Greg
Just a couple of jag forums. I have had it on other sites when I was testing the water but get so much time wasters who only want pinups. Lol. I'me in no rush now it's November.

 

I'm the second owner of my 96' Celebration for the last 23 years. It had 19,000 miles on her when I bought it in 2000. She just now turned 55,000 miles. Others comment it looks like it has 5,500 miles on it. LOL bi
Like others, every time I go to the garage and take the dust cover off her, she brings a big smile to my face. Looking at the English style white on black background gauges, the wood trim, leather seats, and all the chrome brings an even bigger grin to my face, knowing that cars like this will never be made again. Properly tuned and sorted, she is an absolute pleasure to drive. Especially top-down. Even with the Inline-6 she has plenty of power, especially considering todays traffic situation. The only thing she doesn't seem to care much for is sitting in stop and go traffic when it's 90+F outside. So I try to avoid this situation, so as to not get her angry. LOL But she's as much fun to drive today as she was when I first bought her.

Resale Value: Hmmmm. At least here in the States, there seems to be a lot - especially 90's vintage - of low mileage examples for sale. Probably one of the reasons the values of even the best examples remaining on the low side. I just read of a 92 XJS with 16,000 miles on it. But I can image a real no-drive syndrome on that one.

 

Exactly how I feel about mine, Rick.

 

if you are a good mechanic the V12 is just the same as the 6 cylinder. While the early V12’s lacked the blessing of OBD2 and only got it towards the end. The same applies to the 6 cylinder. Mechanics really have to be knowledgeable to figure out pre OBD2 EFI.
It may look scary when you open the hood but a great strong durable engine is underneath all of those hoses and wires. ( you can tell Sir William Lyons didn’t have anything to do with the engine installation, he never would have allowed such a mess) I suspect cost accountants designed it, “ gee if I lay right across the engine we can save7&1/2 inches times 115,000 cars that will almost be £100 savings”.
Actually the long stroke of the 4.0 six cylinder wears out rings much faster than the short stroke of the V12. I’ve pulled V12’s apart with 250,000+ miles and the cylinders still were within factory tolerance with absolutely no ridge.
Now if you pay for work done, you’ll be charged slightly less of a luxury premium for labor with a 6 cylinder. ( still plenty extra because it’s a Jaguar and obviously anybody who owns a Jaguar has to be really wealthy••••• ) big silly grin.

 

You are absolutely correct and I stand corrected. But most of us colonials really have no idea who Sir William is. ( Some might be confused and think the Future King of England). If I cheat and add Lyons to the tittle at least a few knowledgeable Jaguar people understand who I’m referring to.

 

This very subject came up one day a couple years ago, and one of the Veterans asked me point blank, "Would you want to start from scratch to replace it?"

Like Rick, I'm having just too much fun tearing up the pavement to sell my Jag, even if it isn't an XJS!

 

Assuming I was young enough, and knowing what I know now, piece of cake! After all, it was the finding out that took the time.

 

That's OK. The XJ6 is a great driver's car. My favorite was the Series-1 with the low roof line. But I never see any of the first series around. Even at Shows.

 

it’s really a matter of luck. I agree that the first series of the XJ6 is far and away the best looking.
Most of my adult life I’ve wanted one. But I was fussy it had to be Burgundy, and I wanted a rust free one. ( I live in the rust belt where for 6 months of the year they spread salt on our roads).

Last year I stumbled across one. To my specs. But I had to take a second one to get the one I wanted. I reluctantly spent $500 each and now I store 4 Jaguar projects.

 

But the tan interior on the Green one appeals to me. So anybody looking for a 1985 Green XJ6 project?

 

I wish you hadn’t asked that question. Because the Jaguar XJS is too special to get the treatment time will give it.
Look at youngsters today. They don’t see cars the way we did. A source of freedom, pride, and being special. Instead they see it as a transportation module. Something their parents had to pay too much for. A source of frustration and expense.
Frustration due to traffic jams and rush hour stop and go heavy traffic. Expense because very few millennials learned how to fix their own car.
Instead they are buying cars that drive themselves. Run by solar powered electricity only a select few will ever figure out.
In fact people will stop buying cars once the Robotaxi becomes normal. One punch on the cell phone and one will pull up to your door. You’ll climb in doing work or reading the news. Meanwhile FSD will take you to work and charge you $2.20 ( once nobody has to drive the only costs will be for electricity and maintenance).
It’s a pity. Not learning how to build an engine or brakes. Changing things to be faster or special in another way?
Those Snap On tools I was so proud of? Who will care? Heck the Sun Distributor machine or drawers full of wrench’s, Whitworth, Metric, SAE. Flex sockets or crowfoot. 6-12 point sockets shallow, deep or medium. Extensions. And that’s just one drawer.

I’ll keep my V12 collection until I die but who will want it in the future?

 

If you go to most any car show, look at the age of most of the owners/drivers. Hard to spot anyone under their mid-40's. The XJS was made for 20 years. There are a lot of them on the market. And a lot of 94-96 Models in nice condition with very low mileage. I would expect the XJS to slightly increase in value over the next 3-4 years. But more due to inflation than desirable future owners. The younger generation seems to be more interested in off-road, 4X4 vehicles. I just turned 74 this month. I'm the second owner of my XJS for the last 24 years. But I will likely be selling her in a couple years from now. I suspect there are other guys in the same position. I have a felling the pricing on these XJS's over the next 3-4 years will remain about flat. Even for the best ones.