Need help, looking to purchase a XJ6. Need to know the do and dont's . Thanks for your time.

RJ

 

the don'ts: (assuming you are looking for a Series 3 1980-thru 1987 car).

don't buy any XJ that is rusted out. (NOTE: all XJ-6 rust at the bottom of the front and rear glass, some are gone, some can be fixed, use your judgement).

don't buy ANY XJ or any car sight-unseen, long distance, by phone, or otherwise. If you cannot inspect in person, and drive it in person, keep looking.

don't buy any XJ that has been sitting and doesn't start, you won't be able to start it either unless you don't mind spending mucho dinero trying.

don't buy any XJ-6 that the interior is shot, it will cost you an enormous amount of money to restore the upholstery.

if the a/c system doesn't work, deduct $1,500.00 off the asking price, because it will cost you that much at least to fix it.

specifically, don't buy someone else's problem, whether it's a Jaguar, a Porsche, or a Ferrari. You must be able to drive the car home, if it ain't worth driving, it ain't worth buying.

 

Thanks for getting back to me. This may be a sign I'm out of my league, I was thinking XJS. Does the same apply?

 

Thats all very good advice, for buying any car really. I personally broke two of the rules but what the heck!!

When you go to look at the car, as per advice it must start and ask the seller to leave the car cold, ie: not started that day. Always suspect if you arrive and the car is already warmed up, can hide starting problems.

If it wont start dont buy it unless you are a good home mechanic, or have lots of money, and you have done a compression test on the engine and compression is good.

Rust is a killer, dont buy unless you are a good mig welder or you have lots of money.

All this stuff relevant to any car, but jag owners know where to find the rust.

If it start listen to the idle, is it rough?? Dont listen to the comments "needs a good tune up". Rough idle means potential problems. Give the engine a rev, listen for noises...

Take dipstick out is the oil milky? Head gasket, cracked head piston liners?? Costs money. Check coolant Any oiliness in water?? See above.

 

all the above applies to XJ-S although being a "sport" Jaguar, they usually receive more abuse than a XJ-6 which is a Sedan. There are very well cared XJ-6 and XJ-S around, you just have to look carefully and look at many examples, then go back to the one that you think was really worth buying. Pass on any 12 cylinder version unless you have lots of money for repairs and maintenance.

don't buy the first one you fall inlove with, there's always another one which is better. You want to start your Jaguar experience with the best car you can get. Never blindly believe what the seller says over the phone, never fully believe ad pictures, they could be old pictures from 15 years ago. (yes it happens all the time), Always look at any car in person. If you don't know anything about Jags, try to meet someone local who has one, ask him to help you find a good Jag. Jaguar owners know other Jaguar owners. Know your limits and stick to them.

due to the bad economy, these cars are selling for a song, so it's a good time for buyers to get nice cars. Forget eBay for car buying, if you cannot inspect any car in person, don't buy, read the fine print where it says "SALE IS FINAL". That is a red flag.

 

Thanks guys. I think I would be in over my head. How can a car look so good and have so many problems? I'll keep my eyes peeled, but the first time it leaves me stranded the wife will kill me.

 

All subject to one's choices and purposes. All sales final. Usually the case, if I were selling, you bet all sales final as is where is. Only in rare cases do dealers offer a return policy and those likely have a catch. Once off the property, it is yours. In the case of a dealer, one might negotiate a limited warranty, but from a private party, no way.

A bit of rust here or there not necessarily a biggie, but, could be huge. I have had cars with both varieties. And, I passed on one that was truly a biggie.

No start could be a very minor thing and result in seller's willingness to sell it veeery cheap. Disgust and SWMBO influence.

Some years my son son bought a very decent mid sixties Lincoln Continental four door sedan. No crank issues. He jumped the neutral start switch, fired right up and brought it home. The car has a lever within the steering column that transfers shift position to a switch at the column base. It is the start inhibit switch. He worked out the wear induced slop and the car fired as it should. I was tempted. Naah, a huge boat. Not his taste either. But, it did suit a retired guy and his SWMBO. Sold. All pleased.

Oe of the keys to a dormant car is whther or not it has compression. Just the way it cranks means a lot to a trained ear. One can hear feel the compression strokes.

When I lost my DOHC to overheat, it cranked smoothly and briskly. Too much so, 0 in all holes!!!

But, basic, one must like the car. If one does, one can fix or live with stuff. If you don't any little thing will mean disgust.

This series and age is about the last of the cars that are DIY friendly.

Unless, one does alot of reading and working on much more sophisticted cars as I did when I leapt into the world of advanced fuel injection and OBD!! A Kirkegaardean leap in my case.

As the engine management in my cars is now similar, ie 1994, I learned a lot and am somewhat comfortable with them.

And, the fun of an enhanced scan system is something. Among the best spent 300 or so I ever have done.

And, sorta like this and my other computers, I continue to enhance my brain. I think that is especialy good at my age and since I retired. Not only use it or lose it, but challenge it.

A perfect car, rare, is not cheap. But, a poor car isn't either. A lot depends on the level one will accept. Concours, rough driver or somewhere between. And, perhaps a bargain.

I went through a lot with my 83. But, it may well be my all time favorite of some sixty odd cars that I have owned or had furnished me. And, I have had some neat ones.

Picky yes, but not too much or you get nothing and rmain a mere spectator.

Rant over

Carl

 

The XJSs were made from 1975 to 1996. XJ6 (of various types) were made from 1968 until 1997. So....we're talking about cars that range from 15 to 44 years old.

Ummmm....don't take this wrong but, really, what's your expectation? If a happy wife and never being left stranded is a high concern then you should be looking at something other than 15-20-30 year old used cars!

Jags (or BMWs, Corvettes, Audis, etc) CAN be reliable but it takes a little effort, a certain level of committment, to make 'em that way and keep 'em that way. Cars like these are not a "drive it and forget it" proposition....doubly so as the years and miles accumulate.

A well kept Jaguar is a purring kitten that will reward your care in more than equal measure, always making you look and feel good, and will be a pleasure to own and drive.

An ill-kept Jaguar is a wretched, unforgiving bitch that, frankly, could care less if you live or die. There are far more of the latter than the former out there.

This may sound harsh but I'm just callin' 'em as I see 'em :-)

Cheers
DD

 

the XJ-6 from 1968 thru 1987, the one everybody loves, Series 1 thru Series 3, is not an everyday car, it's a let's-go-have-fun-and-if-it breaks-down-the-hell-with-it-I-have-free-towing-service-and-let-that-be-part-of-the-fun kind of car.

It's a Hobby car, a Certified Classic car. They can be very reliable, I have one of those, so reliable I've owned it for over two decades. Best car I ever had. But when I bought it, I had to fix many things that had gone unkept by the first owner. Once I did that, my Service Records thin out year by year until for example from 1999 until 2012 I have no records/receipts for any repairs except accessories, silly parts like cigar lighters, improvements, insurance, gasoline, and oil & filter changes. Has not needed any major repairs, nada. it always starts, I drive it 40-60 miles one-way on the Florida Turnpikes, (fabulous new roads but all Toll, I guess someone has to pay for the engineering), to move the fluids, get it to normal temp, then get it to speed, (it's like a Lear Jet aircraft with twin tanks in the wings), burn any old gasoline, refill the tanks, then park it until next time. Same with my '65 S type, the great-grandpa of the XJ-6, that one is even more fun to drive! not as "refined" as the 1984 XJ-6 but they were getting very close. Jaguar Cars philosophy was "continuous refinement".

For everyday service you might want a Kia or Hiundai, and even those will break down too, but hey they're copying the XJ-6 in many ways, very nice bodies.

follow your dreams but don't buy any junker.
your wife is not going to kill you, she might never let you forget it for throwing money at an "old" car, (women just don't understand), but I'm sure she will be very proud to drive an XJ-6, which in the early 1990's a New York Women's Magazine proclaimed "Women's Favorite Car Of The Decade". BANG! The Series 3 XJ-6. (not that I read women's magazines you know, but the pictures are sometimes a lot better than Playboy :-))

 

"An ill-kept Jaguar is a wretched, unforgiving bitch that, frankly, could care less if you live or die".

Thats a classic Doug... lol.. sounds like my ex-wife!!!

 

WOW. Guys, thanks again. First let me say I think I would have a lot of help from this forum which is very important to me. Next l have own E30 BMW's that were very reliable and one Porsche, not so much. I also have AAA 200 miles free towing. With said I am a driver, while it would not be a daily driver I have trips to Nova Scotia logged. I like the part about taking to other Jaguar owners, think that's a great starting point.

 

If you just want a Jaguar, the later models are built much better and are more reliable. The X300 series started Jaguar on a better road. Nowadays, even the aluminium XJs are affordable, and these are built very, very well. However no well-used luxury car is a drive-and-forget item, apart, (maybe) a Lexus, but do you really want a Lexus !

I have had three Jaguars

Mark 2 - rebuilt by myself over 7 years, but still suffered a broken differential once on the road !
XJ6 4.2 litre 1980 - I spent a lot of money getting this car up-to-scratch, although this was spread over 14 years. Yes the longest time I have ever owned a car, so it must have had some attraction to me.
XJ6 3 litre 2003 - the first year of the aluminium saloons so a few problems, but nothing really serious. I havenow had this car nearly 3 years, and don't intend selling any time soon, provided I can still afford the insurance and road tax.

My most reliable car I had was a Mazda Xedos 9, (called Millenia in the US).
Best car - Rover 75 2.4 litre 2001 - superb car, loved it to bits. Probably the best car ever built by the UK car industry. My prevoius car to the Jag I have now.

 

Thanks. Funny you should mention Lexus. As luck would have it this Jaguar would be replacing a 95 SC300 with 75K on it (great reliable car) just too new for any real car shows (Hersey, Hagerty) and a little to soft in the ride category. You can't really feel the road, if you know what I mean.

That car replaced the 02 Boxster, where you felt too much of the road. Also one break down on the return from Martha's Vineyard and you'll never hear the end of it.

Which replaced the 89 BMW E30 325is (Nova Scotia trip) which was great and I'm still getting the "I told you not to sell" that car.

So as you see I'm kinda all over the place. Daily driver is a 03 E39 530i or a Jeep Grand Cherokee. The wife gets the new cars, currently (2010 Maxima)

My mechanic (electrical engineer by trade) is a BMW guy but we will work on any almost anything together.

I really like the look of the older Jaguars (XJ-S) and the SL300 and SL560 Mercedes. But the more I read the more I seem to think they are out of my league. No open check book here.

I pass a XJ-S on the way to the office with a small for sale sign in the rear window but not really any other advertisement (not parked out on the lawn or anything). This forum has given me enough courage to stop and ask about.

Thanks to all.
RJ