Hello and Help!
#21
10-27-2019, 02:49 AM
Impressive work. I can't help but wish you'd joined the forum ages ago and posted all your adventures. I'm sure there are a lot of people who would have been very interested. You clearly know which of a car goes in front.
How much did the ski slope set you back, and who made it? I'm tempted by the ones made by the Florida guy, British Autowood, that come with cupholders, though I would insist on book-matched veneer. Though I do like the colour and pattern of the wood that's there already, and even the solid thunk of the metal ashtrays even though I don't smoke.
How did you clean and wax the engine bay? Come to think of it, with all that work, you might have had the engine out at some stage.
Anyway, if your car came with any service history in Japanese, if you post images I should be able to tell you what's been done. Assuming your import specialist didn't give you a full translation when you bought the car. (I'd also be interested in what markup a Japan-sourced Jag gets in the UK, in case I ever want to sell mine....)
How much did the ski slope set you back, and who made it? I'm tempted by the ones made by the Florida guy, British Autowood, that come with cupholders, though I would insist on book-matched veneer. Though I do like the colour and pattern of the wood that's there already, and even the solid thunk of the metal ashtrays even though I don't smoke.
How did you clean and wax the engine bay? Come to think of it, with all that work, you might have had the engine out at some stage.
Anyway, if your car came with any service history in Japanese, if you post images I should be able to tell you what's been done. Assuming your import specialist didn't give you a full translation when you bought the car. (I'd also be interested in what markup a Japan-sourced Jag gets in the UK, in case I ever want to sell mine....)
The ski slope set me back £230 from myrtle in the UK. They did a brilliant job of it. Be prepared to wait a few weeks for it.
I cleaned the engine bay section by section as items were removed. Front was simplified with bonnet off and radiator out etc. Bottom area with subframe lowered and sides with air boxes out of the way. I used wd40 degreaser, jizer and methylated spirit where the oil was really baked on.
The premium is about £5k for a rust free import. Thanks for the offer re translation. I think I just have service stamps and the sale ticket. I’ll have a look and post, appreciated!
Last edited by dph928; 10-27-2019 at 03:13 AM.
#22
10-27-2019, 03:16 AM
Veteran Member
I'll be interested to hear how the ski slope holds up. I've read a lot of complaints about Myrtle on these and other forums. Hope they did a good job--it's actual veneer, not wood print, right?
I don't think I'll be removing the subframe in a hurry, so perhaps that can wait, but the air boxes are easy to get out of the way. I actually rather need a small needle-nosed vacuum for some gunk under the brake fluid reservoir more than anything, I guess. Road debris seems to accumulate there. But the cleaning itself doesn't seem too onerous. (Famous last words....)
£5,000 would probably be worth my time. I have a fantasy about exporting my car to the UK, doing a good road trip in it, then selling it (if and when I do, of course).
I don't think I'll be removing the subframe in a hurry, so perhaps that can wait, but the air boxes are easy to get out of the way. I actually rather need a small needle-nosed vacuum for some gunk under the brake fluid reservoir more than anything, I guess. Road debris seems to accumulate there. But the cleaning itself doesn't seem too onerous. (Famous last words....)
£5,000 would probably be worth my time. I have a fantasy about exporting my car to the UK, doing a good road trip in it, then selling it (if and when I do, of course).
#23
10-27-2019, 03:29 AM
It’s pretty much the same as the original, including the mounts. Veneer on metal plate. I’m pretty pleased with it for the price and it appears to be good quality. Finish is very good. I’m guessing if there are issues it’s going to be the glue failing. I’ll report back if that happens but so far so good! If it last 10 years that’s good enough.
As long as your car is RHD you should be able to command a premium for it. The only issue I’d foresee is that higher priced cars take much longer to sell. They are going to be bought by people who realise it is cheaper to spend at outset than remedy rust and bodywork issues...if you can find a buyer before you come over that would work best. Maybe worthwhile putting a load of pics in something like photobucket and linking to eBay or auto trader ads in UK.
As long as your car is RHD you should be able to command a premium for it. The only issue I’d foresee is that higher priced cars take much longer to sell. They are going to be bought by people who realise it is cheaper to spend at outset than remedy rust and bodywork issues...if you can find a buyer before you come over that would work best. Maybe worthwhile putting a load of pics in something like photobucket and linking to eBay or auto trader ads in UK.
#24
10-27-2019, 03:42 AM
Veteran Member
I hope it is good stuff. And not just for your sake: Myrtle have an interesting range of things, and I would like to be able to consider them in the future.
My car is indeed RHD (links to pics in my signature if you're interested). Good point about finding a seller prior to shipping it. I was basically going to let my UK-based brother handle that, for a cut, but this is probably a better idea. Anyway, it's not one I need to worry about for several years at the very least, I hope.
My car is indeed RHD (links to pics in my signature if you're interested). Good point about finding a seller prior to shipping it. I was basically going to let my UK-based brother handle that, for a cut, but this is probably a better idea. Anyway, it's not one I need to worry about for several years at the very least, I hope.
#25
10-27-2019, 05:20 AM
If you do, probably worth looking for another to make it worthwhile. The big challenge people have importing is being comfortable with condition. If you have that covered you could perhaps bring over two or three and really make it really worthwhile. I’ve had good experiences with imports from Japan but I’ve also seen a few below par ones that I haven’t bought. My 928 GT is from US and my Jeep Wrangler and the XJS are from Japan :-)
Last edited by dph928; 10-27-2019 at 05:55 AM.
#26
10-27-2019, 05:52 AM
Veteran Member
Hmm. One of the other British members here was talking to me a while back about something similar.
Actually, when I got my car, the one I initially had my eye on, a lovely grey on grey one, had been sold to someone from the UK who shipped it back there. The seller said the motor wasn't in great shape, bouncing around (it was cheap), so I guess it was still worth it to ship to the UK.
Actually, when I got my car, the one I initially had my eye on, a lovely grey on grey one, had been sold to someone from the UK who shipped it back there. The seller said the motor wasn't in great shape, bouncing around (it was cheap), so I guess it was still worth it to ship to the UK.
#27
10-27-2019, 05:58 AM
#28
10-27-2019, 06:10 AM
Veteran Member
Worse things have been considered, definitely....
Hmm. Just checked the XJSes for sale at goo.net in Japan - prices are definitely going up. Used to be there were plenty under two million. Now, most are over that. The average price is now over 16,000 quid. Drop-tops more expensive, no notable difference between straight six or V12.
Hmm. Just checked the XJSes for sale at goo.net in Japan - prices are definitely going up. Used to be there were plenty under two million. Now, most are over that. The average price is now over 16,000 quid. Drop-tops more expensive, no notable difference between straight six or V12.
#29
10-27-2019, 12:10 PM
Veteran Member
#30
10-27-2019, 06:07 PM
Veteran Member
Well, it's an aggregator of car sellers, so it's obviously retail prices and not auction prices. I wouldn't call it the "top" of the retail market so much as "the retail market." And if retail prices are creeping up, auction prices would be too. Let me see if I can find out.
Found a list of recent XJS auction prices. (Prices are in red, in units of 10,000 yen. So "82 ～ 86" means "820,000 to 860,000".) Remarkably low. If these are accurate, and reflect what gets into the retail market, then retailers are tripling the price they paid. Even for the second-hand car market, that seems extreme. I can only assume that car that go at auction for 800,000 yen are not as good as cars retailing for 3,000,000 yen. If they are, boy am I in the wrong business....
Found a list of recent XJS auction prices. (Prices are in red, in units of 10,000 yen. So "82 ～ 86" means "820,000 to 860,000".) Remarkably low. If these are accurate, and reflect what gets into the retail market, then retailers are tripling the price they paid. Even for the second-hand car market, that seems extreme. I can only assume that car that go at auction for 800,000 yen are not as good as cars retailing for 3,000,000 yen. If they are, boy am I in the wrong business....
#31
10-27-2019, 09:25 PM
Veteran Member
It's been a while but when I was watching DS420's I had an agent who was sending me auction listings and some would go across the block slightly under a million and then I'd see them show up on Goonet 2 weeks later asking 4-4.5 million, so I was glad I had the "in" to be able to buy at auction!
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