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What is the good, bad and ugly with a less than 25,000 miles XJ6 that has been in dry storage since 2009?
My main concern is mechanical. Being told the fuel tanks, senders and fuel injectors have been replaced. I would assume a filter as well, but that is unknown. Tires have been replaced. Everything else is said to work. Headliner is not drooping, AC works, etc. Not sure about belts and hoses. Told it hasn't had new plugs, wires, cap or rotor, which is easy. Oils and fluids are an easy fix.
I am attracted by the very low miles, one owner, estate sale with under 25,000 miles, but how concerned should I be that the car will start leaking from every seal once it starts to get driven?
I am attracted by the very low miles, one owner, estate sale with under 25,000 miles, but how concerned should I be that the car will start leaking from every seal once it starts to get driven?
As opposed to a more-often driven example, with 150,000 miles, leaking from every seal?
I'll take the leaky 25,000 mile car over a leaky 150,000 mile car any day of the week !
I understand your concern and it has merit. But I've owned these oldie Jags and been under many many others. They all leak from everywhere.....to one degree or another. The worry, of course, is that the car you're considering might end up being a real gusher. And....it might well be.
Does this 25,000 mile car have outstanding cosmetics? Is it rust free? If so, buy it. They're getting harder and harder to find that way. Repairing mechanicals is easy compared to rust repair, new paint, new chrome, and new leather.
Yes, no paint fade, no rust anywhere, no cracks in the dash, all the original manuals, original tools, one female owner. no wear on the leather at all, not even on the driver's bolster.
You seem to have a background of these older cars.
You haven't said what year/model XJ6 but being injected I presume it's a Series 3.( very late models of S2 cars may be injected)
The last Series 3 were built in the late 1980s so you are dealing with a car that is roughly 30 to 40 years old.
I'll bet dollars that the flexible brake hoses will need to be changed. I have just had to do this on my S3. Old hoses decay inwards and end up bocking up.
Look for leaks from the steering rack. Common on older cars.
If you are getting it for the right price, I'd go for it.
Yes, a 1987 series 3. I too would question the brake lines. Any rubber actually.
Asking price is $15,000.00 which seems ok for a less than 25,000 mile one owner car that may need a couple of $$$$ put into to it to make it safe????
If you do the work yourself, I'd guess $3k - $4k would be a ballpark estimate for parts to freshen it up...if the fuel tanks are new as advertised that's a big help. $18k seems a bit steep for a SIII XJ6 from a value standpoint, but as others have said it would be difficult to find one in this good of condition, so if you love it I don't think it's unreasonable.
Yes, no paint fade, no rust anywhere, no cracks in the dash, all the original manuals, original tools, one female owner. no wear on the leather at all, not even on the driver's bolster.
That's what you're paying for.
If I buy any older used car I assume it needs consumables: hoses (fuel and coolant), belts, fresh fluids, wheel bearing repacked, filters, tune-up, etc. All that stuff gets done soon after purchase.
In the case of the 25,000 car you are considering the one major thing I'd want to do is a full brake system overhaul. Personally I would not trust any brake system on any car that has sat for so long in dead storage. A big job.... but not too hateful money-wise if the labor is DIY.
If you do the work yourself, I'd guess $3k - $4k would be a ballpark estimate for parts to freshen it up...if the fuel tanks are new as advertised that's a big help. $18k seems a bit steep for a SIII XJ6 from a value standpoint, but as others have said it would be difficult to find one in this good of condition, so if you love it I don't think it's unreasonable.
Agreed.
You can get a "decent" Series III for much less but if you want outstanding cosmetics it's cheaper to pay more up front to get what you want.....as opposed to bringing the "decent" car up to the same level.
I agree with Doug.
If the paint and upholstery/interior are that good for $15K its definitely worthwhile
Just consider the cost of a re-paint and new interior for a typical S3 and you are already in front.
I'd go for it.
speedometers in these cars are very easy to replace. I don't trust any old Jaguar XJ-6 with low mileage, If they replaced so many parts, the speedo could have been one of them. Get the car on a lift and inspect the exhaust system. That should speak volumes about the car.
Also, look at the lower RH edge of the brake pedal cover. If there's a worn area, chances are the vehicle has more kilometres/miles than indicated on the odometer.
Just sealed the deal on the car at $14,500. More details are; it is a 1987 Vaden Plas in Alpine Green with just a tick over 20,000 miles. Paint is perfect. Chrome is perfect. Been stored inside all its life and off the road since 2009. All the rubber seals are pristine. All original owner's manuals, original introduction cassette tape, cassette cleaning tape, original 1987 temporary tag when first registered, even has an original 1987 sales brochure. etc... New tires, new battery, two new fuel tanks, senders and all new injectors and lines. All new belts, but original radiator hoses. Seats are perfect, original rear and passenger VDP "shagg" floormats. One female owner since new. Clean Carfax.
Does need a new headliner. What 1980's Jag doesn't. Flexible brake lines will be replaced and the system flushed. Cooling system and transmission will get a service too. AC probably needs to be brought up to snuff. As nice as the paint is I will wash, clay bar, buff and then ceramic coat it to add further protection.
Once shipped and in my possession permanently I will start another thread to further document the car.
I love the Alpine Green with the Doeskin leather.
Last edited by MSGGrunt; Sep 27, 2023 at 11:18 AM.
Just sealed the deal on the car at $14,500. More details are; it is a 1987 Vaden Plas in Alpine Green with just a tick over 20,000 miles. Paint is perfect. Chrome is perfect. Been stored inside all its life and off the road since 2009. All the rubber seals are pristine. All original owner's manuals, original introduction cassette tape, cassette cleaning tape, original 1987 temporary tag when first registered, even has an original 1987 sales brochure. etc... New tires, new battery, two new fuel tanks, senders and all new injectors and lines. All new belts, but original radiator hoses. Seats are perfect, original rear and passenger VDP "shagg" floormats. One female owner since new. Clean Carfax.
Does need a new headliner. What 1980's Jag doesn't. Flexible brake lines will be replaced and the system flushed. Cooling system and transmission will get a service too. AC probably needs to be brought up to snuff. As nice as the paint is I will wash, clay bar, buff and then ceramic coat it to add further protection.
Once shipped and in my possession permanently I will start another thread to further document the car.
I love the Alpine Green with the Doeskin leather.
A beautiful car…but this is not Alpine Green. Alpine Green is a very soft, silvery green…and I had a V12 VDP in that colour, one that Doug might remember.
But I had a friend in Seattle who owned an XJ6 in the colour of yours…the name of the colour escapes me at the moment but I might recall it later. Ah…I think it is Moorland Green, much deeper colour than Alpine Green, the difference between hills and mountains!
The color is much more silvery green in person. Probably the light isn’t the best. The 1987 factory sales brochure shows that Alpine Green was the only green offered on the 1987 VDP models.
As a comparison, this car is in Alpine Green: (that distracting dealer-added rub strip came off immediately after the photo was taken):
It looks almost silver here, but the colour is a very soft silvery-green, much prettier than the photos suggest::
On the left a Canadian-market V12 VDP in Jaguar Racing Green (not BRG) and on the right, a US-market XJ6 in Sage Green (fitted with the rest-of-world headlamps - but without the headlamp wipers) - both beautiful.
This is the Jaguar Racing Green car, 1990 - note the wipers!
Truly, regardless of colour, no other 4 door sedan in the world comes close to the Series III in beauty (except possibly the Series I and II).
Very Low Miles Advice Sought.
