Hows everyone doing? This would be my first Jaguar and i really dont know anything about the cars. I do have some wrenching abilities so im not to afraid of that aspect. But just wondering if anyone could give me some pointers or heads up on any known problems. Ive copied the link to the page, check it out and tell me if its a good deal or not. I have not seen the car in person but it looks very nice and the dealer selling it has been anwering all of my questions which is a good sign. Any help is much appreciated, i just want to make sure im making the right move.

Sincerly
Carson

Included a picture of the engine they sent me figured it would give a little better idea on the cars condition.

Submitted by fw1938@felpsis.net on Wed, 03/28/2007 - 23:06

I second the previous reply wholeheartedly!! Remember, the dealer is not your friend, you are a source for his paycheck, dealers lie. All car lots do the "steam clean" of engines to make them look really good and hide leaks. Beware of smiling salesmen.

Good luck,

Fred

Submitted by zurdo_1@univis… on Mon, 11/13/2006 - 09:42

hello; you asked for advice and here's mine:

don't buy it without seeing it in person. Advertisements exagerate, they stretch the truth. In this forum there are a few documented horror stories of first-time Jaguar buyers, check those out. Those buyers did not heed the Golden Rule of "NEVER BUY ANY CAR SIGHT UNSEEN", and they paid dearly for it. The 1988 is known to have problems with the Rear "Self-Leveling" suspension, requiring a somewhat expensive modification to eliminate the problem. The 1988 is the first year of the XJ-40 Series, also called the "Series 4 XJ-6" by Series 3 XJ-6 owners.

Having warned you, that particular car looks good, (I repeat, it "LOOKS" good, I'm not saying it IS GOOD). make sure the pictures are RECENT pictures. Spend a little money and go see it in person, tell the Dealer to pick you up at the airport IN THE CAR. Looks good for a 1988 which are normally beat up by now. Check for concealed accident damage, that's a MUST. Bring a flashlight with you, lay on the ground and look underneath for rust, abnormal leaking, (ALL JAGS LEAK!), anything that doesn't look normal is not normal. Better yet, get it on a Lift and bring a Jaguar owner or mechanic with you to inspect it underneath, sideways, East, West North, and South. The time to complain is before you pay, not after, then make an offer of $3,600.00, so that if it turns out to be a dud, you won't be loosing a lot.

Good luck really, Burgundy is a nice and uncommon color, check the condition of the Leather interior, if it's good or better than good, and the car checks out ok, drive it home. Let us know how it turns out, but don't despair if anything goes wrong, because it will. Just get it fixed, and since you admit to being handy, first thing is to buy a Service Manual in CD form (about $25.00) and a fender/wing protective cover (so you don't scratch it), (www.mossmotors.com) and start tinkering. Parts are not expensive, (except the exterior Door Handles that have a tendency to break apart in the XJ-40 and they are pricey), but everything is available, many many parts suppliers all over this land, England, Canada, Spain, Australia, Africa, Central and South America, the Caribbean, you name it, there's Jaguar parts everywhere, except in Cuba.