RE: SOTW: Jaguar XJS V12
Discussion
V12 Migaloo said:
bobfrance said:
Well here's my old one.
Stupidly I sold it because it only did about 16mpg urban and bought a modern Porsche and then a Merc in the belief they would be more economical. Thousands of wasted pounds later I've just put my name down on a one owner 1991 4.0 litre XJS manual and this one I am never going to sell!
Good on you Bob, once a Jag man, forever a Jag fan..Stupidly I sold it because it only did about 16mpg urban and bought a modern Porsche and then a Merc in the belief they would be more economical. Thousands of wasted pounds later I've just put my name down on a one owner 1991 4.0 litre XJS manual and this one I am never going to sell!
V12 Migaloo said:
grosserbaby said:
V12 Migaloo said:
Not wanting to go agaist the grain but I have to say that These V12's are reliable, if you drive them regularly and service them as and when needed. The problem is that people spend 800 quid on a motor that costs nearly a grand to have it serviced and maintained properly. They drive a few hundred miles, then sorn it for 6 months and then expect it to run like a dream afterwards... I have had one for 10 years now, I drive about 7k a year and it costs me about a grand in maintanance, expensive ?? Perhaps but cheaper then any other V12 out there... but hey thats what you have to expect with a V12 as it aint a push rod 4 cylinder..... of course the ancillaries can go, but generally a good one is bullet proof, if
A) you let it warm up everytime you start it (otherwise the plugs will get clogged)
B) make sure you have a clean coolant system
C) change the fluids every 10k.
These are great cars honestly, Im doing Lemans Classic in mine and cant wait. Go on do it, spoil yourselves, buy a V12, you know you want too.....
Beautifull I've come over all Arfur DaleyA) you let it warm up everytime you start it (otherwise the plugs will get clogged)
B) make sure you have a clean coolant system
C) change the fluids every 10k.
These are great cars honestly, Im doing Lemans Classic in mine and cant wait. Go on do it, spoil yourselves, buy a V12, you know you want too.....
Oh go on then:
1995 XJS Celebration. Sadly perished as a result of unexpected contact with an oak tree a few years ago. It never missed a beat in the 8 years I owned it. Fantastic machine. Replaced it with an XK8, which was a big mistake.
Chris
1995 XJS Celebration. Sadly perished as a result of unexpected contact with an oak tree a few years ago. It never missed a beat in the 8 years I owned it. Fantastic machine. Replaced it with an XK8, which was a big mistake.
Chris
Edited by blueroom on Friday 8th June 18:49
Finally, my chance to impart wisdom....
Never, ever, put down a knockout bid on a V12 XJS unseen off the internet late at night, when you've been drinking, based on a description of what, it transpires, was clearly another car altogether. But then you probably knew that....
After £1,500-worth of "fettling", like getting a passenger seatbelt fitted to a car which had been given an MoT two weeks beforehand (!), fixing the headlining, sorting out the brakes (quite hard to get at), refixing the exhaust which ground on something solid every time it turned left, having it serviced and learning to live with the comedy rust holes in the buttresses, all was peachy.
Got to the south of France and back in a week (the reason for the purchase, by the way) without incident at speed, in comfort and with no hassle whatsoever.
Sadly at that point, I fell for the ruddy thing and decided to keep it until something went wrong. Two weeks later, the fan and radiator had a spectacular coming together when I was showing a beige Montego how overtaking was done, showering the poor chap with thousands of fragments of fan, a massive black cloud of dirt and a trail of steam from there to my house, fortunately only a mile away, from where it could be trailered off for a bit more fettling.
A further investment of £1,500 and I was able to offer it to the next lucky contestant for a very reasonable £1,200.
I have to say, I think they are fabulous-looking cars. My particular car had clearly seen better days, but the times when it was on song tell me that a good one is a great car. . Just buy one sober.....
)MRM said:
Finally, my chance to impart wisdom....
Never, ever, put down a knockout bid on a V12 XJS unseen off the internet late at night, when you've been drinking, based on a description of what, it transpires, was clearly another car altogether. But then you probably knew that....
After £1,500-worth of "fettling", like getting a passenger seatbelt fitted to a car which had been given an MoT two weeks beforehand (!), fixing the headlining, sorting out the brakes (quite hard to get at), refixing the exhaust which ground on something solid every time it turned left, having it serviced and learning to live with the comedy rust holes in the buttresses, all was peachy.
Got to the south of France and back in a week (the reason for the purchase, by the way) without incident at speed, in comfort and with no hassle whatsoever.
Sadly at that point, I fell for the ruddy thing and decided to keep it until something went wrong. Two weeks later, the fan and radiator had a spectacular coming together when I was showing a beige Montego how overtaking was done, showering the poor chap with thousands of fragments of fan, a massive black cloud of dirt and a trail of steam from there to my house, fortunately only a mile away, from where it could be trailered off for a bit more fettling.
A further investment of £1,500 and I was able to offer it to the next lucky contestant for a very reasonable £1,200.
I have to say, I think they are fabulous-looking cars. My particular car had clearly seen better days, but the times when it was on song tell me that a good one is a great car. . Just buy one sober.....
Familiarity (as an observer) can breed contempt. They are rather special though aren't they. I never thought of them as unattractive. In fact if you look at an E Type for a while it looks strange. The track is narrow compared to the width of the body. Anyway thanks for reminding me what a brilliant and glamorous car the XJS is! What did they cost originally? How much is that in today's money? And you can get one for £1000 !!
V12 Migaloo said:
Cheers dude, here's another
It's unbelievable how well that car has aged - it's just bloody fantastic to behold, the ultimate smoker, the ultimate barge surely??Drove me into checking prices - and I'll bet I wasn't alone (and I'll also bet other people spotted the horrific Corvette engine transplanted models and other horrors which lurk out there!!)
Couldn't ignore this thread. We bought this beaut in 1999 and for years it was my wife's every day car (and no, here arse doesn't look big in it!) It is now only used occasionally (as we have a few cars to choose from) but is still immaculate. It does a few thousand miles a year, is annually serviced and kept garaged. That way she (the cat not the missus) doesn't cost too much and has really never given us trouble. Yes, it is still around £1k pa in maintenance to keep her in tiptop condition but we both fell in love with her years ago 
and cannot imagine the garages not containing her.
Thing is, I keep records and whilst the car was £9k when we bought her (she is a 1992 model with the 5.3 V12) we did have some initial things to do which were not cheap (including putting bits of the body/trim back on that had a tendancy to fall off!) Over the years I am rather shocked to see that we have spent a massive £27.8k on her!
It doesn't feel like that when we look back over our years of motoring in her so quite shocked to see the total.
and cannot imagine the garages not containing her.Thing is, I keep records and whilst the car was £9k when we bought her (she is a 1992 model with the 5.3 V12) we did have some initial things to do which were not cheap (including putting bits of the body/trim back on that had a tendancy to fall off!) Over the years I am rather shocked to see that we have spent a massive £27.8k on her!
It doesn't feel like that when we look back over our years of motoring in her so quite shocked to see the total.
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