1988 Jaguar XJ6

Summary:

A money pit that you thought was a bargain

Faults:

Water leaks in the driver and passenger seat, but does cool you off on a hot summer day.

A/C blows cold whenever it wants to, never when I would like it to (for example: 90 degree weather? Nah. 64 degree weather on a rainy day? Sure!) Really have to aggressively push on the window controls to get it going.

Rear passenger door refuses to open.

Bulb failure. Everyone who has this car knows what I'm saying. What bulb has failed? We'll never know, considering most of us won't even bother with the circuit board(s).

Rear speaker blew out; not even gonna try to fix that.

General Comments:

The rear seat area is a living room, period. Smoothest ride in a car I have ever taken.

If you really, really love cars and really love fixing them, have patience, time, and a lot of money, then this is the car for you. This is from my personal experience. I kept up with regular maintenance and all of these problems kept popping up.

It's a really good-looking car, and anyone who drives it instantly looks cool.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 1st July, 2013

3rd Feb 2014, 15:24

Have a neighbor selling his 1988 XJ6 with 29500 miles in awesome condition for 5000. Is it worth it?

In reply to 3rd Feb 2014, 15:24

19th Aug 2014, 01:19

I would.

28th May 2015, 01:12

Owned a 88 Vanden Plas for 17 years. More enjoyable than my Caddy to drive or ride in.

The vehicle is a classic; it's old so there's going to be problems.

If you're going to own one, it will cost, but the pleasure of the feel when you get behind the wheel makes it worth it.

So find a good mechanic and a good body shop, and enjoy the ride.

In reply to 3rd Feb 2014, 15:24

18th Jul 2016, 19:27

If you want to play Russian Roulette with 4 bullets in a chamber of 6, go to it.

In reply to 3rd Feb 2014, 15:24

23rd Feb 2017, 06:42

Have had a 1988 XJ6 for over twenty years, but I am a home mechanic and not afraid to research and take it apart. Low mileage is a factor on major components such as moving internal engine parts, but time is what causes the most problems... like seals, gaskets, electrical relays and connection, steering hoses, rear suspension bas etc... don't overpay for a car because of low mileage and don't expect it to be without troubles like a three year old car would be... FYI mine has 126,000 miles on it on my second motor; swapped the 3.6 for 4.0 litre with only 45,000 miles a few years back.

In reply to 3rd Feb 2014, 15:24

23rd Feb 2017, 15:15

Weigh out too the relationship level you have enjoyed in the past with someone next door to you.

In reply to 23rd Feb 2017, 15:15

24th Feb 2017, 21:30

Running or not, the car affords you the ability to offer great selfie opportunities in exchange for rides.

1988 Jaguar XJ6 6 cylinder

Summary:

Vintage British class that can't be matched

Faults:

Door handle broke; $150.00 for a used one.

AC hose in trunk rusted out, causing water to leak into the trunk.

Bearings on all 4 hubs replaced; $700.

Rust bubbling around trunk chrome, rear window, and front quarter panels.

Manifold intake gasket needed to be replaced; $600.00.

Annoying constant "Bulb Failure" light never went out. Why Jaguar made the warning lights so large beats me. Looked a "Space Invaders" video game.

Wood grain cracked on ash tray, impossible to find trim pieces for.

Constantly replacing fuses.

Radio antenna wouldn't go down, needed to be replaced, $250.

General Comments:

What can I say, I got this car for less than $2000, a bargain and a half. I couldn't buy a Yugo for that!

It was a striking dark gray with Burgundy interior and birds eye maple wood grain, just gorgeous! There was a lot of little things, but the car was beautiful.

The leather was OK, only a small tear in the driver's seat, and the back seat was like a couch.

I absolutely loved this car. This is the car that got me into Jags, and away from Mercedes and Japanese mass produced rice burners. 1988-89 was the last years of the "true Jaguars" before Ford took over.

The car ran great once I replace the manifold gasket and changed the plugs; fast, agile and quick for its age.

This cat sat for a while, and was happy to be out on the road again. Unfortunately, she was hit in front of my house and was totalled, so I never got to restore her to her full potential. When she was gone it was like losing a friend.

I loved the car and sought frantically to replace it, and landed a '93 Vanden Plas.

If you take care of your Jag; maintenance, care, a lot of TLC, they will serve you well. If you don't, well the car knows it, and will break down in a hail storm in the middle of nowhere with no cell phone reception, and 30 miles to the nearest garage.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 12th March, 2012

11th May 2012, 10:07

I could never sell my XJS!! You're right dead on!!! 1989 after the Ford takeover, not a true Jag!!! Now corporate... Enjoy your new one.

Gregg, Reno NV.

In reply to 11th May 2012, 10:07

24th May 2012, 11:31

I own a 1988 XJ6 in Titanium with blue leather interior that I dearly love. It is extremely reliable and comfortable on long trips. I have made several round trips exceeding 1600 miles.

It does have some issues, rust popping up on the exact same spot on both rear quarter panels, trunk leaks no matter I do. The A/C blend doors aren't working, and there is next to NO info or photos available to describe that repair. The ABS accumulator is covered by a NHTSA recall, but the dealerships aren't particularly interested in effecting the repair. Fuel economy in town is atrocious, but highway mileage is quite acceptable at 25 MPG.

Yes, these are the last true all Jaguar products, but it is Ford Motor Company that saved Jaguar, Aston Martin and Volvo. It is Ford that improved the reliability of Jaguar, and Ford that finally got rid of those inboard rear brakes. In my view the last true Jaguars were the 6.0 litre models in both Saloon and XJS. The 1995-97 XJ6/XJ6R were extremely attractive and reliable. Sadly there are very, very few `95-97 XJRs left.

The new Jaguars may be wonderfully built and performing cars, but they look like Toyotas and Buicks, and nothing special. I am worried Jaguar may suffer the same fate as Packard. An excellent luxury marque very closely associated and identified by traditional styling cues, now lost in the modern saloons. It reminds me of the last Packards. Though to be fair, ugly doesn't seem to have hurt Cadillac.

In reply to 24th May 2012, 11:31

18th Dec 2012, 12:46

Wondering if you had fixed the problem with trunk leaks? If so, please reply.

In reply to 11th May 2012, 10:07

2nd Jan 2013, 15:50

I ended up buying two Jags; an XJ6 Vanden Plas and an 1989 XJS. Both great cars.

In reply to 2nd Jan 2013, 15:50

6th Feb 2013, 11:33

I also have a 91 XJS V12 & an 88 XJ6 Sovereign, but with the XJ6 I have a problem with trunk leaks, & the low brake pressure light stays on, & it is full. Do you know fixes for these problems? The XJS has never really caused me a problem that I haven't had a problem fixing.

In reply to 24th May 2012, 11:31

29th May 2015, 22:42

Yes. That Cadillac XTS is an ugly car IMO.

In reply to 24th May 2012, 11:31

2nd Jul 2015, 05:19

"It is Ford that improved the reliability of Jaguar, and Ford that finally got rid of those inboard rear brakes."

Not quite accurate. It was Sir John Egan that hugely improved reliability, and the XJ40 lost the rear inboard brakes, long before Ford. From what I have heard, reliability took a turn for the worse with the Ford takeover.

In reply to 2nd Jul 2015, 05:19

31st Dec 2023, 23:01

Comments about Sir John Egan are correct. Jaguar PLC cars produced between 1984-1989 had significantly improved build quality & reliability.

This was evidenced by Bathurst 1000 win in 1985, Lemans 24hr & Daytona 24 hr wins in the mighty V12.