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  #1  
Old 10-09-2011, 04:55 PM
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Anybody ever handle an XJS-12 HE before?

Hey guys,

I was coasting around today in the beautiful weather on my new beautifully functioning rear suspension, and I come across a rather stunning example of an XJS-12 for sale on the side of a drive-in eatery. Common occurrence with me stopping to check out vintage cars that are for sale, my passengers roll their eyes and let me check it out.

It's a bronzy brown color, which is okay I guess, but there is not a speck of rust ANYWHERE on the car. I check the odometer, and it has 88,000 miles on it, and it's an '84. As I'm looking at it, an older fellow comes out and starts talking to me about the car. Turns out he's a friend of the owner, and let him park it outside his place for higher traffic viewing.

Here's the run down on work that has been done in 2010:
-New tie rods and steering rack
-All new brakes (caliper, rotor, pads)
-Transmission fluid and filter
-coolant and oil change
-new front seat skins

Also has new paint as of 2006. The car is also running on some high performance Pirelli's.

Now... I researched the car a bit, and most people seem to like them, but I can't find any common issues as per the electronics (Lucas... Reminds me of a joke a member at the club used to tell me: "Hey kid, you know why the Brits make a beer you drink room temp?" "Because Lucas makes refrigerators!"

But has anyone had one of these/used it as a 2nd car? He's asking 6500, but offered it for 5250. I think I'll offer 4750 if I go for it. They look cool, but Jaguars make me scared reliability wise. My car has never left me on the side of the road the 50,000 miles I've driven it.

If I keep up on it maintenance wise, what can I expect?


Thanks guys,

Carlen

P.S. pics in the next post; they're on my phone.

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  #2  
Old 10-09-2011, 05:19 PM
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This thread is useless without pics!

Forgot to add that the radiator has also been changed out.

All in all, I wouldn't use this as an everyday car; especially after all the blood and sweat equity I've put into my 560SEL, but it would make a cool second car I think. I just want reliability and something somewhat easy to work on; like my 560

The three speed auto sounds like a bore... But the 5.3L V12 doesn't.

I dunno, talk me into or out of it!

Thanks,

Carlen
Attached Thumbnails
Anybody ever handle an XJS-12 HE before?-2011-10-09_14-01-01_759.jpg   Anybody ever handle an XJS-12 HE before?-2011-10-09_14-01-19_984.jpg   Anybody ever handle an XJS-12 HE before?-2011-10-09_14-01-59_330.jpg  
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  #3  
Old 10-09-2011, 05:56 PM
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I used to work in a shop that serviced quite a few Jags. From a RAM-D* perspective, they are doubleplus ungood. I had occasion to drive a few, and I was utterly unimpressed, but the ones I drove were all newer models. If you like the car and are okay with the possibility that you may spend more time working on it than driving it, then go for it.

RAM-D=Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Durability. I used to test vehicles for these characteristics when I was in the automotive testing business.

Edit: James May picked one like that up cheap on one of the Top Gear challenges. When it was running, it was capable of 140 mph. Operative words being "when it was running".
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  #4  
Old 10-09-2011, 05:59 PM
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Beautiful ride. I think you should buy it and start a thread here chronicling each and every penny of money you spend on it.
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  #5  
Old 10-09-2011, 06:10 PM
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Alabasi is familiar with these, hopefully he'll check in.
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Old 10-09-2011, 06:32 PM
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Powerpig as well.
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  #7  
Old 10-09-2011, 08:37 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PaulC View Post
Powerpig as well.
Probably Tyler can add some as well.
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  #8  
Old 10-09-2011, 08:52 PM
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inb4 "nothing is more expensive than a cheap Jag V12"
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  #9  
Old 10-09-2011, 11:24 PM
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Superlative "Ride" Characteristics...

Everything else is:
"Run Away Screaming" before your Pocketbook/Wallet becomes captive.

Reliability: -25 (out of 1-10)
Ease of Repair: -45(out of 1-12)
Cost of Bloody Parts: -50 (out of 1-5)

"Purty" and Rides like the "Queens Own" , BUT the "Boot"(Trunk) is for Two
fully certified Jaguar Mechanics to ride in...
to be able to comfortably run down to the corner store for a six pack.
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  #10  
Old 10-10-2011, 01:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by elchivito View Post
Beautiful ride. I think you should buy it and start a thread here chronicling each and every penny of money you spend on it.
Wouldn't be the first car I've done that with on the forum

At least the M117 is a bomb proof engine if maintained; like I said, the Jag V12 is a scary thought in its entirety.
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Old 10-10-2011, 01:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Skippy View Post
I used to work in a shop that serviced quite a few Jags. From a RAM-D* perspective, they are doubleplus ungood. I had occasion to drive a few, and I was utterly unimpressed, but the ones I drove were all newer models. If you like the car and are okay with the possibility that you may spend more time working on it than driving it, then go for it.

RAM-D=Reliability, Availability, Maintainability, and Durability. I used to test vehicles for these characteristics when I was in the automotive testing business.

Edit: James May picked one like that up cheap on one of the Top Gear challenges. When it was running, it was capable of 140 mph. Operative words being "when it was running".
See, these cars get an awful rep for reliability, and being a 20 year old kid, that's kind of my modus operandi. Realistically I don't see myself purchasing the car, but with the amount of work done to it, being the original owner with all the records, it is at least worth a test drive, no?

Plus it only has 88,000 miles on it... But the serviceability of the car is a must. I can barely afford the 560 doing it all myself, and I'm sure Jag parts are laughably expensive (Not that the 456 dollar sunroof lift arms weren't a joke either)...
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  #12  
Old 10-10-2011, 02:26 AM
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Unfortunately there's just a lot going on under there and thus alot to go wrong. I've had opportunities to buy them but passed on them because the laundry list was pages long, even on nice examples. Even if they were reliable $5000 opens up so many doors to so many great convertibles I'd rather have.
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  #13  
Old 10-10-2011, 10:26 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TylerH860 View Post
Unfortunately there's just a lot going on under there and thus alot to go wrong. I've had opportunities to buy them but passed on them because the laundry list was pages long, even on nice examples. Even if they were reliable $5000 opens up so many doors to so many great convertibles I'd rather have.
Basically the verdict my wallet was telling me too...

And you're 100% right about other convertibled I'd rather have, like an early R129... My time will come.
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  #14  
Old 10-10-2011, 10:32 AM
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We owned a 92 XJS V12 convertible years ago...35K miles, beautiful car, just off of a lease.

Put 12K on it before we traded it for a 95 500SL.

It liked to "eat" lambda sensors.

Ford had purchased Jag by then, so the telltale "Lucas" anomalies were replaced by "Delco" issues...I guess the electrical curses lingered for a few years!

Jaguar decided it needed 2 cats, 2 resonators and 2 mufflers! Shuddered at the thought of having to replace those!

V12 was powerful, but it was also pretty dang heavy, so it was more of a touring car than a performance sports car.

A/C was a nightmare, and all in all we sunk $6K into that car!

I did read that if you let that engine overheat, the valve seats would fail and the valves would drop into the combustion chambers! Now THAT'S expensive!
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  #15  
Old 10-10-2011, 03:44 PM
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My Mom's ex-boss had a V-12, S-type. In the shop at least once a month. She wrote out the checks to the shop and they were never less than $1000 each. 11-13 mpg max. but the HE makes slightly better mileage. The V-12 engine is a beautiful motor, but the electronics "let down the side."
Very much a touring car. Not even close to a sports car.

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