Hello everyone. My name is Michael and I a have finally come to the decision to buy a used Jaguar. I, for along time have loved Jaguar Sedans and have been scared to make the purchase. I have made the decision and started the search. I am going to be using the car as my daily driver, I am an easy daily driver. I have always owned Mercedes and have became board with the cars. I want a true high-end luxury car. I have found that I really love the interiors of the early 90's XJ6 VP. Would the forum please help out a person that wants to buy his first Jaguar. I have found a 1991 one owner 51,000 mile original car that I really like. I am scared of it though. Should I be? I really prefer the looks of all the pre 1995 cars, at the same time I cant bring home a problem. Is there a better year than another for buying a used Jaguar Sedan? What does the forum think about 1991ish models? I really like the 80 models also, AM REALLY scared of those. I will look and buy the year of car that is mechanically the better regardless if its my favorite or not in the cosmetic department. PLEAE HELP A GUY BUY HIS FIRST JAGUAR!!!

 

Some general remarks....

By the time a car is 20-30 years old your ownership experience is gonna be influenced by it's present condition and the care it has received over the years. The model you've mentioned doesn't have the best reputation BUT a really good example of that model might be a better choice than a fair/poor exmaple of a more desirable example.

Any 20 year old used car for $1000 is gonna be bit of a gamble....and probably a big gamble with a Jag. With care and good maintenance a used Jag CAN be a reliable car....but it takes some effort. These are not "drive it and forget it" cars under the best of circumstances.

I can all but promise that it'll need some repairs. If you are a decent DIYer many Jag repairs can be made fairly inexpensively and for some of us that's all part of the fun. If you'll be paying a repair shop...well...it will get expensive.

If your budget will allow I suggest looking for a 95-97 XJ6 in EXTRA nice shape....which will probably be in the $4000-6000 range. This choice will be much more likely to make you a happy Jag owner.

Others will chime in will more specific info regarding the model you're considering.

Cheers
DD

 

Hello Michael, and welcome to the forum. I own a '91 XJ6 (XJ40) and it is a dream. Doug is precisely correct - as he usually is! - that it all boils down to the care given the car by the previous owner. A one-owner car with only 51K sounds amazing to my ears, and if the price was right, I'd ****** that up in a heartbeat. Does the car come with a 'pedigree' - all the repair papers, etc.? Can the PO tell you if there has been any work done a) on the power steering, b) the head gasket, c) the AC system, d) the differential, or e) the door locks? Those are weak points. I can almost guarantee you that if none of that has been done to the car, you'll end up doing some of it. The '91s also have the annoying retractable seat belts in the States. They are known to fail - but usually with a lot of use. I shouldn't worry about one that's seen so little action. Beginning with this model year, and maybe 1990, quite a number of improvements were made - not least of which being a proper suspension replacing the air-ride thing-y. That can be a bugger on the earlier cars. If the car is in your area, I'd also scope out a good independent mechanic who loves cats. Wouldn't it be cool if you could continue to take it to the same doctor! I love my '91 and even like the looks. The XJ40s don't have quite the curves that the X300s tried to recapture from the Series III cars; and that's not to everybody's taste. Yet beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Or so They say. Whoever
'They' are...
Cheers and good luck!
Scott

 

Welcome to the forum and I too agree with Doug.

 

Welcome to the forum,

Excellent advice above.

 

They are wanting 6000 dollars for the 91 with 51,000 miles!!! So do I understand that I need to look for a 95-97 xj6?? Since this is a different body than the 91, should I consider a xj8 instead? If do what year of a xj8 is the best?? I can't get service papers on the 91.

 

Personally, I think 6K is just outside the bounds of reasonable. For 5K I would expect to get a perfect, one-owner, low mileage XJ40, with documentation. Maybe I'm being unreasonable! And frankly, a lot of folks wouldn't even pay that. At the end of the day, something is only worth what somebody else is willing to pay - and only you can decide that. STILL... you could get a lot crappier of a car for 6K, if you want to look at it that way. Look at Ebay right now as I think there are one or two cars in about the same condition for about the same price. The car you are looking at, without documentation, for 4K might be a good deal... but, you would have to have it inspected.

The 95-97s (x300) are considered to be great cars. Beginning in '98 with the XJ8s there were engine problems until about '00, still lots of folks drive those cars with no issues. In either case... the same standards apply. How has the car been taken car of.

Cheers,
Scott

 

The car is on eBay. When I first found it I researched it and in my mind came up with 5000 also. They won't take it. They tell me it's a prime example but at the same time can't give me any documentation. If the car is a one owner, shouldn't it be easy to get documentation?? Is it just me or is the leather interior in the 91 nicer than that of the 95 generation?? Thanks so much fir you guys replys. Makes me more confident in this new purchase!

 

Ok... if you are truly serious about this particular car, I think you should post something about it in the XJ40 section of the forum and get a few more opinions going. If its the same '91 on ebay that's in Florida, I have to say, it look positively stunning. It is also a Vanden Plas - the most decked out as far as wood, leather, etc. Sounds like the dealer is firm, and they just might get their price.
Scott

 

It was the the same on that was in Florida, it was green. They sold the car last night for 6290.00. Oh well now back to the search and I'll look for a 95-97 VP. Thanks to you all!!!

 

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