lookind to purchase

In my opinion, year-by-year comparisons of initial build quality are almost pointless at this stage of the game. Any problems now are far more likely to be a reflection of age, mileage, and most importantly, the type of care the car has received. The condition the car is in *today* is far more important than the condition it was in when it was one year old.

Even if we accept that, let's say, an '85 was "better" than an '87 (and I'm not necessarily agreeing to that ! ) a well kept '87 is surely a better buy than a neglected '85.

As for V12 Jags, well, I bought my XJS with some degree of anxiety as I was a bit intimidated by the complexity of the engine. As it turns out, the XJS *has* caused me more grief than my trusty XJ6 but I have had no engine problems whatsoever......none. I agree that many have not been so lucky but I'll also agree that a great many "Jag problems" are really a matter of catching up on repairs and services that the previous owners have neglected......and that applies to any older Jag, regardless of model or engine.

No doubt about it, though, a negelcted or injured V12 can be a real problem.

Cheers

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe

The V12 Jaguar is most emphatically NOT a "nightmare" of maintenance or troubleshooting. They need virtually NO maintenance other than oil changes. The V12 5.3 is a far more robust and reliable engine than even the 6 cylinder, not to mention silky smooth and powerful. The V12 engine as installed even in the latest Series III cars (1992) use the very reliable Lucas ignition system, unlike the late XJS which used the trouble-prone Marelli system. I have owned 14 of the Series III V12, so I speak with some experience. There are only a couple of common-sense maintenance issues: 1) the distributor/vacuum advance mechanism must be in proper condition 2) the fuel hoses should be replaced when they become hard (every 10 to 12 years under most conditions). Poorly maintained or neglected engines of any sort will give trouble, even Toyotas. Repairs on a V12 can be more expensive, I suppose, but then,I have never had to do a repair. They don't break down unless abused by overheating (which is in itself owner neglect). They are good for 300,000 miles easily.

Gregory Andrachuk
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas
1966 Mark 2 3.8
2002 X-Type

I have no experience with the 12 cylinder XJ so I can't say much except what I hear from some owners, i.e., they are a nightmare of maintenance and troubleshooting when problems show up, and they will. So I would not put my wife in a XJ-12. Might as well get her a Camry which are supposedly reliable. (I don't know about THAT either, lately I've seen a few too many Camry sitting by the side of the interstate with their emergency flashers on). In my neighborhood, there is a 12 cylinder XJ-S Coupe, it was for sale six or more years ago, I stopped at the house and drove it when it had a For Sale sign, it was very (very) fast and I remember that I could not hear the engine during acceleration, very quiet engine, but the front end felt too loose for my taste. The car has been sitting behind the same house since then. I don't know if the engine blew up or what, but it is still there. if anyone's interested I'll go ask the owner. It is medium green with a black interior. It has non-Jaguar aluminium wheels, or maybe they are original. I don't recall if it had any rust. The car is across the street from me, completely abandoned in my opinion, outside the garage.

"Stay away from North...cars"? I agree almost entirely with what you and my friend Doug have said, except that the very BEST Series III cars are the V12 Vanden Plas, sold only in Canada, and one of those from the west coast of Canada can be an absolute gem.
With regard to the quality of the Series III xj6, I have to extend your limits, and this refers to both of you. First, Sir John Egan's reforms began to show by late 1981. I owned for 12 years a 1982 xj6; it was simply superb and very reliable, not to mention beautiful, now in the hands of a friend in Louisville, Kentucky, and going strong. But I also had a 1984 Sovereign of which I can say the same thing. Nothing, though, compares to a V12 version of these cars.
Getting a well-cared for Series III with a service history is the most important thing; getting a newarly rust-free car is important. And learing the basics of care: electrical issues: rare, but if they happen REPLACE the fuse. As a preventative measure: replace the coil. Replace the fuel and coolant hoses. Replace the transmission fluid.
You will love it!

Gregory Andrachuk
1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas
1966 Mark 2 3.8
2002 X-Type

hello. I remember a survey years ago in which the Series 3 XJ-6 was voted
"Women's Favorite Car Which They Have Never Owned", so there's another uncounted vote from your wife. But men seem to prefer it too. I disagree with Doug about the 1986-87 model years being the "cream of the crop". For reliability, the 1984 and 1985 models would have to be the best, as in my experience with a 1984 model that I have owned for the last 14 years, now reaching 15 very happy years. But it all depends on the care that any car has received from its previous owners, regardless of the model year. As Doug knows, the XJ production in the years 1983 through late 1985 are known as the Quality Revolt Years at Jaguar, when a man known as John Egan, now Sir John Egan, took over quality control and fired all Jaguar suppliers, demanding top quality from them, due to poor quality. This resulted in very high quality cars from late 1983 through mid 1985. John Egan left for Aston Martin after 1985 and it is said that quality went down to pre-Egan years in 1986 and 1987. So who's right? The Buyer is right. I would advise looking for the best example you can find. By now these cars have been through 3 or more owners, each affecting the car in different ways, so Buyer Beware is the key. What problems are you familiar with? Overheating? Electrical? Timing Chain? not in my car. The biggest complaint about the Series 3 XJ-6 is the Borg Warner transmission, which only has 3 forward gears and cruising at 80mph keeps the rpm's at 3,000. Many owners have transplanted a General Motors 4-speed to lower rpm's at cruising speeds. In my 14-year experience, the Borg Warner has been silky-smooth and totally reliable; My local british car tech tells me that a sustained 3,000 rpm is nothing for the 4.2 liter engine of the XJ-6. As a comparison, my 1965 S type has a Borg Warner DG-250 transmission with the same 3-speeds, so at 80mph the 3.8 liter engine is revving at 3,300 rpm, and again, my local tech tells me the same thing, don't worry about and just enjoy the car. There will come a day when the Borg Warner needs replacement, and at that point I'll consider a GM transmision or a Jaguar Getrag transmission as fitted to the XJ-40, (or the Series 4 as some of us like to call them). Which brings me to the 1988 XJ-40. This is the "squared" series that was introduced to the US market for 1988. This car has many gremlins, lots of unreliable digital stuff, and a rear self-leveling suspension system that is very problematic. Unless you like that body style, (I like it too), and you can find a totally refurbished example, stay away from 1988-89 models. The Series 3 XJ-6 lasted in the US market until 1987. But they kept making it until 1992 for Canada and Europe markets, side by side with the XJ-40 (Series 4). The Golden Rule is: find the BEST possible example you can find, take your time. Stay away from North or Northeastern cars, they might be rotted from road salt. Look for Southern and Southwestern cars, and because they could be transplants from the North, research their title history with the V.I.N. before buying it.

Good choice. These were great cars....built like a tank, style, luxury, the most modern of all antique automobiles. Most repairs are well within the realm of a decent DIY mechanic.

The problem, of course, is finding one that hasn't been neglected for years and, of course, at this stage of the game, simple age-and-mileage have taken a toll on many of them.

You might as well add the 1987 model year to your list....they were built until April of that year. Pre-1984 models were virtually identical, too. Just minor mechanical and interior trim changes. Most consider '86-'87 to be the cream of the crop due to the trim upgrades found in those years.

Click on the "XJ Shoppers Guide" below for a primer course.

Doug Dwyer
Longview Washington USA
1987 XJ6 Ser III
1988 XJS V12 Coupe