March 20, 2010: Bringing it home . . .
My first Jaguar ownership experience evolved into something very pleasant despite a shaky start with the '98. The water pump failed after the first month. That was followed by a couple of fuel sending unit issues and an ABS module failure. Even so, I drove this car for a little over two years, adding 44,000 miles to the odometer, all of which were smooth, comfortable, and quiet. There is something about a Jaguar that makes me smile, which I did in spite of the issues right up until I handed over the keys.
The most obvious mechanical change was the conventional opening hood, now hinged at the rear. Displacement was increased to 4.2L, which resulted in 294 hp and 303 ft-lbs of torque. While this may not sound like much, the car’s lighter weight and new 6 speed automatic transmission allowed for a low 15 second quarter mile.