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<title><![CDATA[Yahoo! rss_cars : Daimler]]></title>
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<description><![CDATA[Daimler]]></description>
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<lastBuildDate>Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:38:00 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Daimler Super eight : EIGHT ON A PLATE]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Want A Little Bit More Class From Your Next Motor Car? Daimlers Super Eight Has It Oozing From Every Burr Walnut Vent. Steve Walker ReportsTheres posh and then theres seriously posh. Some people while away a sunny day sipping cocktails by their pool, then some wiz down to Monaco in their private chopper for a few Dry Martinis aboard their yacht. Some people have high-flying jobs with stupendous salaries which pay for luxurious houses, then some never have to work a day in their lives because their huge stately homes have been passed down through the family for generations. Some people drive expensive luxury saloon cars, then some people are chauffer-driven in a Daimler Super Eight. Slide yourself into the opulent interior of a Jaguar XJ long wheelbase saloon and try to imagine the person for whom this car is a little too down market. They do exist and thats why theres such a thing as a Daimler Super Eight. Owned by Jaguar since 1960, Daimler has a history stretching back for well over a century. Over the years, the cars have been owned by royalty, members of the aristocracy and other well-to-do types who helped to establish the brands reputation for a very British kind of luxury motoring. The £80,040 Super Eight is based on the Jaguar XJ, so it inherits that cars all-aluminium body as well as the 4.2-litre supercharged V8 engine that rides up-front in the Range-topping Jags. The XJ succeeds in offering something different to that which luxury buyers can get from the likes of BMW and Audi. Its wood and leather-swathed cabin creates a classic feel and a sense of occasion thats altogether different from the cold, high-technology ambience of its Teutonic rivals. The Daimler Super Eight displays the same character but, being a Daimler, it takes things to the next level. The materials and the luxurious specification of the XJ are enhanced and upgraded to Daimler-spec in the Super Eight. If you cant tell a burr walnut veneer with an authentic handcrafted boxwood inlay from a piece of mahogany-effect plastic, the intricacies of the Super Eight will be lost on you and theres always a Kia dealership just around the corner. This car majors on the little touches that refined ladies and gentlemen from the upper echelons of society will appreciate. Aside from the premium grade wood and soft grain leather thats been lovingly applied to every possible surface, there are lambs wool rugs to run your toes through, fold down business trays in the front seat backs to support your laptop and Daimler logos embroidered into the headrests."The materials and the luxurious specification of the XJ are enhanced and upgraded to Daimler-spec"Theres also a monumental amount of equipment packed into the place. The Super Eight has the longest wheelbase in its sector and that length is translated into bundles of rear leg room but youll have more to do back there than stretching out those legs to try and touch the seat in front. The rear passengers get their own air-conditioning controls and occupants can also use the powered reclining seats to get extra comfortable. Entertainment-wise, an optional video system with screens in the backs of the front headrests can be fitted. Its compatible with MP3 players, iPods, DVD players and computer games consoles so therell be plenty to do, even on the longest trips. Theres also an integrated telephone and audio system, satellite navigation and four-zone climate control. Viewing the Daimler Super Eight from without, its XJ roots are abundantly clear but steps have been taken to differentiate the car from its slightly less auspicious relative. 18" Rapier alloy wheels and chrome on the door mirrors add to the effect of the famous Daimler grille that takes pride of place on the front. Otherwise, apart from the badging, its those instantly recognisable, sleek Jaguar lines and the low, long profile of the XJ. The Super Eights 4.2-litre V8 supercharged engine could have been designed for wafting imperiously around a country estate. Engine noise is minimal at low to moderate speeds but when the need to press-on arises, theres a hefty slug of power on tap. People who buy cars like this will probably spend the majority of their time coasting along imperiously in the back seat with somebody called Jeeves doing the driving but there is enjoyment to be gleaned from a stint behind the wheel. Theres 400bhp to play with for a start and 408lb/ft of torque at 3,500rpm sees the car lurch inexorably for the horizon when the throttle is floored at any sub-100mph speed. 0-60mph takes just 5 seconds which is indecently quick for such big vehicle and the top speed is electronically limited to 155mph. This brutal acceleration is made possible by the Daimlers modest kerb weight as much as the 400 horses galloping away under the bonnet but whatever the cause, it certainly is good fun. The Super Eight has obviously been tuned to deliver premium levels of comfort on the road but, although its no sports saloon, it still corners in a reasonably composed manner. Its an extremely relaxing car to drive, so sitting in the reclined back seat with the climate control wafting and a bit of Brahms on the stereo, it must be all you can do to keep your eyes open. The Daimler trademark high quality natural materials and classical touches have been incorporated into a vehicle thats brimming with technology and power in a very subtle and subdued way. The XJ parent vehicle manages a similar tasteful blend of old and new but a Daimler is just that little bit extra.Facts At A Glance CAR: Daimler Super Eight PRICE: £80,040 - on the road INSURANCE GROUP: 19 CO2 EMISSIONS: 299g/km PERFORMANCE: 0-60mph 5.0s / Max Speed 155mph FUEL CONSUMPTION: (urban) 15.2mpg / (extra urban) 31.4mpg / (combined) 23mpg STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags / ABS with EBA / Dynamic Stability Control / Traction Control / ARTS / CATS / ACC WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Heightmm 5090/2108/1448]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jul 2006 13:38:00 GMT</pubDate>
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<title><![CDATA[Jaguar XJ6 and XJ12 / Daimler (1986 - 1997) : CLASSY CAT]]></title>
<description><![CDATA[Car And Driving - Models Covered: Fourth generation XJ6/Sovereign/Daimler - 1986-1994 (2.9 6cy XJ6 Saloon/ 3.2 6cy XJ6 Saloon [base, Gold, S]/ 3.6 6cy XJ6 Saloon/ 4.0 6cy XJ6 Saloon [base, S]/ 2.9 6 cy Sovereign Saloon/ 3.2 6cy Sovereign Saloon/ 4.0 6cy Sovereign Saloon/ 6. 0 12cy XJ12 Saloon/ 3.6 6cy Daimler Saloon/ 4.0 6cy Daimler Saloon/ 6.0 12cy Daimler Double Six Saloon/ 4. 2 6cy Daimler Limousine Saloon) Fifth generation XJ6/Sovereign/Daimler - 1994-to Sept 1997 (3.2 6cy XJ6 Saloon [base, Sport, LWB, Executive]/ 4.0 6cy XJ6 Saloon [base, Sport]/ 4.0 6 cy supercharged XJR Saloon/ 3.2 6cy Sovereign Saloon/ 4.0 6cy Sovereign Saloon [base, LWB]/ 6.0 12cy XJ12 Saloon/ 4.0 6cy Daimler Six Saloon/ 6.0 12cy Daimler Double Six Saloon)BY JONATHAN CROUCHYou don't have to have reached directorship level to own a Jaguar. In actual fact, you can buy a good one at prices beginning from Mondeo money. Yes, really. And if you've always yearned after a Jaguar, this could be the best time to buy one. A warranted lowish mileage Sovereign 4.0 for example, could be yours - from a Jaguar dealer - for the cost of an ordinary, mass produced mid-range family saloon.A slice of modern British automotive heritage. In their quest for perfection, Jaguar's competitors have attained a standard of Teutonic excellence which leaves you impressed, but rather cold. The Coventry car in contrast, encourages the notion that it will mature into age with you, rather like a fine wine. The retro styling of the latest cars has produced a glorious shape matched by the superb new range of engines.As ever, it depends how far back you go. The last six and twelve-cylinder range was launched in September 1994 and the earliest cars are still holding their values well. Pay from around £5,000 for an XJ6, from around £6,000 for an XJ6 4.0 or a Sovereign 3. 2, from around £7,000 for a Sovereign 4.0, from around £8,000 for an XJR. If that's a little beyond your budget, you'll be looking at one of the old `squarer` XJ40 series models, announced in 1986. Though 1990 examples of these can be found for under £1,000, these cars are likely to have had a hard life and build quality at this stage wasn't of the very best. By the end of the Eighties, however, Sir John Egan had got Jaguar's act together. Generally, anything from an G-plate onwards should be an excellent buy. Though there are plenty of older gems, you'll need to check them out thoroughly. Prices start from £1,500 for the last of the 2.9-litre XJ6 models.Buying a car like this with a warranty from an approved Jaguar dealer will give you the peace of mind you really need and is worth the slight premium involved. Check how close the car you're considering is to its next service and take that into account when you're negotiating.(approx based on a 1994 XJ6 manual excl VAT) These prices should give you a guide. A complete exhaust system (with cat) is over £1700. Allow a budget of £90 for Sports pack front dampers. A radiator is about £200, an alternator about £1600. A front wing is around £180, an offside headlamp around £120 and a tail lamp about £80. Major and minor services are around £645 and £285 respectively.Engines and gearboxes used in previous-shape XJ6/Sovereign/Daimler models, though impressively quiet, weren't quite as smooth as those of German competitors. Thanks to Ford's money however, the Browns Lane factory began to put that right with the new post-1994 shape cars. Either way, the company high-flier who test-drives an XJ6 having previously tried a BMW 525i or a Mercedes E-class is unlikely to complain either on the grounds of noise or transmission refinement. What he probably will notice are a brace of qualities obviously lacking in the German competition; character and class. Behind the wheel, they ooze out at you from behind the walnut veneer and beneath the leather seats stitching. From under the bonnet, they growl at you wherever the road unwinds sufficiently to gun this surprisingly sporting saloon towards the horizon.There's not much risk involved buying a used Jaguar these days, as long as it was produced in the last 10 years. There's virtually none if you buy a reasonably late car from a specialist dealer. The latest cars represent excellent value for money on the used market and remain as desirable as they ever were. If it's your own money youre spending and you can afford the petrol, forget the new Mondeo or Vectra and go for a late, low mileage Jag. You're unlikely to regret it.]]></description>
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<pubDate>Mon, 24 May 2004 01:00:00 GMT</pubDate>
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