Hi,
I am of an age where I fondly recall the TWR Jag XJS's thrashing BMW 635CSI's in touring car racing at Silverstone, UK.
Flash forward 40 years and I am pondering an XJS purchase (located in Toronto, Canada).
I have read various buyng guides and have a feel for the main potential issues. My heart says V12, but my brain says late model 4.0L, convertable.
I have been checking Autotrader and other classifieds for the past several weeks. Decent cars with even moderate service history are rare here in Ontario, at least so far in my search. One nice looking '95 V12 coupe for sale with 14yrs up to date main dealer service history for sale (2 owners), but $CAD40k more than I am looking to pay and it is a V12.
Pre-purchase inspection would be mandatory and there is a local non-dealer specialist with vintage Jag experience.
I am handy with a wrench, but no garage, so realistically, options for working on it myself limited (although my 2010 Landrover LR4 is routinely up on jacks in the street!). Plus if I can find one with semi-decent service history, there is something to be said for keeping that going re. future re-sale value.
What I am after are any general thoughts / advice from current owners on how their XJS owning experience has been for them?
The cars that are for sale here (even the nicer looking ones) seem to be hanging around for several weeks. I even had one seller call me three times in one day after I emailed them! It's defo a niche car, but I am wondering if current prices / interest means that if I do buy one and for whatever reason have to sell it sooner than expected, I may end up stuck with a car no one wants to buy?

Grateful for any and all responses!

All the best,

Quentin

 

I'm assuming you own a garage and have tools for DIY repairs? If not, the v12 is not for you....not that the 6 cylinder won't require some DIY work/maintenance as well. I don't have a garage, just a driveway so any job I start should be completed same day, maybe next day if I use up a weekend.

How open are you to importing a car from the US side? You may find more to choose from?

Coupe or convertible?

 

Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
No garage and driveway not suitable (too narrow). For the past 20yrs I have routinely worked on my cars on the street (think brake pads, rotors, control arms, wheel bearings etc.).
However, the allure of street repairs is waning
Yeah, not sure I want to go through the hassle of importing from the US.
Ideally looking for a 95 or 96 convertable.

 

Hey I'm in south eastern Ontario and I've only seen one other xjs in the wild. It wasn't a very popular car in Canada. I would expand your search to all of Canada. There usually a nice one or two in BC.

And if you need parts we'll I've spent more money on shipping from the UK then the parts themselves.

If you want low maintenance you are looking to spend around 20k cdn easily. 40k seems steep even for Canada. It must be show room clean which means it was never used. Something around 100k km would probably have had regular maintenance.

Feel free to ask me anything as I know owning one of these as a CanadIan is very difficult when it comes to parts supply etc. Check out my build thread if you are bored.

 

Hey, thanks appreciate it!
I had assumed that parts availability from the states would be reasonable given how many were exported to North America; interesting that UK is best source of parts. Yes, the $40k car has ~90k km and 14yrs current service history from Jaguar-Land Rover main dealer. Suprised that a main dealer would service it given its age.
I was planning on spending ~$20k on a 4.0L convertable. How long have you owned yours, straight six or V12?

 

going on 3 years now. V12. I saved it from the wreckers. It sat outside for 4 years in a farms back yard.

Its a labour of love. I gave myself 5 tears to get it done. Still not road legal.

I'm going to have probably 20k into it before I'm done as you know a good paint job in Canada is about 10k alone.

Just getting the rad recorded was 800 cdn. Then I put in electric fans which was 1k. So there's almost 2k for 3 items alone.

So if you want something turn key 20 to 40k is reasonable. They are going up in value slowly.

I did see a 4.0 with manual for sale but it needed a lot of work.

If you dont have a garage garage really want one then i would look in the 20k plus range. But then do you want your classic car left outside all the time?

 

Wow!
That's one brave and committed project!
Really impressive!
No, I would rent a covered parking spot to store it in. Would be in our driveway during the summer months only.

This one caught my eye:
https://www.autotrader.ca/a/jaguar/x...=7_8_8&sprx=-1

Was chatting backwards and forwards with owner. He is 2nd owner, but is selling it after one month only. Red flag and does not look good on ownership history. He is however fine with me getting a pre-prurchase inspection done. He said he is a car enthusiast. Maybe a part-time dealer, but he's selling it as 'private'.
Interior looks spotless. It's been on there a while as they all have, so price may soften if he needs to sell. Haven't been to look at it in person yet. He is willing to put it up on a hoist for me to have a look underneath.

 

It is I'm afraid pretty standard. If you need an example of how there is no limit to how much money can be sunk into a classic Jaguar Rescue911 provided it, I have sunk at least Ł15k into mine and it started as a simple wash and brush up two years ago replacing a few hoses. If you don't want to tread the path that we have 40k is not unreasonable.

You need to be really on your game if this car will be stored outside too, more so if your roads get salted in winter and if you're losing interest in working on a car in the highway I'm not sure you and the Jag would be friends. Somebody once said to own a Jag you gotta love it because if you don't the relationship will not be a good one.

There are so many pretty Jaguars out there, some are garage queens that will take a dump on the first 5 mile drive, others are going to be hiding all kinds of nasties (shiny turds are still turds), those that aren't don't give any indication of the owners committment to getting them that way and keeping them that way - and why some may seem expensive.

If you want 21st century reliability and maintenance practices an XJS - or any Jaguar older than the late 80's is not the car to buy - but then no classic is. And if you expect to run on a budget that budget needs to be substantial.

Would I recommend buying one - every damn day - but go in with your eyes open - and unfortunately your wallet .... get yourself a drive in a well sorted XJS and you will know you want one ... especially the V12 but I'm biased obviously. I have a V12 coupe and am on the hunt for a convertible also, do not be put off by the age - there's a reason I have an 87 - no ABS, no airbags, no nonsense - but the older you go the more corrosion becomes the thing to look for, it is still a thing to look for especially around the jacking points and radius arms at the rear, and the later cars the scuttles rot out for fun.

 

Hey, thanks for your thoughtful response.
It would be stored in a rented garage for the winter and not driven re. winter salt.
Agreed that bright and shiny does not necessarily mean all is well.

Currently drive a 2010 Land Rover LR4, so dealing with ongoing issues is second nature. Should have sold it by now, but can't honestly think of anything I really want to replace it with.
I generally enjoy car maintenance, just wish we had a goddamn garage!!
You have spent GBP15k on yours in the past two years - out of interest, what did it cost you to buy?

 

Gee what did I buy - easier to list what I didn't

Front suspension - all of it - complete crossmember due to corrosion that was invisible whilst the springs etc were on - then every single bush bolt and bearing for said suspension. The crossmember alone was Ł1k because of its condition
Stainless pistons and rebuild for front brake calipers, same for rear
Brake disks all round - and pads of course
Every single brake pipe and hose
Replaced brake disk dust shields with NOS items (bolts broke on old ones)
Every single cooling hose, new water pump, radiator recore
Complete replacement AC system for R134a - full compressor / hose / evaporator - the works basically
Replaced all fuel lines
Replaced the underbonnet insulation / heat shields
Fosseway remote bleed kit for the rear
AAV rebuilt
Replaced the alternator with a 120A unit
Replaced the starter with a WOSP geared unit
Had the cam covers refurbed and powder coated.
Had the exhaust manifolds ceramic coated - not your cheap stuff but proper F1 type stuff to deal with underbonnet heat.
Plugs, Leads, distributor cap and a NOS distributor (just in case)
Full front to back stainless exhaust - large bore with no centre boxes.
Complete rooflining with pillars and cant rails
Twin electric fans and shroud
Wheel refurb and 5 new tyres
Fuel pump.
Paint - weld through, etch prime, basecoat and lacquer
NOS Grille and badge
Front and rear bumpers to replace corroded items
Replacement chin spoiler / metalwork (below bumper at front between wings)
A new welder (Clarke Mig 151TE)
Engine crane (2 ton because of reach and V12 weight)
1 pair of quicklift jacks
Transmission jack - commercial.
upgraded to newer electrolux wiper mechanism
Facelift washer bottle and sundries.
Aluminium expansion tank (modification to cooling system)
Various tools to aid my aging arthritic hands (Milwaukee Fuel impact - I have air but it was tired)
Carcoon for the Jag to live in
Steering rack seals / bushes / refurb stuff, same for power steering pump
New oil cooler
New oil cooler hoses
Gaskets and O rings

thats the top of my head list .... doesn't include all the sundries like zinc rich primers, corrosion treatments and cavity waxes, nuts bolts belts and so on and so forth,

As for
I am the same with the SV8 - the last of an era, every time I plan to sell and drive it I change my mind, everything I've looked at can't hold a candle to it for the combination of performance and comfort - I refuse to buy a new Jaguar - plastic race to the bottom monstrosities with no character

 

That's quite the list!
When you bought it, how much of that work were you expecting based on as-bought condiiton and purchase price?

 

I was expecting to do the cooling system hoses and the brake hoses, tyres also. The car had no visible corrosion ran well, I joined this group and decided to follow Grants guide to bringing one of these cars back to life. It had been dry stored since 2003 - in a barn - yes a real barn find, the owner had passed away the the family had no idea it was there until they cleared one of the barns. All it took to get it running was new fuel, fuel filter and fuel pump and it fired right up, drove it a couple of weeks to figure out what it needed then got stuck in.

I removed what I thought was insulation on the inner wings near the engine (not sure what Canadians call them) and then I found the corrosion, pulled the air filter off and had a poke around - I was not happy, prodded the other side and it was seemingly OK - except it wasn't - I didn't realise the area was supposed to be flat. Only solution was to remove the front crossmember and then I found that it was rotten also - and again in places you can't see - top of the spring turrets inside (hidden by the springs), the inside face of the crossmember where it is against the car body / chassis. Anyhow one thing led to another and I'm only just getting ready to put the engine back in. I did try to repair with the engine in situ but that is not something I would try again - I wasted a lot of time trying keyhole surgery when I should have just bitten the bullet and pulled the engine. But I had to buy a new crane because my 1 ton was not going to lift a V12 engine and box at the reach needed - this is kind of how these things snowball.

The irony is that my new cross member came from a California car - zero rust to speak of.



There isn't supposed to be a hole there - as in the large one

This was concealing some real nastiness and didn't look bad

When the spring was out the carnage is revealed - take a look at the spring seat near the top.

And this was the damage after all the corrosion was cut out ....

The inside with new plate being fitted

It has progressed some since this was taken - and I forgot to add the temporary garage it is currently in .... you can just see the commercial trolley jack under the back of the car holding up the rear subframe - it is actuallyu intended for truck gearboxes but the jaguar subframe will sit flat on it so I don't need to mess about balancing. Unlike the later cars that you are looking at my brakes are inboard and a bit of a bear to work on.

 

PPS - don't let my experience put you off - just go in with your eyes open, buy the car knowing that you WILL be spending something - how much will depend on the purchase and how thorough you look it over, make up a check sheet and for every item on your check sheet knock something off the value the seller has put on it - don't be afraid to walk away - but don't be afraid to take on a little work (which can be as rewarding as driving although frustrating in equal measure - I'm now seeing things coming together but I'm under no illusions about the potential for surprises).

Footnote : XJS prices are not coming down, they're increasing, the convertibles especially - 8 years ago I could have bought a limited edition Le Mans XJS for less than 5k - today you would struggle to find one in good order less than 10k

 

Smiling sympathetically. One good pothole and the spring would have popped up and hit the bonnet! That's a lot of corrosion for ~16yrs potentially stored outside?
Also sympathesize with the temp garage. For 15yrs I had a half-restored 1946 ****** Jeep at the end of our garage under a lean to. Bought it in 1998, moved house with it 3 times in pieces. A lot of work done, but with nowhere to work on it, it was never getting finished, so reluctantly sold it (wife happy!).
Theres a garage that specialises in British cars nearby. They also claim to be experienced with old Jags. That would be the place I would get any car inspected at, hopefully with me p[resent so I can see firsthand what they find.

 

Hi Mozambique

If you haven't got a Garage and You haven't got a suitable drive way, then maybe an XJS is not for you and while I'm not trying to put you off, don't let you're heart rule your head, as otherwise this Love Affair is going to Cost you a Fortune!

Well over and above what its going to Cost to buy the Car

If you want a V12 then you need to make sure the running gear is A1 as just to change the rear disc brakes means taking the IRS out

Not so much a problem an the 4,0L Car that has outboard Brakes like conventional Cars

But if the In-Tank Fuel Pump goes its going to cost about $2,000 in Labor Charges alone, unless you fancy having a crack at what is the Job from Hell!

If you want an easy life, get yourself a Merc!

All the Best

Alex

 

Alex,
Appreciate your words of wisdom.
Yeah working on cars has always been on the street. We live on a quiet street, so not so bad. Record effort was 11hrs doing the lower control arms on the LR4 earlier this year that involved a sawzall and 15 saw blades (no anti-sieze on bolts which had siezed).
So I am accustomed to car DIY. Can rent an underground parking spot for ~$CAD 150 a month, so not exorbitant. Yes, would avoid a V12.
I had a merc (1984 300TD wagon)...... what a car!..........would still be driving it, but my wife wore me down.........that was a straight five........a straight six seems a logical next step

 

I think an XK8 or XK are the better option for you. The XJS is slowly becoming to hard to maintain if you have no work space. I have workspace and these cars are simply feared by shops, so lots of work falls on you and that requires a lot of hope, and sleepless nights. I know you want a drop top so get the XK 4.2L which should give you the car you’re seeking. Nostalgia is overrated if the car dont drive.

 

Hi Quentin, I am also located in the GTA and took the plunge last year for a jade green 1994 straight six convertible. It took a bit of work to bring it back to my satisfaction, but it was well worth it and I have no regrets whatsoever. While browsing the kijiji classifieds, I came across this one, located in Hamilton (no affiliation). It seems decent.https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...m_source=email

PS: if you need a reference point, you are welcome to take a look at mine (along with a test drive) 😉

 

Hey, thanks for sending the link.
I contacted the seller twice and never heard back.......
Really appreciate your very kind offer of coming to look at yours and taking it for a spin........ will ponder that as I move forward

 

I can't remember having had to buy anything from the UK, maybe so but the USA has most things.

$17-18K CAD seems pricey to me. Am I out of touch? I would have thought more like 10-12k with that kind of mileage. Not that 160,000 km is a lot for these engines but Ontario has lots of Jags hidden away that were never intended to be used year-round. Here's one of them https://www.kijiji.ca/v-classic-cars...v12/1623174772