10th Dec 2008, 23:31
Hi this is Donna again, I am the one who bought an XJ6 for 5600. Canadian you know, the one with the head gasket that blew 10 days after I bought it.
Guess what? I am taking it back to the mechanic tomorrow because the new battery won't keep a charge, it might be an alternator.
If you ever get a new alternator put in your XJ, NEVER put another Lucas alternator in - WHY? Because the alternator will not charge with the car idling like most cars will. Get a good aftermarket alternator.
This Spring I am going to have the front end done and maybe it needs the transmission done. $$$$$$$$$ Like I said if you don't have a good paying job and can't keep $$$ in the bank for emergency repairs.
DO NOT BUY THIS CAR! But if you love this car and can afford the gas and maintenance, this car is a dream to drive.
One of the things I hate about most new cars is all the PLASTIC and large interiors and small exteriors. The Jaguar XJ6 is just the opposite, it has a small cabin and large exterior comparatively, there is not much room if you are a tall driver or are much over five feet 5 inches tall. I am five foot three and half inches tall and the interior of this car is so cozy. Even my husband thought the car was quite small inside, and he is 5 foot 8 inches tall.
Most new cars you can see the dashboard and then an inch or so of the hood, with the XJ you can see the entire hood so it is easy figure out where everything else is around you.
At 4200 pounds it was rated quite high for safety, and it does not take a rocket scientist to understand that if one of todays smaller cars hits, you they lose the road war so to speak.
I just love the car in and out, and I would buy another one even if it meant a lot of money in upkeep and repairs.
11th Jan 2009, 04:15
Hi it's me again, Donna... it wasn't the alternator, it was loose belts so the alternator wouldn't charge the battery. Everything is running fine... for now, and I just wouldn't take my car on a long distance trip til I know for sure what else it's going to need. It's still a dream machine to drive.
16th Jan 2009, 13:51
Hi,
I recently found the car I have been waiting years for. It's the 1987 XJ6. I found it had been sitting in a climate controlled storage unit for 13 years not driven or started. The interior looks like it just came from the showroom. There is absolutely no rust and the exterior is perfect.
I was unsure if she would even start. I put a battery in her and she did!! I couldn't believe the gentleman sold her to me for $400.00. I will bringing her home tomorrow. She definitely needs a bath... I am hoping not to find a ton of problems. Thank you for all of your terrific posts. They give me a lot of indication of what to watch for.
23rd Jan 2009, 02:43
Lovely deal you got, but a Jaguar that sits for long periods of time is not a "happy cat" and you can expect problems. But with TLC you can make your cat purr again, just don't get discouraged.
23rd Feb 2009, 21:20
Hi, it's Donna again!~!~!~ My car is griefing me again~!~!~ It stalled in the middle of a narrow two lane bridge. And when I got it started again it stalled and went a little further and stalled again. So I put a new fuel pump and fuel filter in it and it started right away, THEN, it did it again after I drove it for 15 miles. When I went to start it after I washed it it wouldn't start. I had it towed to the mechanic AGAIN, and I hear that it may be a relay switch, or maybe gas in my tank. The tank was on a quarter tank for each tank and when I switched it over I smelled raw gas about a block before I got to the car wash. But then it didn't start. It's driving me crazy, by tomorrow I should know what it wrong with it. I am still not sorry I bought this car, I will patiently work through whatever problems there is with this car and by the time I am done it will be a "new" and reliable car, (maybe it is a wiring fault. Here's hoping it is not something real expensive to fix. I will write again and let everyone know so that if you ever have a similar problem you can be helped with my letters. Donna.
13th Mar 2009, 03:02
Hi this is Donna again... remember I said my car was griefing me again, and that it stalled in the middle of a bridge in rush hour traffic in a city of over a million??? Guess what it was??? A fuel pump, and I replaced it myself along with a fuel filter, that was several weeks ago. Today I replaced the air filter.
If you are mechanically inclined, there are a lot of small things you can do yourself as I have done. Also find yourself a good mechanic who really likes you and loves your car. Today I got him to inspect the diff, the tranny mounts, the u-joints, which there are three - and the cost---?? A case of beer!~!~!~
So far so good, except when I do the brakes --- the rear brakes are inboard and are a pain in the ass to do, and expensive, so if you have a lead foot, and heavy brake because of it, be forewarned - the rear brakes are expensive.
Have fun with your Jag and baby it. The car really turns heads and is a lot of fun to drive. It corners real nice and is snug to the ground and the corner. Love it no matter the cost to maintain and repair. Love yours too.~!~!~!
24th Sep 2008, 22:03
Hi, I am an XJ lover too. I bought my 1987 XJ6 for $5600 Canadian, and ten days after I bought it, it blew a head gasket, and I have antifreeze in my engine and oil in my coolant.
The mechanic took off the head (the bolts seized) and sent the head for resurfacing, and has to also resurface the valve seats and valves themselves. I also have to replaced both the front and rear exhaust manifold. The bill? About $4000 to $4500.
Then I bought two tires for it before the head gasket went - $300. So anyway you cut it I now have a car that is worth $9900-9950. And the car seems to love high octane fuel! But guess what? For under $20,000 I can drive a new car with class! That's one way of looking at it.
The head gasket is about $1800 to replace with labour and parts, and I often hear of it being the first to go if the car has around a 100,000 miles on it. So if you are a student, this IS NOT the car for you!
I am a unionized apprentice carpenter, and even as a second year I can make enough to fix this car. But remember my car is now a $10,000 car already, and I still need to do some front end work! But I love the car and intend to restore it to show car status.