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DART

DART

Darth Vader
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While I try to get my "tupperware special", aka SP250, back on the street, I am seriously toying with getting an 80's XJS DHC so I don't miss all the summer LBC events. Are there issues with the V12 of that era? Issues with the series in general? Suggestions on what the pricing for a good driver should run also welcome. And yes, I know anything with Lucas parts has issues.
dale
 
Hello Dart,

"And yes, I know anything with Lucas parts has issues."

Really?? My wife and I both drive 1968 cars as daily drivers and have no 'Lucas issues'

Alec
 
Alec- I was trying to take Lucas off the table with that comment, since there seem to be a lot of lbc owners on this side of the pond with negative feelings about the reliability of the brand. Do you have an opinion about the 1980-90 cars?
 
Dart,
I located a 1986(?) XJS HE Hardtop recently and wondered the same about the V12, never having owned one. The man who had the car mentioned a few problems with the H.E. in specific, basically more electronic fuel equipment to potentially fail. In general, however, I believe the basic "watch out for" list was the usual Jaguar scenario. A few oil leaks are common, but repairs are more expensive due to the cramped engine bay. The rear brakes were the reason the car I looked at was up for sale. The owner didn't want to put $1400 or into the inboard full brake job. The mechanic who had the car is my mechanic, and cautioned me a little about the H.E. fuel system, but nothing that would scare me away... the usual Jaguar high repair bills should something fail and need to be tracked down and replaced. More than likely, if you go with an early 1980's model, the H.E. designation won't apply (if I understand the model year run for the High Efficiency version correctly). As far as the 5.3L itself, I am in the dark as to any specific issues. Hopefully, Jack and some of the other XJS owners will chime in and give you a complete rundown. As far as the "Lucas" issue, good thinking in getting that out of the way from the start. As you can see from Piman's response, it can be a topic of great debate. Of course, Lucas has that reputation, but as you said, we all know that and have our own opinions as to how accurately deserved that reputation may be. Jags are complicated cars in the electronic department, at least the XJ's and the XJS's, and we have to be prepared for a few electrical issues here and there. I (and it seems you) understand this, and if I believed Lucas to be fatally flawed, I wouldn't be driving and buying any car equipped with their products.
Best of luck in your search, sorry I couldn't be of more help. If you find a 6 cylinder version along the way, don't be too quick to dismiss it. I don't think that the V12 added that much power. There again, I could be mistaken about that too... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif

Brian
 
Brian- thanks for the very informative post. Your sig line shows 2 XJ6's so you obviously like the car. If you were to replace one of them with an "S", what year and engine would you buy?

dale
 
Dart, I believe that the car I mentioned is my next target (or victim as it may be). The early to mid- 1980's XJS's appeal to me, mainly as the last of the pre-Ford true Jaguars. Not that this is necessarily a good nor a bad thing, I'm speaking from the standpoint of what I would believe to be more collectible in the next decade or so. I would have no problem with the V12, if it had been well-maintained, nor a problem with the 6 cylinder, having known the 4.2 and the later 4.0 to be a solid drivetrain. I think the prospect of a mid-1980's V12 would be my choice.... something about the 6 cylinder in the XJS, though a great engine, seems wrong.... if I buy an XJS, I'll definitely drive both, but why not go for the larger engine (mainly out of trying something new). Check out the H.E. models I mentioned, I don't know enough about them to caution or to steer you toward one. Of course, to answer your question, the topless V12, low-mileage, would be my choice. But, there is something classic about a solid coupe version. The convertibles at some point were I believe completed here in the states, and at some other point were done in England at the factory, or so I was told. I would prefer on that had come from Coventry as a convertible, and not farmed out to another company for the conversion, simply for purist reasons I guess. If I do end up with the '85 XJS, which is the plan in the coming months, I'll hopefully be better educated on the model(s) than I am now.
As a side-note, when I was in high school, my doctor restored his BRG 1976 XJS fully before selling it to purchase a 50th Anniversary 300ZX. It was nothing short of awesome in its ride and sex appeal.... If you're not too set on a convertible, expand your search to one of the originals, you may fall in love with an early model. His son and I snuck it out, neither of us with a driver's license, and tore up the town, luckily not the car!
I hope you get some more educated replies regarding the 5.3L, but in the meantime do your research. The model page for the XJS at JCNA's site may help:
https://www.jcna.com/library/news/2005/jcna0206.php

Best wishes,

Brian /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
I have a 91 XJS and love it. Before you buy any XJS, go to the Jag-Lovers.org website and download "The Book", titled Experience in a Book. It is a compilation of many postings on the XJS forum site. It is a free download, and runs almost 600 pages. You don't have to read the whole thing, but do look at the section titled shopping for an XJS.
 
Maynard- thanks for the link. The down load was easy...getting through the book will take a bit longer. It seems to be a really well done effort and valuable source if info.
dale
 
One word of advice about the book. Since it is based on postings on the Jag-lovers website, take everything with a grain of salt. The posters are all well meaning, but sometimes the information given is not quite right. That being said, the chapter on what to look for seems to be pretty accurate.
 
My advice is to get a model year later than 1983, (the HE improved heads). Buy the best condition coupe that you can afford. Price depends entirely on condition. The V12 engine is very expensive to work on. The price of entry for an overhaul is about $10K. It is a great car and a real tour de force in engineering. Best regards,
 
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