Advice needed for 1988 XJS Convertible

[TVP993]

Hi All,

I'm really interested in a 1988 V12 XJS convertible. Details are it has had 9 owners (Is this bad?)and has covered 34000 miles. Full history from new.

Looks immaculate in the pictures and garage has no problems with me getting a Jag specialist to do a full PPI on the car. So any advice, good or bad will be most welcome. Never had a Jag before so would appreciate any advice on probable issues, things to avoid, major bills etc etc

Also the car is near Portsmouth so any recommendations on someone who knows these cars inside out to do the PPI?

Thanks chaps.

[a8hex]

Before I bought my XJ6 I ended up looking at an XJ-S convertible too, which looked immaculate too. I didn't know much about them and it turns out the salesman at the main dealer didn't either. When I drove it, it had been sitting in their showroom for sometime and the wheels had flat spotted. Within yards of leaving the dealers it felt like the wheels were out of balance when I commented about this to the salesman, we said they all did it and the wheels were fine. I didn't end up buying the car.
More fool me.
What I didn't do was drive it for a few miles. I'm sure if I had the tyres would have come up to a normal temperature and returned the right shape and been fine.

So if you go to see the car and take things far enough for a test drive, don't make your mind up in the first few hundred yards, give the car time to warm up and start to flow.

At 34K miles it doesn't qualify as run in yet.

Hopefully someone with experience of owning one will give you a list of the places to check for rust. I think C&SC had a one or so page buyers guide last year.

[rswift]

Rust, rust & more rust....sills, front crossmember, floor pan ... lower rear quarters, boot lid, boot floor etc etc if all good check rear brakes for possible seizure/sticking warped pads as changing the relatively simple items is complex on an XJS. Unless you know the engines well, it is sometimes to difficult to tell if they are running sweetly, as they should be sublimely smooth .... but look for evidence of overheating, check the correct type & quantity of antifreeze (should be bluecol), check the condition of the hood etc. Exhaust .... a lot of expensive pipes on an XJS.

And then don't expect a 1988 car to be trouble free, so be prepared for further expense, hidden rust (!) ... or to become aquatinted with your spanners. Also don't underestimate the fuel bills .... which is the reason for so many V12 XJS's sitting on owners driveways. Spirited driving, and the acceleration i seductive will see you barley into double figures, and motorway journeys end up being a 50 mph just to get over 20 MPG.

Fabulous cars, but go in with open eyes, and do as much research as you can, Have a look at the Jaguar forums (jaguar forum.co.uk) I think, all very friendly on there.

[stuartmmcfc]

I wouldn't worry about the number of owners (it is nearly 25 years old after all) but I would be slightly concerned about the low mileage.
A good inspection would identify any problems cause by short journeys and long periods of inactivity the mleage would suggest.
As for low mpg- a major problem for an everyday car, but for a sunny day car it's not so bad.

[malc350]

Endless things to look for but your Jag specialist should know what to look for. I'd expect some oil leaks on a car that has probably stood for a while, with those miles it has probably spent a lot of time standing.

Hopefully your Jag specialist will be able to negotiate hard as he will be able to give you a good idea of how much work and money is involved to put any issues right.

Good luck!

[TVP993]

Thanks chaps.

So what are your thoughts on the price of £14k?

This is the car in question http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3441403.htm

Yes and miles is 31k (not 34k).

Also do these have 4 seats or 2 and do they have power hood?

Cheers

[E31Shrew]

Might be my eyes but is the drivers door a slightly different shade?

[malc350]

For 14k that had better be the best XJS you have ever seen in your life! IMHO that is strong money and that car had better be 100 per cent with zero faults. Honestly for 14k I would expect to be knocked out by it.

Expect to never get anything like your money back in your lifetime!

I love XJ-S's but I am still a bit cynical when they are that kind of money.

[stuartmmcfc]

TVP993 said:

Thanks chaps.

So what are your thoughts on the price of £14k?

This is the car in question http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3441403.htm

Yes and miles is 31k (not 34k).

Also do these have 4 seats or 2 and do they have power hood?

Cheers

I'm no expert on these cars but this one does not appear to have rear seats- just the usual luggage rack.
I have seen some with rear seats but whether they were were converted or OEM I don't know.
Later cars I've seen did have powered hoods.
Have to agree that is very strong money,