1989 Jaguar XJS 3.6 litre petrol V6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Has lots of weaknesses, but the good looks and good driving positions win your heart

Faults:

My drivers window will not go down.

The air con will only work on high.

Radio decided to blow up.

Front sub frame rotting badly.

Failed M.O.T in 2004.

Giving off too much co2.

Upholstery rotting and smelling like dead people.

Seats marked too easily.

Mats stained with only a little mud.

Struggles to get passenger window down.

General Comments:

The car is very scary and goes like a rocket, my wife is scared to drive it!

It turns heads as you go down the high street and thus is a babe magnet!

Very rewarding to own if you get a good one, have to pay 6 grand for a good one though.

It makes the Ferrari Dino seem like a piece of s***!

Cabin is a bit cramped and head room is tight.

Boot is not very big for such a big car and unless you are wafer thin the back seats are useless.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 9th May, 2005

23rd May 2005, 12:26

Review very helpful thank you MR. mysterious who wrote this wonderful review.

17th Sep 2008, 05:04

Absolutely agree about being a babe magnet! I pulled with an eighteen year old uni student the other day, and lots more to come I suspect.

Loads of niggling faults as everyone else, but so superb (the Jag not the babe).

Very low oil pressure when hot. Is that normal? Do you put semi, full or mineral oil in. There are so many opinions.

All in all a wonderful thing. Wasn't sure about the image at first. A bit Essex pub landlord or del boy I feared, but definitely more James Bond, luckily.

The real ones that is, not the blonde ugly one that looks like a car worker.

19th Sep 2008, 09:10

Spot on with all those comments. Use a mineral oil for best results and oil pressure is always very low on the v12 when hot.

1989 Jaguar XJS Coupe 3.6 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Add to list of cars to drive before you die

Faults:

Bought for £1600. Both front wheel bearings wore out soon after getting the car and investigating top speed (replacement £150 including fitting). Vibes through whole car at speeds over 80mph (interesting!), may be tracking, steering rack bushes or front/rear wheel alignment (cost to fix? Who knows).Front caliper seized solid whilst mobile (wild!), replacement £70. ABS pump leak (messy!), replacement £195. Complete brake failure at speed, caused by rear brake line fracture (not funny!), still fixing. Electric window switch failure whilst raining (again, not funny!. Electric door locks erratic! Headlining sagging...etc...etc..(sigh!)

General Comments:

Due to her numerous faults, a peculiar love/hate relationship has inevitably developed but she's still beautiful, comfortable, quiet and seriously quick and has that special something that makes you go Ooooo!!.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 25th May, 2003

19th Apr 2004, 17:07

I test drove three used Jaguars last week. One 93 XJS coupe and two 88 XJ sedans. The coupe was stunning, but it had 133k miles on it. The seller told me it will last for another 100k without major problems. I wonder how reliable it would be. The first sedan had many problems according to the seller. With only 80k miles, he already fixed all four doors (they won't open) for $3,000 and yet the air conditioner is not working properly. It blows out warm air. The last one was totally miserable even it has only 90K miles. Faded exterior paint, the interior wood trims are peeling off, seats are worn out, and panels are loose. It was a total mess.

I like the great look and performance of the jags, but I also know they are not reliable. Is it really worthy to own a car that is so costly to maintain and breaks down so often? I don't mean just for rich people with multiple cars, but for average working class.

I'd like to see some comments from Jaguar owners, espacailly the XJS owners and hear what kind of advice they have to offer.

Thank you.

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