Jag XJ6 - series 1, 2 or 3?

Jag XJ6 - series 1, 2 or 3?

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Discussion

akirk

Original Poster:

5,377 posts

113 months

Tuesday 21st August 2018
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Am looking at the series jag xj6 cars...
series 3 looks slightly less classic (door handles and rubber bumpers I think), so initial thoughts are series 1 or 2...

not worried about engine, but generally take the approach that bigger is better... and have not owned a v12 yet, so that is tempting, but otherwise 4.2 in preference to 2.8 etc.

what is the general view, are there strong reasons for one over another (am assuming that any s2 coupe in good enough condition will not be in price range...)

thank you

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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You should be bothered about the engine size IMO.

The 3.4 is gutless in a XJ, even with a manual gearbox. I've only briefly driven a 2.8 but I suspect that would be even more so. Both are on carburetors and hopeless automatic chokes and even with that and the viscous coupled fan removed and perfectly set up the 3.4 will still devour quite astonishing amounts of fuel in exchange for marginally better performance than a contemporary diesel Transit.

Buy solely on condition. Unless you have a lucky find or have very deep pockets all the Series cars will have needed substantial repairs to bodywork and engines by now so it's a case of finding the best one you can and being prepared to sink time and money into keeping it that way. Rust will be a killer and rusting is the one thing the Series cars do incredibly well.

No doubt the later Series 3 cars under John Egan's tenure at Jaguar are better made than the earlier models but this still applies.

My pick would be a late or run out Series 3 with cloth upholstery, the 4.2 injected engine - the only one apart from the V12- and a manual 5 speed box. Mine would have firmer dampers and much harder steering rack mount bushes and a electric cooling fan fitted within a week of getting it and then it would be absolutely drenched in Waxoil.

w824gb3

257 posts

221 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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The S3 is better built. I ran a 4.2 Sovereign for a couple of years and apart from keeping on top of the rust was a very enjoyable and reliable experience.

The 4.2 injected engine is the best engine imo. Avoid the carb 3.4 and over complicated v12. Not sure why the poster above said cloth seats. Leather and wood is all part of the appeal.

akirk

Original Poster:

5,377 posts

113 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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Thank you for the thoughts - when I said not worried about engine - I meant, not worried about enjoying the big ones! I can' imagine it being hugely worse than the MPG on my M5 (14-16) or classic RR (10-15) and by the time you get to that point, you stop looking at the amount you have to pay anyway! So def. 4.2 / v12

Are there big handling differences with different engine weights / between the various series? I need to go and look at some in the flesh, but from photos, the series 1 / 2 are more classic looking than the series 3 which does attract me...

are there equipment differences worth worrying about, or are they each a gentle evolution of the previous?

def. agree about rust and avoiding - as I have a soft dash RR (which rust as you look at them) would prefer to spend money on not having to treat rust!

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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A gentle evolution. Apart from minor details the S1 and S2 cars are almost mechanically identical and most of the external cosmetic changes between the two were to meet US crash regulations. The S2 has a slightly revised interior too losing the row of centre switches and minor gauges which went onto stalks and in front of the driver. The S2 from the Leyland years is probably the low spot in build quality and a late S3 is the best.

The S3 gained fuel injection on the 4.2 and the body was restyled by Pininfarina and there was a better auto box - still only 3 speed though - and the manual versions went to a Rover 5 speed gearbox rather than the 4 speed + overdrive on the earlier cars. Apart from minor design changes and a improvement in build quality and equipment levels much else remains the same through the range.

There were a few differences in final drive ratios too, mainly to help the lower powered variants acceleration figures.

The V12 S3 was kept in production for several years after the manufacture of 6 cyl cars stopped. If you can live with mid teens MPG then one of those might be worth a look.

akirk

Original Poster:

5,377 posts

113 months

Wednesday 22nd August 2018
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thank you, very helpful, am quite tempted by a v12, an itch to scratch...
will carry on looking

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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Robert Hughes and Hurst Park Automobiles have Series cars for sale from time to time. Have a look in the Jaguar Enthusiasts Club classified section as well

Jaguar steve

9,232 posts

209 months

Thursday 23rd August 2018
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w824gb3 said:
The S3 is better built. I ran a 4.2 Sovereign for a couple of years and apart from keeping on top of the rust was a very enjoyable and reliable experience.

The 4.2 injected engine is the best engine imo. Avoid the carb 3.4 and over complicated v12. Not sure why the poster above said cloth seats. Leather and wood is all part of the appeal.
I dislike leather upholstery. It's the last thing you actually need in a wallowy old barge like a XJ as its way too slippery for comfort, particularity in the Series cars as the seats don't give sufficient lateral support. The same seats upholstered in cloth felt much more supportive and secure to me meaning you can concentrate far better on the feel of the car and road particularly when you're getting a bit of a move on.

That doesn't matter too much for an hour or so or if you're just ambling about but if you're regularly driving a 180 mile commute in a Series XJ like I used to do it really makes a difference

Jaguar recognised this in the later XJ cars and offered a cloth or half or full leather option for a while so you could choose exactly what you wanted.




flying-banana

257 posts

71 months

Wednesday 5th September 2018
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Jaguar steve said:
I dislike leather upholstery. It's the last thing you actually need in a wallowy old barge like a XJ as its way too slippery for comfort, particularity in the Series cars as the seats don't give sufficient lateral support. The same seats upholstered in cloth felt much more supportive and secure to me meaning you can concentrate far better on the feel of the car and road particularly when you're getting a bit of a move on.

That doesn't matter too much for an hour or so or if you're just ambling about but if you're regularly driving a 180 mile commute in a Series XJ like I used to do it really makes a difference

Jaguar recognised this in the later XJ cars and offered a cloth or half or full leather option for a while so you could choose exactly what you wanted.
This is why the XJ-C coupes had cloth seats as standard, as they were pitched as being slightly sportier.

Personally I like the more retro style of the S1, which was available as short or long wheelbase, the long wheelbase chassis becoming standard on the S2, the short wheelbase chassis becoming the basis for the XJ-C.

Also, keep an eye out for the better trimmed & equipped Daimler models, the S2 Vanden Plas models were the top of the range...

RobXjcoupe

3,151 posts

90 months

Thursday 15th November 2018
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The long wheel base versions don’t look balanced and in my eye the swb series 1 or 2 have the edge. Rust yeah but doesn’t anything about 40 years old. I’m running a 4.2 but using a big valve injection head, 3 carburettors and a 5 speed manual gearbox.
These cars are ripe for tweaking tired suspension and brake systems using parts from later xjs and db7 cars.
Just my opinion though smile

Peter3442

418 posts

67 months

Thursday 15th November 2018
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My preferences:

Looks: the best looking are the series 1 SWB and the series 3. The LWB series 1 and 2 are just a little compromised

Engine & gearbox: the 4.2 manual goes well in the series 1 and very well with injection in the series 3. If you can find one with a manual gearbox, it's significantly better for performance and economy. The V12 is a wonderful engine, but thirsty. The HE version in the series 3 is the most efficient (or least inefficient). But still, a swb series 1 V12, what a machine!

Seats: leather is sort of part of Jaguar. They are passable at keeping me in-place. The supposedly more luxurious seats in the more upmarket series 3 are, for me, not very comfortable. But seats are not difficult to swap.

Handling: in good condition, with well maintained bushes and good dampers, all models are much better than most people expect them to be. They can surprise series 3 BMWs of similar vintage.

Most of all, they are so refined, sublime compared with any of their contemporaries and most since.

Reliability: take good care of the cooling system and the fuel system

I've not mentioned the coupe. They look good, but they cost more and, as standard, for me don't have the best engines. Though, of course, they can be modified.

I have owned a series 3 Daimler Double Six for many years