I found this Gem at a dealership a few months ago for 5k, and the price has been steadily dropping. It's down to $3,995 now. It's a 6 hour drive from my home and i havent seen it in person yet. It appears to have an aftermarket radio, and GPS unit. The Hand brake seems a bit unusual. its Black on Black. 90K miles. There doesnt appear to be any rust. The interior has seen better days, but i could care less about that.

88' V12.

Im going up tuesday to make the purchase. i hope its as good as it looks.
what does everyone else think? price/value etc?
im really excited about this car and could use a second set of eyes to point out the stuff ill likely be overlooking in my vulnerable state.

 

Looks like someone did some interior work. The ski slope has been replaced and I bet the wood (at least dash) is new. The front seats look like they've been done but not the backs.

Definitely look for rust in the usual places but looks like a good vehicle.

 

Cruse control switch is missing. Ane what is that in the centre AC vent?

 

I was assuming it was the GPS.

 

IMHO she looks great, but a 6 hour drive. I would contact dealer and ask for alot more detailed pictures, I would let them know that you are very interested.

 

i dont want them to know how interested i am or how far away i live, because after a 6 hour drive the ball will be in their courte, but i will try and get more pics out of them. center vent is GPS.

 

Interesting. She has 95/96 l
Facelift seats. I wonder if they fit them on the original seat frames. Either way, whoever owned her cared enough to keep her pure XJS, although from a different vintage, but still....to me that says a lot. I would check her out.

 

As Spike says, there are lots of good signs here...... definitely looks like its been owned by an enthusiast, but I think I'd be wanting to talk to the PO in person, rather than just the dealership where it is now........... Is there any paper history with the car ? I have done some rather strange things to my XJS and I would hate to buy a car off me, without talking to me, if you know what I mean.......

 

Take that purchase price and double it. I think the mistake most people make when looking for a car is to put more emphasis on mechanicals than paint, bodywork, trim, and interior condition. The cost of restoring those items far exceeds the cost of maintenance on almost any mechanical part, short of a full engine rebuild.

The tattered leather on this one will be an expensive fix. And aftermarket gizmos like that thingy in the air vent (or alarms, cruise missing, etc.,) means that someone has been into the wiring. That's almost always a headache waiting to happen. I think this looks like a tired car that needs more TLC that will cost far more than the purchase price.

Have you tired something like searchtempest.com? I found at least a dozen XJS's within 200 miles of Charleston, WV (not sure where you are). If you are willing to drive 6 hours to see this one, I'm sure there are others closer that might be in better shape.

 

I think the reason there is no cruise control switch is because the system has been removed. I can't see the bellows on the engine.
The boots to the injectors look like factory, so it may still have the original fuel injection harness, and it also looks to still have the original twin Lucas coil set up with the plugged coil in front of the radiator.

Had this been owned by an enthusiast who was mechanically capable I suspect the twin coils and injection harness would have been updated. Whoever had it knew enough to have the fuel injector hoses replaced so it may have been dealer serviced, or at least serviced by a Jag-knowledgeable mechanic.

Installing an aftermarket radio and GPS really isn't difficult, and I like the placement of the GPS between the vents. It looks like it belongs there. It could very well have been done by a professional installer. The console has cup holders which is not something the factory ever produced if I'm not mistaken, so it has been replaced and it also looks professionally done.

In short, judging from the pics I'd say it was worth looking into. Someone made an effort to update the car somewhat without trying to change it's appearance too drastically.

 

As used XJSs go it looks like a decent car for not-too-much money. I'll bet the price could go even lower.

No rust...if that's truly the case...is a big "plus".

I think M90 plans on gutting the interior but, if not, it could be brought back to life fairly easily. I wonder, though, if the rear seat is water damaged. If so, I'd look for signs of a water leak....rear glass maybe?

Yeah, we can see lots to do but that's normal. I'd always just *assume* that any used XJS of this vintage needs fuel hoses, injector wiring, ball joints, bushings, radiator cleaning, distributor repair.....all the usual stuff.

Cheers
DD

 

Looks like a dog with a lot of fleas. I am biased against buying XJSs with needs and this one looks like it has needs. Do yourself a favor and move on to a known car in better condition. Prices for XJSs clean and in good condition are very reasonable these days. This one looks like it has spent much time unused and unused XJSs are unused because the owner doesn't have the money to take care of them. Gem? Perhaps a lump of coal... I'm not trying to pop your balloon but old XJSs in unknown condition are best used as parts cars.

 

BTW, the only pic I can see the handbrake lever is in the 6th pic, it looks normal to me?

 

The only thing wrong with that interior is the rear sear and maybe the trim. That is so easy to remove and do yourself. Probably can do it in a couple of days.... ...The front seats obviously have already been taken care of...They look like newish covers from a 95/96 unless I have missed a pic.

Unless you want to spend 10K plus for a low mileage "perfect" facelift, to me this looks like a pretty good deal, and like it has been mentioned, if an enthusiast has owned it, it has probably had various issues sorted already . There is not much science to replacing the stereo system other that matching wires...

In my expirience an exterior can never be judged accurately on pictures, but it is true that a proper strip/ repaint /wetsand job will run you over 5K.

 

It is always difficult to really look at a car in photos. M90 if you do go and look at it take a magnet (I use a fridge magnet) and go over the body looking for Bondo, especially wheel arches, lower sills and around the front and rear windows.

If the body is in good condition you are well ahead. Remember I bought a RUST free car that had been stored in a shed in the Australian outback (very Dry) and my car still had rust where I could not see.

BTW I took a 5hour flight to buy my baby............

 

im pretty set on pulling all the leather seats, replacing with some cobra buckets, and some 5 point harnesses. i would like to pull the carpets and coat the floors in epoxy black. do the same for the headliner and interior panels. im also seriously considering a supercharged 3800 series II swap with a 5 speed. i know i said i wouldnt do it before but...... im considering it.

EDIT: im astonished with how much traffic this thread recieved. this forum is usually so slow.

 

cashed out my bank account and started packing the car for the trip to richmond tomorrow, called the dealer and they told me they just sold it.

 

aww crap...sorry to hear that M90

 

Never fear!

91 Jaguar XJS, only 52k,v12

89 JAGUAR XJS12

You can find more of these all the time!

 

Bummer, wasn't meant to be.

As stated above there are more out there!