Hi,

I am looking at this car at the moment. I love body style on these models.

1987 JAGUAR XJ6

How hard is it to get parts for these? Are they fairly reliable? Are they hard to work on. The last 80's car I had was a buick century and it was a nightmare.

I was looking at a 1998 XJ8 because it had more safety features and I am sharing this with my 16 year old daughter but I really prefer the looks of this car.

Can someone help talk me into it.

Is there something I should be looking for?

 

0) that car looks excellent, but go pick at it in person, pictures lie, sellers lie, pictures could be 10 years old.

1) not hard to get parts at all, zillions available, many specialists available, eBay, you name it, Wallgreen's sells Jaguar parts, (just kiddin'), Home Depot, it also has many GM parts but it's not a Buick which has no parts support. Parts are cheap.

2) skip the XJ8, it's a Ford in disguise, and a nightmare to maintain, many engine deffects, unreliable. The Series 3 XJ-6 is a lot more reliable and is now a Certified Classic.

3) get the best example '87 XJ-6 Series 3 you can. mint condition if you can, don't buy someone else's problem. (the price for that car is excellent and if it is a true Western car, chances are it has no rust).

4) they all show rust bubbles at the bottom edges of the front and rear windshields, but it's a repairable issue everybody deals with.

5) get a carfax, to learn the history of the car, do not buy any car that is original to the Northern US. (rust & rot).

 

Great news, I am really excited to get into a Jaguar. They have been my favorite car since I was little.

 

If interested there's also a buyers guide in one of the sticky threads at the top of this section

Cheers
DD

 

you'll love the ride and the handling, they are as comfortable as Buicks and Oldsmobiles (I grew up in a Olds 88 from 1953 thru 1963).

let us know how it turns out.

 

My first car was a1969 olds Delta 88. I can't believe any jag would ride like that beast. I hope they don't get mileage like that either. I think the best I got was 8 mpg, but as a teenager I did use all of the 455 that was in that thing, it could really lay rubber for a car that weight.

 

the old 1950's Olds 88 rode like Elvis' Cadillac, floating on a cloud of marshmallows, I don't know about a Delta 88, those were like souped-up Mopars, were they not?

mileage is decent depending on driving conditions. I can get around 545 miles out of the twin tanks (23 gallons total, 11.5 gals ea. tank), on a highway trip, at 70-75 mph, a/c On, in Cruise. Also depends on how heavy your foot is. These are not Toyotas. Compared to a carburetted Jaguar, the fuel-injected XJ-6 are very fuel-efficient.

consider that today's 87 octane gasolines contain 10% alcohol which evaporates quickly. And it's a waste of money to use higher-octane gasolines, the engines don't need it.

 

I disagree. I would do the XJ8 all day. If someone gave me a 94 or older, Ide donate it. Wiring issues galore, and evaporator leaking so bad even new ones did a few months after replacement. All the things Jaguar fought to overcome in reliability, Ford came in and greatly improved on. I dont think Jaguar would be here today if not brought up to current technology and build standards if it wasnt for Frods infussion, say what you will. Just my and others opinion that work on them everyday and have for decades
XJ8 engine reliabilty. replace the tensioners(uppers) and early water pumps and there isnt a reliabilty issue with the car at all. The best jags Ive owned and worked on is my 96, and had 98XJ till totalled by a teen texting and rear ended. There are few 95 and later Jags I wouldnt recommend to anyone. mostly only Xtypes, because is general people that bought them did not maintain them nearly as much as the other marks and even then only the early yrs with trans and transfer case issues.
contrary to early models with terrible wiring issues and diagrams and wiring that didnt even match what was in the car.

 

How difficult is it to find a rebuilt XJ6 motor?
I have a lead on a very nice 83 XJ6 with a blown motor.

 

Coventry West 800 331 2193


Cheers
DD

 

I agree with a lot of what you've said. But.....

I had a Ser III for 8 years and have had my X300 for 6 years. To be totally honest, if I look at repair historys side-by-side, I can NOT say the X300 has required less upkeep or significantly fewer repairs. No doubt there have been many improvements in many area but, in my case at least, it really hasn't translated to fewer repairs.

I could spend hours comparing the pros ad cons of each car...and the X300 is certainly an overall better car, all things considered. Still, though, I'll be back in the market for another Ser III. The Ser IIIs have a style and feel that isn't found in the newer models. They are the most modern of all antique automobiles :-)

Cheers
DD

 

its very hard. I know a large indie here in texas that bought a bunch from jaguar for pennies on the dollar. And jag scapped a ton of em too. And the guy that bought them has sat on them forever. Theres no question. But barring the tensioner issue and if you dont overheat the engine and drop exhaust seats they last along time too. I know many people that have bought xj8 with blown engines, replaced valves and tesioners or just tensioners if nothing broke/bent and kept or resold them. To me thats just poor maintenance of any engine. Im doing tensioners on a 97xk with 47k. It started as a overheat and no impellors on the water pump. All original down to belt, hoses and tensioners. Surprising the plastic is not rotten or brittle either. It was towed to me from louisianna. I pulled a cam cover and sent a pic to owner and explained the issue with those. Whole heartily agreed. He's driving in this weekend to pick it up when im done. Nikasil is naother issue, but that too with proper care is not a issue either. Notice i said proper care which meens keep the cooling system in great condition, and dont let oil changes go. Ive seen many nikasil with high 100k(not here ) and no blow by.
Im meerly relating my experiance with ease of repairs on both. Nothing worse than incomplete wiring diags, except oh wait, incorrect ones.
Dont get me wrong, i like older jags too and theyre looks. I just dont miss trying to diag and repair them. They were so much simpler it just amazes me that workshop manuals and wiring diagrams were so pisspoor. But boy I did make alot more money then

 

The later digrams for the 80s-90s models were good...the "S57" type guides, for example.

Poor tech literature no doubt contributed to the bad repair reputation of the older Jags. I was shocked by the manuals in my early Jaguar days.

On the upside, the electrical architecture of the Se IIIs and early XJSs is vastly less sophisticated and complex than the mid-90s and later cars. Almost 50s-60s vintage in simplicity, with the exception of fuel injection and climate control. Cleaning connections and grounds was the "fix" in the vast majority of cases.

Cheers
DD

 

finding a rebuilt XJ-6 engine is for a decent price is harder than finding a good used engine for a decent price.

contact David at Everyday XJ and he'll get you one.

 

I win!

I've had my '84 Ser III for 22 years, most reliable car I ever had. And I put that car through hell, driving it North, South, East, & West when I was looking for a classic S type. Never let me down.

Not For Sale

 

that happens when you buy a Haynes or a Chilton. The Jaguar Factory Technician Manuals are excellent, except they don't tell you how to redo the Headliner, you have to do it by "ear".

 

I was reffering to the FACTORY manuals and wiring diagrams. Of course Im comparing to current offerings and each yr the manuals and the cars got better and better. NOW IF THEYDE ONLY GO TO LARGER PRINT

 

The factory Jag manuals are great compared to Chilton and Haynes.

Compared to the factory manuals from some other car makers....well....they're lacking.

Cheers
DD

 

I would be really interested in looking at the some of the more recent serviced performed on the vehicle, especially wear items such as brakes, ball joints, steering components, shocks, rubber mounts and bushings, etc. I feel like my SIII XJ6 is plagued with needy suspension and brake issue... though, mine did sit for a while.

If the owner did have these wear items repaired or replaced in the last few years, you should probably feel better about buying the car.

It looks great in the pictures!!

 

A Series 3 is lovely to drive, but can be a PITA to keep on the road, and of course the car is nearly 30 years old. Parts generally not a problem. Bodywork is a real downer and rust can be a serious problem. HOwever, if the car and price is right, why not ?

Of course there is the X300 model 1995-97; a straight 6, and the same beautiful style, and probably better than the later V8, but again, any car will be at least 15 years old, and some parts are now hard to get.