I've been looking to buy a XJ and have come across a 1986 XJ12 that looks in decent condition mechanics seem good, has had 1 fuel take replaced, a minor amount of rust under the rockers, had some around the front and rear window that was patched(I assume bondo). Car looks straight and appears not to be abused. 2 owners. Needs the wood replaced and things like the wheels buffed.

Also, looking at a 1990 XJ6 in similar condition that has more minor issues such as a trunk that opens only using the map pocket release, map pocket door latch is broken, a/c not working, some minor pitting on the body and on the chrome overlay on the front bumper.

Also, have looked at a couple of 1988s with round lights that looked like they can easily be be brought back but with the costs involved I can buy either the 1990 XJ6 or the 86 XJ12 and invest a little to bring either of these up.

The 12, I've not driven since the right rear wheel is canted out on the bottom and is to be fixed. The 90 I drove and it seems strong though I suspect it is also time for shocks.

I am partial to the looks of the 86, gotta love the dual tanks and everything looks just right from every angle. I had a 79 about 10 years ago and though I've been a dedicated Volvo owner for decades have hankered for another Jaguar. The 90 of course looks less dated (and impressive IMHO) and has more current amenities.

My heart is pushing me towards the 86 but my head towards the 90. Of course part of the reservation on the 86 is the 12 cyl engine and all kinds of horror stories 1 hears about as to reliability.

The 86 has roughly 1/2 the mileage on it.

Anyone here who can give me some eperiences with the following related to the 86:
1) How reliable is the 12 cyl? I currently only drive maybe 5,000km per year but, suspect when I get a Jag, this might double.
2) How is part sourcing for these older years? I am not anal obsessive but hate things to be in disrepair.
3) Who, in town besides the Jaguar dealers are really good with these older Jags? I live in the Markham/Scarborough/North York corner.

Thanks in advance for your help.

Submitted by ken_cantor@hot… on Tue, 05/16/2006 - 17:30

Edited on 2006-05-17 11:29:41

Edited on 2006-05-16 17:44:48

Brian,

At the beginning of this month I returned home after picking up a "new" Series III V12. This particular car is "new" to me but is my second Series III V12 so I will try and answer some of your questions/concerns.

As to the first question on reliability, the trip covered more than 1,900 km, temperatures remained under 90, oil pressure and alternator remained constant and the car consumed absolutely no fluids (including any oil) other than gas. It returned an average fuel economy of more than 18.5 mpg - and sometimes better than 20 mpg - but this will drop to 13/13.5 mpg "in town". This is consistent with my experience with the earlier V12 car as well. It should be noted that both cars were in impeccable mechanical condition and neither had suffered from any serious amount of deferred maintenance at the hands of a previous owner.

As to the second question, although both cars were in wonderful condition (and therefor didn't need anything outside of the ordinary - including bushings, a steering rack, plugs, gaskets and filters etc.), I have never run into any issues regarding the availability of parts, either mechanical or cosmetic. Although what you need for a particular car may vary with the amount of deferred maintenance you will have to address if any, availability should not be a real issue and parts are not particularly expensive (the same cannot always be said for labour if you are like me and have to pay for it).

As to the third question, in my own experience Jaguar dealers are not the best parties to have to rely upon and I am becoming convinced that they are in no small part responsible for the car's reputation of being expensive to maintain. To illustrate, the local dealer did a "pre out of province inspection" - not the actual inspection which they were supposed to do but turned out not to be licensed to do even after pre-booking it - on the latest car and advised that almost $8,000 worth of work should be attended to with almost $3,000 of that "being certainly necessary prior to having the inspection done if the inspection was to be passed". Needless to say, the inspection was promptly booked and carried out elsewhere. The total amount of work required to pass the inspection came to $75.00 including labour and shop parts to adjust the handbrake.

While some of the work "quoted" as necessary will undoubtedly be required over time (brake rotors and pads, some bushings, springs adn shocks, gaskets and bolts etc.) and some of it sooner rather than later, most of it is certainly nothing more than a list of items to be monitored on any car, not just Jaguars, and not required work at this point in time. Some of the actual pricing quoted for the work was quite reasonable and other components were quoted using quite extravagent amounts of labour.

If you cannot find a good "independant" and must deal with the dealer, the work is likely to be well done if they have anyone on staff familiar with the older cars and with the V12's (which is something you should confirm before you let them near the car and not just assume). For a relationship with a dealer to work without being one only their banker will love, you will have to have both the knowledge and the discipline to say no a lot as long as you are not compromising on areas the car needs unfailing attention (fluids and cooling performance in particular).

I can't help you with specific names in your area but would echo Doug's comments about the value of joining a local club and "taking advantage" of their expertise. You can do the same thing to a lesser extent on this site and at Jag-Lovers.org. For what someone else's opinion is worth (and it will not be unanimous, even on this site), the 1990 and other later model xj's can't hold a candle to the Series III and earlier cars.

Kenneth L. Cantor

1992 Series III V12 Vanden Plas
(Number 24 of 100)
ex 1987 Series III V12 Vanden Plas

Submitted by bevanadams@hot… on Tue, 05/16/2006 - 11:33

brian, if i where you i'd get the 86 V12. its bullet prof! the 1990 xj6 used the unpopuler digital displays and where rideled with elctrcal problem, mainly the ligh moduals $$$$$.
and those 86 lines will never age.
bevanadamsathotmail.com
1991 Xj40 3.2 uk spec

Submitted by dougi@shaw.ca on Tue, 05/02/2006 - 10:32

Brian,

You wrote "invest a little to bring either of these up". I will suggest that "investing a lot" will be more accurate, at least based on your brief descriptions.

As for your questions 1) the horror stories come from the ignorant. The V12 engines are very reliable, provided they have had proper maintenance and not been mistreated in the past. They can't be ignored, and many previous owners did exactly that. 2) Mechanical parts are readily available, not so much from the dealer anymore, but from specialists. 3) Ask this of your local club, this is one of the reasons to belong - in your area that is the Ontario Jaguar Owners Association, see the "Club List" for information.

Good luck,

Doug Ingram
Victoria BC Canada
1969 E-Type OTS
1987 XJ6 VDP
2002 X-Type