March 20, 2010: I traded the 1998 Jaguar XJ8-L for a 52k original mile 2004 Jaguar XJ8 today.

This is the all new, totally redesigned and re-engineered version of the Jaguar XJ Series.

The seldom seen color is called "Seafrost Metallic." I've never had a car anywhere near this color before. The fact that it's so different from the sea of silver/black/white vehicles that crowd the motorways was a big draw for both of us.

The XJ8 was totally redesigned for the 2004 model year. Engineering left nothing untouched. The familiar looking body is totally new and features all-aluminum construction that makes it 40 percent stronger, yet 60 percent lighter than the steel structure it replaced.

The goal of the design team was to update the body lines without alienating Jaguar's core buyers. We think they did a great job.

The higher profile of the new car can be seen in the photo above. This allowed for more luggage space and interior headroom, especially for the rear seat passengers, (a big complaint with the XJ Series for years).

The traditional Jaguar lines are clearly evident.

We arrived at Hennessy Jaguar on Saturday, March 20, 2010 to pick up the new car. Just as the purchase of a new car is a significant experience for me, so is the “letting go” of the old car.

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.

But now the time had come to move on.

The interior color is called “Sand,” and is a two tone tan/brown color combination.

Headroom, legroom, and shoulder room were all increased for 2004. The same basic gauge layout was retained, but updated for a more modern appearance. This car features dual zone climate control for both driver and passenger and power adjustable pedals.

For 2004, the fuel tank was relocated to underneath the car. This, coupled with the higher body lines, resulted in a 25 percent increase in luggage space. But, more importantly, the luggage compartment had become much more usable thanks to its longer length.

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.

The first thing I had to to when I got the car home was to take more pictures, naturally.

"The Leaper" hood ornament.