same old questions I assume

[aaak]

Probably been asked lots before but I'm looking for advice from those of you with the experience.
Selling my 993 (anyone interested?) because herself won't get in it -too small apparently. it was my mid-life crisis now looking for something bigger. Nearly 100% it will be a jag/daimler but I live in Orkney and test drives aren't easy.
Pros & cons and more importantly hazards to look out for with xjr's. These seems great value (I'm not going to be doing a big mileage but some long runs)however at £2k plus there must be catches to look for.
The perceived alternative would be a double six, given I like the 'classics' and maybe I don't need a supercharger?
I appreciate anyone who takes the time to read this drivel, never mind replying to it

[Jaguar steve]

Choices in your £2k budget will be either an X300 fitted with either 3.2 or 4.0 six cyl engines or possibily a rough 6.0 V12, and a X308 with the same engine sizes as the earlier 6 cyl cars but in V8 format.

Your biggest problem is going to be finding a good example of whatever you choose - the 6 cyl cars are prone to corrosion but are almost mechanically bombproof, and your £2k will almost certainly buy a good one and the V8s, although a much better car in terms of refinement and perfomance have a number of problems which are potentially ruinious, and £2k is not going to buy the very good one you'll need to avoid these potential problems. I very much doubt you'll find a 6.0 V12 even worth thinking about for £2k.

I'd suggest you start looking for the best 6 cyl car you can find. You might get lucky and find a good V8 but you'll need to be prepared to spend money on preventative maintainence like a gearbox oil change and fitting upgraded timing chain tensioners wherereas the 6 cyl XJ is a much simpler and more robust car. Both have similar fuel consumption - high 20s at best and parts are cheaper than you might think.

Have a look on carsandclassics and in the Jaguar World magazine, there's often several nice examples advertised there.

[aaak]

Thanks for that Steve.
I didn't explain myself very well, £2k seems to be a very common price.
i can probably stretch to £5k plus if that would bring a good v8
but then you have the possibility of just someones inflated idea of his cars worth.
Worth considering paying a bit more to a dealer/garage?
Cheers

[CarbonXKR]

At least with a dealer/garage you will have some peace of mind - possibly even warranty?? Like me though, living in Orkney does have its downfalls if something serious goes wrong and you have to head off south to a jag specialist for the work.

[lestershaw]

CarbonXKR said:

At least with a dealer/garage you will have some peace of mind - possibly even warranty?? Like me though, living in Orkney does have its downfalls if something serious goes wrong and you have to head off south to a jag specialist for the work.

malcolm,
i have 2 XJRs
i paid £3k for a low mileage black on black
and have since spent another £3k doing latest tensioners, gear box oil, supercharger mod, water pump, gearbox oil change, new disks and calipers, wheel bearing etc and its still not as good as my other one im selling which has done 62,000 miles and i reckon if im very lucky i might get £4.5 k for it.
i suggest if you intend keeping the XJR that you must buy the very very best you can afford, as sooner rather than later you WILL be spending money on keeping your pride and joy in the condition you enjoy driving it in

[Jaguar steve]

aaak said:

Thanks for that Steve.
I didn't explain myself very well, £2k seems to be a very common price.
i can probably stretch to £5k plus if that would bring a good v8
but then you have the possibility of just someones inflated idea of his cars worth.
Worth considering paying a bit more to a dealer/garage?
Cheers

That puts a different slant on the deal - yes, 5k will buy you a very good XJ8 but I'd suggest you keep some cash back for a gearbox oil change and having the top timing chain tensioners changed for the metal bodied 3rd gen versions. As far as value goes - well we all have a different view on how much a car is worth and you need to pay no more than what it's worth to you.

Personally I'd look for the best example I can find then start considering what to pay. If, and only if it's pristine and the car I really want then there's no point in loosing the deal squabbling over a few hundred quid or whether the tax disc stays in the deal or not - chances are the money you might save walking away from the best car and buying a cheaper example will sooner or later get spent on repairs or maintainenece, and no matter how much you end up spending on that you'll still have a car that's not as good as the more expensive one you turned down.

As far as dealers or garages go then I'd say no. Pretty much all the cars I've looked at for both myself and other people have been in poorer condition and cost more money than a private sale. The difference in what's described in the dealers advert and what you actually see on the forecourt when you visit is often astounding. What you need to find is an caring enthusiast selling a car that has been looked after really well, and that'll mean looking in the Jaguar World classifieds, carsandclassic, and maybe consider joining the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club to get access to the club classifieds.

Mixed up with all the stone rashed shagged out rubbish you'll find easily enough there are some superb cars available - chances are though it'll take a lot of miles and time finding one, but at least if you do look at several you'll know a good car and deal when you eventually find it.

[aaak]

Thanks guys,

a lot to ponder......basically you get what you pay for.
I would love to go around have drives of cars, however, from Orkney most of them are overnight on a ferry with 12 hour drive to follow. I would like to be reasonably sure of what i'm going to see before I set off.
Lester, would you like to forward details of your car for sale?
I also think joining JEC is agood idea, where I come from alot still goes on trusting people and in a club you hope that exists to some extent.
Meanwhile, there's a very cute 76 series II Daimler double six coupe in Wiltshire.
My ideal trip would probably to try it and a xjr -given I have never even driven a single jag before.

[lestershaw]

Malcolm YHM
:-)