Hi. We are thinking of buying a 1994 XJS V12 Convertible. 85k miles. Decent condition. How much should we paying?

 

Highly dependent on condition and maintenance done or required. A well maintained convertible is worth high teens. Service is VERY expensive on all used cars these days as many of the dedicated brand specific independent mechanics are going,,, going,,, gone. If you have one in your area or one in mind ask them to evaluate the car before you buy.

For example one of the more expensive and common failure points on the later cars is the diff side bearing. They are very difficult to service and the items necessary to do the job right are confusing to properly identify. There is a crush sleeve necessary which is not there on the earlier car so many mechanics who think the job is straight forward get in to it and get surprised.

Does it have to be a V12? The 6 cylinders are better in many ways.

 

There are too many variables at play for us to give you a reasonable answer. The condition of the car and maintenance history are two important components, but local market conditions are another. With the information you provided, I would guess $8k-$12k.

Having owned both a 6 and a V-12, I agree with the statement above that the 6 is better in many ways. They are generally cheaper to purchase and cheaper to maintain. But if you've never driven a well-sorted V-12, it's something very special.

 

Thanks so much. Very helpful.

 

I'd agree it's around with $10-12k if it looks look like like the average 94 XJS with 85k miles. If it's in better shape with good maintenance and repair records, maybe$15k?

 

Valuation According to Hagerty:

https://www.hagerty.com/apps/valuati...r-XJS?id=79828

As others have said, condition and past maintenance are key. Knowing what's been done and what needs to be done should definitely figure into your decision. And unless you plan to do some/most/all work yourself, a knowledgeable and honest mechanic is essential.

 

selling this one if you're interested. clean Carfax. 1994. washington state. PM me

 

Buy the best example that you can afford. Try to find one with everything, and I really mean everything, working and in good shape so that you can drive and enjoy the car from Day One. Overlooking problem areas will result in unexpectedly costly fixes. I bought a fairly nice '89 that needed, and still needs, quite a bit. It was cheap, 1,200 dollars and will need another 7-10 thousand dollars in order to be a reliable complete driver. Honestly I just don't want to invest that much additional money so progress is going very slowly. If you really want an XJS, better to spend more money up front and buy a car that you can enjoy right away. The 4.0 six models share the engine with my '97 XJ6, and that is a great powertrain. Good luck in your search.