Old Jags - are they at rock bottom?
Discussion
Ive worked out that for about 100 hours worth of paid work this summer I could get myself a 1990s XJ6 or XJ8 in tip top condition, and then SORN it on the drive until I could afford to insure it in a few years time then use it as a daily whilst the Land Rover gets a rebuild and relegated to a show truck. My reasoning for doing so it that at 6-800 quid, surely the prices for these barges have hit rock bottom now and will only climb again in a few years time when I could buy and insure in one go.
Am I insane?
Am I insane?
mat777 said:
Ive worked out that for about 100 hours worth of paid work this summer I could get myself a 1990s XJ6 or XJ8 in tip top condition, and then SORN it on the drive until I could afford to insure it in a few years time then use it as a daily whilst the Land Rover gets a rebuild and relegated to a show truck. My reasoning for doing so it that at 6-800 quid, surely the prices for these barges have hit rock bottom now and will only climb again in a few years time when I could buy and insure in one go.
Am I insane?
Yes. Old Jags are worthless and will remain so for the foreseeable future. You've been able to buy old Jags for peanuts for years. There is no sense in buying one and storing it.Am I insane?
Probably.I can only see some major things going wrong with it if you leave it motionless for years. Corrosion, electrics. Think of flat spots on tyres - a Jag like that can easily wear it's value in tyres alone.
Wait a couple of years and X351 XJs should be at this level. These cars are unlikely to appreciate yet (if at all) as they're still common and fairly unloved. Classic XJs are still mega cheap, this is not the type of market level that reaches classic status (in general, barring specific examples).
Wait a couple of years and X351 XJs should be at this level. These cars are unlikely to appreciate yet (if at all) as they're still common and fairly unloved. Classic XJs are still mega cheap, this is not the type of market level that reaches classic status (in general, barring specific examples).
Speaking from (painful) experience here.
Don't do it!
I had a great idea once of buying a sub £1k Jag XJ6 series III, the car had a years MOT and 6 months tax. The body was straight and rust free(ish).
Thought this would be a total barge bargain to waft about in, not so. It didn't even get me home. The water pump failed, got that fixed, then there was a total electronic failure of ALL systems when I was on a busy road at rush hour. The only time I have nearly cried during a break down (residents of Aberdeen are a heartless bunch of arrogant b
ds, fact).
It then sat on the driveway for 2 years while I tried to find the funds for a total rewire and mechanical rebuild. Never happened. Got rid of the car for £0. Lost about a grand on her.
So moral of the story, don't buy a sub £1k Jag, it is not a bargain, there WILL be things wrong with it and it WILL rape your wallet, when you go for every MOT, when you go to the petrol station, when you tax it, when it breaks down, they are cheap for a reason.
Also if you plan to have it sitting on your drive for a couple of years until you can run it, you can be rest assured that it will rust, and deteriorate in front of your very eyes. Unless you are very handy with the spanners and welder then you have no hope.
Safe yourself while you still can!
Don't do it!
I had a great idea once of buying a sub £1k Jag XJ6 series III, the car had a years MOT and 6 months tax. The body was straight and rust free(ish).
Thought this would be a total barge bargain to waft about in, not so. It didn't even get me home. The water pump failed, got that fixed, then there was a total electronic failure of ALL systems when I was on a busy road at rush hour. The only time I have nearly cried during a break down (residents of Aberdeen are a heartless bunch of arrogant b
ds, fact). It then sat on the driveway for 2 years while I tried to find the funds for a total rewire and mechanical rebuild. Never happened. Got rid of the car for £0. Lost about a grand on her.
So moral of the story, don't buy a sub £1k Jag, it is not a bargain, there WILL be things wrong with it and it WILL rape your wallet, when you go for every MOT, when you go to the petrol station, when you tax it, when it breaks down, they are cheap for a reason.
Also if you plan to have it sitting on your drive for a couple of years until you can run it, you can be rest assured that it will rust, and deteriorate in front of your very eyes. Unless you are very handy with the spanners and welder then you have no hope.
Safe yourself while you still can!
Output Flange said:
Your original post seems to imply that you can pick up an immaculate XJ6 or XJ8 for £600 - £800.
You can't.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-JAGUAR-XJ-6-EXECUTIVE-116K-MILES-FULL-HISTORY-/320858030964?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item4ab4a10374#ht_1071wt_1297You can't.
I actually had to physically stop myself spending my student loan by bidding on that
as the dealer says, they have just run out upon the car being part-ex'd
But yes, I see the quite convincing arguments to wait a few years if values arent going to go anywhere, and I did wonder if driving round and round the courtyard once a fortnight would constitute enough exercise to stop the car seizing up. oh well, looks as if i will have to be sensible for once
But yes, I see the quite convincing arguments to wait a few years if values arent going to go anywhere, and I did wonder if driving round and round the courtyard once a fortnight would constitute enough exercise to stop the car seizing up. oh well, looks as if i will have to be sensible for once
Edited by mat777 on Monday 5th March 13:14
I have to agree with OutputFlange here, that particular one looks like trouble.
1. Why will the garage not MOT it to sell it?
2. High mileage and not very descriptive advert.
3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
Also see my previous post.
BAD idea. It will divert funds from your Landy (which looks awesome btw
) It will take up space, and never gain in value. Quite a pretty drive ornament if you like that sort of thing though...
1. Why will the garage not MOT it to sell it?
2. High mileage and not very descriptive advert.
3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
Also see my previous post.
BAD idea. It will divert funds from your Landy (which looks awesome btw
) It will take up space, and never gain in value. Quite a pretty drive ornament if you like that sort of thing though...Alfachick said:
I have to agree with OutputFlange here, that particular one looks like trouble.
3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
With no MOT surely it is basically spares or repair?3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
As others have said, if it would cruise through an MOT then the dealer would do it and add another few hundred quid to the asking price.
MX7 said:
I can't see why the price of Jags would rise. They are heavy on fuel, and there are too many to have any rarity value.
I can't comment on other Jaguars since I don't know enough about them, but the price of the very best XJ40s is definately rising.The XJ40 is not a rare car, but excellent cars - the desireable versions in top condition are rare now. I have seen several sell at auction in the last few months for money which surprised me.
Run of the mill XJ40s are very cheap and will stay very cheap for the forseeable future. Most will fall victim to their weight.
CzechItOut said:
Alfachick said:
I have to agree with OutputFlange here, that particular one looks like trouble.
3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
With no MOT surely it is basically spares or repair?3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
As others have said, if it would cruise through an MOT then the dealer would do it and add another few hundred quid to the asking price.
A cheap Jag can be a very expensive hobby. Take it from someone who was seduced by a 'bargain' V12 XJS. I think it cost me about £10 a mile in the end.
Just to offset some of the negativity, I recently brought a 1993 XJ6. Said vehicle has just completed a 2 week, 5,000 mile European road trip completely faultlessly and in perfect luxury, and gives off the impression it could keep on wafting for evermore. Given the low prices of old Jags, many have fallen into the wrong hands and been abused and neglected - however if find a good, well maintained one, it's quite likely it'll provide a wonderfully quaint ownership experience for very little money - except the fuel bills of course.
I agree that they aren't exactly an investment though - and leaving one sat outside and underutilized for a few years would be an effective way of turning good money to rust...
I agree that they aren't exactly an investment though - and leaving one sat outside and underutilized for a few years would be an effective way of turning good money to rust...
Alfachick said:
Speaking from (painful) experience here.
Don't do it!
I had a great idea once of buying a sub £1k Jag XJ6 series III, the car had a years MOT and 6 months tax. The body was straight and rust free(ish).
Thought this would be a total barge bargain to waft about in, not so. It didn't even get me home. The water pump failed, got that fixed, then there was a total electronic failure of ALL systems when I was on a busy road at rush hour. The only time I have nearly cried during a break down (residents of Aberdeen are a heartless bunch of arrogant bds, fact).
It then sat on the driveway for 2 years while I tried to find the funds for a total rewire and mechanical rebuild. Never happened. Got rid of the car for £0. Lost about a grand on her.
So moral of the story, don't buy a sub £1k Jag, it is not a bargain, there WILL be things wrong with it and it WILL rape your wallet, when you go for every MOT, when you go to the petrol station, when you tax it, when it breaks down, they are cheap for a reason.
Also if you plan to have it sitting on your drive for a couple of years until you can run it, you can be rest assured that it will rust, and deteriorate in front of your very eyes. Unless you are very handy with the spanners and welder then you have no hope.
Safe yourself while you still can!
Sweeping statements are so much fun. Not all of 'em are true though. Don't do it!
I had a great idea once of buying a sub £1k Jag XJ6 series III, the car had a years MOT and 6 months tax. The body was straight and rust free(ish).
Thought this would be a total barge bargain to waft about in, not so. It didn't even get me home. The water pump failed, got that fixed, then there was a total electronic failure of ALL systems when I was on a busy road at rush hour. The only time I have nearly cried during a break down (residents of Aberdeen are a heartless bunch of arrogant b
ds, fact). It then sat on the driveway for 2 years while I tried to find the funds for a total rewire and mechanical rebuild. Never happened. Got rid of the car for £0. Lost about a grand on her.
So moral of the story, don't buy a sub £1k Jag, it is not a bargain, there WILL be things wrong with it and it WILL rape your wallet, when you go for every MOT, when you go to the petrol station, when you tax it, when it breaks down, they are cheap for a reason.
Also if you plan to have it sitting on your drive for a couple of years until you can run it, you can be rest assured that it will rust, and deteriorate in front of your very eyes. Unless you are very handy with the spanners and welder then you have no hope.
Safe yourself while you still can!
With regards to the S1 - S3 XJ6, the biggest problem is when people expect miracles from a car they don't maintain. People ignore wearing tyres, suspension clunks, the back brakes, sticking windows, oil changes, coolant changes etc. Then when it fails, the unfortunate owners perpetuate the myth Alfachick is peddling.
Speaking from a decades experience of S1 - 3 XJ6's driven more or less every day..
Done right they're as reliable as anything you can find, take my current two as examples. They're both scruffy as I'm crap at bodywork, but well maintained.
S1 XJ6, bought for £650. Not the tidiest of the bunch as it nearly got banger raced. It cost me a bit in tyres, and getting the overdrive rebuilt, but I piled a good 10,000 miles on it in a year, before the 2.8 engine ate a piston. I fitted a 3.4 and carried on. Its now off the road through choice as I'm fitting an XJR engine into it.
S3 XJ6 (ex Practical Classics car) for £450. 15,000 miles in the last year, still going strong. Cost me a headgasket when I bought it, since then I've just fed its thirst for unleaded and driven it everywhere.
It can be done, but you have to take care of them, and put a little time into maintenance. Its not difficult, the schedule is in the handbook.
Regards,
Rich
I do have a memory of an "xj6chick" buying a rough XJ6, and coming on one of the Jaguar forums. Wasn't you was it Alfachick?
Edited by richw_82 on Tuesday 6th March 11:41
Alfachick said:
I have to agree with OutputFlange here, that particular one looks like trouble.
1. Why will the garage not MOT it to sell it?
2. High mileage and not very descriptive advert.
3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
I agree with the warnings, but...1. Why will the garage not MOT it to sell it?
2. High mileage and not very descriptive advert.
3. ALL other Jags around that price mark are for spares or repairs, you have to get up to well over a grand to get a semi decent XJ6, which will still rape your wallet.
1) Cars take a long time to sell. A new mOT with 12 months could easily become 9 or 8 months left by the time its sold- and then they'll be asking fir a new one. So the dealer has lost about £80 on a £1k car. If you're really keen, then have a look at it, and if you want to buy then offer a quote subject to a valid mOT. Ask him where and when its being done, and pop by to have a look
2) Poor marketing. It wont be the last time...
3) True. But, like a Maserati Biturbo, you still cant help thinking "...yes, but its cheap. Maybe its a good one. Maybe this one will be fine...."
mat777 said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1996-JAGUAR-XJ-6-EXECUTI...
I actually had to physically stop myself spending my student loan by bidding on that
Surely the sellers terrible feedback rating is warning enough???I actually had to physically stop myself spending my student loan by bidding on that
richw_82 said:
Sweeping statements are so much fun. Not all of 'em are true though.
With regards to the S1 - S3 XJ6, the biggest problem is when people expect miracles from a car they don't maintain. People ignore wearing tyres, suspension clunks, the back brakes, sticking windows, oil changes, coolant changes etc. Then when it fails, the unfortunate owners perpetuate the myth Alfachick is peddling.
Speaking from a decades experience of S1 - 3 XJ6's driven more or less every day..
Done right they're as reliable as anything you can find, take my current two as examples. They're both scruffy as I'm crap at bodywork, but well maintained.
S1 XJ6, bought for £650. Not the tidiest of the bunch as it nearly got banger raced. It cost me a bit in tyres, and getting the overdrive rebuilt, but I piled a good 10,000 miles on it in a year, before the 2.8 engine ate a piston. I fitted a 3.4 and carried on. Its now off the road through choice as I'm fitting an XJR engine into it.
S3 XJ6 (ex Practical Classics car) for £450. 15,000 miles in the last year, still going strong. Cost me a headgasket when I bought it, since then I've just fed its thirst for unleaded and driven it everywhere.
It can be done, but you have to take care of them, and put a little time into maintenance. Its not difficult, the schedule is in the handbook.
Regards,
Rich
I do have a memory of an "xj6chick" buying a rough XJ6, and coming on one of the Jaguar forums. Wasn't you was it Alfachick?
Not a sweeping statement, just a true story. With regards to the S1 - S3 XJ6, the biggest problem is when people expect miracles from a car they don't maintain. People ignore wearing tyres, suspension clunks, the back brakes, sticking windows, oil changes, coolant changes etc. Then when it fails, the unfortunate owners perpetuate the myth Alfachick is peddling.
Speaking from a decades experience of S1 - 3 XJ6's driven more or less every day..
Done right they're as reliable as anything you can find, take my current two as examples. They're both scruffy as I'm crap at bodywork, but well maintained.
S1 XJ6, bought for £650. Not the tidiest of the bunch as it nearly got banger raced. It cost me a bit in tyres, and getting the overdrive rebuilt, but I piled a good 10,000 miles on it in a year, before the 2.8 engine ate a piston. I fitted a 3.4 and carried on. Its now off the road through choice as I'm fitting an XJR engine into it.
S3 XJ6 (ex Practical Classics car) for £450. 15,000 miles in the last year, still going strong. Cost me a headgasket when I bought it, since then I've just fed its thirst for unleaded and driven it everywhere.
It can be done, but you have to take care of them, and put a little time into maintenance. Its not difficult, the schedule is in the handbook.
Regards,
Rich
I do have a memory of an "xj6chick" buying a rough XJ6, and coming on one of the Jaguar forums. Wasn't you was it Alfachick?
Edited by richw_82 on Tuesday 6th March 11:41
I agree if you buy a good one to start with then it will be like any other classic car, mostly reliable and good fun. However if you don't (like me) then its a very very painful and expensive lesson to learn.
Basically trying to stop this bloke, who sounds like he was about to make the EXACT same mistake as me, from having to learn this lesson the hard way.
Might have been me on the forum can't really remember. The car didn't LOOK rough but evidently was as rough as a badgers arse in the end. Sigh. She was so beautiful as well
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