COMPARO: Jaguar XJS vs. MB 600SL vs. BMW 850CSi

Which one is better than the other two?

  • 1993 Jaguar XJS V12 Coupe

    Votes: 5 19.2%

  • 1993 Mercedes Benz 600SL (Convertible)

    Votes: 8 30.8%

  • 1994 BMW 850CSi

    Votes: 13 50.0%
  • Total voters
    26
12sec. Civic

12sec. Civic

1,695
(Convertible shown)
q430097a.jpg
1993 Jaguar XJS V12 Coupe...............6.0L V12 w/ 318hp & 340Torque

vs.

q430644a.jpg
1993 Mercedes 600SL (Convertible).......6.0L V12 w/389hp & 420Torque

vs.

q430584a.jpg
1994 BMW 850CSi.............................5.6L V12 w/ 372hp & 402Torque


Assume all are auto's because the 850CSi did actually come with a 6 Spd as well. These cars were pretty much direct competition in their day. Why would one seem better than the others. And remember, try and keep the comparo performance based not practicality, and no tuners versions or modding capabilities.

I have to admit, the Mercedes does seem pretty good on paper, but I think my choice goes to the BMW 850CSi.




I choose:BMW 850CSi
 
Well, This is a toughie.
The 850 Bimmer never did trip my trigger. It's too everything. Too expensive, Too heavy, too much tech, too much engine with not enough power.
The Jag is prettiest in my eyes. But the British just have a feel for making absolutely gorgeous cars, that feel right.
My pick for every day would be the Jag. But for I-435 at rush hour. The Benzie has me. It is sleek, powerful, beautiful, and it has an automatic roll bar. If the car is at a sideways incline over so many degrees the roll bar comes up automatically. That is the only way that I'm gonna get a convertible in this lifetime. My wife worries that I'll get it "paint-side" down. OF course, in 26 years of driving, I have NEVER totalled a car, nor have I ever turned one on its head.
 
My vote went with the SL600. One of my neighbor's has one and it is sexxxxy, although, looks wise, i think the jag is a bit better. I really like the headlights.
 
the 850csi definately. they are so rare today you will spend $80k on a used one. rarity enough doesnt make it the better car. but the fact that a very little number of people have them makes it more attractive. I love bmws.
 
Originally posted by advanR
legendary? not really.
Click to expand...

1990's SL: not legendary (well, not yet at least). 1950's SL: extremely legendary. I know most teenagers don't have a good sense of history, but to not know the SL....
 
Merc - I was never a fan of the XJS, and the 850i was always this bloated thing that to me was the antithesis of what BMW was about.

I was fortunate to drive the the 500SL version of the SL you mention - it's a bloated technobarge for sure, but it sure did drive well - it need every newton metre of torque of the eight though, I hate to think what the 320SL would have been like.
 
Originally posted by Hooligan
1990's SL: not legendary (well, not yet at least). 1950's SL: extremely legendary. I know most teenagers don't have a good sense of history, but to not know the SL....
Click to expand...
Yeah, the SL is the real car of this bunch, but neither car is a true standout.
 
I know what the SL is, just didnt really consider it legendary.

The csi version of the 850 has a simpler version of the v12 in the mclaren f1 (im pretty sure). It might be interesting to research it more. Please point it out if you prove me wrong.

I mainly voted for the 850csi because I like BMWs. I dont really like convertables, and there are way too many SLs out there. 850s, especially csi versions, are pretty damn rare.
 
Originally posted by advanR
I know what the SL is, just didnt really consider it legendary.

The csi version of the 850 has a simpler version of the v12 in the mclaren f1 (im pretty sure). It might be interesting to research it more. Please point it out if you prove me wrong.
Click to expand...

Completely different donks - the V12 for the McLaren was especially designed for the F1, and the V12 for the 850Csi was just an enlarged version of the 750iL V12 (which I think the 750 ended up running). It was taken out to 5.6 litres.
 
I went for the Merc. Its got the legendary SL name, and those V12s sound awesome. They have a sound to die for. And it would probally last forever
If I wanted a car that would break down every month, Id go for the Jag, and the BM is just overweight and it looks twice the size of the Merc
 
Well, my dad has a 1993 XJS V12 Coupe, we've had it for 6 years now, and I am telling you that it has had NO repairs or failures since we've owned it.


My family has owned Jaguars for years, we've had a total of 14 Jaguars over the years. The only problem I can remember off the top of my head is, my dad's 2000 Jaguar XJ8 couldn't be shifted out of park one morning, and we bought a 1989 Jaguar XJ6 that didn't have the heat working, which was pretty bad in Canada.

That same 1989 Jaguar also has a faulty suspension that tries to even out the car when people who weigh different amounts get in on different sides of the car. Kind of like a ballast on a boat to keep it flat and level, well, when we bought it, that feature was gone and it was given a kit that de-activatres it and makes the suspension normal, although not perfect because it bounces a little.



The only 8 Series I have driven was a 1990 840i Auto, so basically as crappy as an 8 Series' gets. I'll be honest and say it want the most thrilling car to drive although the steering feel was crisp and if it werent for the lack of acceleration, it handled and felt like a 3000lb sedan or GT.
 
Originally posted by HRT_Maloo
I went for the Merc. Its got the legendary SL name, and those V12s sound awesome. They have a sound to die for. And it would probally last forever
If I wanted a car that would break down every month, Id go for the Jag, and the BM is just overweight and it looks twice the size of the Merc
Click to expand...
yes what i was trying to say, if it wasnt legendary why did they make a silver arrow edition?
 
Originally posted by advanR
I know what the SL is, just didnt really consider it legendary.
Click to expand...

I don't want to seem like I'm picking on you, but if you really knew the SL, you wouldn't have written that. It'd be like saying "Yeah, Jaguar's okay, for a Ford company."
 
I dont think Ford had anything to do with the XJS. Not like you didnt know that, but I am just trying to clear up any confusion. Ford bought Jaguar in 1988 I believe, but they didnt do anything much to the model lineup until 1995.
 
Originally posted by 12sec. Civic
I dont think Ford had anything to do with the XJS. Not like you didnt know that, but I am just trying to clear up any confusion. Ford bought Jaguar in 1988 I believe, but they didnt do anything much to the model lineup until 1995.
Click to expand...

That was sort of my point....
 
Hey, the Jaguar XJS is now considered a collector car. I just heard it on the Barrett-Jackson. I am not sure about the 1993 cars, but they were talking about a 1980 XJS. They said "the (XJS) is a car that will be seeing collector car status in the next decade, early examples are already being restored and snapped up by clever classic car collectors".


I am telling my Dad that he should keep his. He has a 1993 XJS V12 Coupe. Although I can imagine, if ours was to go to the Barrett-Jackson auction in 15-20 years from now, it wouldn't get top dollar because it isn't a convertible. "The top goes down, the price goes up".

Ours has pretty much every factory option available for that year, which is sweet.


Businessmen see classic and collectible cars as a more secure investment than most stocks these days. The car restoration business went from a $64 million dollar a year business in 1996, to a $1 billion dollar industry in 2002! Even the Barrett-Jackson auction saw 34% more people at this years auction over last years, and there are 10% more cars sold at it every year. And 22% more sales. With a higher sell rate every year. In fact, they break the record every year by a considerable margin.


I am so happy that cars are only getting more and more popular.
 
Out of personal preference, I would take the BMW, even though it does look a little portly round the edges.

I take what you're saying 12 Sec Civic, but I could never bring myself to pay out for an 80s Jaguar. There's too much technology to go wrong in them, and they were built at a time when Jaguar didn't really understand what they were doing. I know everyone criticises modern Jaguars for beng tarted-up Fords, but at least Ford now know their way around a wiring loom, and know how to make a car which won't rust in under an hour.

I think that the current Mercedes SL has reversed what was an inexorable decline from the original SL to the one featured in the poll. I don't know whether it's me and my tastes changing, but I really like the current general generation of Mercedes. However, the SL in this poll is the ultimate in golfing widows' cars. I would never have one.

It's the BMW for me.
 
my point exactly. the sl name may be legendary, but i do notconsider this car close to legendary. i voted for a car, not a name. i dont really care what the name of the car is.

as for jaguar. if the quality of a current jaguar model was lacking because they are now owned by ford, i might say that. regardless of the long jaguar history, because it would be lacking in quality. when i make choices today about automobiles, i consider the present, not the past.
 
All 3 are stupid America focused overweight, non-sporting sports cars. The Jag is underpowered for the engine size, dynamically it is the worst. Why anyone would want 1 of any of these cars is beyond me. Legendary? None of them are nor ever will be. U should come to Britain if u want an 850, we know when we see a duffer, prices are low. Shame they're all RHD or we might have got rid of them all by now.
 
Originally posted by sinbad
All 3 are stupid America focused overweight, non-sporting sports cars. The Jag is underpowered for the engine size, dynamically it is the worst. Why anyone would want 1 of any of these cars is beyond me. Legendary? None of them are nor ever will be. U should come to Britain if u want an 850, we know when we see a duffer, prices are low. Shame they're all RHD or we might have got rid of them all by now.
Click to expand...

Prices are most likely lower in this country.
 
I believe a used 850 with low miles can be had for 20-30k. The csi versions are much more rare though and go for above 60 thousand.
 
okay, I was looking on roadfly.org
I will check right now to see the average price for 805s and CSis. I dont know a lot about the cars. I just remember researching them briefly when one of my friends told me he wanted one.

My basic point that CSis were quite a bit more expensive than regular 850s still stands I guess.
 
The asking prices for 850CSis are from 47k to 70k on roadfly.org They all have 30 to 50k miles and look to be in very good shape. Roadfly.org is an enthusiast site so it would make sense as to why the cars are going for more money. Or atleast they are expecting people to pay more.

The 850i's and Ci's are asking from 15.9k for a junker to 50k for a really nice Ci. Most of them are in the 30s.
 
I made the poll, so I shouldnt criticize it. But I think the BMW walks away from the others. mainly because its combination of tremendous power and engine tech. And the 6 Spd manual option.


I drove a 1990 850i Automatic. That car has 296hp and I can tell you that my dads XJS is MUCH quicker than that. In fact, the XJS is just about my families fastest car.
 

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