Having now seen them together for the very first time, financial considerations aside.

I much prefer the 'Art Deco' look of the XJS as for me its a Car that gives me the best of all Worlds.

 

I do not know how I would even fit in the E-type but would love to have one. Two different types of cars and both hold up just fine on their own.

Kind of like comparing a '64 vette to a '89 vette. Of course the '89 is going to be faster and a better driver but who does not want the '64 to take out once in a while and have in the garage to admire.

To me it is " eye candy for the soul ".

 

As much as I like early coupes, the convertible is really where the XJS got into its stride, it completely trumps the buttress design / is just gorgeous.

Is it me or should all Jags be black, not a more flattering color.

Why don't you trade me for my Concour pig, Mark?? Convertibles cause skin cancer anyways! ;-)

Jeff

 

Show me your "Concour pig". I have three convertibles. Making a trade is always possible. ;-)

Mark

 

'85: Two rock chips in the nose on '85 dealer repaint still looks damn good (literally is not one door ding on the car), very low miles, set of original tires mounted up and all original glass, etc...

A/C needs to be gone through (leak at the evap), is about the only ailment now aside from a baseball size bubble in the headliner above the drivers side.

My fav color combo too. Would want a covertible in as close to the condition of this car as possible as it's very hard to replicate.

 

Looks very nice! Definitely something to consider.

Mark

 

Hi Guys

So many new members, I thought I'd revive this Thread

 

Actually, when I retired we had plans to find and purchase an XKE coupe. We looked forever and a couple times made appointments to see one. The day came and we were about to leave when the seller called and notified us that the car had sold. Never finding an example we were comfortable with, we kinda gave up owning a "Jag" until the red XKS V12 showed up on Marketplace. We made a date and performed much research before the day arrived. The seller was a talker and I thought he'd never quit and let us look the car over. Satisfied after crawling all over the car, I was ready for the test drive. The seller balked and said he wasn't sure he wanted to sell. He then said for us to go home and think about it. I replied that if we cannot drive the car and we end up leaving without a test drive, I wasn't coming back. He relented eventually and we now own a wonderful automobile. So....fate intervened and we're much better off. I love everything about the XJS, even the challenging maintenance required. I do like looking over an XKE, and I'd like to someday go for a ride/drive, but I will keep the XJS.

 

Never!

 

Camaro
If you think the XJS is challenging maintenance-wise, you should try an E Type!

 

NEVER.

What a horrible thought, I need a drink now Alex, thanks buddy.

Never liked them, even as a kid.

 

Guys,

I SO respect your knowledge and support, but we'll agree to differ on this one!

As someone who was brought up constantly looking out of my fathers car window to see one these almost-mythical E-Types, they sit so deeply ingrained in my psyche as objects of beauty and desire! I remember my Dad describing the car as something that "can go faster than the police"! That was the way to impress a young boy!

I love every car that I've owned (even the Morris Marinas & British Leyland-era Princesses!) but I'd swap them all (except the XJ220) for an E-Type!

Paul

 

Paul
Never meet your heros! Prepare for disappointment and disillusion as you run out of brakes, find the car appallingly slow, frighteningly unstable at speed once you get there, noisy and about half as fast through any given bend as an XJS.
Retain your dream by never living it!

 

I learned that lesson the hard way with my S1 XJ6. It was a beautiful car, but was shockingly slow, didn't drive all that nice, wasn't all that nice to sit in, and was generally just a disappointment. Don't meet your heros!

 

Since I could buy 4 XJS's for the Price of an etype, I'd seriously have to think about that for a Second or Two, although I do agree with Paul (ptjs) on the points he has made about her being an iconic thing of beauty though if one day I buy one, I'd also have to keep my XJS

 

Subjectively, if I was in a position to buy several iconic cars that I really love, an XKE would absolutely be one of them. But, objectively, an XJS is a vastly superior automobile in all respects. With an XJS you get a whole slew of great attributes in one package at a bargain price. I say "bargain" as a relative term, compared to other hobby cars. They used to be dirt cheap. Now they're just..... a bargain

Cheers
DD

 

..but then one day, you'll find yourself wearing sunglasses driving along a High Street, and you'll catch sight of your reflection in a shop window. And suddenly, all the troubles will be worth it!


Greg, when I was 18, I had a temporary job working for British Car Auctions when I got to drive (usually for very short distances, sadly!) just about every car that existed, from a Model T Ford through to a Formula 3 single-seater (I was the only driver who could get in the car without removing the cockpit cowl that was jammed!) My favourites were an Aston DB6, which I had to drive 30 miles to a customer), a Lamborghini Muira (just gorgeous!), a genuine Cobra (absolute monster!), a Ferrari Dino 246 (almost lethal at 125mph) and one of the last 50 Series 3 E-Type convertibles!

Would an E-Type be a nightmare to own and run daily, doing 20k per annum, as I once did in my 4.0 XJS? I'm sure you're probably right! But would I risk it until the reality sank in? In a heartbeat!

Paul

 

When I saw my first E-type, I could hardly keep from drooling all over myself.
I thought it was the most beautiful shape of any car ever produced.
The thought of ever having the cost of buying one at $6500, seemed out of my reach.
I never thought I would ever be fortunate enough to own any Jaguar.
About twenty years ago someone gifted me my 94, XJS 6.0 Coupe and I was over the moon.
It had many issues, that would eventually cost me more than that original E-type would have cost.
For me to learn how to care for it, I became a Jaguar technician.
During my time at an independent Jaguar Shop, I had many opportunities to test drive quite a few E-types, after doing the maintenance.
I found I could never quite get a comfortable seating position so I couldn't operate the pedals.
Also I never could see enough of the bonnet to get a feel of where the nose was.
If I ever was wealthy enough, I probably would have one in my garage just to look at.

 

Paul
Child of the 60s that I am, the mantra "if it feels good, do it" applies here, to you. If you feel like that about an E type, flog that monstrosity of a 220, and anything else you need to, and buy one! Life is not a dress rehearsal!
The last words of J M Keynes, the famous economist, and a reasonably well off man, were: "I wish I had drunk more champagne". Do not make the same mistake!

 

Would I sell my car and buy an E type? No, there's too big a gulf in prices between what the sale of the XJ-S would make and what an E-type would cost. There are other cars I'd rather have for E type money, looking at you Derby Bentley...

Would I trade my XJ-S for an similar condition E type? Maybe. But probably not.