Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

.........Jaguar XJS from the eighties.

Not my words but the words of the respected motoring magazine 'Autocar'


They are tipping the XJS to be the next 'sought after classic' and urging their readers to buy while they are still relatively inexpensive.

A good Jaguar XJS V12 HE can be had for less than £3000.....and just like the Omega they are becoming harder to find.

In fact, I'm sorely tempted to buy one of the 'ugly bastards'.....

[Kevin Wood]

Problem is, the V12s are ruinously thirsty and, performance wise, nothing much to write home about by modern standards. A decent 3.6 manual might be nice. (if you can find a decent one!)

I do find them to look quite dated these days, though. An early XK8 might be a better bet.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Problem is, the V12s are ruinously thirsty and, performance wise, nothing much to write home about by modern standards. A decent 3.6 manual might be nice. (if you can find a decent one!)

I do find them to look quite dated these days, though. An early XK8 might be a better bet.

Agreed.

But I have no intention of keeping something as inherently ugly as an XJS.

However, as an investment, who knows what the future holds.

[Kevin Wood]

Thing is:

1) why buy something you detest as an investment when you could probably buy something else you enjoy?

2) how do you stop it turning to rust until it's time to cash it in?

[Marks DTM Calib]

The rust......did I mention they rust.....oh, watch out for the rust.....

....it would be one hell of a challenge keeping them together long enough to become a classic!

[05omegav6]

Wouldn't be so bad if they only rusted around the edges, but they rust randomly, everywhere

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Made from 1975 to 1994, apparently.

So the 'newest' XJS is about the same age as the 'oldest' Omega......oh dear.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Wouldn't be so bad if they only rusted around the edges, but they rust randomly, everywhere

I hear that even the air between the poorly fitting BL panels can rust.

Still, what do you expect for a couple of grand?....

[05omegav6]

Working bodyshell would be a start

[2boxerdogs]

Better off buying an old SL Merc, been looking at a few myself recently, always wanted one & my pension lump sum gratuity is starting to burn a hole in my pocket!! Seen several low mileage ones with good history.

[Sir Tigger KC]

I thought we've been told we have to buy Lamborghini's with our pensions? 

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I thought we've been told we have to buy Lamborghini's with our pensions? 

Mine will barely stretch to a Lada let alone a Lambo.....

[Nick W]

I've always fancied an XJS, and have nearly bought one on a couple of occasions.
I don't understand the ugly comment, but then I think the E type looks much better with a tarp thrown over it.

As for the performance, Kevin's right in that it's not stunningly quick compared to modern cars, but the way it achieves it is utterly beguiling: you put your foot down, you hear(but not feel) a slight thump as the trans kicks down, the nose rises, there's a quiet thrum from under the bonnet, and you're doing 140mph. The only real noise you get from an XJS is the distant sound of oil company execs rubbing their hands in glee. The handling is similar, it's soft and rolls a lot, but at the end of the road, you realise that you didn't have to slow down at all.

And Merc SLs? They drive like a truck in comparison to a Jag.

[2boxerdogs]

Driven a truck & several mercs,  no comparison !! The older mercs were superbly built Jags are troublesome & unreliable, however in my opinion the e type is probably one of the nicest looking vehicles ever built.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

Following the E-Type was a big ask. However, time heals and although seen as an 'ugly duckling' for much of it's near twenty year production run some people are starting to become nostalgic about the XJS.

I'm not sure how many are left but I haven't seen one in quite some time.