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1990 XJS

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benjaminabby04

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hello there all. I am hoping to get some advise. I am thinking of buying a 90 - XJS conv. V12. approx 45 k miles. The body has a TWR ground package. They are looking at $16.8 cdn.
Any issues that model and year has? Should I be looking for anything in particular? What about the price?
thanks for the direction. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/canpatriot.GIF
 
Greetings,
Kelley Blue Book has the retail on that car for about $10.3CDN without the TWR package, so you have to decide if the TWR package is worth the extra $6500CDN on a 15 year old car. Only you can decide this.
I always get a bit nervous about a car that the seller claims to only have been driven an average of 250 miles per month during the life of the car. I do realize, a car of this nature, in Canada would most likely be snug in a heated garage during the winter months and not driven. So even if you cut in half the number of months during the year it is driven, you are looking at only 500 miles a month. I nearly do that going down the drive to go to the store!!! It is not unheard of, however for a Jag to have mileage like this one -- just check it out, completely.
When it comes to other things to look out for, you need others on the list with more XJS experience than I to write in. Like any Jag, I would look for rust spots under the wheel wells and along the front and rear glass. For the price they are asking and the low miles, I would think the paint and the leather would be pristine!! Any signs of wear should raise questions at 45K miles. My '88 XJ40 has 205K miles and the interior still looks nearly new and the exterior paint is showing the wear of time -- but great after a rain or from 30 feet.
Since the odometer is in miles, I would assume the car is a US model -- Registered in the US first?? If so -- run a Carfax. www.carfax.com Whilst it is not a complete history, if you are going to put out that kind of cash for a 15 year old car -- $15 is not a bad investment. They even run some Canadian records on the report. if a US model that entered Canada -- I would almost bet there is a record of the date and the mileage on Carfax for when the car came through the border. If the car spent most of it's life in the US than you should be able to get a tracking idea of where it was and what kind of mileage it had put on it from inspection to inspection or other milestones.

Webserve
 
First of all, the Kelly blue book values tend to be low. Check the NADA values for something closer to what the car is really worth.

On any XJS the first thing to check for is any sign of running warm. The temp needle should stay on , or below the N. Always. The next thing is does the car have a fat pile of maintainence records. The XJSs are tough, durable cars, but with a V12, they have two times the maintainence requirements. They will not put up with overheating at all, and the consequences (dropped valve seats) are really expensive. Look to see if it has a genuine Marelli distributor cap.They last about 30k miles, and the cheap repros don't last as long, and are prone to failing, leaving the car running on 6 cylinders, and melting the catylists on the dead side. Look at the inside edges of the front tires for wear. Check for rust on the rear quarters, and the bottom of the left front fender. Check the seats and carpets for wear. The AC should be ice cold, and transition smoothly to heat.The car should run very smoothly, and waft you down the road. They are not quick, but they are fast and smooooth. The last thing that I can think of right now, is look for evidence that the rear pads have been changed. They are inboard and if forgotten, the rotors are a major job to renew. Hope this gets you started. I own two XJSs and think that they are fine cars, but like all mistresses, they make some demands on your time and money.
 
Ben, Book values as applied to Jaguars, and expecially to special models such as the XJS, tend to be low. The price of a used Jaguar is mainly determined by 3 factors: cosmetic condition, mechanical condition and electrical condition. The standard book value has a hard time accurately portraying that. You are paying a lot more than average value but if you have a convertible in great condition, its probably worth the price. The mechanics should be faultless and the cosmetics should be close to show room. Any signs of rust, absolutely forget it. The advice about the Marrelli ignition system is sage, Only use original Jag distributor caps and always have the entire ignition system including the spark plug wires in first class condition. One of the hardest things that most people have when coming into 12 cylinder ownership is getting used to the awsomely smooth and powerful engine performance. Unless you have a trained ear, the car can be missing on more than one cylinder and still sound OK and be more than adequately powerful. Another cardinal rule: never let an unqualified technician work on or modify the cars electrical wiring. When taken care of its technical needs, the V12 has very long longevity and is a great package to drive throughout. Best regards and good luck, Jack Farrington
 
NADA values are way out of line and have been for years. They are primarily used by Tax offices to determine what to rate for your car for a tax line. Cars don't sell for those values -- unless you are a dealership. If you think your car is worth NADA values -- you may be sitting and waiting for a long time until you sell it.

In 2000, NADA had the value of my '88 XJ40 at $4,250. I bought it for $1,900 -- and I thought THAT was high. Same for my Daughter's Chevy Cavalier. NADA listed it at $2400 -- we bought it for $1,300. That was $200 higher than the Kelley trade-in value. Kelley is much closer to true value and you can't even depend on their Retail value as being close. The Private sale value is in the ball park

With Petrol prices headed to the $3.50 mark again this week for regular (SE US) you will not be able to depend very much on ANY rating service for a while as the prices adjust to fuel consumption ratings of the vehicles.

Webserve
 
Web, You are going into a very specialized part of the US used car market when you are looking at a Jaguar 12 cylinder convertible. "Book" prices do not have much bearing on a 12 cylinder convertible. When you are looking at 6 cylinder sedan models, particularly at the bottom end of the value curve such as a $2000 offering, it is in another domain than a XJS convertible. If you find a 12 cylinder convertible in pristine condition, you are entering a specialized collectors market. The convertible you are considering has as much bearing on the value of a used Jaguar sedan as an E type has to the value of a Chevy Cavalier or for that matter, an XJS coupe. Once again, condition is the main criteria. If you determine that it is a real jewel, no rust, and it is what you want to have, go for it!! Dont get lost in the pages of a blue book appraisal.
 
John,
I believe you and I are saying exactly the same thing from different directions: A car is worth what the market will bear. It is similar to "beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Be it on the low end or the high end, there will be a determination as to the value of a car based upon some sort of accepted parameters.

The XJS is becoming a collector's car -- but it has a ways to go to meet the status of the E-Type. I base my opinions on the dealings I and my friends have had regarding car purchases. A friend of mine in Florida recently purchased a 1988 XJS Cabriolet V-12 in nearly flawless condition with 42,000 miles. (No it wasn't underwater) NADA said the high Retail on the car is $11,975. Kelley says the car is worth $6000. He paid $3000 and he thought he paid too much.
The focus of my original post on this topic was to essentually say "Buyer Beware". The car is worth what ever you think it is worth to you. All the rest is simply speculation, guidence, opinion and input.

Webserve
 
Web; AMEN and peace. Long live the art of automobile collecting!! Jack
 
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