Is the XJS only available with an auto transmission?
#21
Paul, believe me I've tried auto. I only had one automatic car in my life. Back when I went to university in the U.S. I wanted a camaro V8 but all of them were automatic. If you wanted a manual it had to be a V6. It was impossible to find a manual V8. I kept asking myself who buys a sports car or performance car with an auto transmission and what for. But I wanted it so bad that I decided to just buy an auto V8 camaro. I hated it and could never get over it. I used to even pretend I was shifting, going through the different auto positions. It lasted 6 motnhs till one day I literally pulled over angry and told myself enough of this s...I have to buy a real car. 2 weeks later I had sold the camaro and was driving a nissan Z and it was a manual. I kept it till I finished my studies and enjoyed the heck out of it.
No more automatic cars for me. Unless it was a mini-van. Bu as I will never buy a mini-van...
It's interesting that buying a XJS from the U.S. is the cheapest. But I still have a problem buying a car sight unseen and like I said, if I have to go through the trouble of a manual conversion, what sensible reason do I have to not just buy a XK8 which is cheaper and do the conversion and end up with a better, more reliable and more modern car?
No more automatic cars for me. Unless it was a mini-van. Bu as I will never buy a mini-van...
It's interesting that buying a XJS from the U.S. is the cheapest. But I still have a problem buying a car sight unseen and like I said, if I have to go through the trouble of a manual conversion, what sensible reason do I have to not just buy a XK8 which is cheaper and do the conversion and end up with a better, more reliable and more modern car?
#22
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I think we all agree that a stick would improve the performance of this car. Aswell as 3:54 posi gears.
The XJS V12 uses a GM turbo400. Put in a stage three shift kit you have a clutchless manual transmission. I have stage two kit and shift it half the time anyway. It performs much better.
The XJS V12 uses a GM turbo400. Put in a stage three shift kit you have a clutchless manual transmission. I have stage two kit and shift it half the time anyway. It performs much better.
#23
The shift kit seems to be half way the price of a manual conversion. Might as well go with that then? Besides it is still an auto.
The problem I'm having is why to convert a XJS instead of XK8 then? I can buy clean XK8s here for 75% of the prices of XJS cars.
The problem I'm having is why to convert a XJS instead of XK8 then? I can buy clean XK8s here for 75% of the prices of XJS cars.
Last edited by CXJ; 09-19-2015 at 12:50 AM.
#24
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I know XK8 conversions have been done but my understanding is that the electrical architecture...where the transmission is integral to engine management....adds a thick layer of complexity to the project.
Cheers
DD
#25
100% true. The ECUs prevent the engine starting or anything else working unless they detect ALL the equipment is from the same car. So change an ignition switch, for example, and the ECU has to be "told" or the car will not start.
This is anti-theft and anti "steal and break" stuff.
Greg
#26
Thanks Paul.
Are you in Germany?
Is it really cheaper to buy them from the U.S. even after shipping and importing duties? I have never bought a car from overseas but I would think shipping would be in the thousands? Then how much is customs normally, around 30%?
Then there is the problem you can't test drive it and inspect the car and have to rely on the seller. Going by what I heard when you buy these cars you should be very careful and inspect everything because if you get a lemon you might as well buy an new Aston Martin. Because the bills to get it right will run you as much.
Didn't see any LHD early manual 4.0 AJ6-engined car for sale yet. I'm thinking they are very rare?
Are you in Germany?
Is it really cheaper to buy them from the U.S. even after shipping and importing duties? I have never bought a car from overseas but I would think shipping would be in the thousands? Then how much is customs normally, around 30%?
Then there is the problem you can't test drive it and inspect the car and have to rely on the seller. Going by what I heard when you buy these cars you should be very careful and inspect everything because if you get a lemon you might as well buy an new Aston Martin. Because the bills to get it right will run you as much.
Didn't see any LHD early manual 4.0 AJ6-engined car for sale yet. I'm thinking they are very rare?
#27
CXJ,
As I'm sure you know, XK8 manual conversions have been done but are much more expensive and complex to achieve.
These days, there are very good import sourcing agents who can do all the leg work, send you full photos and reports of prospective cars etc etc. It's a much more global market than it used to be.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Paul
As I'm sure you know, XK8 manual conversions have been done but are much more expensive and complex to achieve.
These days, there are very good import sourcing agents who can do all the leg work, send you full photos and reports of prospective cars etc etc. It's a much more global market than it used to be.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Paul
#29
#30
Yes, I known that. I couple of years ago I was really close to getting a XK8 or XKR and did some deep research about it. There are ready to go kits.
#31
100% true. The ECUs prevent the engine starting or anything else working unless they detect ALL the equipment is from the same car. So change an ignition switch, for example, and the ECU has to be "told" or the car will not start.
This is anti-theft and anti "steal and break" stuff.
Greg
This is anti-theft and anti "steal and break" stuff.
Greg
#32
I don't think I could put up with driving a RHD car in a LHD country. If I could I would have imported a XB Falcon coupe from Australia long ago. It's one of my favorite cars.
#33
CXJ,
As I'm sure you know, XK8 manual conversions have been done but are much more expensive and complex to achieve.
These days, there are very good import sourcing agents who can do all the leg work, send you full photos and reports of prospective cars etc etc. It's a much more global market than it used to be.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Paul
As I'm sure you know, XK8 manual conversions have been done but are much more expensive and complex to achieve.
These days, there are very good import sourcing agents who can do all the leg work, send you full photos and reports of prospective cars etc etc. It's a much more global market than it used to be.
Good luck in whatever you decide.
Paul
Thanks.
#34
The 3.6 at first was only available with Getrag 265 manual gearbox (not the dogleg style, like the BMW 635 CSi). In 1987 was introduced as a option a ZF 4HP22 4-speed auto. The 4.0 was always available in manual or auto form, with evolutions of the past gearboxes: Getrag 290 instead the 265, and ZF 4HP24 auto instead the HP22. Here in Europe there are more 3.6 manual and more 4.0 auto.
The very early V12 had a 3-speed auto Borg-Warner Model 12, and a 4-speed manual was available too, but just only 352 units were made in manual form. They are prone to clutch failures due to big torque.
In 1977 the automatic transmission in the 5.3 V12 was replaced by the GM400, also in 3-speed. Since 1993, the 6.0 V12 were fitted with GM4L80-E 4-speed auto.
#35
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Well, heck, there's your answer! Buy and convert an XK8/XKR. What are you waiting for? It meets your requirements as mentioned in your first post. RWD, muscular, and classic look....at least the earlier cars.
Cheers
DD
#36
But the truth is I will probably not mess around with any transmission conversion and just move on to another model where I can have a stock manual transmission. After all I passed on the XK8 and on the 560 SEC exactly because they are only available in automatic.
If I could find a XJS V12 auto for cheap, then I would even give it a shot. But not for the prices I'm seeing.
#37
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Summit racing has the kit for $82.95.
TransGo Performance Shift Kits 400-3 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
TransGo Performance Shift Kits 400-3 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
#39
Summit racing has the kit for $82.95.
TransGo Performance Shift Kits 400-3 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
TransGo Performance Shift Kits 400-3 - Free Shipping on Orders Over $99 at Summit Racing
But I'm not very knowledgeable about shifting kits for auto transmissions since I hate auto trans. and only had one in my life.
#40
But 2000 doesn't sound too bad compared to what I had seen which was more than the double of that. What's the catch?
By the way is this from the last generation supra?
The other question is, will a manual trans. make the XJS even more unreliable? Maybe clutch problems all the time etc?
With the horror stories you hear about the older Jaguars plus that old slogan that goes with it (If you can't afford a new one you can't afford an old one) last thing one needs is something to make them even more unreliable.
The reliability issue was the reason I started looking at Mercedes after looking at Jaguars for a bit. When I first looked at Jaguars a couple of years ago I learned about that slogan. People saying that Jags are cheap to buy for the same reason Land Rovers are. But when you need maintenance and you will frequently because they are unreliable, it will cost you the same as working on a new Jaguar. Jaguars have the worst reputation among expensive cars maybe only matched by Land Rover.
But when I found out the Mercedes 560 SEC (coupe) was also only made in auto I decided to look at Jaguars again.