Bad time to be selling my XJS
Discussion
Is it a bad time to be selling Classic Cars at the moment.I have had a couple of interested parties but I really think now that everyone is in panic mode waiting for the axe to fall next month.I actually want to change it for a V12 but I have put it on a sorn now and will try again in the spring. Has anyone else experienced difficulty in selling.Also the prices seem to have fallen considerably over the last 12 months.
Although I live in the US I too have noticed that XJS prices seem to be in freefall unless its an exceptional car. I tend to follow the US E-Bay and casually watch the cars coming up. May are relisted for months. The bidding doesn't appear to be going above 10k dollars for anything. I have a '94 4.0 coupe in black with a nearly new barley interior (I replaced both front seats with NOS covers) and 99k miles with the 5 speed manual transmission (vv rare in the US) and I doubt I would get barely 4k dollars if I tried to sell it. Admittedly it desparately needs new paint as the bonnet and roof are like a blackboard! Zero rust too.
The car always gets complemented and people think its far newer than it is. I think the XJS will go down the same route as other 'nearly' cars like the Rover SD1 & Triumph TR7 & 8 (yes I know, how can you put it in the same league, but you know what I'm saying) etc and will never be seen as a true 'classic' classic. It will forever be blighted as the b
d stepchild of the E-Type with the flying buttress design etc, from the dodgy 1970's. Harsh? Maybe. Only time will tell, and now doesn't appear to be the time.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do with the car. Me? I'm hanging onto mine and will get it re-painted and see whatever else I want to throw at it financially. I love it, its my first jaguar and makes me feel special everytime I drive it.
The car always gets complemented and people think its far newer than it is. I think the XJS will go down the same route as other 'nearly' cars like the Rover SD1 & Triumph TR7 & 8 (yes I know, how can you put it in the same league, but you know what I'm saying) etc and will never be seen as a true 'classic' classic. It will forever be blighted as the b
d stepchild of the E-Type with the flying buttress design etc, from the dodgy 1970's. Harsh? Maybe. Only time will tell, and now doesn't appear to be the time.Good luck with whatever you choose to do with the car. Me? I'm hanging onto mine and will get it re-painted and see whatever else I want to throw at it financially. I love it, its my first jaguar and makes me feel special everytime I drive it.
It`s not about values, its about regular maintenance of a product, designed by Malcom Sayer( E type designer), which ,as it happens is not a bad product.Nothing dodgy about it. Its` the cheap skate 2 bob owners that are the problem, harping on about the costs ,trying to cut corners and not treating the product with the care and attention it deserves,then whining about it. If you can`t maintain a car correctly then you SHOULDN`T BLOODY WELL HAVE IT, it`s that simple.If I get the slighest hint of this behavior, they are fked right off, I won`t even bother to waste my time talking to them.
I maintain a number of XJSs,none are valuable cars , but they are impecably maintained. Bodywork issues are attended to straight away. Each car passes its` MOT everyyear,they bear no carbon footprint and if looked after will give sterling sevice, one client is now on 180k miles on the same engine box and diff,another has RS has covered 25k, a third is having a part time resoration on a 3.6 because it has reached that point now, and he loves the car.I won`t discuss the figures, because it doesn`t matter. He will have another 100k of trouble free miles when finished in a car he enjoys and loves. All you 2 bob XJ owners take note.
ked right off, I won`t even bother to waste my time talking to them.I maintain a number of XJSs,none are valuable cars , but they are impecably maintained. Bodywork issues are attended to straight away. Each car passes its` MOT everyyear,they bear no carbon footprint and if looked after will give sterling sevice, one client is now on 180k miles on the same engine box and diff,another has RS has covered 25k, a third is having a part time resoration on a 3.6 because it has reached that point now, and he loves the car.I won`t discuss the figures, because it doesn`t matter. He will have another 100k of trouble free miles when finished in a car he enjoys and loves. All you 2 bob XJ owners take note.
No raw materials to produce this one, just the old gas ,mate plus parts get it?Thanks Norman, fact....If some of these gripers put some decent investment into repairs,the XJS would be so much more attractive to a greater audience.Trouble is because the model isn`t worth much, they attract too many black neck soap dodgers and small change janglers.I personally feel they should undergo a means test before they are allowed to own a Jaguar, or stick to Punto
For information the car in question is a April 96 celebration 4.0l with 70k and FSH so I am not sure what your post is all about. My other one is a 1985 cabriolet with 74k. I didnt ask for a scrap value and i dont need advice on maintainance or body work repairs I was asking if anyone had experienced a problem selling their cars.
geeman237 said:
Although I live in the US I too have noticed that XJS prices seem to be in freefall unless its an exceptional car. I tend to follow the US E-Bay and casually watch the cars coming up. May are relisted for months. The bidding doesn't appear to be going above 10k dollars for anything. I have a '94 4.0 coupe in black with a nearly new barley interior (I replaced both front seats with NOS covers) and 99k miles with the 5 speed manual transmission (vv rare in the US) and I doubt I would get barely 4k dollars if I tried to sell it. Admittedly it desparately needs new paint as the bonnet and roof are like a blackboard! Zero rust too.
The car always gets complemented and people think its far newer than it is. I think the XJS will go down the same route as other 'nearly' cars like the Rover SD1 & Triumph TR7 & 8 (yes I know, how can you put it in the same league, but you know what I'm saying) etc and will never be seen as a true 'classic' classic. It will forever be blighted as the bd stepchild of the E-Type with the flying buttress design etc, from the dodgy 1970's. Harsh? Maybe. Only time will tell, and now doesn't appear to be the time.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do with the car. Me? I'm hanging onto mine and will get it re-painted and see whatever else I want to throw at it financially. I love it, its my first jaguar and makes me feel special everytime I drive it.
If only I wasn't maxed out I'd give ya 4k for yours as you said it needs another 4k worth of paint. Would love a 5 speed XJS here in the states without having to go through the conversion process.The car always gets complemented and people think its far newer than it is. I think the XJS will go down the same route as other 'nearly' cars like the Rover SD1 & Triumph TR7 & 8 (yes I know, how can you put it in the same league, but you know what I'm saying) etc and will never be seen as a true 'classic' classic. It will forever be blighted as the b
d stepchild of the E-Type with the flying buttress design etc, from the dodgy 1970's. Harsh? Maybe. Only time will tell, and now doesn't appear to be the time.Good luck with whatever you choose to do with the car. Me? I'm hanging onto mine and will get it re-painted and see whatever else I want to throw at it financially. I love it, its my first jaguar and makes me feel special everytime I drive it.
Most people end up with the cars they deserve IMHO.RW774 said:
It`s not about values, its about regular maintenance of a product, designed by Malcom Sayer( E type designer), which ,as it happens is not a bad product.Nothing dodgy about it. Its` the cheap skate 2 bob owners that are the problem, harping on about the costs ,trying to cut corners and not treating the product with the care and attention it deserves,then whining about it. If you can`t maintain a car correctly then you SHOULDN`T BLOODY WELL HAVE IT, it`s that simple.If I get the slighest hint of this behavior, they are fked right off, I won`t even bother to waste my time talking to them.
I maintain a number of XJSs,none are valuable cars , but they are impecably maintained. Bodywork issues are attended to straight away. Each car passes its` MOT everyyear,they bear no carbon footprint and if looked after will give sterling sevice, one client is now on 180k miles on the same engine box and diff,another has RS has covered 25k, a third is having a part time resoration on a 3.6 because it has reached that point now, and he loves the car.I won`t discuss the figures, because it doesn`t matter. He will have another 100k of trouble free miles when finished in a car he enjoys and loves. All you 2 bob XJ owners take note.
I bought a 95 XJS Coupe with 87,000 on it in '07. Changed the diff fluid, tranny fluid, and some other basics. Do the oil every 3-4K and have had next to no trouble and am over 100K at the moment. I think the low values are due to people simply not knowing what they are as folks are constantly commenting and questioning after it. Many fail to realize the differences between older XJSs and those from the early to mid 90s, especially the best models of 95 & 96 with the exceptional XJ16 engine.ked right off, I won`t even bother to waste my time talking to them.I maintain a number of XJSs,none are valuable cars , but they are impecably maintained. Bodywork issues are attended to straight away. Each car passes its` MOT everyyear,they bear no carbon footprint and if looked after will give sterling sevice, one client is now on 180k miles on the same engine box and diff,another has RS has covered 25k, a third is having a part time resoration on a 3.6 because it has reached that point now, and he loves the car.I won`t discuss the figures, because it doesn`t matter. He will have another 100k of trouble free miles when finished in a car he enjoys and loves. All you 2 bob XJ owners take note.
Edited by Jimbeaux on Friday 15th October 03:33
RW774 said:
Thanks Norman, fact....If some of these gripers put some decent investment into repairs,the XJS would be so much more attractive to a greater audience.Trouble is because the model isn`t worth much, they attract too many black neck soap dodgers and small change janglers.I personally feel they should undergo a means test before they are allowed to own a Jaguar, or stick to Punto
Which is why when an enthusiast picks one up cheap (as I sometimes do) it costs a fortune to get it back right.Its also in part what gets them the bad reputation. To give you some idea, a friend knows I drive XJS/XJ6's and decided he wanted some of the fun. He ditched his 56 reg Astra, and purchased a rather tidy 1989 XJS 3.6.
For some insane reason, he didn't service the car. Never. Not once. The Astra had been getting it done regular as clockwork, yet the XJS was expected to soldier on for mile after mile, without so much as an oil change.
Unsurprisingly after coping with this for a while, it started breaking down on a regular basis. He still has it, but now moans to everybody that it's the most unreliable car he's ever owned.
Regards
Ric
My 1983 V12 XJS is being restored now after many years of safe and faithful years of business, pleasure and tours.I have had 18 years of use from it, without major issues.
It was modified a long time ago with 5 speed getrag and all sorts of other bits such as XK8 wheels, bodykit etc, it is now being sorted out re BL rust and made safe again plus regain its looks and quality. Ir will be very dignified in it new state and worth money should a discriminating buyer want it, should I wish to sell.
All these cars ask for is regularly maintaining, oil changes and proper coolant. if you cant be bothered then dont run a complex car.
Good XJS will always sell now, maybe slowly but for a fair value if you resist the E-bay advert and get mixed in with some rather sad vehicles.
It was modified a long time ago with 5 speed getrag and all sorts of other bits such as XK8 wheels, bodykit etc, it is now being sorted out re BL rust and made safe again plus regain its looks and quality. Ir will be very dignified in it new state and worth money should a discriminating buyer want it, should I wish to sell.
All these cars ask for is regularly maintaining, oil changes and proper coolant. if you cant be bothered then dont run a complex car.
Good XJS will always sell now, maybe slowly but for a fair value if you resist the E-bay advert and get mixed in with some rather sad vehicles.
Well I found a buyer and he seemed very keen to own an xjs who wouldnt.We agreed a price only for a discrepancy to occur on the mileage check via HPI. As all the MOT's and service docs match (its done 76k) I was extremely annoyed. Further investigation found a private plate reg in Sept 2005 led to an input error, which is great I can get them to ammend their records for the future but I lost my buyer who didnt want to wait.Further investigation with the DVLA found that they pass on info to HPI on the understanding it is not necessarily accurate and mileages may not be the same as on the odometer of the car.
So beware HPI checks are not as solid as you might of thought. The good news is as I was cleaning the Car for its prospective buyer I really wondered if I was doing the right thing selling her just to buy a 6.0 as I already have a V12 cabbie so I will keep her now.
So beware HPI checks are not as solid as you might of thought. The good news is as I was cleaning the Car for its prospective buyer I really wondered if I was doing the right thing selling her just to buy a 6.0 as I already have a V12 cabbie so I will keep her now.
Edited by johnxjsc1985 on Thursday 28th October 19:46
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