Faults:

I bought this Jaguar back in the year 1999 for 4,000 American dollars.

This car runs like a dream; smooth, quick and is very, very reliable.

I did rebuild the engine after 90,000 miles as it was starting to use oil, though the oil pressure was still up in the 60's at around 70 mph.

Had the wood refinished in 2001. Cost $400, and is still in excellent condition.

Seats are as new because of using a good quality leather cleaner.

Had to remove both gas tanks, as they were starting to rust through. Had them refinished, and put in two new sending units at the same time.

This car is the European version with no emissions fitted to it, as the American spec cars had. So no air pump.

All door window switches failed at one time, but I took them apart and cleaned the contacts... now working fine.

The A/C compressor was replaced by a later type, doing away with the GM A6 one, which seemed to weigh nearly as much as the engine.

This car runs like a watch. It's so smooth and quiet. The only way I know that it's running is to look at the rev counter.

General Comments:

This car has been the best buy I have ever had.

It has plenty of room, and is very comfortable, and has taken me from the east coast of the U.S. over to the west coast, without any problem several times.

Faults:

Before I start this review, to everybody considering getting one of these beautiful cars; they're NOT Toyotas. You do NOT just drive them into the ground! Preventative maintenance IS THE KEY to owning a reliable Jaguar! With that out of the way, let's do the review now.

Things that have gone wrong with the car:

- I blew 4 tappet guides. I knew they were going anyways, and I rebuilt a 1986 model engine to replace it with. (Mind you those tappet guides were on their way out for about 3,000 miles....And people say Jaguar isn't reliable...=) )

- The transducer for the speedometer went at 100,000 miles. (A simple $100 part and about 30 seconds of labour to replace it.)

- The rear main seal sucks on these cars. Although they used a Borg-Warner transmission, the seal is rope and it likes to leak oil, which is no big deal to me; I check my oil every time I drive this car.

General Comments:

- I bought this car for a whopping $500, which was a STEAL.

- I drove this car from Rhode Island to Florida with NO problems WHATSOEVER. Yes it leaks oil - (About 1/2 quart every 2 months.) It's a 23 year old car.

- The car is so comfortable to drive in and yes it has the power and pep to dust most cars if needed. =)

Suggestions:

- If you're planning on buying one of these cars, do NOT get the 12 cylinder model of this OR a 12 cylinder Jaguar. They ARE unreliable and COSTLY to fix. Mind you, the 5.3 litre engine leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to the extreme lack of power. You're better off with the straight 6.

- Get a 1986-87 model year XJ6. Jaguar took out the air pump that is on top of the engine in previous model years, which gives you much more performance and better fuel economy.

- Make sure you install a "Tappet guide stake-down kit" Because modern day gas is garbage and the engine is so old, (The engine remained almost exactly the same for 40 years.) the tappet guides come loose from the poor grade of fuel we have. It's rather inexpensive to install ($300) and saves your engine.

- These engines are reliable engines, REGARDLESS to what people have said about them. Install the stakedown kit, keep up on the preventative maintenance on this car, and you'll have a real head turner for decades to come.

REMEMBER, THIS CAR IS NOT FOR RACING, TO BEAT ON, TO GET WOMEN TO THINK YOU'RE HOT BY DOING DOUGHNUTS IN YOUR HIGH SCHOOL PARKING LOT. TREAT THIS CAR RIGHT, AND IT WILL TREAT YOU RIGHT.