X305 XJ12 / Daimler Double Six

X305 XJ12 / Daimler Double Six

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QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Friday 29th January 2016
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I have always wanted a V12 Jag but my favourites are all rust buckets or silly money if in good condition (XJ Series III/II/I, E-type, XJS) so have always been over-ruled frown

I also do really like the X300 body shape and it would certainly satisfy the hunger for a V12 Jag. There seem to be a few reasonable looking cars which sound OK when reading the adverts (albeit with 100-130k miles) and of course they're slightly less rusty. However, the missus is also aware of their legendary requirement for expensive upkeep. I'm close to getting the go ahead to buy one and it's a close negotiation - I've offered to give up the R1100RS and she's softening with that offer smile

This would be a car to keep for a very long time (20-30 years or more, possibly a lifetime), living mainly in the garage, getting pampered and not driven many more miles. The fuel consumption isn't an issue due to the said low mileage planned, this isn't going to be a daily.

Do you think I'm mad? Can I keep a semi-modern Jag on the road for ever with an independent specialist? What should I look out for? Do bear in mind I'm not very good with car mechanicals and don't have any friends who are.

Orcadian

312 posts

134 months

Saturday 30th January 2016
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There are still some very good Series 3 V12 Jags and Daimler DD6's around but the good low mileage ones are approaching and exceeding 10k now. They are fabulous cars - I've had 2 of them but they do suffer from tin worm like most Jags. Daimlers somehow seem to fare better but the very newest is 24 years old now, production ceasing in 1992. I think the last of the X300 shape V12's would be about 1995/6 but that is still 20 years back. Have you considered an X308 Jag, or Daimler, same basic shape as X300? Made from 1997 to 2002 many are still rust buckets but good ones are around although you will have to search hard for the right one. It took me some time to find my Daimler Super V8, what a fabulous car this is and in my opinion, even better than the Series 3.
Ian

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Sunday 31st January 2016
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You can certainly keep an X300 running indefinitely using a good independent. They are far more likely to be familiar with cars of that age than a main dealer these days.
The X300s have galvanised bodies and so resist the tin worm much better than original XJ series cars. They can and do still rust, particularly if they are ever damaged. Check behind the front wheels at the front of the sills where there is inevitably chipping due to the wheels kicking up stones. Mine also eventually got some small rust spots lower down the doors, but nothing that couldn't easily be sorted.
Roof linings seem to be another thing that goes, the newer X308 seem just as prone to it as the X300s, one person I spoke to about mine said he was seeing X308s needing the headlining doing before he saw the X300s, so it could be they changed the glue.
Of course if you want a V12 then the 308 generation won't help.
Remember, the only reason for arranging cylinders in rows of 4 is that you can't afford to do it properly biglaugh
Keep looking till you find a good one.

QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Monday 1st February 2016
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Thanks chaps smile
I've now got the go ahead and I'm even allowed to keep the bike until I buy one! biggrin I'm definitely after a V12 though, I've wanted one since I was a kid so a V8 just isn't enough!
I saw one at the weekend on Car and Classic with some minor looking damage to o/s doors, only 31k miles on the clock, looking very good etc. but it turned out to be a Cat C which the seller was very coy about and which put me off - more the info being withheld rather than the actual damage itself. Back to the classifieds... frown

Jagmanv12

1,573 posts

163 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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There's one up for auction on Feb 14 at Chartehouse.

I saw this as I was tempted but I mustn't buy any more cars. frown

MRPULLHARD

318 posts

130 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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have you considered buying one of the series threes that are coming in from japan ?

QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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I'm absolutely torn but have such little time to go round seeing cars right now frown

I saw the one at the Charterhouse but I'm too far away to view it and way too busy between now and then to take a day to go there and back frown It's very tempting though, if it goes for anything near the estimate, it might be worth a phone bid, what would I have to lose? smile There's a slightly closer Double Six also on Car and Classic from a private seller and another from a trader both with better colours too. I'm also spending an inordinate amount of time ogling V12 XJSs. Soooooo tempting!

The Japanese imports also look good but I'm not keen to spend that much. It's easier to pass it by the missus if I buy something cheap then spend twice the cost of a Jap import getting it sorted biggrin

I wish I could get an XJS, S3 and X305 all at the same time but my wife would kill me. She has already told me in no uncertain terms that I can use my garage for a Jag but she's keeping her daily in hers!

a8hex

5,829 posts

222 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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QuickQuack said:
She has already told me in no uncertain terms that I can use my garage for a Jag but she's keeping her daily in hers!
That was the rule in our house too. Originally A8HEX lived on one side while LadyB8HEX lived on the other. When I bought an XK150 the A8, the XJ had to live on the drive. Then I bought and XKR fully expecting that would need to live on the drive too.... probably with me in it.
But then she declared that this was silly and B8 lives outside with A8.
So there is a chance
all be it a small one
On the other hand the chances of other halves killing us for our 4 wheeled habits remains high.

QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Tuesday 2nd February 2016
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a8hex said:
On the other hand the chances of other halves killing us for our 4 wheeled habits remains high.
hehehehehehe Very high indeed!

Jagmanv12

1,573 posts

163 months

Wednesday 3rd February 2016
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There's a Damler version in the H&H auction.

My other half likes riding around in the cars so she accepts they're staying. smile

jith

2,752 posts

214 months

Thursday 4th February 2016
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a8hex said:
QuickQuack said:
She has already told me in no uncertain terms that I can use my garage for a Jag but she's keeping her daily in hers!
That was the rule in our house too. Originally A8HEX lived on one side while LadyB8HEX lived on the other. When I bought an XK150 the A8, the XJ had to live on the drive. Then I bought and XKR fully expecting that would need to live on the drive too.... probably with me in it.
But then she declared that this was silly and B8 lives outside with A8.
So there is a chance
all be it a small one
On the other hand the chances of other halves killing us for our 4 wheeled habits remains high.
What a pair of wimps!!

My Audi lives where I please! (Flexes muscles before cooking the dinner and hoovering all the carpets).

J

jagmanvaughn

16 posts

135 months

Monday 8th February 2016
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I have a v12 x300 1996 you maybe interested in - be good to have a chat. It's only got 65,000 miles on it and the interior still smells new and is in really good quality. I have owned it for 12 years this year and have a full account of work undertaken.

PM me smile

QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Thursday 11th February 2016
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jagmanvaughn said:
I have a v12 x300 1996 you maybe interested in - be good to have a chat. It's only got 65,000 miles on it and the interior still smells new and is in really good quality. I have owned it for 12 years this year and have a full account of work undertaken.

PM me smile
I've been away and just seen this and I have emailed immediately smile Please let me know if you haven't received it as I've heard that PH mails don't always get to their destinations!

QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Sunday 21st February 2016
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Well I've done it biggrin

Thanks very much to JagmanVaughn, I am now the next custodian of his 1996 XJ12. smile I drove it down from up North to Northamptonshire on Friday night with a huge grin all the way, just savouring the V12 rumble. Yesterday it sailed through the MoT and up next is a visit to an independent Jag specialist to sort out a few things which Vaughn had told me about.

The boys just can't believe the sound, my wife loves the retro interior which reminds her of her granddad's Jags, my 4 year old daughter is so impressed that she wants to learn to drive, and everyone who sees it loves it. I still can't stop grinning biggrin I'll soon get some pictures up on the Get your Jags Out thread smile Its pictures have appeared in the JEC magazine a couple times and I'll see if I can get those back issues.

Thank you very much everyone, especially Vaughn thumbup

tobinen

9,184 posts

144 months

Wednesday 24th February 2016
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Excellent news. I look forward to any pics you care to share.

deadslow

7,962 posts

222 months

Wednesday 24th February 2016
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QuickQuack said:
Well I've done it biggrin

Thanks very much to JagmanVaughn, I am now the next custodian of his 1996 XJ12. smile I drove it down from up North to Northamptonshire on Friday night with a huge grin all the way, just savouring the V12 rumble. Yesterday it sailed through the MoT and up next is a visit to an independent Jag specialist to sort out a few things which Vaughn had told me about.

The boys just can't believe the sound, my wife loves the retro interior which reminds her of her granddad's Jags, my 4 year old daughter is so impressed that she wants to learn to drive, and everyone who sees it loves it. I still can't stop grinning biggrin I'll soon get some pictures up on the Get your Jags Out thread smile Its pictures have appeared in the JEC magazine a couple times and I'll see if I can get those back issues.

Thank you very much everyone, especially Vaughn thumbup
Sounds like you bought from a great seller, which is super important with old cars. Well done on your purchase. I hope you have many great years with your V12 Jag

LanceRS

2,171 posts

136 months

Wednesday 24th February 2016
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Always nice when these threads have a happy endingsmile Anyway, I'm as impatient as everyone else, pictures please.

QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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As promised, here's my baby in its new home, next to the aforementioned R1100RS (does anybody want one??)






And here are a few pictures which Vaughn had emailed me. He has also been very kind and given me the "Jaguar V12" show plates as well smile



[url]

|http://thumbsnap.com/Ks3xGnSV[/url]






QuickQuack

Original Poster:

2,144 posts

100 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
quotequote all
deadslow said:
Sounds like you bought from a great seller, which is super important with old cars. Well done on your purchase. I hope you have many great years with your V12 Jag
Thank you very much smile You're absolutely spot on with the seller, too. Vaughn has an open invitation to ours in Northamptonshire anytime he wants smile

deadslow

7,962 posts

222 months

Thursday 25th February 2016
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QuickQuack said:
deadslow said:
Sounds like you bought from a great seller, which is super important with old cars. Well done on your purchase. I hope you have many great years with your V12 Jag
Thank you very much smile You're absolutely spot on with the seller, too. Vaughn has an open invitation to ours in Northamptonshire anytime he wants smile
Your new car looks bloody lovely!