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[Paul M]

Yes it is, but,. .... Its basially fwd mondeo VTX box but on offside output shaft side instead of a drive shaft they bolted on a transfer box with a 90 degree output shaft to the rear wheels and a smaller shaft to the offside wheel. Not a bad system hence All Wheel Drive monica instead of 4wd implying a tractor or off road thingy (alla subaru) . Trouble with it is too many high rev launches i.e. trying to get it to wheel spin will detonate the transfer box and g/box, Worst i've ever seen is damage to the block where it bolts on.
And it is a right pig to do as 1 bolt is up behind exhaust downpipe/manifold connectin and you just know that will strip as it comes apart.

Subaru were using the term "All Wheel Drive" long before Jaguar even made an AWD car... and Subaru uses a proper AWD system, with the engine mounted transversely and the gearbox behind it, coupled with either 2 or 3 limited slip differentials depending on the model. The type of diff varies between viscous coupling or Suretrac (torque sensing) depending on the year/model. When I had my WRX STi I regularly launched it hard, and even with 300 BHP it would just grip and go. I'd expect at that power a transfer box would be left lying in the middle of the road after one launch

I'd take a Subaru AWD system over a crappy transfer box bodged onto a FWD transmission any day. Similarly notice how Audi still uses their proper quattro system with Torsen centre diff on the A4/S4 and bigger models. The A3 and TT use Haldex solely because they're based on the Golf and the chassis doesn't have the space to accommodate a proper quattro system.

[Martin_1962]

My boss has a 3.0 and it has had a new transfer box, yes they are not cheap and are a common problem - it still cost over £1000 to repair even with Jaguar helping with the costs.

So do not buy it - the car is just not worth the money

[Kevin Wood]

I think the Jaguar system was cobbled together after they were bullied into using the Ford parts bin to avoid the shame of making a front wheel drive car - not that they avoided that for long.

It goes without saying that a 2wd transmission has a handy torque limiting device namely the traction available from 2 driven wheels. Double that and you have to think about the torque rating of the whole transmission again. Bolting a bodge onto a FWD gearbox might have kept the beancounters happy but I suspect this car has become a victim of that decision.

XJR looks much more interesting. I was given a rather rapid lift across Munich in one of these a few years ago and couldn't believe it was "just" a V8. It had all the refinement of a V12 jag and was seriously quick. It'd still be a brave man who took that on, though.

At least the "known issues" with the Omega, Rover K series, etc are rarely terminal and replacements are easily sourced if it comes to that.

Kevin

[Martin_1962]

I think the Jaguar system was cobbled together after they were bullied into using the Ford parts bin to avoid the shame of making a front wheel drive car - not that they avoided that for long.

It goes without saying that a 2wd transmission has a handy torque limiting device namely the traction available from 2 driven wheels. Double that and you have to think about the torque rating of the whole transmission again. Bolting a bodge onto a FWD gearbox might have kept the beancounters happy but I suspect this car has become a victim of that decision.

XJR looks much more interesting. I was given a rather rapid lift across Munich in one of these a few years ago and couldn't believe it was "just" a V8. It had all the refinement of a V12 jag and was seriously quick. It'd still be a brave man who took that on, though.

At least the "known issues" with the Omega, Rover K series, etc are rarely terminal and replacements are easily sourced if it comes to that.

Kevin

My boos has had a duff transfer box on this, a blown engine with a Saaab 9-5, the previous 535 S6 was OK, and the 520 before that needed a head. Prior to those he had a Renault 19

In the same time I had the Sunbeam, Carlton and 4 Omegas - all in all take away the 2 accident damages (lack of sleep and Diesel spill) mine have been cheaper to run

[Martin_1962]

The 535 was basically getting worn out - he does intergalactic mileage

[Kevin Wood]

The 535 was basically getting worn out - he does intergalactic mileage

Don't tell me he broke all of those and the Renault 19 was reliable?

Kevin

[Martin_1962]

The 535 was basically getting worn out - he does intergalactic mileage

Don't tell me he broke all of those and the Renault 19 was reliable?

Kevin

That was a company car from a previous business and was from new - it had an oil leak though.

He then went to the 520 and ran that for a few years

[Martin_1962]

He had a Renault 20 break its engine - big time - con rods and crank oil all over the road - design fault!!!!

He jokes about Omegas being unsuitable for me coming from the Sunbeam but as I pointed out all were RWD.

And there were weird ties between the Sunbeam and the Carlton (top models) I never bought a Cortina though