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I've a wild notion for an old Jaguar. Preferably an XJ6, complete with bonnet ornament.
I don't do big miles and this car is mainly just for tootling about (I've another car for shows etc). I'm in Northern Ireland, road salt and the subsequent rust are usually the things that kill my dreams of classic cars. I think I can deal with the sub-20 MPG.
What are these like to live with? General maintenance difficulty? I'm handy with a spanner, buy haven't the access to a lift etc.
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1994 S1 106 Rallyé 1996 Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI (Rust bucket, currently in for surgery/resto) 2003 Renaultsport Clio 172 (Daily beater)
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Of course you should buy one, they’re on my bucket list too However theres always the saying ‘theres nowt as expensive as a cheap jag!’ Sorry, no help at all really😀
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Which XJ6? Why you shouldn't buy one? Rust. They rot for fun Electrics. They can be flaky Complicated. Some things are crazily complicated for what they need to be Awkwardness of working on them. Some things are a pain to do on them As for model specific -S1-III : V12 engines are more complicated than you realise and most for sale despite high or low mileages won't work right. For example, the AC not working can kill power to the engine as it also runs a fuel cooler, which is vital for the engine to run right -XJ40: Digi dashes in earlier cars look awesome but aren't if they go wrong. Headlamp warning lights can become the norm and is a module fault on those ; it can potentially result in an MOT failure too as well now. -X300. The main less, but electrics are fine on them . -X308. V8 engines can give issues but most have been cured now. Chassis legs can rot -X350. Great cars overall. They have niggles like the ally bodywork getting flaky on the first built cars, but otherwise they are a lovely thing. So, what's good? -Spares for the best part aren't too pricey, despite what people think ; I work with their suppliers, and it's a very different world to German marques. -They cool -They're very comfortable and still somehow sporty It's still an itch that I want to scratch.
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Reckon I'd be better off with a 2002+ model because of the aluminium chassis? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJ6-sport-auto-3-2-petrol/193124715359?hash=item2cf7214b5f:g:KZ4AAOSwB0xdJIVYI was thinking one of these, I'm unsure of the model (X300 I think?), purely because of the bonnet ornament, isn't a proper Jag without one imo, lol. Budget is around £2000, Ideally more along the £1500 line to leave £500 to sort out some niggles. I'll join one of the jag forums and do a bit more research. I think now's the time to buy one when the prices are low. thanks for the replies.
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1994 S1 106 Rallyé 1996 Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI (Rust bucket, currently in for surgery/resto) 2003 Renaultsport Clio 172 (Daily beater)
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Phil H
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,448
Club RR Member Number: 133
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X350 is the Aluminium version IIRC?
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ChasR
RR Helper
motivation
Posts: 10,188
Club RR Member Number: 170
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Reckon I'd be better off with a 2002+ model because of the aluminium chassis? www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Jaguar-XJ6-sport-auto-3-2-petrol/193124715359?hash=item2cf7214b5f:g:KZ4AAOSwB0xdJIVYI was thinking one of these, I'm unsure of the model (X300 I think?), purely because of the bonnet ornament, isn't a proper Jag without one imo, lol. Budget is around £2000, Ideally more along the £1500 line to leave £500 to sort out some niggles. I'll join one of the jag forums and do a bit more research. I think now's the time to buy one when the prices are low. thanks for the replies. Not necessarily IMHO. They do have pricey parts about them too. They are all air-ride suspension, meaning lowering them with the right software is easy . However, the dampers are part of the airbags, making them an assembly. This means they are not cheap to replace @ £400+ a corner. The early ones also had an issue with the bodywork, hence why they get flaky/corrode in certain places; contamination is cited as the problem. The ones after 2005 are deemed to be safe, but of course, price goes up. IMHO, £2k won't get you a nice X350, but it would buy a reasonable X300 to be fair, which probably is the best bet with your budget. If you are feeling a little braver, the XJ40 isn't a bad shout either for that cash, but you'll get a better X300 for the cash X350 is the Aluminium version IIRC? Yes, as was the updated X358.
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I saw an XJ40 I liked for sale, so I tried out a friends one before I travelled to look at it. Very little space if you're 6'5", I couldn't drive it due to not enough leg room.
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74 Mk1 Escort 1360, 1971 Vauxhall Victor SL2000 Estate.
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Everyone who has an interest in cars should own and enjoy an XJ Jaguar at some point in their life.
They have niggles as with all cars, but generally aren't as bad as people make them out to be.
I've had over 30 of them in my driving years, and they really are great motors. Nothing wafts quite like them.
XJ40s are nice, with the 'AJ6' 3.2 and 4.0 engines, but most of these are pretty long in the tooth now and good ones are commanding a premium.
X300s are the most reliable, engine-wise, mainly with the AJ16 3.2 or 4.0, including the XJR6 Supercharger. But they do suffer from rot and lacquer peel.
X308s are much more refined to drive with the 'AJV8' engine, and generally feel better put-together inside. Bodies are better on these, but the earlier ones also rot.
X350 are lovely to drive and out of all of these Jags, the best on fuel. Will genuinely do 30+ MPG from the 3.0 V6 versions. If you want to be extra frugal and do mega-miles, then there is the 2.7 V6 TDVI engine. They pull well, but more to go wrong on them and to be fair, and 'proper' Jag should always be petrol!
If I get hold of one anytime soon, I will drop you a PM!
Be warned, though. Once you have had an XJ, and you get rid of it, you will soon hanker after another one. There is something majestic about them, they get under your skin and people always give positive comments wherever you go.
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Love for old BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars and Swedish Slabs!
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goldnrust
West Midlands
Minimalist
Posts: 1,872
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Be warned, though. Once you have had an XJ, and you get rid of it, you will soon hanker after another one. There is something majestic about them, they get under your skin This is true. I had an X300 for 6 months. Was wonderful. Big old barges that have got very cheap are often neglected though, and mine suffered like this. I spent a fair amount of money bringing it up to good working order, but then ran into an issue that was just too much of a pain* for me to deal with on my daily, so got rid. Would I own another? Yes. For me the X300 was the pick of the bunch, because it was the newest car to still feature a 'proper' jaguar straight 6. I also prefer the more squared off dashboard, to the rounded look of the x308. I was also warned off the x308 for engines reliability issues, thought I believe if you know what to look for you can avoid the problems. * Diff bearing had failed, not a big deal. But the heads of the bolts on the diff had rusted off, meaning I needed to drop the subframe to deal with it. Dropping the subframe was clearly going to mean dealing with many more rusted/seized bolts, brake lines that looked like they had no chance of coming undo etc. If I'd not been in the middle of welding my spitfire back together I would have done it, but I couldn't take it off the road for weeks ot deal with it.
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Totally agree, the dials / dash is better in the X300, especially on start-up when it lights up like a Christmas tree! But, the plastic for the OBC control and cruise etc feels a bit cheap and flimsy.
In that respect, the quality is better in the X308. But the straight-six engines are great units that will take a battering.
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Love for old BMWs, Mercedes, Jaguars and Swedish Slabs!
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Buying a s1 would be a totally different kettle of fish compared to buying a late car. I have owned a s1 XJ6, a s1 Daimler Sovereign, a s2 XJ6, (as well as an earlier Mk X). I don't regret buying any of them, enjoyed every minute of the driving experience and had little problem with any of them, (and my s1 XJ6 set me back the princely sum of £260.00 in 1984). I personally would leap at another s1 as it's the last Jag to have had a 'real' dash before ergonomics crept into the design. The weakest XJ link is the 2.8 litre. If you're looking at the budget end of the spectrum there's no reason why you shouldn't go out with £1½K and pick up a sound, running XJ40 which would give you a few years of relatively trouble free motoring. Do your research carefully before going to view, carry out an extensive inspection and there are still bargains to be had. They were complex cars for the time so plenty to go wrong. If you could live with sub 15mpg fuel consumption the XJ12 / Daimler Double-Six is a significantly better car, (in 1977 Car magazine declared the s2 XJ12 the best car in the world), the itch I haven't yet scratched. Greta Thunberg dares you!
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Last Edit: Jan 5, 2020 17:18:55 GMT by MkX
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Uncle had a Series 1 XJ6 4.2 for a few years in the '80s. Was a lovely car. I rather fancy one myself.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,710
Club RR Member Number: 34
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The biggest problem with the cheap ones like x300s is they make you look like the landlord of a third rate pub in a grotty seaside town. Especially if you’re a white male over 40...
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The biggest problem with the cheap ones like x300s is they make you look like the landlord of a third rate pub in a grotty seaside town. Especially if you’re a white male over 40... Jag appeal has always been pretty diverse; bank-robbers, bookies, landlords, spivs, lords, plutocrats, gangsters, government ministers, prime ministers, cads, etc. I once knew of a socialist who had two!
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Last Edit: Oct 5, 2019 13:01:29 GMT by MkX
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The biggest problem with the cheap ones like x300s is they make you look like the landlord of a third rate pub in a grotty seaside town. Especially if you’re a white male over 40... For what it is worth an X300 is probably the best First Step into the Jaguar world. They are better at resisting rust and the mechanical and electrical side is reliable, also fuel economy is better than on earlier cars. My advice take your time, view and drive a few and fet the lowest mileage you can . Be warned, you are probably starting a lifetime addiction...I have almost lost count of the number of Jags I have owned over the years ( i only had one I didn't like, a Leyland era 3.4, all the rest are fond memories and a couple I really regret selling ) Good luck.
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I've been having a look over the weekend and an X300 seems to be the one. I enjoy having something to work on in the evenings and weekends so a bit of maintenance doesn't bother me. I've had a half dozen mini's and the same amount of french hot hatches so know all about rust lol.
I think I'll go get a drive in a few before I make any decisions. The only jag I've ever driven was an X-Type and they're just Mondeos.
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1994 S1 106 Rallyé 1996 Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI (Rust bucket, currently in for surgery/resto) 2003 Renaultsport Clio 172 (Daily beater)
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This is my 2nd Jag. Many years ago I had an XJ40, which I liked but was commuting quite a long way and couldn't really afford to run at the time. Earlier this year I had the urge for a cheap, wafty barge and being a huge fan of Arthur Daley a Jag was first choice. I wanted something as a stop gap while my Cortina was off the road and this one was local, low miles, good history and cheap! The previous owner even threw into the deal a set of XJR alloys and front grill, which went on straight away. Pictures make it look darker than it is. It's actually British Racing Green, which I think really suits it. OK, so fuel consumption is pretty poor, barely hitting 20mpg even on a run, but the fun of driving it is immense. I'll often drive it in preference to the 'daily driver' which cost about 10 times as much! Reliability has been good. The only bill I've had was for a speed sensor which was putting the ABS light on. I used a local Jaguar specialist and it was a reasonably cheap repair. Mine is the V8. It's not that quick considering it's a 4 litre V8, but it's not a car you want to rag around. It is silky smooth to drive and even at 20 years old has a real presence on the road and feeling of quality. Probably the nicest car for the money that I've ever had.
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Currently driving a 1972 BMW 1602 as my daily. Don't ask about previous cars - there have been way too many and I stopped counting at 160!
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OK, so fuel consumption is pretty poor, barely hitting 20mpg even on a run . . . Sounds frugal, when I was thrashing the Mk X I could expect 6-7mpg!!
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I've been having a look over the weekend and an X300 seems to be the one. I enjoy having something to work on in the evenings and weekends so a bit of maintenance doesn't bother me. I've had a half dozen mini's and the same amount of french hot hatches so know all about rust lol. I think I'll go get a drive in a few before I make any decisions. The only jag I've ever driven was an X-Type and they're just Mondeos. If you give us an idea of top budget you can have dozens of pairs of eyes looking out for you!
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I've been having a look over the weekend and an X300 seems to be the one. I enjoy having something to work on in the evenings and weekends so a bit of maintenance doesn't bother me. I've had a half dozen mini's and the same amount of french hot hatches so know all about rust lol. I think I'll go get a drive in a few before I make any decisions. The only jag I've ever driven was an X-Type and they're just Mondeos. If you give us an idea of top budget you can have dozens of pairs of eyes looking out for you! I'm over in Northern Ireland so I'm just keeping an eye on the classifieds over here. £2k budget here, ~£1500 if it's in England/Scotland as I'll have to nip over and collect it. I'm a bit lost with the models and what engine to go for. I reckon I'll just have to go drive a few, problem is, they don't seem to come up for sale often here.
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1994 S1 106 Rallyé 1996 Mini Cooper 1.3 MPI (Rust bucket, currently in for surgery/resto) 2003 Renaultsport Clio 172 (Daily beater)
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