Hi,

I have been driving a 87 XJ6 VDP for the last couple of days thinking about if I should buy it. It'll need some work, so i'm just trying to decide if it's worth it.

 

Hi,
Welcome to the forum.
Define "some work".

Probably best to post it in the XJ6-XJ12 section of the forum

 

Yeah, give us a little more to go on!

What are your expectations, concerns? Do you perform your own repairs? Describe the car.

A 23 y/o used Jag can be a joy or a nightmare or anything inbetween.

Cheers
DD

 

Well..

The car has a few things that worry me, however for the price Maybe it isn't too bad.

From what I have noticed these are the problems:

- Rust. This is Canada afterall, and the car has seen winters, but it was some rust on one of the a-pillars, a bit under the license plate, some on the rear fender, maybe in some other tiny spots.. These are rust bubbles.
- The front seats are cracked, they're not horrible, but not all that great.
- The Steering wheel doesn't telescope, however you can hear it grinding.
- The cars has 155,000Miles on it.
- Foggy headlights
- Headlight washers seem loose
- Center console cracked and cup holder not working of course.
- Warped rotors or bad brakes perhaps?
- Loose Headliner
- Rear door lock opens automatically but doesn't lock automatically.

There are some little things, and annoying things, the rust is probably the biggest pain.

I was thinking, should I get it and drive it till it rusts away, or fist the rust, paint it, and ride it for a few more years, or just skip on it, and get an xtype or something.

In terms of what it would cost, the car, in US equivalence would be about $3000-$3500

Here is another question. Do I have to wait for the car to warm up before I drive it? It won't rev right away and leave me waiting for a while..

 

Welcome to the forum sempire, personally I would run away, for that kind of money, with a rust problem.

Anything mechanical/electrical/fuel is fixable (as retro will attest to, but once the dreaded tin worm takes a hold it is all down hill (I know, I've got one of my XJ40s wilting away before my eyes).

If you can get it for around half, then be happy, drive it until it falls apart.

Just my 2€

 

As a point of reference, I just picked up an 86 XJ6 "parts car" that ran and sounded in better shape than that one. It only has 105k, the seats are not ripped. Has rust but otherwise mechanically sound. Paid $450 for it. I plan on using it to "donate" good/hard to find parts to my current XJ6. My suggestion is that you should look on craigslist for something cheaper if you want a project car. I paid 6k for my front line car and it was cosmetically perfect and mechanically 80%. That is mostly due to sitting for many years in a pole barn. Gas lines, rubber components, and a fuses/grounds needed attention.

 

Actually, my bad.. it is a 1997. Not 1987...

 

Welcome, '97 ?
It rather makes more than 10 years difference in regards to advances that applies to X300 lol

Those are better quality cars and more reliable to Series III

 

Unless you're specifically looking for a project car/money pit, keep looking. You can do better for $3500. Increase your budget by a grand or two and you'll probably do MUCH better.

Cheers
DD

 

At thatpoint should I just look at an S-Type or X-Type?

 

Maybe I need an XK8..

 

Here is a pic..

 

welcome aboard sempire, good to have you here and I hope you enjoy the site
Some great members / techs here which you've already seen I think with the responses you've had? and plenty of good info and fun too
FFA sorted for you

 

I ended up buying it... will post in the x300 thread. Thanks guys. Seems like a great bunch of guys here.