I am going to look at my first Jag in about an hour.
Its a 1996 Jag XJ, Vanden Plas.
He said it runs and shifts great. But it has a rough idle, and feels like there is a stuffed up tailpipe. He said can drive it home, but it does need something.
He said he took it to an import shop, and they did a compression test, and something else. They said it was fine. But also told him, that it needed left there, and they would need about 700 bucks to make it right, but wouldn't tell him what it was. Here's the ad. he said I could have it for 1500 bucks. I am going to see it shortly. Should I run away, or go forward?
I know cars quite well, but don't know Jags very much. Is this a scary issue?
Here's the ad:

1996 xj series 4D Jaguar

 

Hardthrottle, odds are, what you are seeing is a motor that needs the timing chains replaced. It was a common issue with the 4.0L and 4.2L motors. If my memory serves me correct, that is what is inside that car. The work takes about 4 hours to do yourself (possibly longer if you are not familiar with what needs to be done) and the parts are like $200 (2 new timing chains and tensioners).

So, really, the question becomes, how much of a mechanic are you and is this something you can fix yourself. I am also just going off of what I have seen in the past and I may be going after the wrong parts too.

 

Thank you! I just did a timing chain on my friends Benz 450sl. It was not fun, but I did it. Its so hard to tell. He told me to come and test drive it. But that won't tell me whats wrong for sure. I love the style of the car!

 

Probably a tad late, but taht looks like an X300 with the inline 6 cylinder engine.

That engine does not have the chain issues that have been mentioned. OK, some can, but not in the same catastrophic way.

More likely to be a clogged exhaust and/or cat convertor, or it is in "limp mode" for some other reason, but way too hard to tell in a rush.

 

Never too late. Thank you. I got worried that I may not be able to fix the car, and delayed going to see it.
He said he would take 1500, and told me to come and test drive it.
He lives close, just 10 minutes away.
But even a test drive, after him trying to explain what its doing, I will still be lost I think. I don't know if I have the equipment to check it properly. I punched in, hesitation, rough idle on google for this car,...And I guess I shouldn't have done that....

 

He did say...."It feels like there is a potato in the tailipe effect"!

 

I called him back. He said it has the 4.0 8 cylinder. He said it is rough idle.
He did say at higher rpm's it does go well. mostly at low rpm's is the issue.
He said the import garage did a compression test, and checked the head gasket. All was fine.
He did say that the engine light came on once, but never came on again.
He said the garage told him up to 1000 dollars and they would fix it. But refused to tell him the problem though.
It may not be a really bad fix. I dunno. It may be worth the 1500 bucks,

 

Sounds like a 1200.00 gamble. Take a shot! I just did and won. They sure are elegant cars and ride so nice. If you can do a timing chain on a 450 you can do a 4.0! Report back and let us know how it went...

 

That's a hell of a lot of luxury car for a very little money. Those tires alone would be over 1500. So hope you went for it and bought it. Even with a $1000 fix bill that would be a lovely car for $2500 !

Cheers

 

If it's a 1996, it's an XJ6, and is a 4.0L straight 6.

Tell him you'll give him $500, as the repairs will bring it up to bluebook value, and YOU are the one gambling on the purchase.

Don't be TOO eager to buy a car that doesn't run properly unless you think you can fix it, or are willing to take the gamble and sell it if necessary. If you can't fix it for cheap, you will most likely will not be able to sell it for what you payed.

Ask him if you can go see it at the shop. That way you can see if it's been hammered, and ask the shop what's wrong with it at the same time.