I'm thinking about buying a '95 XJR SuperCharged 6 Is this a reliable car or a nightmare to maintain?Are there any quirks with this year? Should I look for another year instead?
Well, only a "nightmare" in the sense of any extremely complex car. When it's working right, it's grand. If you have to do a major maintenance or repair, you're going to have to pay someone $75 a hour to dig in there and do the job.
You have to expect high maintenance costs on any complex luxury car out of warranty, be it Jag, BMW or Mercedes. How could you avoid that? I think you are asking an unanswerable question (that is, what repairs and maintenance will occur to my particular car in the future?). If you want the odds, I'd say roughly that if $150-200 a month, on average with an "average" 95 Jaguar over the course of a few years, in maintenance and repairs scares or displeases you, then buy a newer car under warranty. If you get the exceptional 95 Jaguar, it would be somewhat less, if you get a troublesome one, figure on a good deal more.
How can you tell? You can't, you just play the odds by meticulous inspection prior to sale, and rigorous maintenance by a trained technician. You set aside $2,500 for the car each year and you'll mostly likely be fine and happy.
There is really no such thing as a "Lemon". This is a media contrivance. A car has perhaps 15,000 parts, more or less, and if 5 are bad and the other 14,995 are working, this does not make the car totally defective. Sure there are design flaws, but I must say it is truly rare that a car is not fixable. I can only think of 2 cars in my own years of experience that I feel are totally unrepairable and undriveable....the Triumph TR7 and the Maserati Bi-Turbo....and even these cars have, on occasion, been expensively modified by diehard owners to be reasonably reliable.
Probably the worst things about the 90s jaguars that you can say is that the car is very complex and the service probably not great....this is not a wholesome combination.
PS: RE the ebay auction...the man should sell the car at the $12,000 bid and not hold the reserve. It's really just a nice used old car, and should be driven and enjoyed. There is no sense "saving" it, there isn't a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow on this model.
These low mileage cars are a real problem, in that if you drive it, you lose the very thing you paid so much for, and if you don't drive it, you lose the enjoyment of owning the car! It really makes no sense to pay a premium price for a low mileage car that has very limited collector value.
I never really understood the whole "collector car" thing. If I had a '63 Corvette split window coupe, you better believe that I'm driving that baby EVERY day that I can. I realize that some people purchase automobiles with the ultimate goal of eventually reselling them....sometimes even for a profit, but having a great car sitting under a parachute in the garage, waiting for it to appreciate in value just seems counter productive. Subtract the joy of driving it from the monetary profit gained by NOT driving it...well, at best it would be a wash with me.
that there are two markets - those that want a driver and those that want the collectability - for these the low mileage is really only a factor because of rarity value - why pay a premium for it if you want to drive the car.
With the XJ-S, hell these things are way too much fun to drive to just leave them sitting, and as Shifty says they aren't going to appreciate.
Besides, they will spend long enough sitting in the garage when they aren't running right!!!
Yes, of course there are the "drivers" and the trailer queens. What seems ironic to me is that many of the MOST valuable cars are driven and raced these days and the mass produced ones of lesser value are locked up in garages. Maybe it's because the richer owners can afford to fix the damage? Perhaps. But I agree, risk driving the car without being reckless about it. No one takes their classic car to the cemetary with them. (Yes, I have heard of people being buried in their favorite car, which strikes me as a bit contradictory to the whole idea of having restored it in the first place. Selfishness to the bitter end maybe?
I have a 1990 Sovereign. I need the lower tank of the windshield washer fluid holding tanks. I haven't had to buy pats for it yet (only 20k miles) and concerned about getting the best price for a quality part. I have inquired of price and availabilty from my local dealer, but wanted to do some comparison. Are there good, reliable parts websites any of you have used? How about used part availability - good idea? Anyone have input on what I should expect to pay? Thank you for your help.
RE: 168--I don't think you'll find this part in the aftermarket. Too specialized a part on too specialized a car...how many of these could an independent manufacturer hope to sell--25 a year?
Best bet would be the dealer or a wrecker. Perhaps the same part from other years would fit.
RE: 169--You should read all the posts in this topic for your answer.
Tend to agree with Shifty that there is unlikely to be anything in the aftermarket. There are a few Jaguar suppliers online who may be able to help. The only one that I would even look at is Coventry West out of Atlanta.
Their website is www.coventrywest.com - but don't be surprised if they have nothing for this particular problem.
Came across a 1990 Sovereign with 116,000. Super condition. Any special problems with this model? I know Jags have had a history of electrical grimlins, but don't know of this particicular year. Thanks for help
Spoilers were offered as factory options on some XJS models, usually (though not exclusively) as part of a sport package. As far as I know all factory spoilers were the same - low, fairly narrow, with downturned ends and a hole in the right hand side as they fit directly over the electric aerial.
We have come across a 1989 XJ Jaguar Sedan in absolutely mint condition with 84,000. The owner is asking $9000 firm. Are you aware of any problems/issues with this year/model? We are totally ignorant about Jaguars in general, but are truly captivated by its appearance. We are not exaggerating with regard to it being in mint condition inside and out.
The first thing to do is to read this topic, it will give you a good idea about late 80s Jaguars. You don't say whether this is a V6 or a V12, the 6 will be more reliable, and more expensive right now - I think that is probably what you are looking at - I hope to God no one is asking $9000 for an 89 12 with 84K on the clock.
Shifty is going to be able to advise you of a good price for the US (I am in Canada) but I really think that this is way to high if this is just a regular Series III sedan. Does it have any badging that might suggest that it is worth this extra money - I would hope for Sovereign at least.
Other than that, it is an 11 year old, complicated car, with quite a few miles on it. The Jaguar can be a very rewarding car to own and drive, but it can also be extremely frustrating. You need to budget for regular repairs - I believe shifty usually says about $100 - $150 per month. Remember also that parts and labor are expensive.
I'd say $7,000 is more than enough for the car, and yes, be prepared to maintain/repair it at the average rate of $150 a month. This is a complex luxury car you are buying, but if you understand that you may enjoy its many fine attributes. If you really must have trouble-free motoring, you may need to reconsider. I'd avoid a V12 at any cost.
Have the car thoroughly checked out, bargain hard, and set up a maintenance schedule at a qualified shop as soon as possible. This is the way to buy and enjoy an older Jag. XJ6.
I have a 1999 vanden plas. the problem with it is that the steering wheel shakes bad and I can feel the vibration at certain times. Then it stops. I have top of line Michelin and nothnig wrong they said with suspesion. What can I do? I test drove a 2000 model and guess what? It does the same thing. i didn't pay all this money to get a car that the steering wheel shakes at will. Please someone help
You're not driving over Abilene roads are you? ;-) "At certain times, then it stops" What are the certain times? Over 45MPH? Taking off hard from a stop? Only on Main Street? Lots of things can cause vibration-bad tires (even new, top of the line ones can be bad), tires out of balance, warped brake rotors, bad driveshaft... the list goes on and on and on.
Over the years, I have found from experience that these types of problem (shimmy, vibration, mysterious oscillations, etc) can be solved, but they take talent and a dedicated dealer and technician team. Most of the time no one tried hard enough---and once in a while it is really an engineering defect that is not correctable. But that is extremely rare.
I am thinking of purchasing a 1990 XJS V12. It's mileage is 31k and is seems to be in good condition. The asking price is $14,000. I no less than nothing about these cars and would appreciate any information that anyone could give me. Thanks!
The V12 can be trouble--they eat gas and are very complicated to repair, and prone to overheating.
Basically I think you need to approach older Jaguars realistically....not pessimistically, but realistically. What does that mean exactly?
For one thing, you need to factor in unavoidable maintenance costs that befit a complicated luxury car. If say the idea of an average of $150/200 a month in maintenance and repairs bothers you, then just walk away from this type of car. This is, of course, over and above insurance, fuel, etc., which will also be substantial.
What I have observed is that the bargain price of these cars attracts bargain hunters, which is great, except that bargain hunters are not used to the heavy costs of upkeep on a car...they seem to want (don't we all) Jaguar luxury at Toyota operating costs. (Hey, I just described a Lexus!)
So if you are the nervous type, this may not be for you. If you have some connections with a good jaguar man, and aren't stepping out of your budget, you might find a good V12 that you can keep up without too much major hassle. But I guarantee that you'll find, over time, that my estimates of maintenance costs will be pretty accurate.
I am currently looking at a 1989 vanden plas majestic with 44,000. miles. It's in perfect condition. Should I stay away due to inevitable electrical difficulties? Your thought would me helpful.
If it's a 6 cylinder car with good service records, and you pay a bargain price, I think at this low mileage that you could deal with any electrical issues and still enjoy the car and stay in budget. I don't know as electrical failures are "inevitable"--rather, I think, the complexity of the car itself makes repairs a bit more difficult...that is, the electrical problem may itself be "simple" (loose wire, worn switch) but accessing and diagnosing it might prove very time consuming.
Again, if you are a nervous type of owner that cannot tolerate occasional failure in return for enjoying the car's good points, then don't buy one. These are not Mercedes or Lexuses--they are eccentric British machinery, with all the good and bad that implies. Just plan on an occasional "flop" of the car and a tow now and then. I have had and enjoyed a number of "termpermental" foreign cars and that's why I also own an isuzu trooper to get me around while the other cars are occasionally in the shop.
88 and 89 (From what I've been told) are problem years for the XJ6 Sedans (A VDP Majestic is about as different from an XJ6 as a Grand Marquis is from a Crown Vic. One car, two names). They introduced a whole new Jaguar in 88 (87 in most parts of the world) and it took a while to work the bugs out. They stayed with that body style til 1994, so if you like the looks, my suggestion is buy a newer model.
Lexus may have Toyota reliability, but it also has Toyota's less than stellar styling (They're not ugly, they're just...there.) One of the things that first attracted me to Jaguars was their drop dead gorgeous looks (except maybe the XJS, which somehow ended up looking rather Toyota-esque, in a Jaguar sort of way.)
Just had a look - that ain't no Toyota out there. Maybe, just maybe, I could grant you that a spoilered up, lowered, white with black glass, pimp-mobile XJ-S might look like a Toyota.
More seriously, I find myself throwing out the usual warning about the last two cars mentioned - the 89 VDP (which may not be a 6 - a lot of VDPs were still 12s at that time) and the 90 XJ-S. They both have low mileage, which needs checking. Both of these cars had tranny mounted transducers that sent electrical impulses which were translated into speed and mileage readouts. These transducers often broke, and weren't always fixed that quickly - because when they broke the car never gained any mileage. It also drove at 0 mph all the time, but people accepted that trade off. If there is a 'hole' in the mileage recorded in the service history you may have a problem.
If the servicing in the early years was done by a Jaguar shop on either of these cars, you will have a problem - they will have put Barrs Leaks in the cooling system and you now have a partially blocked rad.
88 and 89 are not the greatest years for the sedans, though ironically 88 is one of the better years for the XJ-S - marelli ignition and ABS made a huge difference. Generally speaking the Ford influence starts to be felt significantly around 92/93 so you have a small window between then and the redesign, which as rea98d said was in 94.
Just reviewing the last couple of messages, I though I would throw in a little information. Jaguar offered a different model line-up in the US than they did in Canada. In the US, the Series III sedan was offered in two formats, the XJ6 and the Vanden Plas (VDP). The XJ6 was offered from 1979 to 1987 model years and the VDP was offered from 1982 to 1987 model years. The US VDP was always outfitted with the 4.2 Liter Inline Six (as was the XJ6-hence the 6). On a rare occasion, one might be able to find a Series III XJ12; a few slipped in during 1979 and some have been imported (especially from Canada) over the years. In the US, the Series III sedan was replaced by a new model (internally known as the XJ40) for model year 1988. This car was offered with the 3.6 Liter Inline Six for model years 1988-1989 and a 4.0 Liter Inline Six (same engine, larger displacement)from 1990-1994. It was also offered with the 6.0 Liter V12 in 1994. From 1988-1994, depending on the model year, US versions of the Inline six XJ40 were known as the XJ6, Sovereign, Vanden Plas, Vanden Plas Majestic or the XJ12. Of course, the XJ40 sedan was replaced by the X300 sedan in 1995 but I think that would be straying a bit too far from the topic of this list. Others on this list would know more about the Canadian model line-up throughout the years, I would be interested to know more, myself.
Thanks for clarifying the VDP 6 vs 12. My understanding (based on the situation here in Canada) was that the VDP was originally only available as a 12. That logic follows from the fact that the VDP was only called the VDP in North America. Vanden Plas was a Belgian(?) coach builder bought by Jaguar a long time earlier. In Europe the V12 sedans were badged as Daimler Double Six, but Mercedes had the North American rights to the name Daimler and so the Vanden Plas was born. Based on what edodd tells us there was obviously a fundamental change to the car as well.
I don't know of too many differences between Canada and US other than this one - I haven't seen too many 6cyl VDPs. In the case of the XJ-S (where my knowledge is strongest), I know that all North American cars were US spec. That means that despite the fact that Canadian emissions didn't require it, all imported cars had the lower 262hp, rather than the the European 299hp. One by product was that the lowered compression ratio resulted in North American cars being rated for regular gasoline when new.
The only difference that I am aware of between the Canadian and US XJ-S was the removal of the oval headlight cover in the US to reveal the two round headlights.
To the best of my knowledge Sedans were offered with V12s here right through until 1996 - the only gap being in 1993 when Jaguar didn't offer a 12 cylinder - up to 92 was the 5.3 and 94-96 was the 6.0.
I am looking at the above car with 79,000miles. It looks and drives well. The service history is with a Jaguar dealer and it is one owner. This would be my first Jaguar, do you have any advice re servicing costs and what to expect from the car. Price wise I am hoping to negotiate it down from 14,999(seems high given the market) to around $11,000. Any advice or help would be v. much appreciated. Thanks for your time
That corresponds with what I've heard. Apparently the Series III V12 was sold along side the XJ40 I6 models up until 1993 (the last model year being 1992, as you stated) in Canada. I've been told that the last 100 of these were painted a beautiful deep red/black (I don't remember the technical name) and equipped with a small commemorative plaque on the dashboard. Wouldn't it be nice to find one of these? Of course, this would only be a car for the enthusiast with spare time and money in great quantities. Unfortunately, I am told that it is nearly impossible to import into the US.
Well I guess that fits with some of the things that Jaguar have done - Celebration and Rouge XJ-S models spring to mind, but I don't know anything about it.
In terms of the 1992 VDP, to me $11,000 still seems high, but shifty is a better bet on US pricing. The cooling system will need a thorough flush and the rad will need rodding at a minimum if the car was Jaguar serviced.
The 6 isn't as tempramental as the 12, and by 92 build quality was improving, though still not as good as it became in the next couple of years. Other than that shifty's advice will still hold - reckon on around $150 a month for maintenance costs.
The problem with these cars is that Jaguar itself was an undercapitalized company until Ford started pouring in money and production expertise, so the earlier an XJ you buy, the more risk you run, since the company did not remedy many basic faults with the car. They simply didn't have the cash.
You just have to read the writing on the garage wall. If you can't put away at least a couple thousand each year to keep the car on the road, don't buy these used XJ6s. And you must also expect to definitely lose money on resale. So buy low miles, bargain fiercely, and find a car with a stack of service records as big as the Manhattan phone book. If you buy a high miles car in poor shape you will lose $10K faster than you can turn the ignition key.
Thanks for all the information. I was thinking realistically that a good price for the 1992 XJ6 Vanden Plas was around $9000 but didn't think there would be anyway of getting the price down to $9,000. Would I be better off bidding my time and trying to get something a little newer? maybe a year or two newer? Or do you think I could negotiate the price down this low. I am in no hurry to get this/any car. This would be a second car and we could wait until the right moment so I guess I have nothing to lose trying for a lowball offer. I have also looked at at 1994 XJ6 Vandenplas and a 1997 XJ6 VP with Long wheelbase, but the price moves up into the high teens or in the 1997 case over $20k. The 1997 has around 45,000 and they are asking 25,000. What do you think. I am moving into a new job that will require transporting people around and feel this would be super for this and create quite a good impression. Thanks for all the advice.
I see this as a buyer's market for the XJ, not a seller's market. Just keep low-balling every nice car you see and someone will sell it. There are more sellers than buyers for these cars, this is why the realized prices are not very high. If you price your XJ6 at high Blue Book you aren't going to have a crowd at your door but if you price it realistically, "they will come". So I'd say just keep bidding wholesale book on any nice, low mileage XJ you see. Owners that are serious about selling their cars will take your offer. It's fair enough given the circumstances, I think.
Thanks for the info. I am going to just keep looking around now until I find something suitable, ie: with low mileage and a great track record. I have sometime before I need to own a car for this new job. It will also give me time to save a little more and then I can move into something newer. What is your view on leasing rather than purchasing? This might be an alternative for me in about a year or so. Whats your feeling? Maybe I could leave a 2/3 year old Jag(now I am dreaming!). Thanks again for the helpful, helpful info.
I have the "opportunity" to purchase this car with 108,000 miles. Asking $8K. Although I know the mechanic that has maintained it meticulously for the last eight years, this still seems high. Opinion appreciated.
Yes, it is high, but what has the mechanic done? If this is a Jaguar trained mechanic who is familiar with some of the nuances of the car then you may well be paying extra for work that he has carried out to prevent you from doing so. Thge cost of parts for these cars is high, so if he has fixed a lot of the things that needed attention then the owner is going to try and get some of that money back.
If the guy doesn't know these cars inside out then you have all of the previously described probelms ahead of you, and this is still a 10 year old, very complex, car with over 100,000 miles.
Good points Andy. Thank you! The mechanic is Jaguar trained. And he reports that the car owner is a "Felix Unger"--he fixes everything properly and immediately.
The mechanic said he has done the major fault corrections on the car. For example, he replaced the head gaskets with "new and improved" ones--orig's had some sort of problem. Similarly, the rear differential has been corrected.
If all is solid with this car, how much longer is its "natural" life? I accept the $1500 to $2000 annual mntc but what is the risk of much much more? Thanks again! Mike
Lemme clarify what I said about the XJS a few posts back. It doesn't look as bad (bland) as a Toyota, it's just that the XJS and XJ40 are about the blandest cars Jaguar makes. Still good looking, mind you, but way outdone by cars like the XK8, X300 and Series III.
Well, they are conservative because their clientele tends to be conservative. Even the new Jaguars are hardly earth-shattering in design. They stick to what works, like Mercedes.
94 Jags are, from what I've read, pretty good cars (For Jags, at least). The 95 models are the same mechanically, but with a new body, that is more rounded and traditional. The 95's came with a straight six as the most common engine, and in 98 the I-6 was replaced by a V-8, and the suspension was updated using XK8 parts. No major changes since 98.
Comments
Is this a reliable car or a nightmare to maintain?Are there any quirks with this year? Should I look for another year instead?
My ignorance in this area is appalling!
Help!
You have to expect high maintenance costs on any complex luxury car out of warranty, be it Jag, BMW or Mercedes. How could you avoid that? I think you are asking an unanswerable question (that is, what repairs and maintenance will occur to my particular car in the future?). If you want the odds, I'd say roughly that if $150-200 a month, on average with an "average" 95 Jaguar over the course of a few years, in maintenance and repairs scares or displeases you, then buy a newer car under warranty. If you get the exceptional 95 Jaguar, it would be somewhat less, if you get a troublesome one, figure on a good deal more.
How can you tell? You can't, you just play the odds by meticulous inspection prior to sale, and rigorous maintenance by a trained technician. You set aside $2,500 for the car each year and you'll mostly likely be fine and happy.
There are a couple of '95 XJRs over there too.
And like I said, all I now about the XJR is that it's a beautiful automobile...
And I guess what everyone is telling me is that there are no obvious design flaws in the car that would classify it a lemon.
Probably the worst things about the 90s jaguars that you can say is that the car is very complex and the service probably not great....this is not a wholesome combination.
With the XJ-S, hell these things are way too much fun to drive to just leave them sitting, and as Shifty says they aren't going to appreciate.
Besides, they will spend long enough sitting in the garage when they aren't running right!!!
Yes, of course there are the "drivers" and the trailer queens. What seems ironic to me is that many of the MOST valuable cars are driven and raced these days and the mass produced ones of lesser value are locked up in garages. Maybe it's because the richer owners can afford to fix the damage? Perhaps. But I agree, risk driving the car without being reckless about it. No one takes their classic car to the cemetary with them. (Yes, I have heard of people being buried in their favorite car, which strikes me as a bit contradictory to the whole idea of having restored it in the first place. Selfishness to the bitter end maybe?
What do you think about a 1995 Jag, with 75000 miles ? General problems? Maintenance ? Reviews ?
Thanks
Best bet would be the dealer or a wrecker. Perhaps the same part from other years would fit.
RE: 169--You should read all the posts in this topic for your answer.
Their website is www.coventrywest.com - but don't be surprised if they have nothing for this particular problem.
Super condition. Any special problems with this model? I know Jags have had a history of electrical grimlins, but don't know of this particicular year.
Thanks for help
The first thing to do is to read this topic, it will give you a good idea about late 80s Jaguars. You don't say whether this is a V6 or a V12, the 6 will be more reliable, and more expensive right now - I think that is probably what you are looking at - I hope to God no one is asking $9000 for an 89 12 with 84K on the clock.
Shifty is going to be able to advise you of a good price for the US (I am in Canada) but I really think that this is way to high if this is just a regular Series III sedan. Does it have any badging that might suggest that it is worth this extra money - I would hope for Sovereign at least.
Other than that, it is an 11 year old, complicated car, with quite a few miles on it. The Jaguar can be a very rewarding car to own and drive, but it can also be extremely frustrating. You need to budget for regular repairs - I believe shifty usually says about $100 - $150 per month. Remember also that parts and labor are expensive.
Have the car thoroughly checked out, bargain hard, and set up a maintenance schedule at a qualified shop as soon as possible. This is the way to buy and enjoy an older Jag. XJ6.
is that the steering wheel shakes bad and I can feel the vibration at certain times. Then it stops. I have top of line Michelin and nothnig wrong they said with suspesion. What can I do? I test drove a 2000 model and guess what? It does the same thing. i didn't pay all this money to get a car that the steering wheel shakes at will. Please someone help
"At certain times, then it stops" What are the certain times? Over 45MPH? Taking off hard from a stop? Only on Main Street? Lots of things can cause vibration-bad tires (even new, top of the line ones can be bad), tires out of balance, warped brake rotors, bad driveshaft... the list goes on and on and on.
Basically I think you need to approach older Jaguars realistically....not pessimistically, but realistically. What does that mean exactly?
For one thing, you need to factor in unavoidable maintenance costs that befit a complicated luxury car. If say the idea of an average of $150/200 a month in maintenance and repairs bothers you, then just walk away from this type of car. This is, of course, over and above insurance, fuel, etc., which will also be substantial.
What I have observed is that the bargain price of these cars attracts bargain hunters, which is great, except that bargain hunters are not used to the heavy costs of upkeep on a car...they seem to want (don't we all) Jaguar luxury at Toyota operating costs. (Hey, I just described a Lexus!)
So if you are the nervous type, this may not be for you. If you have some connections with a good jaguar man, and aren't stepping out of your budget, you might find a good V12 that you can keep up without too much major hassle. But I guarantee that you'll find, over time, that my estimates of maintenance costs will be pretty accurate.
Again, if you are a nervous type of owner that cannot tolerate occasional failure in return for enjoying the car's good points, then don't buy one. These are not Mercedes or Lexuses--they are eccentric British machinery, with all the good and bad that implies. Just plan on an occasional "flop" of the car and a tow now and then. I have had and enjoyed a number of "termpermental" foreign cars and that's why I also own an isuzu trooper to get me around while the other cars are occasionally in the shop.
majestic with 44,000. miles. The car is pristine in and out. Does this seem like a reasonable price?
They introduced a whole new Jaguar in 88 (87 in most parts of the world) and it took a while to work the bugs out. They stayed with that body style til 1994, so if you like the looks, my suggestion is buy a newer model.
Lexus may have Toyota reliability, but it also has Toyota's less than stellar styling (They're not ugly, they're just...there.) One of the things that first attracted me to Jaguars was their drop dead gorgeous looks (except maybe the XJS, which somehow ended up looking rather Toyota-esque, in a Jaguar sort of way.)
More seriously, I find myself throwing out the usual warning about the last two cars mentioned - the 89 VDP (which may not be a 6 - a lot of VDPs were still 12s at that time) and the 90 XJ-S. They both have low mileage, which needs checking. Both of these cars had tranny mounted transducers that sent electrical impulses which were translated into speed and mileage readouts. These transducers often broke, and weren't always fixed that quickly - because when they broke the car never gained any mileage. It also drove at 0 mph all the time, but people accepted that trade off. If there is a 'hole' in the mileage recorded in the service history you may have a problem.
If the servicing in the early years was done by a Jaguar shop on either of these cars, you will have a problem - they will have put Barrs Leaks in the cooling system and you now have a partially blocked rad.
88 and 89 are not the greatest years for the sedans, though ironically 88 is one of the better years for the XJ-S - marelli ignition and ABS made a huge difference. Generally speaking the Ford influence starts to be felt significantly around 92/93 so you have a small window between then and the redesign, which as rea98d said was in 94.
In the US, the Series III sedan was offered in two formats, the XJ6 and the Vanden Plas (VDP). The XJ6 was offered from 1979 to 1987 model years and the VDP was offered from 1982 to 1987 model years. The US VDP was always outfitted with the 4.2 Liter Inline Six (as was the XJ6-hence the 6). On a rare occasion, one might be able to find a Series III XJ12; a few slipped in during 1979 and some have been imported (especially from Canada) over the years. In the US, the Series III sedan was replaced by a new model (internally known as the XJ40) for model year 1988. This car was offered with the 3.6 Liter Inline Six for model years 1988-1989 and a 4.0 Liter Inline Six (same engine, larger displacement)from 1990-1994. It was also offered with the 6.0 Liter V12 in 1994. From 1988-1994, depending on the model year, US versions of the Inline six XJ40 were known as the XJ6, Sovereign, Vanden Plas, Vanden Plas Majestic or the XJ12.
Of course, the XJ40 sedan was replaced by the X300 sedan in 1995 but I think that would be straying a bit too far from the topic of this list. Others on this list would know more about the Canadian model line-up throughout the years, I would be interested to know more, myself.
I don't know of too many differences between Canada and US other than this one - I haven't seen too many 6cyl VDPs. In the case of the XJ-S (where my knowledge is strongest), I know that all North American cars were US spec. That means that despite the fact that Canadian emissions didn't require it, all imported cars had the lower 262hp, rather than the the European 299hp. One by product was that the lowered compression ratio resulted in North American cars being rated for regular gasoline when new.
The only difference that I am aware of between the Canadian and US XJ-S was the removal of the oval headlight cover in the US to reveal the two round headlights.
To the best of my knowledge Sedans were offered with V12s here right through until 1996 - the only gap being in 1993 when Jaguar didn't offer a 12 cylinder - up to 92 was the 5.3 and 94-96 was the 6.0.
In terms of the 1992 VDP, to me $11,000 still seems high, but shifty is a better bet on US pricing. The cooling system will need a thorough flush and the rad will need rodding at a minimum if the car was Jaguar serviced.
The 6 isn't as tempramental as the 12, and by 92 build quality was improving, though still not as good as it became in the next couple of years. Other than that shifty's advice will still hold - reckon on around $150 a month for maintenance costs.
You just have to read the writing on the garage wall. If you can't put away at least a couple thousand each year to keep the car on the road, don't buy these used XJ6s. And you must also expect to definitely lose money on resale. So buy low miles, bargain fiercely, and find a car with a stack of service records as big as the Manhattan phone book. If you buy a high miles car in poor shape you will lose $10K faster than you can turn the ignition key.
If the guy doesn't know these cars inside out then you have all of the previously described probelms ahead of you, and this is still a 10 year old, very complex, car with over 100,000 miles.
The mechanic is Jaguar trained. And he reports that the car owner is a "Felix Unger"--he fixes everything properly and immediately.
The mechanic said he has done the major fault corrections on the car. For example, he replaced the head gaskets with "new and improved" ones--orig's had some sort of problem. Similarly, the rear differential has been corrected.
If all is solid with this car, how much longer is its "natural" life? I accept the $1500 to $2000 annual mntc but what is the risk of much much more? Thanks again! Mike
Any problem with the year? Any significant changes in the few years after?