1990 Jaguar Vanden Plas 4.0 Litre from North America
Summary:
I LOVE it!
Faults:
I bought the car cheap. It had been donated to the Salvation Army. It hadn't been registered for 4 years.
Driving it around the block was not enough to determine that it had an oil pressure issue (when the oil gets hot - after 20+ minutes, the oil pressure drops to ZERO!). Increasing the revs (to 1000-1,200 RPM) brings it up to normal, but it can't be good to run it at that height when standing on the brakes in city or freeway traffic jams.
The dealer said it was probably the oil viscosity. Changing the oil to the correct 20-50 helped a little, but did not solve the problem.
I had to replace the tires and bearings, but these are just ordinary maintenance costs, as were the shocks and brakes.
Nothing has gone wrong with the car that wasn't already broken when I bought it (auxiliary fan, broken fog lights, power antenna, bushings on the front shocks, under hood and trunk lights, rust around the rear window, dropped head-liner. Usual Jaguar things -- clear coat paint problem, air-conditioner -- COMMON on old cars. Chrome peeling on aftermarket chromed wheels, and bent and unusable jack-ports on the right side - the previous owner had hit something).
General Comments:
This car is fast and eager. I'm not sure which is faster, my Vanden Plas, or my Mercury Grand Marquis.
Very comfortable. Feed the hides, and the leather stays soft and pliable.
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know
Review Date: 13th October, 2012
25th Oct 2011, 18:25
The Jaguar V12 Vanden Plas was a model made for Canada only, in very small numbers - the largest number in 1986 (about 625 cars). The last of the Series III V12 Vanden Plas cars were made for the 1992 model year, and only 100, individually numbered cars were made.
Transmission mounts degrade over time; they can be replaced. Engine mounts do NOT break from enthusiastic driving. Window switches do NOT need replacement: they can be cleaned very easily. These cars are not only gorgeous, they are very reliable if properly serviced. The engines are good for 300,000 kms!