JAGUAR 3.4 ROAD TEST

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28795, 16 January 1959, Page 12

JAGUAR 3.4 ROAD TEST

'T'HE jaguar 3.4 is an exA ceptionally fast and very silent motor-car. It handles well in the dry, although, naturally, if one stands hard on the throttle, it is possible to make the back end of the car break away. I must add one word of caution: to drive it fast in the wet requires a lot of experience. It is an extremely comfortable car with very good support to the shoulders and small of the back. It is, in fact, the only car in which the seat goes too far back for me. I imagine that the reason for this is that Mr "Lofty” England, Jaguar’s Service Director, is a very big man. ' I should think even he could drive the 3.4 with comfort. There is a strong spring loading to bring the seat forward—a good idea, though not one I should advise people to make use of when the car is in motion. * Good Vision Forward visibility was good (though I thought the pillars a little thick), and side and rear visibility is fair. The steering wheels is very nice to grip, though the indicators seem too far away from it; at any rate my fingers could not

This week, Stirling Moss tests the 3.4-litre Jaguar, one of the highest-powered saloon cars manufactured in Britain. This model Jaguar sells in New Zealand for about £2200. This article is reprinted by arrangement with the “Sunday Times’* aiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiimiiHiiiiiiiHi" reach them. The instruments are very comprehensive—clock, speedometer with trip, rev counter, ammeter and fuel, oil and water gauges are particularly clear and steady. The demister and heater work very well. * Smooths Overdrive The overdrive is the smoothest I have used and one can go from overdrive to fourth without noticing it at all if a little throttle is used at the same time. However, I felt the overdrive switch was a little inconveniently placed at the top right-hand corner of the dashboard. . The gear lever is a little too far forward for me personally, but it is a very nice gearbox. Steering is light, positive and accurate, though it tends to get

a little heavier at slow speeds. There was a slight shudder through the wheel, though not distracting, on certain roads. * Powerful Brakes The pedals are comfortably positioned and the brakes tremendously powerful. I could detect no fade at all. This is a very smooth car in every respect and does an effortless 100 miles an hour; but for me the suspension was a shade too soft. It is a very roomy car with excellent leather finish and wood trim. The sun visors even have a chrome edging to them. It also abounds in pockets and has two cubbyholes. There is a good boot with no spare wheel in it. Under the bonnet everything ,is very nicely laid out. There is an accessible dipstick which is, however, inclined to get warm, as it is on the exhaust side. I thought the lights on the whole inadequate for the car’s extremely high performance. To sum up: this is a powerful and pleasing motor-car. It is wonderful value for its money. But take it easy in the wet! Stirling Moss.