First time poster, long time lurker...

I remember seeing my first Vanden Plas back in around 1985 and knew it was a car I wanted to own. I was also in High School... so no dice there. University comes and goes and so does the XJ40.Eventually the XJ8 hits in the late 90's and I start to see what it was that I liked back in the 80's about the Vanden Plas. But here's the problem. I'm a working stiff and don't like spending money at a *********** to do things I usually can do myself, especially with so many "how-to's" available over the internet.

For years I've been a Volvo guy, and thoroughly enjoy my 850 with it's 360,000km on the original engine. Having said that, I am now looking for the next step, and I have been spending time reading about different cars, including Jag.

I was wondering if anyone would care to comment on what model and years built they would recommend to someone more often interested in doing it himself? I absolutely love, for instance, the lines of the 98-02 XJ8's but have beenturned off bythe nickasil and plastic tensioner issues with those engines. Replace a heater core? No problem. Drain and refill fluids? Do suspension parts? Brake jobs? Right up my alley. Trace wiring issues? Not way up there on my skill set but I've done it. Pull apart interiors/seats/dashboards? I can do that, especially with the how-to's. Inline 6's versus the V12? You tell me. Do certain models have exhorbitant parts prices over other models? Are the new Ford-owned X types worthwhile or more trouble because they're Ford?

Being that this is a 2nd car, I can afford the downtime to do things right without rushing. The garage is my "Me time" away from the wife...lol.

I'd welcome whatever feedback anyone has, and invite the Mods to move this post if this isn't where it should be...

 

...and Murphy's Law... I started looking at past posts again and found this, which I hadn't found prior to posting my question...
https://www.jaguarforums.com/m_75739/tm.htm

So would there be any other opinions to add to this? Any other bits of information would be appreciated. I'm almost thinking maybe this might be a good little thread to post somewhere for others bouncing in to visit like me....

 

Bump... anyone else?

 

I think an important thing is price range. Sure, having a V-12 is fun, but can you afford repairs? Is a newer one out of your budget? What are your preferences as far as design?

We could recommend all we want, but it has to be in line with your finances and tastes.

 

Best values and lowest maintenance and repair costs are 1995-1997 XJ6, or 2002 and later XJ8. Any other models will give reliable service with proper preventive maintenance, but with added expense. Buy the car in your price rangewith the lowest mileage and enjoy.

 

Sorry, that message was for Max: Murphy's law also prevented me from adding that I will soon have available a 2001 XJ8L, Topaz, milage in the 60K range, with an updated Jaguar factory rebuilt engine installed.I will be selling that car forno more than $10K, and a little less if it is not as flawless as has been promised to me. I sell all of my cars locally with a full one year guarantee included, but that would have to be negotiated for a long distance sale.

 

Well then, My $5000 to $7500 would best be spent in the 95 to 97 end of things... That's really what I needed to know, so thanks. Half the ownership experience for me is getting to do some of the work on it, as mentioned above. But I'm not crazy either... some degree of reliability is a required option on the purchase ;o)

 

95 to 97 sedan is probably the most realiable car Jaguar has built to date.

 

Another question then,... I believe that the XJ6's built between 88 and 94 would be XJ40 cars? I'm still not quite certain on my model designations here, but I have seen a couple of relatively inexpensive early 90's XJ6's. Would I be wise to steer clear of this model? And I take that no matter what year, the V12 is just going to cost a lot when it comes time for repairs?

 

The XJ40's (88-94) are solid cars. They don't hold the value that the 95-97 (X300) cars hold. They are a slightly more problematic than the the 95-97, but not much. Parts are becoming harder to find for the XJ40's.

Most of that comes down to personal taste. The X300 body style was just more popular than the XJ40 style. But I can point you to folks that love both.

The v12's are fun. They need to be driven. The more they sit, the bigger your nightmare grows. Keeping them cool is also a problem. That's a lot of engine crammed in there. But it will run on the upper end like nothing you've ever seen!