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Which one is a better purchase? I need to decide ASAP
have found several great-looking Jags lately and I m about to purchase one, but the problem is which one?
1996 Jaguar XJ6 VDP pristine condition, not one scratch, the interior is spotless - 17.000 original miles - salvage title due to the front fender being damaged no structural damage( i saw the photos ) asking price $7900 The car has been fixed as you can tell or 1997 Jaguar VDP midnight blue very good conditioninside and outside .needs a headliner - 47.000 original miles -clean title$7900 plus $900 for shipping
After being
The damage before being repaired no structural damage
The 95 may have the old original valve tensioner with it's valve chain rattle on start up , can be swapped out as plenty in the salvage yard
The upgrade tensioner will have a large arrow outside on the assemble casting and can easily be identified by a picture
The 95 will also most likely have the original valve cams ( poor idle ) that were upgraded on the production line after X ( there was then a mix up on if the upgraded cam was installed at that production point ) , stamp on cams are a casing # and not a part # from what I understand
There is the engine serial number tp resolve this stamped on the right side of the engine aft of the Camshaft positing sensor or the power steering pump adapter , can't remember
TSBs coming
TSBs don't want to open up
There is a large 48 pin connector called the LS3 on the left side where the damage is and you would have to see it or pictures to see if damaged
On my car they used tywraps to hold the connector halves together and this did not work
there are pins that can break when trying to lock the 2 halves together
If it was me I would be leaning toward the clean title option. I have heard of issues with insuring salvage title cars and it could affect a resale should you decide to sell.
If the headliner is the only issue on the 97, then its a relatively easy fix, also the 96 may well need one soon if it's not already been done (seems to be a matter of time).
I have bought 2 97's (XJ6 & VDP) and as much as they are solid cars, you can expect to see problems that any 25 year old car can develop.
It would be interesting to know if the dealers are offering any kind of warranty and what kind of service history there is.
Ultimately the choice is yours and either way I am sure you will find all the help you may need here in the forums.
There is a point in the 96 production year where the TSBs are effective
I have them on my older computer but will not be able to get to them until morning
Off the top of my head if they followed the TSB and changed the Cams they were instructed to punch a dot on the same area of the engine serial number , but thatis if they followed instructions in counting the number of times the bolts were used over . This may be in respect to the head bolts only
The timing chain tensioner can be confirmed by a picture with the arrow cast on the tensioner . Or a question to the seller not letting them know what you want for an answer
TSB's are Technical Service Bulletins.
These are issued by car manufacturers to resolve known issues or detail revisions to repair instructions.
There were a number of these issued through the production run of the X300 model and are now a reference to the rest of us.
The link on the forum X300 pages takes you here X300 TSB's
Last edited by Nobeel Masri; 09-01-2021 at 12:50 AM.
They salvaged Jade green for a single fender replacement? Or was there more damage? That brand hurts the value although they may claim to have taken that into account if all else is in order, i.e. good service history, emissions, ownership history and mileage verification.
Jade green looks like it has the Parchment interior. Jade was the only color car you could get with Parchment aside from special order.. It's RARE. Don't tell the seller. Check with your insurance about the title and use it in your favor. Hopefully you can check out and drive this car. "No one will ever know" about the title.
Midnight blue is too much with shipping added. If it is not local you can't test drive it. But I do like the X300 in dark colors.
If you are planning on keeping the car for a while (years), then get the pristine '96 with 17k miles. The rebuilt (not salvage) title is only a problem when it comes to resale value. As long as you are sure that the only damage was that pictured. You should be able to get them way down on the price due to the title brand, just like someone is going to do to you when you go to sell it. It just sounds like a great car.
Salvaged will kill you on insurance replacement. I wouldn't do any salvage vehicle, unless the price was in the basement ;-)
Definitely the dark blue one, or this one! https://seattle.craigslist.org/see/c...369071448.html
I can attest that this Topaz Metallic color is the BEST at hiding dirt, and accentuates the curves better :-)
I agree with XJ 4 Ever. Topaz Metallic is an awesome color and could save you a fortune in car washes.
Mine is the same year & model as in the craigslist ad (97 VP) and it always looks good. Seems a shame to have to leave it outside at night.
To be perfectly honest I would never buy a car that I had not personally inspected and test driven.
This concept of buying a car from a description given many miles away by some third party person without a personal inspection and driving is fraught with potential disasters.
I suggest you check out the local scene in LA, as I understand there is no lack of cars in LA and do some homework on the type and general values of these cars.
The prices you quoted seem a little high for the USA market and around the top dollar for the Australian market for X300 cars when the exchange rate of US$1 =A $1.4 is applied.
Above all don't get involved in the ASAP hype. Take your time to sus things out. Jaguar did make a lot of cars and sooner or later you will find one that fits your needs.
Don't forget you are looking at X300 cars which average 25 years of age so condition, condition , condition is the watchword.
If you are looking for a daily driver/ commuter then forget the X300 as they are getting old. Hyundai, Mitsubishi and Toyota shopping trolleys are far more reliable.
Bill Mac MK1 MK2 S3XJ6 X300 (X2) 14 previous jags MK5 to X308
Agree with the feedback above, bottom line is either car is a gamble, so start w blue book and discount that a bit for the salvage title. Make sure you have the carfax too, and lean heavily towards whichever vehicle has a more complete service record and/or fewer owners. I would be hesitant to buy an X300 with much less than 80k miles on the odometer because it means that the car sat for a long time in the near or distant past.
Check out this post for what you will need to look at for each car; whether the car is a good purchase or not depends greatly on how much of this list you will need to do, and how much exterior/interior (ie non-mechanical) needs to be done to bring it up your standards.
We just purchased a clean '95 with 70,000 miles,for $6,500 and sold our '96 with 161,000 miles for $4,500.. The '96 was better in the engine, but suspension was lacking. These were and are our daily drivers, my '98 SLK230 still only has 99K on the odo and is a "toy" car for us.
Headliner was gone on the '96, with sunroof, (BRG/tan):the '95 is wonderful in white/parchment, always starts and is a pleasure to drive. I've had fellow shop owners with these cars, and two were "totaled" with only $2,000 of damage. Get insurance from someone other than the majors to get repairable coverage. We couldn't because ours is a daily driver.
I'm a retired mechanic/shop owner- and found these Jags were VERY good. and this Forum is the BEST!
Both are excellent choices. I personally prefer lower mileage. if you have a good paint shop. And also 1995-97 XJ6 were the best modern Jag. produced. I regret mine, but in Canada with salty roads... Yes prices are slightly high!
Whatever floats your boat!
Buying old cars is always a gamble, as is buying sight unseen. Do you know anything about their history, beyond the salvage title issue? Rust belt cars or dry states for example?
Who is selling them? How many owners?
At the end of the day, and in the context of car purchases, the amounts involved are not excessive. If your purpose in buying one is as a hobby car for high days and holidays, the most important thing is that you get a buzz from looking at it and driving it, and hence the decision can only be yours. It seems unlikely that the values of these cars are going to soar anytime soon so the salvage title issue on its own shouldnt be the determinant.
For me, midnight blue is one of the best colours for the X300: it will never look lower, longer, sleeker or more elegant than it does in a dark colour. The wheels are perfect too.
08-31-2021, 09:27 AM
Which one is a better purchase? I need to decide ASAP
