Any xj12 owners here?
Considering buying one. What do I need to look out for and what are some advantages this car has over an xj6??
Thanks
E

 

These are fantastic auto's however the following unless already addressed may need attention. Rubber mount bushings for the radiator and the small radiator for the air conditioner will be rubbish. Same for the front shock mount bushings. Transmission mount will need replacing. Headliner will be sagging. Make sure the plastic around the shifter is not damaged. This indicates an attitude when it would not come out of park and will have done even more damage to the shifter assembly. (sometimes a little wiggle/jiggle will loosen the shifter up as it is binding). Rear view mirror will have lost its fluid and will need replacing. When you open the door and the button on the side of the steering column is in auto the steering wheel should rise and retract and the seat should go to full open. Ball joints will be tired. You WILL need a new battery, don't mess around with this one if it is not new-ish just replace it and it will solve allot of future weird electrical issues. Hook it up to a smart charger as the battery will drain if not driven daily. Cup holder will need to be replaced. Don't let any of the above sway you from buying as most of it is just general maintenance for a car of this age. It rocks over an xj6 for power about par with an xjr of these years but allot smoother. These are some of the common small issue's I have run across, others will chime in as it is early and I'm sure I have forgotten a few things. My advice is if it does not blow blue behind you when you kick it in the pants and it seems to shift reasonably buy it... the above is really not that bad to repair.

 

WOW! 10 XJ12's!!! Beautiful lineup there!
Almost all of the issues you stated above, I experience in my VDP. How well would you recommend a XJ12 as a daily driver???

 

Absolutely makes for a fantastic daily driver. This is Jaguars flagship model for '96. Just keep up on the maintenance and it will give you 250,000 miles with few issue's beyond general maintenance. It's a head turner so if you don't want to be noticed... buy a Toyota. If you have a place to let it rip she is smooth as silk at 150 mph (speedometer). But buyer beware as a general rule these cars are not maintained very well by their owners. Service history is a must.

 

Heh, I'm just waiting for the day you start divesting yourself of some of you 96 XJ12's

.

 

The time will come as they are just a rolling 401k plan.

 

I was just offered a 96 xj12. mechanically sound, paint dull and interior a bit rough. going to look at it this weekend. I'm also with the plan of a rolling 401k, that's why I keep mine low mileage, buy, drive a little for a year, then park them up and just work them sufficient to keep everything working.

 

1of19, thanks for your reply to this thread. I am also looking at 1996 X305. The exterior/interior both look great for a 20 year old car. I will take your list with me to see the mechanic for a look over.