1988 Jaguar XJ40 Reviews from North America

Accumulator switch for ABS covered under warranty by Jaguar North America.

Middle A/C vents blow weak, and too much blows from defrost registers.

I bought the car off the Internet based on very low miles and very low price. I spent more than what I paid for it on new wheels (factory 20 hole "tear drop" in chrome), new Pirellis, new sound system including speakers, satellite radio, USB etc., some lenses and a new headliner. Also corrected parking lot scars, scrapes, dings etc.

I've driven this car on trips over 600 miles each way in absolute comfort and enjoyed 26.3 mpg over all on the trips. I love it! Best value on the planet in an older used car is a low mileage clean Jag. I pick up a `95 6.0 litre XJS next week.

I'm converted now to Jaguar. I have 30 plus years in the car business and have collected and restored numerous cars over the years.

Only failures have been accumulator switch covered by NHTSA recall.

Car seems to have a vapor lock or other problem that causes it to starve and die after 3 or 4 hours of running in the heat. After a 15 to 30 minute rest, it runs normally again. This does not seem to happen when ambient temps are below 95F.

It is a joy to drive as a boulevard cruiser. It is smooth, comfortable and reliable. Plus it is a very elegant car and looks like a car should with its stainless capped bumpers instead of molded plastic fascias. Genuine wood trim, leather, stainless and chrome.

It also averages over 24mpg on trips. Because of its nearly pristine condition, new chrome 20 hole teardrop wheels and classic Jaguar styling it still turns heads and gets compliments.

Hydraulic shocks going bad after 21 years!

Left back passenger window a little slow and the headliner is sagging and must be replaced.

Other than that, the usual wiper, bonnet struts and oil changes.

This car is a serious looker (Solent blue with gray leather).

You really do feel great driving it, and it is a pleasure to drive. It handles great, almost like it knows what you are wanting to do. Corners great, and has good power considering its age and how today there are cars with twice the power from the factory. I don't think they could have built it any better!

I love this car and it is one of the most exciting and fun to drive cars that I have ever been in!!!

The XJ40 series cars had a number of issues in common, which are not shocking if you've done your research before buying and therefore you are not surprised. Just part of the Cat's personality.

I bought my car used, and it still had the original rear differential (known to fail prematurely in many XJ40s), which was running noisy. But for the $1,200 to replace it, the prior owner had reduced the selling price by $2,000 because he didn't want to deal with it. My gain.

The 88 electronics are quirky, but I learned to live with the ever-present "Bulb Failure" light that flashes when it pleases, even when all's well.

The 88 exterior door handles are known to break -- the driver's side and both passenger door handles broke on mine.

Water leakage into the trunk is another common issue. I just made sure that no debris got trapped in the drain-pipe near the gas cap and that solved it for me.

The XJ40 horror stories come from folks who've never owned one. The issues with my 1988 were very mild compared to the typical problems of other cars of other makes. If you take care of the Cat, and educate yourself of what your model-year tends to need, you'll never be unhappy with this fabulous-driving, beautiful car.

This has been a VERY economical car to maintain and operate -- 28 mpg, dead-on reliable and only routine and preventive maintenance needed. It never let me down. I have no doubt this car will be on the road in 10 more years, without any mechanical heroics needed.

It's a fantastic open-highway car, and just lopes easily along at 80+ at 2,300 rpm.

The engines and transmissions in the XJ40s are practically bulletproof, and my was no different. Engine and transmission are smooth as glass, even at 198K -- with plenty of power when I've needed it, awesome shifting and gear ratios to get the most out of the 3.6 engine.

I only sold my 1988 XJ40 to move into a 1995 X300 series XJ6 (which has a different set of personality traits!). One main difference between them is that the XJ40 handles more like a big limo, whereas the X300 handles like a sports car, even though these cars have the same wheelbase, weight and general dimensions.

Once you own a Jaguar of any model or vintage, it's hard to leave the jungle! I love these XJ6 6-cylinder versions.