What do we think about THIS car?
 

I know it's not an X150 but please don't move this thread - I've come to respect the advice of this group. I'm gonna be in Western MA for a while and this popped up. Thoughts??? (Like, "this is just a bad idea...")

https://westernmass.craigslist.org/c...869035258.html

Its so elegant and badass at the same time!

If I had a place to keep it, I’d take a look, can always say ‘no’. If everything else is ok, the first thing I’d do is polish the headlights, they appear a bit dull in the photos.

Looks like a nice example.

I personally like how these look, but anecdotally these are extremely unreliable and difficult to work on. Also, it is penultimate old man's car.

If these two points don't bother you, go for it. Looks like a very clean example with low miles. My guess that you can haggle on price, as there isn't much demand for these and asking price is high.

Personally I really liked this car....25 years ago! But by today's standards it is under-powered, slow, expensive to maintain, and a fuel hog. It still has a certain "je ne sais quoi" look about it, but it is an outdated car. And rust, need I say any more.

I like the overall condition but I would immediately rip those Mercedes V12 badges off, and I REALLY don't like chrome wheel arch trim, but it's not as bad on a car that color. It's a nice comfy cruiser that has a reputation for being a little hard to keep running at top trim, but can definitely be ran with prompt, careful DIY.

Convert it a manual is a must. Really transforms the car and it's not a very difficult job. Samuels Jaguar Motors in Brighton, MA has done a few. Looks like a great car to me. I don't think you'll be able to remove the chrome arches so easily, but they were popular at that time.

Any car that old will be outdated. Outdated isn't necessarily a bad thing. There are advantages such as less plastic under the hood and less electronic gadgets to go bad.

Plus it's that retro feel that one loves about such cars. It is like going back in time when you drive them.

Thanks all! Gonna look next week when I'm there. (I'm guessing it won't have sold...)
Quick question: I HATE those chrome wheel arches - but were they standard, or aftermarket? I fear there would be visible signs if you took them off...

Aftermarket, I think there will be signs if you remove them. They've been on there 20 years.

As @AJ16er said, rust is the main worry. Engine can stuff can be fixed easily, rust is whole another thing...

pk4144,

Markets vary, and you're from LA - the epicenter of caraholics. What's it worth in LA? There's probably not much of a market in western Massachusetts and if the seller's hungry, you might be able to snag a bargain that you could turn a quick profit on back home. Unfortunately, it's a coupe; convertibles sell better in sunny California.

It's not my cup of tea, but tastes vary. I doubt that you'd have as much pleasure driving it as your XKR with the top down.

Stuart

When the XJS came out, I didn't like them at all. Way too big, heavy and comparatively slow with less than great chuckability. But over the years they seem to have aged quite gracefully and now seem a nice example of "sort off 80s" automobile history (OK, 1975-1996 in reality). With US fuel prices, it would be a nice Sunday toy.

The chrome arches were not standard in Europe. I would want to know if they are now hiding anything red-brown coloured!

My uncle had a similar car (also in MA) he bought off the drummer of Extreme. The drummer put a ton of money into bringing the car up to snuff. Rust is the only worry I would have (beyond interior wear).

I'll let you know, although the fact that those trim pieces were aftermarket is worrisome in addition to being ugly. And yeah, being an old Bostonian I worry they might be covering rust is a serious concern.

Finally, I didn't realize they made this model in a 'vert -- MUCH more attractive car, my opinion.

Look for my photos in a week. I'll keep you posted.

FYI: driving the XKR across the country again, so it'll be in MA all summer!

Do you plan to see the car in person before buying?

Interesting responses.
Granted, there is much to review on the health of the car but;
I have ALWAYS liked the XJS for what it is. And that engine (when properly maintained) is just a beaut.
What a perfect way to head to the golf course... or Sunday brunch... or a concours event.

Its not the purchase price of these beauties that is problematic. It is the need for continual nit-picking maintenance. And the costs associated with that.
Should she pass all the checkboxes are YOU up the the continual maintenance checkbox??

I also appreciate you letting us chime with our opinions... but I wonder why. The XJS and XK (let alone the XXR) are miles apart in behaviour and demeanour.
(Just like these continual comparisons with Corvettes, Mustangs and anything else with wheels.)

[QUOTE=SinF;2059421]I personally like how these look, but anecdotally these are extremely unreliable and difficult to work on. Also, it is penultimate old man's car.
.[/QUOTE

Well, NOT anecdotally but from my experience of owning many V12 Jaguars, I can say that the idea that they are unreliable is simply untrue. They are not difficult to work on, but if work is required it is more labour-intensive than work on a 6 or 8 cylinder car simply because of space restrictions. The good news is that the Jaguar V12 is a superb engine and very long-lived. Why it would be considered the second-to-last ("penultimate") old man's car, I have no idea.
This version of the V12 uses a Marelli ignition system, not Lucas, so Lucas jokes are not in order. The Lucas system was, in fact, very reliable...the Marelli, however has one weak point: the ignition rotor which has a two-step shape, one for each bank of the V. The rotors frequently fail and in that case fuel continues to be provided to both banks of the engine while spark goes to only one. The result is that while the engine runs on 6 cylinders, raw fuel is flowing into the catalytic converter from the other bank. The result of that is not good. The good news? Replacement of the rotor fixes the issue instantly. A spare rotor should be carried in the car.
The chrome wheel-arch covers are not original and they marr the appearance of the car; and as has been mentioned, the headlamps (and the leather) need refreshment. Easily done.

The V12 badges are correct and original to this facelift XJS model.

[QUOTE=SinF;2059421]I personally like how these look, but anecdotally these are extremely unreliable and difficult to work on. Also, it is penultimate old man's car.
.[/QUOTE

Well, NOT anecdotally but from my experience of owning many V12 Jaguars, I can say that the idea that they are unreliable is simply untrue. They are not difficult to work on, but if work is required it is more labour-intensive than work on a 6 or 8 cylinder car simply because of space restrictions. The good news is that the Jaguar V12 is a superb engine and very long-lived. Why it would be considered the second-to-last ("penultimate") old man's car, I have no idea.
This version of the V12 uses a Marelli ignition system, not Lucas, so Lucas jokes are not in order. The Lucas system was, in fact, very reliable...the Marelli, however has one weak point: the ignition rotor which has a two-step shape, one for each bank of the V. The rotors frequently fail and in that case fuel continues to be provided to both banks of the engine while spark goes to only one. The result is that while the engine runs on 6 cylinders, raw fuel is flowing into the catalytic converter from the other bank. The result of that is not good. The good news? Replacement of the rotor fixes the issue instantly. A spare rotor should be carried in the car.
The chrome wheel-arch covers are not original and they marr the appearance of the car; and as has been mentioned, the headlamps (and the leather) need refreshment. Easily done.