What should I look for when buying an XJR??

[mickeybee]

I have been looking for the last few months for a V6 Alfa 166 without success.
My job means I am tied to a commercial vehicle through the week and I fancy a nice set of wheels for when the sun comes out.
I have now widened the net and begun to look for an XJR with a budget of around 6k.
I am looking for a low mileage car, which I will add no more than 5k a year to.
In a previous career I have had all the German stuff but have never driven a Jag, never mind a supercharged car. What are they like?
I have spotted a possible car with low miles, two owners, mostly jag service history and papers to prove mileage.
I have not yet viewed the car and to be honest have no idea what to look for apart from the obvious (shiny pedal rubbers, suspension clunks etc.)
What are the major things that will cause me financial ruin and headaches and yes it does have to be the supercharged car.
Please help going to view car at the weekend.

[GavinPearson]

mickeybee said:

In a previous career I have had all the German stuff but have never driven a Jag, never mind a supercharged car. What are they like?
I have spotted a possible car with low miles, two owners, mostly jag service history and papers to prove mileage.
I have not yet viewed the car and to be honest have no idea what to look for apart from the obvious (shiny pedal rubbers, suspension clunks etc.)
What are the major things that will cause me financial ruin and headaches and yes it does have to be the supercharged car.
Please help going to view car at the weekend.

I am assuming that you want a V8 supercharged car, not the earlier straight 6.

Speaking as an owner of a V8 Jag, you will find that they are an extremely comfortable car, very quiet and refined, and you feel extremely special when you drive the car. The controls are not particularly heavy, and it is the sort of car that you can drive for an entire day, and not feel particularly fatigued at the end of it.

The XJR takes that basic concept, and allows you without putting in any real effort, to reach 60 in under 5.5 seconds and 100 in about 13. That's quite quick. The suspension tuning feels sporty but comfortable. A lot of people don't realise that the Jag uses a progressive rate spring aid that makes the car comfortable in everyday driving but handle quite well on a track. If you want a sports car, buy a 911. If you want a fast car that can take 3 people and luggage 1000 miles in comfort at an extremely rapid pace, then you have the right car.

In terms of things that go wrong, it is well documented that early cars that had a lot of short journeys and used high sulphur fuel could suffer a loss of compression. There was a TSB for this and engines were replaced. If yours has been checked, and is good, then there are no problems. The engines also benefit from timing chain tensioner and water pump changes at high mileages. The newer the car, the less you need to worry as these issues were fixed.

Aside from that the car is very well sorted mechanically. If the car has had regular oil changes there is very little to worry about. My view is that if you buy one, have the engine, transmission and final drive oils & filters changed, and change the plugs and coolant too.

[mickeybee]

No Gavin it is the earlier car and advertised as a 1997 car,so I presume it must be one of the last produced.
Does this present any new problems to be aware of?
Would you suggest a nice car with low miles will eventually start to increase in value?

[jamesk]

Finding one with low miles will be next to impossible, especially at that age. You may need to refine your criteria on that one.

For collectability I would say that finding a rare manual gearbox model would ensure that but mainly the condition will decide.

If you can stretch to it I would personally go for a V8 version, notwithstanding their known weaknesses, the interior is totally different and they have barely aged even in 9 years. If so, read this:


www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=195961&f=85&h=0&hw=XJR

Edited by jamesk on Thursday 26th April 10:04

[mickeybee]

Phew, thanks for the link James that guy knows his stuff.

[GavinPearson]

The good news is that the 6 cylinder cars are bulletproof in comparison to the V8s.

You feel just as special driving the car, though (as with all upgrades) the later car is a bit quieter, a bit faster, and there is a bit more grip.

Enjoy the drive, I think you will be pleasantly surprised.