I'm looking for a reliable coupe. Walking home, I found a Jag XJS V12 for ~$5600. Should I get it or not?
Pic related.
>>13980238
well that certainly isn't reliable.
i would consider one if they didnt all have a 3 speed automatic.
no overdrive does not feel luxurious at all
in fact, i would call it pleb
>>13980238
Get a leakdown test on all 12 cylinders. Figure out what kind of ignition it is, and if it's one of the fire-prone ones, fix immediately.
http://www.jag-lovers.org/xj-s/book/XJS_help.pdf
The ignition stuff can be dealt with by any competent DIYer. They can be good daily drivers, but after 25+ years you're looking at spending as much on internal cosmetics (wood, leather) as you will be on mechanical stuff. If the cosmetics are good, consider it.
But expect to spend another $2-3000 to get it into shape in the first year and $1000-2000 for the next couple of years thereafter. That's not the fault of the previous owner, or even of the British, that's the fact that the car is almost 30 years old.
>>13980238
Get if it clears the tests and you have another 5k to put in for upkeep.
Get it immediately
>>13980238
Yeah if you can afford to repair and maintain it
>Old Jaguar
>"Reliable coupe"
If something isn't utterly fucked on it already it will be within a month
>>13980238
postin inna troll thread
>5.3liter v12
>242hp.
>lucas electronic fuel injection
ooooh lawdy, a high maintenance V12 with V8 displacement and V6 power.
Actually they're not bad engines, quite beautiful when cleaned up and running properly, but what kind of money are you willing to sink into a car with literally zero desirability.
I've often thought about buying a $1000ish XJS, gutting and caging the interior, trashing every inch of the factory wiring and fuel injection and modify the intakes to mount a 4barrel on each bank, megasquirt it, and enter Lemons/Chump Car. Yeah it's hack and the purist will tsk tsk, but it would be simple and tuneable and fun.
>>13980238
>reliable
>antique Jaguar
top kek m80
>>13980238
Do it and post back a month later when shit is inevitably going wrong.
I work on this cars relative (e type) every day and work on these v12s often.
Don't get me wrong, these are good motors. I love these cars but even I wouldn't get one to DD and I know how to take it down to the frames and back.
>>13980238
Back in the 90's, my mom had one of these and it broke down for one reason or another literally every week. Usually electrical gremlins
get it OP it's super reliable no issues at all 2bh very solid car you'll be happy with it
>>13980238
Yes. Then make a draguar clone.
>>13980238
NO.
unless its had ALOT of work done $5600 is overpaying as fuck.
>>13983095
>complains about a v12 only being 5 liters
here have a supercharged 3 liter H16
>>13985232
The most famous BRM V16, the one with THE sound, was a 1.5. Did they make a 3L, too?
>>13980238
>Jag
>Reliable
>>13980268
>tfw 4 speed auto in 1960
>>13985240
yes, and it was just as reliable as the 1.5 :^)
>>13985247
>>13980268
slightly off topic but this has perplexed me for a while.
why do americans call every gear beyond 3 "overdrive" it sound so out dated, like holy fuck "3 speed with 2 overdrives" why not just call it a 5 speed?
>>13985274
It has nothing to do with Americans, it's physically how the transmission operates. A 3 speed with 2 overdrives is different than a 5 speed auto.
>>13980238
>reliable coupe
>Jag XJ
Continue looking.
>>13985274
What the fuck are you talking about? The only time Ive ever referred to overdrive is when the car actually has an overdrive gear.
>>13985290
caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaalm down mate. holy fuck you guys take way too much offense. It sounds outdated as fuck but if you claim its different then why do alot of americans still call it 1 or 2 overdrives, though ive never heard of 3 overdrives..
Lighten up
>reliable
>any british car
>>13980238
If you're looking for a reliable anything you should stay away from british cars, especially old ones.
Some low-budget coupes I'd call reliable:
>Impreza 2.5RS
>S13/S14, if it's not modified/trashed
>Accord/Civic coupe
>Miata with hardtop
>AW11
>foxbody
>turd gen
>Lincoln town car
I'm probably forgetting a few but there's a start.
![1995-lincoln-mark-viii-8[1].jpg](https://i.imgur.com/oMwUKTH.jpg "1995-lincoln-mark-viii-8[1].jpg")
>>13985551
Towncars aren't coupes. You probably meant this though.
>>13985557
Older Town Cars had a coupe option.
>>13985573
Those are so underpowered that you'd be better off with an older one. Pic related
Not reliable is a phrase rarely used to describe a Jag let alone an XJS
>>13985912
I think you're the only person that thinks that, but ok.
Also that Jag V12 is going to be one of the more expensive things to work on. And work on it you shall
>>13985912
it depends on the service history man, i know the engines can be bulletproof when looked after but most people just dont.
i really want to buy an XJ12 and drop in an american v8
>>13980238
Why would you even want that? That thing is fuck-ugly. Giant misshappen lego-block tail lights, ugly chrome everywhere, idiotic fastback quarterpanel styling...don't even know what to call it. Chrome trim around the windows isn't flush at the c-pillar. I'm sure the front looks like shit too. Plus those pathetic twinkie-dick exhausts.
>>13980238
Ive always wanted an XJS, thought they were the coolest cars made by Jaguar and to be honest family who cares about resale if you plan on enjoying it
I would offer him 4 500, let him push you up to 5 000 and take it for that. Just expect alot of maintenance and Quality British™ reliability
>>13980238
My grandfather got one of these for 5k a couple years ago. The V12 went to shit shortly after, so we ended up putting in an LS1 from an old corvette.
It runs pretty great now, a hell of a lot faster than it did with the V12. The interior is pretty comfy too as long as you're not sitting in the back.
>>13985965
offer scrap value only
>>13985403
Why do you think I took offense? People call overdrives overdrives because, unlike you, they understand how transmissions work and what an overdrive is.
>>13985935
You and >>13983095 should get together.
What I think you're getting at is actually valid, though. The operative term is "bulletproof when looked after but most people just dont."
80s Ferrari (OK, Alfa Romeo) owner: Spends a fortune because he's a car guy, gets it meticulously cared for down to the tiniest detail. Car doesn't fall apart because he budgeted for maintenance.
80s Rolls/Bentley owner: Spends a fortune and never drives it or maintains it. That's the chauffeur's problem. Car is sold for next year's model before reliability issues could crop up, because who wants to be seen in last year's model?
80s BMW/Mercedes owner: Pays about as much as the Jag guy, but is a car guy, and either does the maintenance, or rolls the dice and the car is so overengineered it survives.
80s Jaguar owner: Spends almost as much, but is OK with an automatic because he isn't a car guy. And doesn't do the maintenance because he can't afford a chauffeur. Car falls apart, owner is pissed.
Treat a Jaguar V12 like an aircraft engine - regular preventantive maintenance - and you'll have a shot. Electrical gremlines are fixable by pulling connectors, cleaning contacts, and putting things back. Diagnosing those gremlins... well, see above owner profiles. The original owner of a Ferrari/Alfa or BMW/Merc never had the problems. The original owner of the Rolls/Bentley never saw the problems because the staff fixed them before the owner ever saw them. The original owner of the Jag sold the car and bought something "more reliable."
>>13985274
I don't think you understand Americans
Or transmissions
>>13985274
overdrive means over 1:1 gear ratio.
as in higher than direct-drive. I've never heard of a transmission with more than one overdrive.
If its a 6 speed, 5th gear is 1:1 and 6th is over drive.
If its a 5 speed, 4th gear is 1:1 and 5th is over drive.
>>13989910
the most common 6 speed is the t56 (i think...)
it as two overdrives
