Shed of the Week: Jaguar XJ6
Shed swoons over a fine looking red XJ6 on Valentine's Day
New cars could still learn a lot reckons Shed
Why do modern cars have such bone-crumblingly hard suspension? Shed's theory is that it's a combination of CO2-reducing lightness gone too far; excessive pandering to journalists who can only compare cars by their Nurburgring lap times; and a vast, teetering stockpile of Italian-made one-size-fits-all shock absorbers from the 1990s that the world's car makers are slowly working their way through.
Only half leather, but it looks great
You could include this week's Shed in that undesirable catchment area, but if any '90s Jag was worth a punt, surely this one is it. Just look at it: mica paint and unblemished chrome glinting seductively, showroom interior and a front numberplate that looks like it's never seen a 50mph breeze. For a different Valentine's Day experience, you and your loved one could buy it and then eat your dinner off the engine - up to and including a cool, crispy salad, if the mechanicals are living up to their stereotype by not working.
And if the interior seemed clean...
The XJ40 is somewhat sneered at in Jag aficionado circles, but the people who actually run them rate them higher than the X300. You do need to check for rust. Look at the bonnet edges front and rear, the front suspension subframe, windscreen surround, A-posts, door skins, jacking points, fuel filler flap and under the boot carpet (where it's normally surface corrosion).
Advert's OK, pics are good; worth a shot?
Electrically speaking, as Stephen Hawking might say, most of the XJ40's initial problems were sorted by the time this car rolled off the line. Air con units were never that long lasting, and you might get a 'blown bulb' indicator on the dash, but this is most likely to be a problem with the indicator rather than the bulb.
Forget all this stuff. Just look at it. It's bloody lovely, an impression reinforced by the vendor's quietly confident tone. Shed still uses a Commodore computer and screen, so is never quite sure on colours, but he believes this one to be in Carnival Red, the best XJ6 hue in his opinion, with seats in the perfectly contrasting oatmeal. Only half-leather, but when cloth is as spotless as this, who cares?
Our car is in Lancashire, God's own county, where the welcome, the beer and the tea are all at the same temperature and the people are honest. In fact, according to the phone number, it's in Blackpool, and a very nice bit of Blackpool too, going by the pics.
Some might see the phrase 'changed circumstances' and jump to the conclusion that this car might be owned by a retired TV entertainer with some upcoming legal costs to cover, but Shed isn't like that. He reckons this is a totally genuine XJ, loved and cared for throughout its life, and now waiting hopefully for some PHer to come along and, er, rag it to death.
For Sale My Jaguar XJ6 Auto Reg 1992 MOT Oct 2014 The car is in super original condition as can be seen from the photos. It is fitted with the usual jag refinements, A/C Electric windows. Mirrors Seats CD etc. with all electrics working. All chromework like new Selling due to changed circumstances Any inspection invited. A gift at £995 ono
Contacts 01253 884164. Mbl 07944166372.
I've had a couple of XJ40 over the years, and mechanically, they are tough as old boots. Engines are superb if maintained correctly.
Agreed, electrics and general switch gear and not as good as the X300 models.
As someone has rightly said, you can now pick up good examples of the X300 and even some nice X308s for less than shed money.
X308 is much more refined due to the nature of the V8, but they are not without their troubles, with water pumps, timing chain tensioners, head gaskets being well documented faults.
Still, if it's a fine XJ40 you are after, this seems to fit the bill pretty well. Ofeer £700 cash and try your luck!
Just building this at the moment, should be ready for 2014 season
Faced with the real prospect of the car ending up at the bottom of the sea, but still wanting to travel in semi-aristocratic British comfort, a cheap XJ40 like this one was the perfect choice.
The car completed it's near-5,000 mile trip around wintry Europe near faultlessly, and the only expenses in my ownership were fitting winter tyres and a wee bit of unleaded. And as a companion for a long trip, there can't be many better cars out there - it's combination of refinement, comfort, and effortlessness being spot on, the fact it wasn't one of the default German choices ideal, and I love the slightly rogeish character these old round headlight XJ40s have these days. Oh, and the old Jag was surprisingly controllable when drifting it across the frozen ocean! Here's a few pics of the old girl, which I still miss:
I paid £870 for it with about 60,000 on the clock, insured it on a 5,000 mile limited mileage policy for peanuts, and sold it in an ebay auction 4,980 miles and 12 countries later for about £700. Certainly one of my better purchases! Albeit one that could work out rather more expensively in the future, as I now simply must own an XJS one day...
The story of the Jag's Baltic adventure is here if you're interested: http://bencoombs.net/page70.html
And here's a brief video from the ice roads: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nr6Q_z-Id8
Funny how some cars are pegged as "cheap" and never really shake it off, apart from the fuel cost, tax will be £220 for the year and insurance should be buttons, keep it nice and could be very cheap, pleasant motoring for a year if nothing major dies.
I nearly bought a rather tidy Merc 230CE W124 the other day but bottled it, I need some waftiness in my life but have three cars already and though nice, a 4 cyl does not do the car justice, I swear our Citroen C1 would have troubled it, kind of misses the point of wafting but you want some get up an go.
I think this is the best shed in a while.
21 year old Jag electrics.
Weird metric tyre sizes too IIRC.
Nice try, I'll pass.
You can pick up a good X300 for shed money now. That's where my money would go.
Top shed. If I had the room I'd be there in a shot.
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