1989 Jaguar XJS from North America
Summary:
Sex on wheels!!!
Faults:
The car has been rock solid until last week. I drove this car as a daily driver, and had no issues other than replacing the tires and brakes, which are not expensive, being this is considered an exotic car.
Minor oil leaks typical of a 20 plus year old Jag.
Replaced thermostats because of over heating.
Now there is an electrical problem with the fuel injection system. The car is rough to start and constantly stalls out. My local mechanic cannot figure it out, and from what they are telling me, it's gonna be an expensive fix. The ECU and electrical system fail over time, so it's not Jaguar, it's all cars. Somehow water got into the fuel and shorted out a bunch of electronics. I will get it fixed, it is worth every penny you put into it.
Oh yeah, it's not as bad as they say on gas; I get about 18 MPG on the highway, but use premium!
General Comments:
Well I have had this car for over a year and put on over 30K. I always loved the sleek body of the coupe over the convertible. It has been reliable and just a joy to drive. Every single day, I am not kidding either, every single day someone mentions to me how beautiful it is.
I love this car. The raw power and vintage looks make it stand out from anything else on the road. The car accelerates like a jet, and you can feel the power of the V-12 zipping in an out of traffic.
The interior is simple but classy; British styling at its best. The cockpit is a little tough to get into, but once inside there is a ton of leg room to spread out.
Yes, you dump a ton of money into these, but if you put it all together, it costs you on average about $1500-$2000 a year to keep this car in excellent running condition. You won't be disappointed!
Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes
Review Date: 1st December, 2012
15th Nov 2014, 11:21
I live in Australia, and I purchased a 1989 Jaguar XJSC NEW with beautiful Bordeaux paint that had a fuel mileage computer in the centre console factory addition.
At the time I was treasurer of the Jag car club, and also owned a Rolls Royce, and surprisingly the Jag was quieter and a much better car to ride in. Several times I drove it for 1700 km in one day, a 20 hour stint. If you rev it right out in first gear, it will do 117 km per hour, then automatically jump into second with massive wheel spin; not recommended because of the huge tail wag from side to side = dangerous.
I drove it hard for 12 months and it did not cost a cent for replacement parts; simply a fantastic car.
I am impressed that current owners of these cars after 25 years are still excited about owning them, and yes a beautiful young girl did leave a note on the windscreen wanting a date..?.? So it must have charisma that's still fresh.
Roy.
15th Dec 2014, 03:17
Is there a photo of the "fuel mileage computer in the centre console factory addition"? A rare option never seen.
Thank you, stevedonato@gmail.com
2nd Jan 2013, 15:32
The problem ended up being minor with the fueling system. A lot of water ended up in the gas tank. Changed plugs, filters, and ran dry gas through the system. Runs like a champ now. Cost to repair was about $500. The car is still awesome.