1985 Jaguar XJS H.E. review from North America

Cords separated in tires causing terrible shake.

Started running rich - replaced coolant temp sensor.

Paint crazed and required a strip and repaint.

Differential started whining and required a rebuild.

Transmission started shifting hard and required the filter be replaced.

Oil leaked from cam covers and half moon seals.

Water pump went bad and started bleeding coolant.

Oil pan gasket went and started leaking.

Fuel filter plugged and pickup screen in auxiliary fuel tank also.

Main fuel tank rusted through and seeped petrol.

A/C went completely due to a bad compressor.

Started overheating so installed electric cooling fan.

Alternator gave up and couldn't hold charge before electric cooling fan, so replaced with a Bosch

Interior leather seams splitting due to age and improper care, not use.

Exhaust leak from drivers side first muffler.

Flushed coolant system due to poor prior service and Barr's leaks filling the whole system.

Horn sleeve went out and started blowing constantly.

Rear window seal was cracked beyond recognition.

Drivers door seal needed replacement.

Rust on braze points near rear wheels and secondary mufflers.

Main crank seal started leaking...

And I did more in preventative maintenance.

The car was very quick, it had a V12, so of course it was quick.

The handling was good for such a soft riding car. You have to deal with the sway, but this can be fixed... remember though the car weighs 4200 pounds.

The exhaust note is very quiet yet assertive, break 3000 RPM and it sounds like nothing you have ever heard. Do not break 5000 RPM though or the torque converter will make a very scary unbalanced noise as it shears against the walls.

The windows are perfect for a car of this type, the windshield wipers are comical at 13" but make you feel like you are in an impractical supercar of yesteryear.

The bonnet is a fantastic flowing field of paint and reflections, the buttresses at the rear are not a nuisance to driving as they are located perfectly.

I am 6'2" and I fit with a couple of inches to spare in headroom, the interior is no place for the fat or even slightly fat so forget about it and buy something else if you are more than 20 pounds overweight.

I bought this car in Ohio and drove it back to Minnesota. Picked it up for 3800 and expected most of these issues so that wasn't a problem. I still loved the car, and driving this car made me feel fantastic, like no other car I had before.

Beware, once you have had a Jaguar you will be smitten for life. I recently picked up a 1953 MK VII to restore, an idea that wouldn't have crossed my mind before owning this superb vehicle. You will also give your car a name.