1990 Jaguar XJS Reviews

Window switches, steering rack bushings, catalytic converter, fuel rail hoses, lower radiator hose, air conditioning, cruise control.

I have owned this car for nearly 18 years. It is the best riding, most enjoyable, and nearly the most reliable car I have ever owned.

I regularly have people comment on the car. Yesterday, a guy in a new Lexus at a stoplight motioned for me to roll down my window, so he could tell me what a beautiful car I had.

Do the maintenance. All will be well, and you will just have a blast.

Now I am not advocating this, but there is a thing called the 621/2 shift, that only Jag owners know about. Try it once if the car is in top shape. Good luck.

Steering bushings, fuel hoses, cooling hoses, window switches, cruise control, air conditioning.

Mine is silver/blue, absolutely beautiful with chrome spoke wheels.

Drives like a dream, I have never experienced a better ride quality, even in a Rolls!

I have owned the car for 17 years, and love it now like I did on the first day. It has been very reliable.

Now, do not skimp on the service. When it says "renew and replace" in the manual, they mean it. Don't EVER let it overheat! Anything having to do with fuel flow, hoses, etc., keep them in top condition. It's an awesome car.

To own the XJS, one must be a tinkerer and be adept with mechanics. I think a lot of negative connotations are due to owner neglect, and/or lack of knowledgeable maintenance.

This lack of maintenance causes bigger problems that are common; clogged heater cores after 20 plus years, clogged radiators, which cause overheating and dropped valves, fuel lines not being replaced, causing engine fires, Marelli fires from distributor, rotor etc etc.

This car requires constant attention and it will reward you greatly. This car is finicky in every way, and parts that should work don't, and parts you order will not fit, even though it is supposed to. For example, ignition coils, there are 2, have one plug that does not fit the spark plug inlet, and yet all aftermarket parts have this feature.

Fuel pumps that are for this car won't work, as they don't generate the psi required, so the car won't start... and the list goes on.

You must have patience with the car. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from buying one, but when you do, you must know what the previous owner has done to the car and what he hasn't. There inevitably will be a lot of "catch up" mechanical costs that you must budget for. I would conservatively budget $5k + for parts alone. If you hire a shop, then you are talking $10k, $15k or more. So be prepared for costs upfront on this car.

This car is wonderful, but you need to be a tinkerer, and be patient to track down and diagnose things that go wrong and fix it. Electrical issues are particularly hard to diagnose...

Need to be adept at these things, or you will need to be shuttling back to the shop constantly for every thing that arises, and assuredly the gremlins will arise...

Only the most minor routine maintenance.

Heater valve, window switch.

My ONLY disappointment is that I only have 2 XJSs! ('93 4.0L convertible & '90 V-12 Coupe). Okay, I have another disappointment -- that I wasted YEARS driving Mercedes (3) before I got my first Jag ('05 S-Type) which I still have problem free.

Luxury, style, reliability, performance, reasonable maintenance costs (Mercedes would break Warren Buffet). Every time I drive one of my XJSs, I have that same thrill I got the first time I ever drove one!

Do I need to even mention the leather and the wood?