Description:

VIN SAJNX5747SC199879 

First, I have tried multiple times to correct that description. Clearly the word "seem" should be "sell."  Please forgive me.                                                            For sale is my 1995 XJS, affectionately known as Jade. I purchased this car 14 years ago and then sold it to my neighbor who coveted it because it had the motor he desired, the AJ16. I am not a Jaguar expert but I asked him what was special about that particular motor and he said it was one of the years that Ford had a hand in making it and they didn’t have some of the electrical gremlins and other issues with some of the other models. Last year he came to my house and asked if I wanted to buy it back as he had purchased another one and I had commented that I wished I still had it. I did purchase it back and in the 14 years he owned it, it had immaculate care. He actually dusted off the motor with a Swifter every time he drove it. He also gave me several Jaguar magazines and manuals a CD and three keys. The only problem since I’ve had it with it was a minor brake issue. I was getting information that the TEVES systems were very expensive. I am not a Jaguar expert by any means but when I looked at the VIN numbers, mine fell in the category of a transitional period. During that second half, the cars were equipped with a regular master cylinder. I had no problem finding one with the triangular reservoir and I was able to change it myself in a very short time. The car is pretty and still a head turner, but it does have flaws. It has a rebuilt title from a minor accident and it was not professionally repainted, although it is not noticeably inferior. However the pinstripe is coming off and there are two or three dings that look like small hail dings. The hood does not meet perfectly and has had some paint chipped off the corners from improper closing before my neighbor or I bought it. The interior is very good except for the headliner. The headliner was so bad, he took it down, sprayed it with some textured paint, and looks quite acceptable. The back seats are fine and the leather on the front seat is what I call “fatigued.” The leather is cracked, however there are no tears. I am presently using sheepskin seat covers. The door panels are all good, the wood is good, the carpet is all good, the dash and steering wheel are fine, it has a new radio with something for an iPod. The power antenna works as it should. The power side mirrors and the power windows work. In general it’s a very nice looking car, but it could be a real beauty if properly restored. As it is I drive it daily. The only problem it’s ever given me is one time it was running too lean or too rich but my neighbor took the throttle body out and cleaned it and it was fine. This week it is doing something similar and I’m going to do that again. It drives fine, it just won’t idle for 5 or 10 minute like it does on a regular basis. When it sits in my driveway running it will eventually die. But I also used regular gas instead of premium. I cannot tell you what the cause of the poor idle is. But since it’s run so well and for so long, I think it’s just that throttle body valve which my neighbor cleaned in about 10 minutes or less. It solved the problem the other time. I’m looked at a clean VIN check report.  Everything on it is fine, but it doesn’t call it a “branded” title. But when the title transferred in Iowa from me to my neighbor 14 years ago and from my neighbor back to me this time it says “rebuilt” on it. In Iowa that’s not the same as a salvage title. You will need to talk to the DOT about the differences, but from what I know of the entire history of Jade, there was one accident and minor damage. I might consider a trade for a very good 4 x 4, but it would need to meet my specific needs.