Jaguar XJS

[Mark Blanchard]

I've had an inch for one as long as I can remember, but every time I come close to buying one, someone talks me out of it. 

I've been hankering after a 3.6 or 4.0 (and I've got a spare space in the garage next to the Lotus).  I've loved them ever since I was a kid and IMO they looks super cool, but there are so many reasons not to buy one (like they rust, they're expensive to fix and I'll look like an old man driving one I'm told).

  I told my next door neighbour I was thinking of buying one and he laughed.  But I keep on coming back to them.

 

Here is one that looks ok Clicky

 

So should I buy one?

[Advantage]

Depends. If/when it breaks are you going to fix it or are you going to throw it away? If you attempt to mend it then then bill could be endless. If you throw it away then all it has cost is the purchase price.

[Mark Blanchard]

That is a very pragmatic view, and I could buy another when it's dead, but this is based on emotional stupidity.  Yes, I'd fix it £££ and probably keep it for ever.

[Bibs]

I think they look great. A little 'pipe and slippers' but I've always liked them

[Advantage]

What's the worst that could happen?

[Mark Blanchard]

That's what I keep on telling myself!  And then I see something like this: Clicky

 

I almost bought an XJS V12 Convertible instead of my Esprit back in 2002, but the Salesman who was selling it to me talked me out of it!  Even he wasn't convinced.  

 

But XJS's so rock in so many ways.

[Advantage]

The one in your advert is only about an hour away from you. Just thought I'd point that out...

[Mark Blanchard]

So it's close, I should buy it then?  Yes, I'll buy it . . . . 

 

But then maybe a 4.0 convertible.

 

[Advantage]

You should probably pop down over the weekend to kick the tyres and chat with the owner. Just, y'know, to see it in the flesh, etc.

I can only presume there's a large section of the Web dedicated to XJS forums, so it might be worth poring over their comments and conversations to get a good handle on the cars' particular foibles.

[Mark Blanchard]

Yes, I had a good look, there are 100s of foibles.  But life is too short, I gotta do it!

[fmxa]

If you're going to do it, you need to go all the way and get the V12!

[Simon350S]

V12, yes...!!!

The advert for the first one says its a superb rust free example.

I didn't think that was possible with an XJS...!

They are pretty cool. Go on, scratch it...!

[balled46]

I am very tempted by a Jaguar XK post 2006. They are so beautiful and like Aston Martins without the pain.

[mdw]

The Lynx Eventer is the best looking of the lot IMO and very rare.

[The Pits]

This is like asking a bunch of crack addicts if you should smoke another pipe!

Of course you should buy an XJS! Half canal barge, half car, all shaguar! I love the early V12s but nice ones are very hard to find now.

[ramjet]

I always liked the XJS as well from when I first saw one. Wasn't an XJS the car that TG couldn't fill with water as the seals were just atrocious?

[Advantage]

No, you're thinking of the Rover SD1. They launched an XJS from the ramp of HMS Invincible, played cricket with the exhaust pipes and tin cans in India and made another into high speed train. They like them.

[Loose Cannon]

Epic car, and stupidly cheap, the same cheap that people reminisce that E-types were before they all either rusted away or became garage queens. Not suggesting the XJS will ever be is *iconic, but the supply of good cheap cars won't last forever - do it man!

 

The Eventer would have been my choice but that have quadrupled in price since last time I looked

 

 

*silly classic car magazine mantle

[Mark Blanchard]

No V12 for me.  They're to much trouble I've heard and service bills are higher.  I'll look for a papered 4.0 at a good price, 2 weeks before Christmas.

[red vtec]

Yep I love em.

 

I had  a 3.2 XJ6 it was like driving a Stately home.

 

I reackon with classic car prices going up and E-types getting silly money the XJS will start to rise as a cheaper alternative. this has happened to Porsche 914 with the way 911's have gone.

 

I was told to steer clear of V12's

[softlips]

They are a bargain. QW was tipping them to appreciate in a mag I read last month.

[fmxa]

Got curious and you found you can pick up a nice one out here in California for a few thousand dollars!

[Neil Potter]

Hope you get one Mark, they're gorgeous things.  I remember my dad's mate had one in the late 80s, loved to ride in it; it just seemed to glide about.  Awesome value now - like the XK8.  Personally, I'd want a manual gearbox though, think you can get the XJS converted to one reasonably easily.