OK, fine! I'm 47 years old and it's high time I get myself a Jaguar. I love the lines. I love the prestige (ouch! Did I really say that?!). I love the ride and the handling. I love the pampering.

So, after much reading around the web (and a lot of it here), I have settled on a Vanden Plas (nothing like the top end, eh?)

I'd love to have the $$$$ to get a 2003 or so, but reality suggests a pre-98 (before the dreaded tensioners and Nickasil issues).

I'm an engineer with a substantial home shop so the usual repairs and whatnot are quite do-able (though not always done with the glee of my earlier years).

Question: there's a '96 VDP 4.0 for sale near here at $8900 (from a dealer of any-car-that-runs) with 95K miles. Any thoughts on things to look for, to beware of, or to avoid like the plague?

Of course I'll pay the local independent Jaguar shop to give it the old once-over. Yet I still like to know about things for myself. And yes, I've read the wonderful '20-things that just go wrong and gotta be fixed' list here, so I'll be looking for them.

Any words of wisdom, stories of hard-won experience, and wild-hair ideas, are gratefully received.

Charles

Submitted by charlesmiller6… on Sun, 11/19/2006 - 15:16

1995 - 1997 are pretty good Jags but not bullet proof. Here are the things that you can count on with this model year to have to fix at one time or another:
1. shocks and bushings - replacement usually required by 100K or sooner.
2. rear differential - the diff design puts too much lateral and horizontal pressure on the bearings and they wear out by around 60K to 100K miles.
3. rust - lip around the exterior fender wells rust. Moisture gets caught between the inner and out skins of the fender well and rusts through.

These issues notwithstanding these model year Jags are reliable cars and the prices are not too high. Doug is right. Lots to choose from for these model years. Shop around and be very selective.

Submitted by dougdwyer@adel… on Thu, 09/21/2006 - 09:25

The '95-'96-'97 have a very good reputation so there's no need to avoid this one like the plague.

However it is at the age and mileage where there will almost certainly be a few things needing attention....possibly major things if the car has been neglected at bit. A good jag mechanic will know what to look for.

These are not rare cars so my sugestion is to avoid any car which leaves you with doubts. Shop around. A car with a full documented service history is always preferable. There's is nothing more expensive than an inexpensive Jaguar so finding the right car is more important than finding the right price.

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1995 XJR
1988 XJS