat
XJ legend died when Callum callously recreated the XJ. It looks OK from the front, but the side and rear are horrid compared to all previous XJ's that had the true lineage. Also the interior of the last XJ, hideous.
With no full blooded XJ, all electric only I fear Jaguar itself will be no more within five years. Long live proper Jaguar XJ's that will always have grace, space, pace and great value for all to enjoy!
X308 >> X350 >> X358 in my view. Always thought the front bumper of the X358 looked like an afterthought (which it actually was). Nice cars though. Although a Diesel in an XJ is a big no no.
Yes, however it may of been better to keep the look of the 350 and reserve the later styling for performance versions...
I ran a new X350 diesel for 22k miles, only regret was selling the thing.
100% agreed!
Yeah, the X358 with a 300 HP V8 sounds really better, for the Car Lovers....I agree the previous period of XJs had given Superb Cars, too...Wide and long XJ X300-X308 were just SUPERB, for sure...I loved a lot the Portfolio Editionand the Vanden Plas, too.....Another time....
X350 over the X358 for me, just because of the latter's OTT front end. Above all a Jaguar should look elegant, not aggressive. The '358 front-end restyle was the motoring equivalent of Kenny Everett wearing the false chin for his Marcel Wave character!
As a self-confessed Jag man, I never really likes the look of the X350. But then my brother bought an XJR version and my mind was changed. However, I do prefer the look of the X358, it’s somehow more purposeful and coherent. And, I admit, I do love the X351 too.
The 350 is definitely a grower, but we do love the X351!
I liked the old look of Jaguar with the more classic shapes. The X351 was too far in the wrong direction in my opinion.
I still prefer the XJ40-X300-X308 platform, as it was so low, long and elegant. But I may have some bias, as I have a 91 Sovereign XJ40. :)
X350 XJR is peak Jag.
I owned a 1978 Series 2 Daimler Sovereign and I reckon I would still have it had it not been T-boned on the driver's door and written off (I'm very grateful to the car that I didn't get written off at the same time). I actually would have preferred a LWB Series 1 VDP Daimler but, sadly, the pristine example I hunted down had just been sold and I never found another.
For me, Jaguar have been steadily walking away from their traditional customer base and largely failing to find their feet with a new one. I can see why Callum was keen on an identifier on the side of the cars: without it one could easily fail to realise it was a Jaguar. That is not something one would say back in the Sayer/Lyons era.
It might have been me that bought the pristine Daimler Double-Six VDP series one that you were looking at. Mine had only 22k miles on the clock and was like new. I regret selling it now 😢
@@nigelbond4056 The one I looked at was in Cheshire (I forget exactly where) it was an Australian who was selling it - he was a sick as a parrot that his company had called him home early so he couldn't take it back home under some strange regulation that Australia had at the time. I ended up with a very good dark blue Series 2 with 18k on the clock that had been chauffeur driven and didn't look like anyone had sat in it so I did OK in the end.
@@ColinMill1 now I’m jealous 😋
Look at jaguar today, those two cars are stunning 👍
They are!
The XJ 2004 - 2009 Last Great Jaguar Sedans.
Ian Callum was a "one hit wonder" with the Aston Martin DB7. Everything after that just looked derivative of that design.
The side gills on the X358 look like the cheap add ons that they are. And the wider chrome strip across the bootlid looks less refined than the original, but that's a subtle look, and it's probably more of a "change for change's sake" than anything else.
Callum pretty much ruined Jaguar's design. Glad he's retired, and looking forward to seeing what Jaguar's new design language is going to look like.
When I went looking for a good 350 to buy, the only decent car I could find locally was a 2009 X358 in the exact same color as the one in the video. Despite not liking the tacked-on fake vents on the wings, I love the rest of the car.
A previous owner had swapped out the problematic air suspension for coil overs, and I replaced the 20" wheels with 18's. Replacing the wheels made the ride quality so much better. Best thing you can do to the car. It rides like it's on a cloud, without all the wallowy body roll Lincolns and Mercurys are famous for due to their cushy rides. And I am absolutely in love with that 4.2L V8. I've driven a lot of big cars in my day, and this X358 doesn't handle like a big car. Behind the wheel, it feels much smaller than it really is. At least until you get into a cramped parking lot. Then you remember exactly how long an XJ8L really is.
Callum ruined the XJ and the X358 was the start of it. American chum of mine said the X351 looked like a Honda Acura.
The late X350 cars pre X358 are the best looking in my opinion.
Not sure how those bonnet louvres make the car look like it's moving when it's standing still, but there you go.
I agree with you
I have an X350 Portfolio Edition and I love it. The billet aluminium gills are striking and performance is all anyone could ever want. To me its the perfect automobile.
Personally I dislike the Halfords special X358. I think Ian Callum, as good as he is, never understood Jag, and his penchant for sticking big bumpers on cars, Saab 9-3 Viggen, X100 facelift, his own Mark II, and this X358 ruins the purity of each car - especially the X100. Don't get me started on the X351, the car that killed the XJ or crying out loud! As a direct competition, I would also argue the X100 is aging better than the DB7. Geoff Lawson did a good job considering the brief he got.
You missed one important difference. The X350 had a big design flaw that the electric seat motors are in the wrong place so that rear seat passengers can't slide their feet under the front seats. This was fixed on the X358.
I prefer the X358 over the X350, but my all time favourite Jaguar is the X308. I am the lucky owner of an 1999MY Daimler Super V8 since May 2013.
the 308 looks better from side and front, but i think the 350 has better tailights/rear bumper, looks more like the first xj. Great cars all of them, but since i live were it snows i chose the 350 because of aluminium body. Always on the look for a nice 308 and will buy one once i find the right one. Your daimler super v8 is a very nice car
@@quattrofrank i do agree that x308 wins in the side profile and in the line defining the dashboard, but loses badly with the head and rear lamps... especially the rear is utter isht, and as for the front ones - the inner ones gotta be smaller ffs! 😡😁
I love my X350 Vanden Plas, and I've never thought to swap to an X358. Granted, I'm a broke college student so...I kinda can't swap if I wanted to lol. It's a fantastic platform which perfectly evolved to the X351, which is an incredible car which Jag should still be making today! The way I look at it is the X350 will never be a "popular" XJ but like the XJ40, it's an incredible value for the money if you can find a mint one. Great video as always 👍
Thanks Christopher, we couldn't agree more!
Agreeing @ 100 % about the 351... Wild Beast ( Jaguar DNA )
Great video thank you. I have a X308 and believe like others that it’s the best looking of all the variants, long and low and beautifully proportioned. A true classic. Having said that I do like the brutish looks of the X358 and agree that Callum did a good job. Would like to try one out dynamically - so long as it wasn’t a diesel!
the rear end of the x308 is just bad, the lights don't look XJ
Interesting I know 2 importers bringing these in from Japan ( on the same street i work, so wonder around at lunchtimes) - talking to them, faster turn over & more demand for 356 model( the 350 update) than the 358's ( what they call that old xj style). The whole 358 range style package is " aggro sporty bling" They do sell, just take longer, both in the same price, mileage range. 356 models go in 2 weeks, 358s 2-3months. 1 dealer told me, no more 358s too slow to sell, rather ship in lower grade/class ( higher mileage, rougher) new shape 351's.
I think the best of the lot is the 350 with the full chrome sovereign grill, chrome trim round the windscreen - 356 & 358s models lost the glass trims ( when u get up close you can see it looks like somethings missing) only have mesh grills & 358 chunkier mesh, leapers gone, just a badge.
It’s always down to personal taste! Unlike some, but like others who prefer the 358, for me it looks like the perfect tweaked evolution of this beautiful design that epitomised Jaguar and its associated curves! The haunches of a resting cat! The clue is in the name! As each new change arrived, none offended me, whereas the 358 deeply stirred me! Perfection, whereas, upon reflection the previous models all became simply a progression! Whichever is your personal choice, let’s just celebrate what Jaguars was and will never be again!? Cheers
Always thought the X358 was a very tasteful update, seemed to tone down the overly upright stance. Had a 2004 X350 which replaced my X308 and while I liked it as a "car", it was a let down as a "Jag" and didn't feel special. Some of the trim, headliner, leather, carpets felt chintzy, too much Ford, and the car lost, in my mind, that lovely leather scent that Jags always had. The engine was fabulous though, but that low speed ride was too choppy. After a few other in between, I ended up back in a Series III XJ6. I will say though that the X351, while a complete break from the traditional Jag look, is fantastic in its own ways (aside from the self destructing 5.0 V8).
There was no change to the headliner fabric and leather specifications or suppliers from one model to another.
Maybe your X308 was a higher trim spec with the suede type headliner fabric instead of the standard woven one and had the standard embossed leather instead of the softer nappa leather.
The ownership by Ford did not result in any downgrading of these materials.
@@Hattonbank yep, gotta love ppl talking out of their butts... if anything FoMoCo brought in the much needed dough and helped to improve the QC
Great video, the red one with the mesh grill at 3min 50 sec was mine !!!! A 2003 XJ 3.5 SE, I traded it some years ago for a 2004 Super V8 in the same Radiance Red that I still have now . I also have a 2015 X351 LWB so have had Jaguars for over 30 years now
Very cool!
Ulez killing these off
Only the diesels so far.
X358 is beautiful, sadly I have never seen one in Australia. But doubt I would but a Diesel in a Jag. In my latter years, doubt I will ever own another Jag. I have 2 X308's, 4.0 LWB's, identical. "Daily Driver" is an Aussie Holden Statesman, the Aussie idea of a luxury car. It is very reliable, well powered and even longer than the X308 LWB's, but in comparison, NO comparison!! I love the older syled Jag's, the 350 was a bulbous (in Aussie speak, Fat-Arsed) monster. But that's just me. This is a brilliant review, if I find an X358 I would be tempted (but would have to have the 4.2 V8)....
A very accomplished video, top notch narrative too 👍
Many thanks!
The X350 is one of the best looking cars ever made, imho.
it is and that blue one in the video is not the best representation
Strongly disagree!
The 308 by far is a much sleeker & better looking Jag.
In comparison, the 350 looks fat & obnoxious, like most poms.
Maybe an iconoclastic thing to say but I don’t think Callum’s designs are all they’re cracked up to be and tend not to age that well. Bertone got it right with its B99 concept in 2011 (designed by Brits incidentally for the Italian styling house) but we got the X351 which has not improved with age: it’s just stuck in that moment of never being quite right and remains there. On balance it’s got to be the X358 despite the ‘blobby’ bumpers simply because the reference back to original XJ is still there and the engineering was decent. We’ll not speak of that Ford/Peugeot diesel engine and blame Gordon Brown….🤔
I have an X358 and people are always in awe of the facelift. Previous owner chromed-out the top and bottom mesh grille. Also kept the option for the leaper hood ornament
All x358s had the mesh grilles in chrome.
Bit Jag nurd here. There was an x356. Very mild external face lift over x350 basically no door bumper strips. But did have the mechanical upgrades of the x358. Possibly the best of both worlds.
Indeed that's my pick of the bunch. I almost bought one a few weeks ago - 2007.
X356 has vvt on the supercharged engines. I think the x356 is only 06-07
can i know what is included in mechanical upgrade? all i know is that old 2004 Jags had problem while gearbox gets stuck in P and does not move in other gear and that happenes when screw falls from below, under the car which ties shifter cable on place.
Both lovely cars, but for me, I'd buy the X350 as that grille is more subtle than the X358, but you wouldn't say no to either if one were offered to you.
I have a X350 Super V8.Have changed both upper and lower grill to mesh.Looks much better alongside all the chrome.Original factory Prestige wheels.Perfect.
More I look at the X358 the less I like it.Front end looks like a face.
I love my 4.2L V8 X350
Currently rocking a 2008 X358 Daimler Super 8. Agree the low speed ride is not as good as my X308 especially on UK pot holed roads. However it does come into its own on motorway blasts especially in Germany!
No denying that!
I like the simpler design of the 350, fewer lines and creases. After driving mine up to 109,000 miles and going strong with 29 MPG & 75 MPH all day long, it's as pleasant as can be.
The 350 looks the dogs,the 358 was slightly ruined by callum and then he went on to totally destroy the xj with the 351.not a fan at all of callum I'm afraid.and todays jags,like most other cars to be fair look dire.jag will unfortunatley be finished soon when it turns its back on true fans,goes silly expensive snd only creates battery operated crap.
I have an X350 but I also prefer the X358 look. It's a shame that they are unobtainium with a petrol engine. An X358 with a petrol V6 is sometimes worth double the price of a looked after X350 V8. So of course I settled for an X350 V8.
If I'm ever fully respraying my car, I'm getting rid of the door protection strip and move the indicators to the mirrors, and fully convert it looks-wise to an x358. I've seen that x358 bumpers go for 1k a set so it's still cheaper than swapping it for a real X358. As a final touch I would swap the Custom 19 wheels for Callisto 19. I would only really be missing out on the ventilated seats of the facelifted car.
X350 looks nice but a bit bulbous from some angles. X358 is better looking in my opinion and looks sportier but the X308 is still the super model saloon especially as an XJR. Those are just gorgeous. They also have little space inside for the size so I can see why they changed it. X351 I cannot make my mind up on. Definitely different and colour sensitive. Bit odd though from some angles. Probably rather have an X358.
love the newer XJ perhaps not the headlights as they mimic the lower xf.... but the XJ is an very beautiful car. the interior is also just brilliant. as for the older model i definitely like the side shark gill version.
I have a 2006 jaguar xj vanden plas. I absolutely love the car. My entire life if always admired everything about it till I bought it off my grandpa. He’s now passed and it’s not only sentimental but I can’t wait till I have the money to maintain it and drive it since I have another daily driver I can’t afford both. I’m in a pickle. I don’t have the room really but I don’t want to have to sell it. What should I do?
Will they be worth anything? It’s pristine, sat in a garage and kept for. 60k miles
I have a x358 diesel, a simple remap giving 258bhp and 400lb ft torque. I always thought the high X350 roofline made it look bulbous, a bit of a fat ballerina. The revised front and rear of the X358 reduce the perceived height of the roofline and give a much better stance on the road. It has aged rather gracefully.
400lb ft sounds a riot, nice one Gareth!
350 looks much better than the 358. The bloated bumpers and side grills that do nothing are so tacky.
I like the 358... looks nicer
I have a xj308sport I love it .
First, I have never seen an ugly Jaguar.
In the video I admired both cars up to 7:55. Then the X351 was revealed. I had to admit it was a progressive step forward in aesthetic design!
Excellent video 🚗🚙🚘👍👍👍⭐️⭐️⭐️👏👏⭐️
Thank you 👍
An enjoyable video - thanks. I'm researching possibly an X350 XJ8. With regards to the styling, I think the 358 actually looks really bad. I can certainly understand the criticism of the 350 looking old fashioned but that's part of what attracts me. It accepts it's old fashioned and that's OK. The 358 is like an middle aged man wearing a tank top. Just accept you're old and that's OK. And as much as I respect Callum, the last gen XJ looks awful.
IIRC, Ford were putting a lot of money into Jaguar at this time; they were using Jaguar as a technology test bed.
X356 all day. You get vvt and they remove the side molding on the doors. X358 looks like a rich kid wanted to mold a M3 bumper on a classic
350 super 8 for me.
The X350 is a beautiful car. But the one in the video has nothing special because of the grill and rims. The x358 looks like a boss.
Surprised that X358 is suffering from the corrosion on the boot lid 😄
I have a 2008 X358 in the same color as the one in the video.
I bought the 358 because a nice one showed up in my hometown that almost never sees a Jaguar, and I snapped it up.
As much as I love the car…the X350s really look much nicer. The fake plastic vents on the fenders just look like tacky, overdone add-ons that take away from the car. And it’s quite clear the grille and front fascia have nothing in common with the rest of the car, style-wise.
The changes to the rear end are more subtle, and not nearly as jarring, but the do make the back end look less classy…like Jaguar was looking for a way to make the rear end cheaper.
I replaced the grille on mine with a chrome mesh X350 grille, and it looks much nicer.
I also ditched the ridiculous 20” rims for some aftermarket 18’s. The car rides so much better, and I have never liked the giant-rims-with-no-tire-sidewall look.
A previous owner swapped the air suspension out for coil overs, and I have had to replace the tie rod ends and lower control arms. The thermostat went out, and I went ahead and replaced the water pump and a bunch of hoses while I was in there. Overall it’s been a great car, and I have made several out-of-state road trips in it.
But I still think the original X350 look was much better.
I have been driving an X358 for 16 years. I'm sad to say that I can't find any repair parts for it these days and that I'm getting close to saying goodbye soon😢
A diesel is obviously not an upgrade of a petrol version.
I'm very luck to have a 2001 308 Executive and as much as I like the X358 for me the 308 is still the best looking.
The X358 is kind of what I'd expect a Max Power version of the X350 to look like. Bold and aggressive, but lost the elegance in the process. Not a bad looking thing on its own, but imo the X350 is much closer to a traditional Jag. I get that's kind of the point though, Ian Callum deliberately wanted to get away from that, but then you eventually end up with the X351 which just looks like any other car. Sometimes sticking to a unique identity is a good thing. Jag has no identity anymore.
X358 any day 😍😎
aren't the tail light actually 100% identical?
A 358 in black with a black interior is a dream car for me.
I much prefer the late production models of the 350 with the smaller bumpers and grille surround but without the side rubbing strip of the early cars although I prefer the full width finisher across the boot.
I bought a diesel as at the time I was doing several thousand miles a year on the continent when diesel was about 30p a litre cheaper than petrol but now I would certainly buy a petrol version.
At 7:14 you mentioned Jaguar changed brake suppliers, but could catch the name. Who are they ? Sorry.
Changed to ATE or Teves.
Forward thinking design of the x351?.. you mean a CAD vehicle where you take the badges off and you wouldn't have a clue what it was.
Had a few 350s and always aspired to a 358 which I’ve also had now… just got another 350 Sovereign and think my minds made up … 350 is the purer design … love it, elegant and beautiful…
Had a 351 also … lovely cars but various quality issues compared to the 350/358 generation… sticky buttons dis coloured milky gloss black trim, corroding and creaky sunroofs…no such issues with the previous gen… my 18 year old 350 is in amazing condition and materials are un matched… go see an 18 year old Merc/ BMW / Audi … leather etc will not compare !
Jags grow old gracefully, the others just look dated and sad
The X358 was the last real Jag. Modern Jags just look like everything else on the road, so what's the point? They should go back to the old styling.
Yeah the front end of the X358 is an unfortunate mishmash, and I still think it looks like the bumper was nicked from an E46 M3
I think you definitely need to visit Spec Savers
X350 => X58 is one of the only two times that I disagree with Ian Callun. Let's be blunt, when I think of the XJ, I think of an old British gentleman, dressed for the ocassion, maybe a bit lackluster or out-of-date but allways classy and refined. You see that in the X350 front (despite the plastics). When you look at the X358, it's like looking at the bully of the neighbourhood or the bouncer of a disco. It's awful. The gills are unneeded.
Lines of the X308 are so timeless, nothing can beat that elegance. The X350 was a really good successor but I don‘t like the front and sides of the X358. Too much going on there which is not blending in with these otherwise smooth lines.
X358 Bloated Face & Butt edition...Much prefer the 350.
X358 to my eyes is a little more handsome. The x351 is the odd Cat out though. I don’t like it at much-the interior is nice in some colors. The Bertone B99 concept should have been the way forward: recognizably Jaguar and modern.
I have a 3 liter 3.0 V6 S-type but considering the X350... the V6 would do me just fine but the V8 isn't that much worse on fuel compared to my S-type.
I'd never consider the X358 as I think it is a tarted up (fatter) version of the X350 and it looks too much like AMG had their hands on it with those fat bumpers.
But that's just me... I like retro cars... might hang on to my S-type (which is really brilliant) or even get an XK. Or end up with a Fiat 500.
We've regularly had 35+MPG from our 4.2 V8 X350, there really is no downside! :D
I had the V6 x350 up until someone wrote it off on the motorway. The V6 got me 39mpg from London to the North West. I now have the 4.2 V8 and get about 35mpg so I can concur.
To be honest though, the V6 has plenty of power to it. If the right x350 came along in good condition and with nice features like heated seats, I wouldn’t worry about the engine size too much. Both great cars and a dream for motorway driving.
Similiar position. Got a manual 3.0 S-Type, very hard weigh up against a V8 X358, especially when considering the driving-feedback the hard coil springs give and the rounded front when dealing with tight backroads.
@@JaguarLDN How's the hunt for a replacement XJ? Or have you moved on?
@@jaromor8808 I have my second one now! A shame to see my racing green V6 be written off by an idiot on the motorway. Nice to have the 4.2 V8 now. Japanese import so it really is sweet as a nut.
I’ll hopefully be doing an installation of an interesting new device on my channel in the next month or two… we’ll see.
X350 is superior in that it is a cleaner and leaner looking design. X358 is blobier. The two add ons front and rear look heavy. They look like cheap chinese after market boy racer parts.
I do get the appeal but I think the design peaked with the series 3 and was downhill from there.
I do like XJs waft along old school drive
Been in 2.7 v6 diesel
Drove 3.0 v6 diesel twin turbo
Drove 3.0 v6 petrol
Drove 4.0 v8 petrol
Personally, I can't stand the front-end of the X358.
I would argue that Ian Callum ruined Jaguar , where is the Jaguar XJ now ? an his last effort of an XJ was horrible it switched me a life long Jaguar man into a Mercedes owner
Jaguar XJ (x358) is better than (X350) beautiful the (x358)
Both cars represent the final Jaguars.Anything after this was either ugly or some ghastly SUV. I'm really not a fan of Ian Callum tbh.
Diesel? No.
Updated styling? Yes.
Sorry but it's a Series 3 for me each and every time.
Personally, I don't like the wheels on the 358 shown. They look a bit boy racer. Lovely cars though.
Jaguar is irrelevant now. I miss these old ones. Callums design language is why Jag is dying. No character. The XE and XF look Japanese. The SUVs are like everyone else. I was a kid in the 80s and every movie I saw was successful people had jags in them.
So, where does my 356 fit in lol
x 308 still best!
It lost all the magic of the previous generation
It's a 2.7L PEUGEOT DIESEL. the worst ever diesel engine ever made. Rubbish ! If you cant afford fuel for an old jag, buy a 1.6tdi golf. Pls. Dont buy the diesel. Its like castrating a wild cat
Absolute tosh. Mine has 195,000 miles on it. It uses no coolant nor oil and drives beautifully. It's faster than the V6 petrol, more refined on the motorway (cruises at 70mph at under 2000rpm) and will do 40mpg if you drive it hard or 50mpg if you are gentle with it. The only problem with them really is the lack of ULEZ compliance but the early petrol ones weren't compliant either.
Am french (no choice, sorry :) ) yeah the Peugeot 2.7 engine is known as a BAD stuff, even in FRANCE. Sorry, guys...
For me, the X350 is the most beautiful car Jaguar has ever made. The X308 is admittedly a close second. Not thrilled with the X358's "aggressive" tweaks, though it is hardly an ugly car.
BTW, I'd take *any* of them over the XE or XF models. I loathe the looks of the modern Jaguars. No character at all.
Both dogs compared to the X308 imo
I don't believe it
The bumpers of the 358 is absolutly ugly and why uses Jaguar a grill looking like a BMW's?
Well, the OLD Classicl CarLovers, like me for example ( 73 Years Old ) , like very much the X358, with its New NOSE, and front Grille....Imagine Asshole Elon MUSK choosing an UGLY design on a Jag.....He is already preparing UGLY Cars , if you see the CyberShitTruck ....ARGL :(
Beginning of the end for Jaguar. X350 was utter garbage. 300bhp from a 4.2 V8 is crap. Merc was getting 292bhp from a 3.5 litre V6. Interior quality was poor and chassis flex was atrocious thanks to the soft aluminium. The crashy ride rattled the whole interior - and hit a big bump and the wing mirrors flap up and down (seriously!). Even Jason Plato said at the time: "Its just not sorted." X358 is no better - just looks like a Chinese knockoff that's spent too long shopping at Halfords. Ian Callum was completely devoid of talent, now has nothing to do except flog overpriced Vanquishes.
You havent got a clue what your on about.