pcarfan944

So I have a 1995 Audi 90, 130k, five speed, nice car but nothing special. I have the chance to do an even trade for a 1986 Jaguar XJS. The XJS is a very nice car, original, drives well, 100k, very clean, seems well kept, silky smoooooth. Only problems I have with the Jag is it hasn't been driven much, maybe 500 miles a year for the past four years, and it doesn't have a very extensive service history besides the owner saying "the person who owned it before me was a friend and I know they took care of it" and a few other small receipts . It has new brakes all around, recent upgrades to the ignition system, and that's all we know besides that it was checked out last summer and OKed by a jaguar specialist.

So, should I do it? I know it'd be a lot more to keep up than my Audi, but i've always loved XJS's and the car seems nice. If anything it's worth probably more than my Audi and is much more collectable. Any thoughts or opinions?

Charlie

I am in a British car club and own a Triumph TR6. We have a few members with 1980's Jags. They do look nice and I am sure are great driving cars but they do require a lot of maintenace and aren't the most reliable cars. Since Ford bought Jaguar the reliability has improved. I believe the XJS has the V12 so if fuel economy enters into the picture then the Audi would be much better. I owned a 89 Model 80 Quattro and a 93 Model 90 and thought both were great cars.
Personally I had rather have the Audi and I sure some would choose the Jag.

white924s

interesting question....if your audi is a daily driver, I'd say no just because the audi is more reliable, even if the jag has been well kept. But if you're looking for another fun car, I'd say go for it....that might be because I've always kinda sorta wanted to get an old jag to cruise around in. Day to day, I drive an audi now and its great for that and perfect on the highway, but while its a great car and good looking, it doesn't quite have the allure of a jag...

pcarfan944

That's the thing, my Audi is a daily driver. I've always wanted an XJS and this seems like the perfect opportunity, if I passed it up I might be kicking myself over it later. Good thing I have a great 944, I used it as a daily driver for years and I could do it again until I figure something out. Hell, the 944 was much more reliable than the Audi anyways. lol

MichelleJD

My best friend got an 86 Jag for law school graduation. Her husband bought it and fixed it up for her. It was a nice car and she drove it a lot, but not as a DD. DO you do your own wrenching? Have you searched for a Jag forum to answer reliability questions?

pcarfan944

Growing up, we had a 1992 XJS in the family for a few years so I know a bit about them. They're really not the maintenance nightmare most people think they are, but when something does go wrong it's usually expensive. I don't do my own work, but am friends with people who can and they'll usually help me out for very little money on the side.

Thanks for the replies so far, keep'm coming!

klaasand

My family has owned Jags (collected them) since the mid 60's and I drove one of the two 12 cyl. XJS's for a year or so. Wonderful to drive, sucked fuel like a bee at sugar water, and was expensive as all get out to fix. And let me say the 80's cars had what is fondly referred to as electrics by "Prince of Darkness". One time I drove 50 miles to Calistoga (Napa Valley) for dinner then drove 50 miles home after dark with only the high beams working! Electrical things can be a problem. But I love them. Go figure that my ride is a Porsche 944S now! Which I also love.

klaasand

Oops forgot to say that the XJS I drove was an 86'...Karen

Dr.Porsche

Not helping here...but we may somehow be related... I too own a '94 Audi 90 CS and have been searching for an XJS to trade forever! The XJS is like a siren.....I see the the jagged rocks of the shore...but they're SOOOOO Beautiful. If you don't I will! Yes, I have a sickness Send me a pic please. And oh, what seems to go wrong with the jags, some people say never had a problem, and others start to weep?

nickg

runaway!runaway!!!!!!!! can you say 5mpg?

Royal Tiger

The 80's V-12 coupes are very nice looking cars. Don't know much about maintaining one.

MM951

comfy seats is all I have to say about them.

and the only running one I've seen has a 454 in it

VWaddict

Colleague at work has one. Not sure of the year, but it's a 5.3-litre V12. There were also V6 versions produced, though most were sold in the UK and Europe where taxation rates are goverened by engine displacement.

Automatic sucks down gas, it's a 3-speed (!!!) and the steering is as wooly as a mammoth in winter. (his has the wire-spoke wheels) and the interior switchgear and electrical stuff makes me hang my head in shame at being British... Since buying his, he's discovered that it was a patch-up-and-a-respray rather than a well-kept example or even a decent restoration. Rust bubbling up everywhere. Steering shimmy has been a persistent problem which has cost quite a bit over time. Barkes are vague... but I do have to confess always lusting after them when I was a youngster growing up in the 1970's. They don't turn girls' heads, and if gas goes up much over $3 a gallon you may limit drivng to VERY short trips.

It's not a driver's car, it IS a passenger's car. It's not a car you DRIVE, it's a car that you TRAVEL in. When I drive I want full-control manual everything and full communion with the road: when I travel, I want automatic everything, ad I would like to forget about bumps and potholes. I like to travel in the Jag, but I can't say I enjoy driving it all that much. The engine is a mess. The British had no sense of aesthetic or serviceability when they shoehorned that monster under the hood.

Now an XKE on the other hand...

Keith

klaasand

I'm back.. been thinking about what I wrote about driving the XJS. Just want you to know that I was able to watch (yes the word is watch) the fuel gauge go down as I drove the car at speed on the freeway. And Yes the mileage is so bad you don't even want to think about this as a daily driver. And if you should have an accident - the insurance company will total, no matter how small the the accident. It is too expensive to fix. My business partner owned one and loved it but after being hit he couldn't get the ins. co. to fix. I loved driving mine! But fuel was $1 - $1.20 a gallon when I drove it in the early 90's.