Don’t be Patient
It may be hard to tell just by looking at it, but the Jaguar XJ6 is the most consequential car in Jaguar’s history. This old cat out-handled the E-Type, was purportedly quieter than a Rolls, sold for half the price of a Mercedes-Benz, and very nearly destroyed the prestigious marquis before becoming its salvation.
Jaguar launched the XJ6 in 1968 to laud and praise by the motoring press. Its venerated inline-six engine was better than ever, and it rode beautifully on model-specific Dunlop tires. Jaguar’s V12 came in 1972, and Italian design house Pininfarina even contributed some styling touches to Series 3 sedans. Plus, there was the lovely XJC coupe. But quality and reliability issues set in around the time labor strikes were at their worst. Jaguar’s parent company, British Leyland, became partly nationalized and the British could only watch Jaguar’s demise with stiff upper lips for so long. Things looked grim. Then business whiz John Egan entered the scene in 1980 and made quality the top priority. Within three years, Jaguar had been divested from ailing British Leyland and was free to pursue new heights. It became a hit in the North American market. Suddenly, this 15-year-old sedan was breaking sales records and earning profits sufficient for Jaguar to keep rolling.
Let’s indulge the impulse to anthropomorphize the XJ6. Is its spirit one of patience? Forbearance? Perseverance? What’s the difference?
Allow James to explain:
“Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.” (James 5:10-11)
Generally, patience is defined as waiting for something, while perseverance is waiting through something. They are often used interchangeably, mainly because they are complementary character traits. James deliberately describes Job as perseverant, not patient, because Job was typically rash and emotional when responding to his “friends.” He was a picture of perseverance though, faithfully clinging to the word of God despite not knowing where, when, or how God would intervene to save him.
Job and the Jaguar XJ6 can serve as perseverance inspiration for anyone. They have much in common: their stories began with success and admiration, and then they suddenly faced hardship and found themselves on the brink of destruction before some powerful savior delivered them and gave them new life. Also, reading their full life stories is a lengthy process.
Neither were patient though. Job frequently cried out to God straight from his heart – can you blame him? – instead of some Sunday school stereotype of patience that involves quiet, miserable, pious suffering. No, Job got loud. He argued against the lousy logic of his friends even though he didn’t claim to have all the answers either. He asked God to intervene. He prayed often. The Jaguar is a car, but one could imagine its intolerable reliability issues as cries for help and better management. Both Job and the Jaguar continued to slowly improve as they waited through the bleak times. They did what they could, knowing someone else would have to solve their biggest problems.
God, through James’ words, asks his followers to do the same when they come up against suffering. No one says waiting is a fun time, or that suffering isn’t so bad if you force yourself to like it. Instead, God encourages people to persevere. Wait. Be faithful. Pray a lot and ask for urgent help. And watch, because God intervenes. Compassion, mercy, and new life could come at any time.
The XJ6 lasted right up until the end of Jaguar’s independence – 1989 – when they were bought by Ford. Jaguar fans can speculate on just how much value the XJ6 added to the brand. Would Ford have had any interest at all without the XJ6? Who knows? But the XJ6 did its part beautifully. It persevered, and its memory will last a long time.
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