So, I'm not a "car person" in general -- I don't like to drive a stick and do it badly (but I can parallel park a 1976 Buick Electra Park Avenue on the street in NYC's West Village, so I'm not a bad driver) and don't much care about cars. Except Jaguars. Old Jags.

Since I was 9 I could recognize only two cars - a Rolls Royce and a Jaguar. When I was 17 a friend of the family bought a 70s era Jag straight 12 sedan and let me drive it. Decades later, I never forgot that experience.

Today I took title to a 1990 Jaguar XJS Convertible - bright red (looks great with my leopard coat - yes, I'm a woman, too), amazing condition. But here's the thing...my husband and I can put gas in the cars and check the oil and add fluids, but that's the extent of our mechanical skills. We don't have kids, but we also don't have a second home to mortgage for car maintenance.

We had a prepurchase done by a local mechanic who specializes in old British imports. I don't know the protocol, but I'd love to share his scary long list and get feedback on what may truly go wrong and what isn't a huge issue. He kindly gave us potential repair estimates too. This guy was THOROUGH - he noted minor scrapes on the underside of the rubber even - so we feel we know kinda what we're getting into. Of his repair list we are immediately having the high idle, dead (ish - it came on today when I took the car home) speedometer and gauges fixed. And I'm going to have him check the passenger quarter window - it wouldn't go up with the roof, although it had, and the previous owner showed me a trick of banging on the window motor (after removing the trim with 2 screws) to make it work that is a bit worrisome. Plus I need to replace the top/hood - I know I can get fabric tops online but not the best sources.

So, I have lots of questions, lots of worries that we've done something terribly dumb, and total joy at having that gorgeous car in my driveway! Help? (PS, sadly, that's not my garage...)

 

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Welcome gkazimir! I love the red exterior...and convertible as well, nice. The guys in the xjs sub forum will be able to recommend a good replacement top. Enjoy the forum!

 

Welcome to the forum gkazimir,

Congratulations on the XJS.

Follow this link XJS - Jaguar Forums - Jaguar Enthusiasts Forum to the XJS section for help, advice and information. The 'HOW TO' thread at the top there is a good place to start for info on regular issues.

Remember to add vehicle details to your Signature to help others to give relevant advice. Go to the User CP button on the left of the top menu bar, then Settings & Options under Your Control Panel. Select Edit Signature and enter the details.

You may also like to visit the US Mid Atlantic Region by following this link https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/mid-atlantic-md-va-dc-de-wv-65/ to find other members in your region.

Enjoy the forum.

Graham

 

Welcome to the forum gkazimir,

Good to have you with us.
Enjoy the forum.

If you haven't already done so you should add your car details to your signature to help others to help you.