Hello everyone
I don't know if I put this post in right area
I'm looking for a Jaguar xjs for my first car. I found a 95 jaguar xjs on craigslist. Jaguar XJS Convertible - 1995.

however I don't have much mechanical skills and experiences. so I found this place to ask some helps.
Question 1:Some of my friends told me that an old jaguar is not reliable and extreme expensive to maintain. I'm worried about this part coz I don't want to spend other thousands to maintain a car after I purchased it. I need you experienced guys give me some advice about the truth of maintaining a 95 Jaguar.
Question 2: is about the price of this car. The seller of this jaguar is asking for 11000 bucks( negotiable) . I have put data of this 95 jaguar xjs to the car value website KBB, and it shows around 9000 bucks. While another car value website showed 5000-7000. I want to know how much exactly is this car worth.
I'm waiting online. Thanks for your helps!

 

The price seems a bit high to me, but if it is in perfect condition that might not be to far off. You didn't mention the details of the car such as miles, condition, options, V12 or 6 cyl, etc.

IF the car was well maintained it can be a reliable and enjoyable car. However it isn't like todays drive-it-and-forget-it type cars. They demand attention and have temper tantrums when ignored. As long as you are diligent it can be a very enjoyable and unique ride.

 

It's worth what someone else will pay for it.

If its the color you like, I think you're in the right neighborhood for a 65k mile car.

It sounds great, but you'll need to check to make all powered items work, A/C works, and that the idle is smooth at about 700rpm.

I have had two 96s (one got rear ended). Can you do any of your own work? The 6 cylinder versions of these cars are relatively easy to get to an maintain. While no car this age is a set it and forget kind of car, I think as long as you can afford to spend $1,000 a year for replacement work, like for hoses and pumps and such, you'll be fine.

Most parts are readily available and not too expensive, however occasional parts are tough to find and expensive to replace, such as tail lights, but you shouldn't ever really need to buy those.

The 96s have been my daily drivers for about 3 years now!

 

My mistake, I'm using a cell phone and didn't see the link. I don't think the price is too far off if its in as good a condition as the ad says. That engine is a reliable powerplant and i'd certainly consider it seriously if I were you.

 

thanks for your reply!
Its a 4.0L convertible jaguar with 64500 miles on it.

 

Thanks for you reply
It will be my first car, I have never owned a car before, so I don't have any experience to maintain a car, especially a old car like this. But I would very much to spend time with it and learn how to take care it, and I don't think its really difficult to learn, is it? I contacted with the seller and he said this car have not required any major maintenance in 2 years. I know it is a risk to buy this car, but I want to know how big the risk is.

 

The list below contains, in my experience, the essentials you must be prepared to commmit to if you are to enjoy owning and running an XJS. When sorted out they are wonderful cars, in may ways better than more modern ones. But any 20-odd year old specialist car is going to need lots of things replacing, maintaining, fixing, over the course of ownership. Whether it needed things in the last 2 years is slightly irrelevant, possibly even worrying, as believe me, things will always arise, and if there is no solid service history, owner-service or garage service, do not buy the car at that price. A budget of $1000 a year for things is fair, if it really is in good condition to start with.

• I believe that you absolutely MUST have a garage big enough to work on the car in.
• You must be prepared to buy a decent set of tools, jacks, axle stands etc etc.
• You must enjoy fixing mechanical things and getting your hands dirty,
• A knowledge of DC electric circuitry will be important to acquire,
• The ability to check though things systematically is essential. there is a huge knowledge-base on the forum, but you will have to systematically follow the diagnosis path suggested.

Before buying the car, check very carefully for rust and corrosion all round the car at each wheel arch where it meets the sills, lift the front carpets and look for signs of dampness and rust. Smell carefully in the boot (trunk) for any petrol (gasoline) odours. Look carefully at the brake discs and calipers for any rust, weeping fluid etc. Test drive the car from cold for a good half hour test run, ensure that it ticks over smoothly, pulls well and changes gear smoothly and silently. Check that it runs straight, hands off the steering wheel on a level road. Check the engine oil is not too dirty, radiator does not leak or weep when hot, engine does not leak oil, that it does not overheat in traffic. Ask for service records or owner-evidence of proper maintenance. Check the tyres are evenly worn across the treads. Check that the doors shut properly and that the windows work, and that the central locking works. Ensure the aircon works in ALL modes and responds to the temp selector properly. Aircon is expensive to fix and any in-dashboard problems can be hard to trace and harder to get to. Ensure the top goes up and down properly and easily.



$11000 sounds a high price, and is justified only if the car is absolutely 100%. Finally, take a friend who knows a bit about cars with you. Too is always better than one when buying a car! If the car passes all the criteria, you will have a great car that will be great fun, and you will learn a lot and get enormous satisfaction from looking after it.



Best of luck
Greg

 

"Auto Repair 101" is best learned on something less fussy and complicated in my opinion.



Cheers
DD

 

Thank you Greg
I knew 11000 is a bit higher, the seller said the price of it is negotiable,but I don't how much is a reasonable price to offer him for a jaguar like this one 64000 miles, looks like new(on the pictures the seller sent me), I just checked the carfax report of it, it's pretty clear.
I ll bring it to a mechanical check when I go to inspect it.

 

Ahh, I don't know about this car being too difficult for Auto Repair 101. This car is way simpler in many ways than most every other car on the market these days. The amount of accessibility the inline-6 gives you as well as all of the information on this forum, makes this a good starter car.

I do NOT own a garage, so I don't know if that's absolutely required, but you will probably end up spending a grand on a set of tools, a jack and some stands. You may as well start shopping eBay now, remember you are looking for metric...most of the time.

I would strongly recommend checking to make sure it's OBDII compliant, which I believe it may or may not be. 1996 definitely are, 1995 could be OBDI. For a beginner, that would be a big help.

I find it easier to work on most everything when compared to my 2000 Ford Taurus, even the 2005 Honda Pilot offers more space challenges.

 

Thanks you sir,
I don't have a garage either. just contacted with the seller a moment ago, he is asking at least 10000 and claiming it is in excellent condition, I'm gonna go inspect this car next week, I'm hesitating if the price he asking is too high.

 

I'd take a look at this post. It seems to good to be true...

1996 Jaguar XJS Convertible

In reality, I'd love to know why it's so cheap. There's got to be something wrong here.

 

Wow. I wish I didn't live so far away. I'd go check it out. Seems a peach!

 

This one is right up the road in Manchester NH. A few miles on it but probably around half the price.
1994 JAGUAR XJ-SERIES XJS CONVERTIBLE ONE OWNER CLEAN CAR FAX MANCHESTER NEW HAMPSHIRE | Vehicle Deatails | 2ndstsales

 

I only payed $4850 for mine although it had 140,000 miles when I bought it and I had to put $1,500 in maintenance(Ignition coil, valve cover gaskets, AC service, Differential service) in the 4 months I've owned the car. Soon I am going to cough up another thousand for a Catalytic converter.

Original Craigslist ad
https://www.dropbox.com/s/fackg03k3u...Reduced%21.pdf

 

Thank you bill, I fear that 16K miles age

 

I bought the Cat from Jagbits a couple of years ago for $495 (now $595?) and it was a direct fit. Problem was, I bought it before inspecting my old one and by the time it arrived, I had the old one off and found just a weld had failed so spent a few bucks, had it welded and sent the new cat back. fyi, jagbits made it difficult for me to return. Soured me on using them again.

 

Can't say on the XJS, but I had an XJ6 of the same year with the same drivetrain. My 1995 XJ6 was OBDII so I expect the 1995 XJS would be the same. You'll find the port under the steering wheel.

The 95-96 should be a very reliable car. I had over 170k miles on the XJ6 when I gave it to my son in law. He then drove it another four years with no major maintenance problems. He replaced a failed alternator (bearing seized), one radiator fan, and one ABS wheel sensor. One of the PS hoses sprang a leak, but we found it was a failed O-ring in the fitting, a .50 cent repair.

Aside from those, nothing else really went wrong. Regular maintenance included a set of brake pads and rotors, front and rear, front shocks, and the usual oil and trans fluid changes. I think he flushed the cooling system once. Once the car threw a code for an insufficient exhaust air injection or some such, but we cleared it and it never came back.

During all this time the car consistently delivered 17-18 mpg in commuter traffic and never stranded us. He eventually sold the car because the leather on the driver seat, steering wheel, and console started to get ratty looking.

Personally I think that maintaining the last of the XJS's is a far sight easier than the same vintage Mercedes or BMW and will probably be no less reliable than something like a Mustang of the same year.

 

I am going to pay $397 for a aftermarket DEC converter. Only thing is I will not be able to pass a smog in CA but I won't be moving there any time soon.