19th Apr 2009, 21:22

Where did you buy this car? Was it in Mass?

22nd Sep 2009, 10:53

I am going to Virginia Beach in the evening today to view a 1985 Jaguar XJ6 someone is selling. According to him, the car has 117K miles on it and runs perfect. So let's see about that. The car looks beautiful in the photos. It is white in color with tan interior.

A part of me is apprehensive about buying this car because, from what I have heard, if it needs repair that will cost an arm and a leg to fix.

Secondly, with the combination of gas prices and with this car having a 6-cylinder engine, it will do what 15 miles to the gallon? So that is another of my concerns.

If I end up buying this car, it will be my back-up vehicle as I already have a Nissan which is my daily driver. So this provides some comfort as I can fall back on the daily driver if something goes array with the Jaguar. Wish me luck.

6th Jan 2010, 17:53

I am about to buy a 1987 Jaguar Vanden Plas.. It looks like the guy took really good care of it, except the rope seal leaks, and I guess there is no way to change that without pulling the engine..

I love the look of this year (the Sovereign does not appeal to me at all)... I love the flowing lines, and I hope it will be a good second car..

I am getting it fairly cheap, and with the economy, I guess it's a good deal.. I will be writing more here, and would like to ask anyone who may know, how you can repair the rust under the front windshield in the corners... Will give any updates that I can, but I am sure I will be busy driving and restoring it.

CHEERS!!

6th Apr 2015, 06:39

I own a 1984 XJ6 and a 1988 XJ-S with the Jaguar V12.

The issue with the tappet guides is one of heat. The XK six and the V12 were designed for carburetors, which deliver richer fuel mixtures that burn cooler than the leaner fuel injection systems. Both engines use steel and aluminum together, which expand and cool and different rates, which isn't a problem running at the temperature ranges the engineers designed them for.

When these engines were adapted to fuel injection, the leaner fuel to air mixture meant a much hotter engine than originally intended. In the XK six, this means tappet guides that contract faster than the surrounding metal, loosen and get caught by the tappet they're meant to protect. But, as the author says, it's a problem easily prevented with a tappet stakedown kit. In the V12, there's a similar problem with the valve guides failing because of heat, but the heat is such a problem that the cooling system is always straining to keep the engine cool enough not to overheat, but even normal operating temperatures prematurely age the plastic and rubber gaskets, hoses and seals, many of which are both critical and hidden. This means you go through hoses, steering racks, steering pumps, belts, subframe mounts, etc... much faster than on the straight six engines. Unless you're very rich or a mechanic, don't buy a V12. Not because they're unreliable, but because they make everything else in the car unreliable.

That said, the V12 is far and away faster and more exhilarating than the XK, which can, eventually, get up to high cruising speeds, which it handles with very little stress, but it's not quick about it. The XK, with modern emissions equipment and the 3 speed automatic transmission, is a dog until you get it to about 3000 RPM, which takes a LONG time. The XK is easier to live with, oil leaks and all, but if you need a car that will prove your virility, get a Camaro or a Mustang. The XJ6 is about style, grace and refinement.