OT: Wisdom vs. insanity of 86 XJS
10-04-2006, 10:00 AM
#16
Drifting
Originally Posted by Bull
An '86 XJS, in excellent condition, is worth less than $5k in this area.
10-04-2006, 10:04 AM
#17
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by Caveman
Run away! My brother's friend had a 5.3 XJS that he loved but which almost bankrupted him as so much went wrong on it.
his office.
One of the first things I listened to (and learnt?) is never to touch a jag.
He says jag always adopted the complicated method (mechanically) to stand UNIQUE in the car business,
while other manufacturers went the simple way and exceled . . . look how Porsche did . . .
You may ask why did he choose Jag as a brand to sell,
at that time, Land-Rover and Jaguar were linked, and you had to carry Jags to sell Land-rovers.
[added later] I just remembered him telling me " When you buy a Jag, you will spend TWO magnificant days in your life with the car ....
The day you buy the car ...... and the day you sell it"
Last edited by geolab; 10-04-2006 at 10:28 AM.
10-04-2006, 10:13 AM
#18
Rennlist Member
A British Camaro is a bit harsh! More a slightly classy Cadillac Eldorado!
A friend of mine got caught joy-riding his dad's one when they first came out; he was only 14! I have memories of loads of tan leather. An old boss at my previous company had one of the last ones but it was no match for my 3.2!
Cheers,
David
A friend of mine got caught joy-riding his dad's one when they first came out; he was only 14! I have memories of loads of tan leather. An old boss at my previous company had one of the last ones but it was no match for my 3.2!
Cheers,
David
10-04-2006, 07:01 PM
#21
The Jags delivered in this country since about 1967 are not what they were supposed to be. Esp. during the 70s and 80s, for the US they were raised, softened, and the engine robbed of 30 percent of its power.
In the 80s I raced a 1972 TR-6 in SCCA Nationals and once had the distinction of racing with the TransAm XKE Jag run by Paul Newman's team. I say racing with (not against) because his closing speed on my D Production car down the back straight at Mid-Ohio had to be 50 mph. And that was with the 6 cylinder.
If I had all the money in the world I'd take a convertible XKE V-12, rip out the engine, boost the compression, change the cams, throw away the sidedrafts and put on six 2-barrel downdraft Webers. Four hundred HP would be an EASY target, and you can't deny that classic shape.
But...that's a big if.
In the 80s I raced a 1972 TR-6 in SCCA Nationals and once had the distinction of racing with the TransAm XKE Jag run by Paul Newman's team. I say racing with (not against) because his closing speed on my D Production car down the back straight at Mid-Ohio had to be 50 mph. And that was with the 6 cylinder.
If I had all the money in the world I'd take a convertible XKE V-12, rip out the engine, boost the compression, change the cams, throw away the sidedrafts and put on six 2-barrel downdraft Webers. Four hundred HP would be an EASY target, and you can't deny that classic shape.
But...that's a big if.
10-04-2006, 08:18 PM
#22
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by Caveman
A British Camaro is a bit harsh! More a slightly classy Cadillac Eldorado!
I had a E type coupe years ago and it was a total nightmare. The good news is I sold it for what I bought it for. The bad news is I put untold hours and waaaay too much money into it. That thing will be in your wallet like a pit bull on a poodle.
10-04-2006, 08:49 PM
#23
Rennlist Member
Thread Starter
WoW! What an education! I knew that Jags were noted for their crappy electrical systems - I didn't realize it went deeper than that. Kinda sad. What are the new version's like?
My answer about the car is - no way, no how!
Thanks Rennlist!
My answer about the car is - no way, no how!
Thanks Rennlist!
10-05-2006, 12:21 AM
#25
Rennlist Member
I usually try very hard not to post unless I have something nice to say, but....
There is a very good reason that there are several shops making a lot of money doing Chevy small block V-8 engine swaps into these cars.
'Nuff said.
There is a very good reason that there are several shops making a lot of money doing Chevy small block V-8 engine swaps into these cars.
'Nuff said.
10-05-2006, 12:46 AM
#26
Rennlist Member
Things must have changed at Jaguar as my wife's 99 XK8 is the most reliable car we've ever had together, by far. It's cost less to maintain than we ever could have imagined and rarely breaks down.
I wouldn't be caught dead driving it, as to me it's a total chick's car, but she loves it.
Cheers,
Steve R
I wouldn't be caught dead driving it, as to me it's a total chick's car, but she loves it.
Cheers,
Steve R
10-05-2006, 01:00 AM
#27
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by Pedro356C
Same here...the only thing worst than restoring a XJS from the 80s would be to restore a KIA Sedona!!!
10-05-2006, 01:25 PM
#29
As the former owner of one (an 83 in perfect condition) I would heed the advice of all above and stay away.
One of my own quotes regarding Jags is: "Better to have owned a Jaguar and lost money than to never have owned one at all." But I'm not real sure I believe it.
One of my own quotes regarding Jags is: "Better to have owned a Jaguar and lost money than to never have owned one at all." But I'm not real sure I believe it.
10-05-2006, 10:45 PM
#30
Rennlist Member
I needed to take a few sedatives while reading this thread-the thought of even having a Jag that vintage when it was new would send me to the shrink. Jags are better now since they are moslty a Ford product-if you look carefully at the sedan design over the past few years you can see a taurus in sheep's clothing.