Want To Relive The 80s? Buy A Classic Jaguar XJS!
Everyone at some point will have seen a Jaguar XJS on the streets of Britain, Europe, North America and pretty much around the world. A total of 115,413 models were produced in the car’s 21-year history from 1975 to 1996.
Classed as a luxury grand toured, the Jaguar XJS never quite had the same ‘sporting’ image as its predecessor, the iconic E-Type, but was still very popular nonetheless. If you are considering a purchase of this classic Jag, then you should firstly read this handy buyer’s guide so that you know what to expect, and what to check for.
Engines
Between 1975 and 1980, the Jaguar XJS only had one choice of engine: the Jaguar 5.3-litre V12. From 1981, the following engines were used:
- 3.6-litre straight-6 AJ6 engine;
- 5.3-litre V12 HE engine.
From 1991 to 1996, Jaguar offered this choice of engines in the XJS:
- 4.0-litre straight-6 AJ6 (including the AJ16 variant which has a distributor less ignition);
- 5.3-litre V12 HE engine;
- 6.0-litre V12 HE engine.
The 6-cylinder engines are easier to work on than the V12s, but you should watch out for the following problems:
- Parts can be hard to find for the early 6-cylinder engines;
- Head gaskets generally need to be replaced every 50,000 miles;
- Valve problems are commonplace due to poor quality cooling parts such as thermostats;
- Worn timing chains and valve timing can cause poor acceleration;
- Manual versions tend to suffer more problems than automatics.
The V12 engines are probably more reliable, but when things go wrong they can be complex (and expensive) to put right, so you might wish to go for a 6-cylinder version instead.
Bodywork
Like all cars that are between 18 and 39 years old, you will inevitably have to deal with problems such as rust.
Bodywork problems are typically due to poor maintenance by previous owners (i.e. not getting stone chips or panel damaged repaired), so if the example you are interested in has misaligned panels or rust, you will need to put some money aside to get them sorted properly.
Interior
According to Jaguar dealers H.A Fox, the interior of the Jaguar XJ6 is probably one of the most hard-wearing interiors you are likely to ever find in a car! They are generally in good to immaculate condition, although you should bear the following points in mind as you inspect your future Jaguar XJ6 for problems:
- The walnut veneer can be prone to lacquer peeling off. This is only a cosmetic problem rather than anything more serious, but if it annoys you, expect to pay a lot of money to have the various components removed, refurbished and refitted;
- If the interior smells of damp, water is getting into the interior of the car from either the door seals or due to blocked vent drains from the scuttle panel (by the windscreen wipers). Another source of water ingress will be underneath the carpet by the accelerator pedal;
- Check that the doors operate correctly. If they don’t, you will need to have the hinge pins replaced.
Driving the Jaguar XJS
Torque matters the most while driving this machine with a V12 engine. Near about 80% of the highest torque is available from a lowest of 2000rpm. Downshifts are not so necessary on road, unless a tight passing situation is there. Though the 3 speed automatic is one of the best in its category, a manual gear box offers greater joy than anything while driving. As the manual XJS was not exported to the US, an upgrade to a 5 speed manual is best. Though it is costly, it can boost the performance in an effective way.
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